Author: Peggy Smedley
Peggy talks about our broken supply chains and how the COVID-19 pandemic shined a light on just how broken they are—but that they were broken long before quarantine and toilet paper shortages became common household phrases. She says if manufacturers want to be resilient in the face of pandemics, natural disasters, and labor shortages, then they need a strategy for how to approach all this. She also discusses: Three critical challenges facing the global supply chain. How smart manufacturing can help solve many problems that exist today. Why funding and data standardization will be critical to the future of the…
Peggy and John Dyck, CEO, CESMII, and Bob Willig, executive director and CEO, SME, talk about each company and why they are working together to create a more effective way of bringing insight, innovation, and workforce development to the manufacturing industry. They express the opportunities that exist to help small- to mid-sized manufacturers. They also discuss: The challenges coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Brining IT and OT together and the next generation of lean thinking. How to create a center of gravity for smart manufacturing knowledge. cesmii.org sme.org (8/30/22 – 786) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence,…
Peggy and Heidi Roop, assistant professor, University of Minnesota, talk about climate change and how there is more excitement in this landscape than there was a couple of weeks ago. She says broadly nothing in the climate space is static and there is so much opportunity. They also discuss: Individual vs. collective action and why we need individual champions of change to influence systems. The need to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 and the goal to reach net zero by 2050. What businesses and individuals can do to address climate change, as we…
Nearly all consumers believe climate change will lead to rising energy bills—and as such expect homes and apartments to be equipped with smart-home devices. Still, experts suggest mindset is still the biggest barrier to change when it comes to our household energy diets. All of this is according to a new survey from Schneider Electric, which has revealed nearly nine out of 10 consumers believe climate change will lead to rising energy bills and individuals should play a larger role with climate change. The driving factors for consumers to act and invest in sustainability are the rising cost of living…
I have spent several decades writing about women breaking through the glass ceiling in male-dominated industries like construction and manufacturing. The stories are always beautiful triumphs of women doing incredible things with business, process, and technology in an industry that isn’t traditionally built for them. But has it been enough? Are we still stalled in many areas? A new survey piqued my interest when it crossed my desk earlier this month because it focuses on the biggest barrier preventing more women from entering the project profession in industries like construction, transport and logistics, and more. The survey by the APM…
The future is here—and the future will be driven by technologies such as cloud, 5G, the IoT (Internet of Things), sensors, edge, digital twin, AI (artificial intelligence), and so much more. While there is a lot of discussion about these technologies already, now it is time to start talking about the direction we are headed. Nick McQuire, director of product management, growth innovation, and strategy, Microsoft, is tasked with working with the company’s Strategic Missions and Technology division, which was set up in November of last year. The objective is to be the connection point between Microsoft’s long-term research and…
Peggy talks about connectivity and mobile trends, citing research from one new report. She says what happens among consumers with connected devices and technology almost always ends up impacting the enterprise in some way. She also discusses: Why consumers are now looking to master their digital world and what this means. If remote work has increased or decreased—and what comes next. The future of medical care, health, and fitness. peggysmedleyshow.com (8/23/22 – 785) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast This episode is available…
Peggy and Nick McQuire, director of product management, growth innovation, and strategy, Microsoft, talk about the cloud and its direction. He says we are going to see the cloud increasingly be connected and distributed in new areas that we haven’t seen. They also discuss: Four key areas that are collectively shaping the future of cloud. Three major technology shifts. How we are going to see technologies combine in the future to help create a new paradigm for human and machine interaction. Demystifying AI at Scale | AI for Business (microsoft.com) 5G powered modern connected apps bring solutions to industry problems…
Peggy and Peter Martin, industrial performance consultant, talk about industrial automation, consulting, and how busy he has been since retirement. He recently started a company that focuses on effective utilization of waste products. Those waste streams can be turned into valuable products, he says. They also discuss: How there is more to sustainability than carbons and hydrocarbons. The linear nature of manufacturing plants and the impact on the environment. How industrial automation used to look at a problem and solve the problem with engineers, but that has shifted from solving problems to the latest technologies. peggysmedleyshow.com (8/23/22 – 785) IoT,…
Here at the Living Lab blog, we have been talking about the benefits of technology, the pricing, and value of choosing sustainable products and technologies for our homes. Now, I want to talk a bit about the realities of building and living in a smart home—and what happens when technology doesn’t work the way it is intended to work. As many of you know, I am on a journey with my husband Dave to build a Living Lab—one where we have partnered with several industry players to encourage ecofriendly, energy-efficient, and green living for all. The intention is to demonstrate…