Manufacturers are under pressure to improve razor-thin margins while juggling domestic production demands, cost control, and data gaps on the shop floor. In this episode, Craig is joined by Shawn Flowers and Ryan Riss of Cohn Reznick. Together, they explore how MES systems capture rich, event-level production data that ERP platforms can’t handle, enabling better visibility into actual conversion costs without burdening operators. They discuss the rise of AI and automation—from vision-based quality inspection to emerging model context protocols—and the importance of owning and contextualizing data for predictive maintenance and future autonomous decision-making. With PE-backed firms driving standardization and “best in breed” tech adoption, even small manufacturers can unlock rapid operational gains.
