Bill Youse

When I worked at JL Audio, they used simple checks and balances on the production line to dramatically lower defects and improve product quality. Every operator double-checked the previous person’s work before starting theirs. Yes, it took extra time. But the result? A massive drop in defects at the end of the line. That same principle can be applied to your custom integration firm. Build checks and balances into your process…especially in the moments that could derail a project downstream. The pushback I always hear is: “We don’t have time to slow down.” Ok, I get it…but ask yourself… • How long does it take to review a proposal with a teammate before sending it to a client to make sure what you sold can be delivered? • How long does it take to review a project before production starts with the team members intalling it to ensure what was sold can actually be delivered? • How long does it take to sit with your team to review active projects so you can get ahead instead of constantly reacting? Now ask yourself… • How many internal change orders that you can’t bill for are created because no one reviewed the proposal first? • How many non-billable days onsite happen because the team didn’t fully understand what was sold? • How many extra truck rolls are wasted because the project was called “done” too early? You do have the time. You’re just spending it later…fixing preventable problems that cost more money, more hours, and more frustration. Make time now, or waste time later. The choice is yours, the solution is simple.

37

12 Comments

If you’re running on EOS Worldwide, how are you tackling your Process Rock this quarter or next? 🤔 Over half of my clients are running on #EOS, many referred by implementers because when it comes time to define core processes, it’s not as simple as it sounds. Most companies start documenting what they know needs to be captured. But what about the things they don’t see? 🙈 That’s where the problems are hiding...in the blind spots. The assumptions that create chaos. 🤦🏻‍♂️ The handoffs that fall apart. 🤦🏻‍♂️ The tasks no one owns. 🤦🏻‍♂️ And too often, this entire Rock gets assigned to one person to complete. One person writing down how they think the company works does nothing for alignment, it doesn’t create accountability and it definitely doesn’t surface what’s broken. This is where I come in. I help companies visually map their core processes WITH the team in the room so the gaps, overlaps, and friction points become impossible to ignore. Once we make the invisible visible, it’s clear what needs to be documented and who needs to be involved. If you're staring down a Process Rock this quarter or next… how are you making sure you’re not just documenting what’s already known but uncovering what’s getting missed? #EntrepreneurialOperatingSystem #ProcessRock #CoreProcesses #OperationalExcellence #ProcessImprovement

8

2 Comments

Manufacturers are facing more complexity than ever. Spreadsheets, paper and manual processes can no longer keep up. This article from Manufacturing Dive highlights why moving to an electronic QMS, like ETQ Reliance® GO, built for small-to-medium businesses, is now a strategic must: It centralizes quality data, accelerates audits, strengthens traceability and builds a more consistent, compliant operation. The shift requires thoughtful planning and leadership buy-in, but the payoff is a faster, smarter, more resilient quality system. It’s time to retire the paper and spreadsheets for good.

14

Humanoid robots are at the frontier of AI—tackling tasks across diverse environments. Advantech’s Computer-on-Modules serve as control modules, providing a task-built platform that empowers developers to build various solutions. It enables efficient task distribution and real-time decision-making to ensure smooth, accurate edge operations. Learn More Now : https://ow.ly/4oZc50WK045 #Humanoidrobots #EdgeAI #robots #COM #SOM

38

"Lies, Damn Lies, and Job Titles: Why CNC Programming Is Way Bigger Than Microsoft Says" Mark Twain said it best: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." Microsoft’s recent AI report says there are just 28,030 CNC Tool Programmers in the U.S. Yeah… not buying it. The devil is in the details... That number doesn’t come close to capturing the real CNC programming world. It ignores the 188,000 CNC Operators programming at the machine, the 317,000 Machinists tweaking toolpaths on the fly, and the hundreds of thousands of active CAM users out there programming parts every day. But here’s what the report does get right: AI is clearly showing up in CNC programming. It's another sign that it's time to understand it and embrace it. ✅ Coverage: 0.90 – Shops are already trying it. There’s real interest. ✅ Completion: 0.87 – The results are working. Not perfect, but useful. ✅ AI Score: 0.44 – It lines up with the work real shops are doing today. At Toolpath, we’re leaning into that momentum: AI that understands your parts and your tools AI that handles the repetitive stuff, so you can focus on the tough problems Toolpaths that are faster to create and boost your shop’s productivity AI is not here to take jobs from machinists. It’s here to help you do more, faster, and free up time for the work that actually needs your brain. If you're buried in CAM and ready for something better, check out Toolpath. #CNC #Toolpath #Machining #AI #ManufacturingInnovation #CAM #GCode #Productivity #InstaMachinist https://lnkd.in/gBdD-UX8

100

6 Comments

Innovate Pasadena #FridayCoffeeMeetup w/Ami Sin - Reinventing Manufacturing Turn your videos into live streams with https://restream.io Reinventing Manufacturing: Hybrid Tooling & the Future of Product Development Traditional manufacturing comes with high tooling costs and long lead times, making it challenging for startups and innovators to bring new products to market. In this talk, Ami Sin shares how hybrid tooling—combining 3D printing and traditional manufacturing—offers a more flexible, cost-effective solution for product development. Ami will discuss real-world applications, lessons from her experience leading Amazing Lab, and how startups can leverage this approach to validate ideas without massive upfront investments. Attendees will gain insights into the evolving landscape of manufacturing and how to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.

20

1 Comment

Everyone is talking about AI in manufacturing. But for most teams, it's still just talk. Manufacturers want AI. Integrators are being asked to deliver it. Technologists want to build it. But few have the architecture or roadmap to make it real. That’s what this workshop solves. The Advanced MCP & Agent2Agent Workshop, led by Walker Reynolds, is a two-day, hands-on experience designed for engineers, architects, and leaders who are ready to move from ambition to execution. Over the past year, we’ve laid the foundation for Agentic AI through our first two workshops — covering the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and REST APIs that enable systems and agents to communicate. Now it’s time to go beyond the basics. You’ll learn how to: • Design and deploy multi-server MCP architectures that scale across the enterprise • Implement the Agent2Agent protocol so intelligent agents can reason, negotiate, and delegate tasks • Build systems where AI operates across both the plant floor and business layer — in real time • Troubleshoot, debug, and iterate through hands-on labs with working reference architectures This isn’t theory. It's real world implementation. You’ll walk away with the tools, patterns, and knowledge to deploy real, scalable intelligence — with your team, in your systems, right now. Why now? The future of manufacturing belongs to those who can turn data into action, and systems into intelligence. This workshop gives you the blueprint to do exactly that. Because this is where AI becomes collaborative. MCP is how systems communicate. A2A is how intelligence scales. 🎟️ Early Bird pricing ends Nov. 15 — save 50% 📅 Join us Tuesday, December 16 and Wednesday, December 17 👉 Link in the Comments below #AgenticAI #Industry40 #DigitalTransformation #MCP #A2A #AIEngineering #UnifiedNamespace #ManufacturingAI #40Solutions #WalkerReynolds

24

1 Comment

💬 For 20 years, I’ve heard the same complaint from customers and friends in the CNC world: “There are so many unnecessary moves or slow feeds in the G-code — but I can’t fix them.” CAM software generates what it can, but it’s not always optimized for your machine. It often produces G-code full of unnecessary air moves, inefficient tool retracts (up and downs), and wasted repositioning steps that don’t contribute to cutting. And when it comes to cutting feedrates — they’re typically fixed, ignoring cutting conditions like chip geometries being formed, depth of cut, and width of cut. Standing still in the CNC machining business means falling behind. If your G-code is full of waste, your machine will never clear the bar. 📉 Non-cutting moves that add nothing but time 🔁 Inefficient retracts and repositioning 🐌 CuttingFeedrates that ignore real cutting parameters These aren’t minor inefficiencies — they’re silent killers of your productivity and profit margins. It’s time to cut the fat. ✅ #MANUSsimOptimize analyzes your actual G-code, detects inefficiencies, and auto-generates a faster, safer, fully optimized version — without changing anything in your CAM setup. You’ve already invested in the hardware. Now it’s time to unleash its full power. 🟢 Optimize your G-code. Reach higher. #CNCOptimization #GcodeMatters #ManufacturingEfficiency #MANUSsim #CAM #CNC #CycleTimeReduction

27

3 Comments

 Continuing previous article on #Front-End #Wafer #Fabrication – Step-by-Step with El Camino Technologies  Semiconductor chips begin their journey at the front end—through a series of high-precision, cleanroom-controlled processes. At El Camino Technologies , we support this journey with robust, compact, and scalable tools ideal for labs, pilot lines, and low-volume fabs. Here’s how our systems align with every #key #stage of wafer fabrication: 1. #Cleaning & #Surface #Preparation Wet Benches | Scrubbers | Surface Treatment Units From RCA cleans to HF dips, our wet processing tools ensure defect-free wafers ready for oxidation or lithography. 2. #Oxidation & #Diffusion Horizontal/Vertical Diffusion Furnaces Thermal growth of SiO₂ or dopant drive-in is handled with precise, multi-zone furnaces. 3. #Spin #Coating & #Baking Spin Coaters | Hot Plates | Edge Bead Removers Uniform resist application for photolithography—built for 6″, 8″, and R&D formats. 4. #Lithography (Exposure & Development) #Mask Aligners | #Developer Stations Align, expose, and develop micro-patterns with stable and flexible configurations. 5. #Etching (Dry & Wet) Plasma Etchers | Wet Etching Stations Transfer patterns with RIE plasma or chemical wet processes. 6. #Doping & #Ion Activation Ion Sources | Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) Low-energy doping and post-implant annealing with temperature-controlled profiles. 7. #Thin #Film Deposition PECVD | Thin-Film Metallization Units Deposits of nitrides, oxides, or metals—ideal for MEMS, sensors, and R&D fabs. 8. #Photoresist #Removal Plasma Ashers | Wet Strippers | Coating Removers Complete resist clearing and post-process cleaning systems. 9. #Cleanroom Infrastructure ISO-Class Modular Cleanrooms | FFUs | Laminar Flow Benches End-to-end controlled environments for lab-to-fab scalability. What Sets El Camino Technologies  Apart? >Built for Indian R&D and pilot environments >Substrate flexibility (up to 8″) >Chemical and thermal compatibility >Local service, training, and process support Discover Our Full Line up: https://lnkd.in/geRqYXrt Let’s build clean, connected semiconductor ecosystems—one wafer at a time. #semiconductors #frontendequipment #photonics #elcamino #MakeInIndia #waferfab

17

It's now easier than ever to author your own custom applications on Vention’s platform. The Vention Developer Toolkit is designed to give roboticists, developers, and system integrators the same powerful tools Vention experts use internally to build scalable, reliable automation. From libraries for state machines to a fully connected CLI and digital twin simulation, the Vention Developer Toolkit is your new foundation for custom automation development. This is just the beginning. Find out more about MachineLogic™ and get started today 🔗 https://hubs.la/Q03SNKr70

38

2 Comments

We’ve partnered with Hardware FYI to offer this free 9-page guide on PCB assembly for electrical engineers! Print it out, keep it on your desk, and have answers to the most common PCB assembly questions at your fingertips. Download here. https://tally.so/r/npZdx1  Use these cheat sheets to look up: • Steps in the PCB manufacturing and assembly process. • PCB assembly standards and methods. • PCB board layers and standard stackups. • Design parameters that add cost, time, and complexity. • PCB assembly basics. • And so much more. 

29

5 Comments

Humanoid robots are transforming factory automation—shifting operations from manual to intelligent processes. 🤖 Advantech’s robust Computer-on-Modules enable seamless upgrades and scalable integration, ensuring reliability, precision, and efficiency. The future of manufacturing is smart, effortless, and continuous. 🔄 👉 Learn More: https://lnkd.in/g2MM6Jp5 #Humanoidrobots #EdgeAI #FactoryAutomation #Robots #COM #SOM

8

🎓 AI is reshaping learning at San Jose State, from smarter classrooms to city-wide digital twins driving real-world innovation. Today’s episode of the NVIDIA AI Podcast features Dr. Cynthia Teniente Matson, 31st President of San Jose State University. She discusses: 🧠 How AI is embedded across every discipline, from engineering to social sciences 💡 Digital twins and AI avatars transforming learning and civic engagement 🌎 Preparing students for a rapidly evolving, AI-driven workforce 🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://bit.ly/42czMjL

17