Today in Manufacturing

Hosted by David Mantey, Jeff Reinke, Anna Wells

Technology Business ScienceInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

290

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Today in Manufacturing is hosted by David Mantey, Anna Wells and Jeff Reinke, the editors from some of the most recognized websites and publications in the manufacturing industry, including Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN). Every week, we discuss the biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 26, 2026Episode 2911 hr 5 min

Tesla's Flying Car; Hyundai's Seat Fire Problem; PepsiCo Closes Plant | Today in Manufacturing Ep. 291

Editor's note: Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manufacturing podcast. The Today in Manufacturing Podcast is brought to you by the editors of Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN). This week's episode is brought to you by Mitsubishi Electric Iconics Digital Solutions and its new guide, " Powering More Efficient, Reliable Operations ." Industrial manufacturers are under pressure to cut energy use, keep production lines running and meet sustainability goals while energy costs climb, electrical infrastructure ages and operations grow more complex. Without clear visibility into electrical systems, small issues turn into costly downtime, wasted energy and power quality problems. This guide shows how to turn electrical infrastructure data into operational intelligence so you can spot failures before they happen, shift to data-driven maintenance and run more efficiently and sustainably. Download the new guide right now . Every week, we cover the three biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week: - PepsiCo Shuts Down Tennessee Bottling Plant - Hyundai Recalls Vehicles Because the Seats Might Catch Fire - Tesla's New Roadster Car Can Thrust Itself in the Air In Case You Missed It - Wrangler Re-Engineered Fleece Fabric to Make it Hay Repellent - Apple Commit $100M to U.S. Made Titanium for iPhone Production - Harley's LiveWire to Debut New Electric Bikes Please make sure to like, subscribe and share the podcast. And to email the podcast, you can reach any of us at Jeff, Anna or David@ien.com, with “Email the Podcast” in the subject line. Subscribe to our daily and weekly newsletters.

October 19, 2026Episode 2901 hr 0 min

Scout Sued by Elderly Couple; Rivian's Ghostbusters Collab; Blue Origin's Massive Texas Project | Today in Manufacturing Ep. 290

The Today in Manufacturing Podcast is brought to you by the editors of Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN). This week's episode is brought to you by Siemens . Testing new, complex production processes requires massive investments of time and money—enough to make skeptical manufacturers settle for trusted, age-old processes. However, innovating manufacturing operations doesn’t have to risk throughput. Digital twins let industrial engineers test new concepts on production lines and uncover issues before they become real problems. Watch this video to learn how to design and test more efficiently and economically. Every week, we cover the three biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week: - Blue Origin to Bring Massive $554.8 Million Manufacturing Campus to Texas - Rivian Ain't Afraid of No Ghosts: EV Maker Deploys Ghostbusters Themed Software Update - Elderly Couple Sues Automaker, Says Plant Drove Them from Their Home In Case You Missed It - Cyberattacks Hit European Supermarket Chains - Startup to Accelerate Manufacturing for 'Condom of the Future' - Invisible Tattoo Ink Can Be Switched On and Off with Bright Light Please make sure to like, subscribe and share the podcast. And to email the podcast, you can reach any of us at Ben, Andy or David@ien.com, with “Email the Podcast” in the subject line. Subscribe to our daily and weekly newsletters.

October 12, 2026Episode 2891 hr 7 min

Why Robots Jumped Into Molten Steel; Drone Falls From Sky; Ford Hires Bird of Prey | Today in Manufacturing Ep. 289

The Today in Manufacturing Podcast is brought to you by the editors of Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN). This week's sponsor is Epicor . If you ask any technology expert, they’ll say the opportunities for AI are vast, but many manufacturers feel they are still out of reach. Meanwhile, other manufacturers are already using it to cut waste and boost design & production efficiency, sharpening their competitive edge. Our latest video podcast, AI in Manufacturing: Handle with Care , answers the questions holding businesses -- like yours -- back: Where does AI deliver the most value? Which applications carry the highest – and lowest – risk? And what will it really cost? Download the podcast right now . Every week, we cover the three biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week: - Ford Factory Hires Hawk to Fight Off Pigeons - New Drone Falls From Sky Like Maple Seed, Then Sails Like Boat - Figure Trained Its Humanoid Robots to Jump Into Molten Steel In Case You Missed It - Your Next Vulnerability May Be an Exhausted Employee - Kawasaki Made a Robot Cat to Care for the Elderly - Your Home’s Foundation Could Soon Power the Entire Building Please make sure to like, subscribe and share the podcast. And to email the podcast, you can reach any of us at Anna, Jeff or David@ien.com, with “Email the Podcast” in the subject line. Subscribe to our daily and weekly newsletters.

October 5, 2026Episode 28859 min

How F-35 Parts Got Shipped to China; Plastics Fire Aftermath in Michigan; Chemical Leak at Purina Plant | Today in Manufacturing Ep. 288

Editor's note: Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manufacturing podcast. The Today in Manufacturing Podcast is brought to you by the editors of Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN). This week's episode is brought to you by GAINS Systems . Digital transformation is more than simply upgrading your IT systems and hoping for the best. Manufacturers are being tasked to use the latest and greatest AI solutions — a toolkit proven to improve the efficiency of existing processes and procedures. And while this emerging field requires a little experimentation, experts say there are ways to implement AI that are more trial and less error. In this video, " Practical AI for Real Results ," you’ll learn how to build the momentum you need to move forward faster with AI: which choices drive the biggest results and how each decision has ripple effects across your business. Watch it right now . Every week, we cover the three biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week: - Workers Hospitalized After Chemical Leak at Purina Dog Food Plant - It Took At Least 16 Fire Departments and 2 Million Gallons of Water to Put Out Plastics Plant Blaze in Michigan - Pentagon Investigates 'Shipment Issue' After China Obtains Parts From F-35 Stealth Fighter Jet In Case You Missed It - World’s First Self-Balancing Exoskeleton Lets Wheelchair Users Walk Upright - Caterpillar Commits $1B to Expand Compact Machine Manufacturing - Criminal Conspiracy To Steal Used Cooking Oil Shows How Trash Can Become Treasure Please make sure to like, subscribe and share the podcast. And to email the podcast, you can reach any of us at Anna, Jeff or David@ien.com, with “Email the Podcast” in the subject line. Subscribe to our daily and weekly newsletters.

September 28, 2026Episode 2871 hr 4 min

Underground Vinyl Plant Busted; F-150's Gas Tank Problem; America's Transformer Crisis | Today in Manufacturing Ep. 287

Editor's note: Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manufacturing podcast. The Today in Manufacturing Podcast is brought to you by the editors of Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN). This episode is brought to you by Siemens . Small and medium-sized manufacturers encounter the same industry-wide pressures as large manufacturers: rising costs, labor shortages, and growing operational complexity. But conventional digital transformation programs are often out of reach for smaller manufacturers due to budget, time, and skills constraints. This paper from ARC Advisory Group, " How Siemens Is Positioning Xcelerator for Small-Medium Manufacturers ," outlines a more practical way for these manufacturers to do more with less and see results faster. Download " How Siemens Is Positioning Xcelerator for Small-Medium Manufacturers " right now. Every week, we cover the three biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week: - America's Transformer Crisis Is a Sign of What's Coming - F-150 Gas Tanks Could Detach in Latest Ford Recall Filing - Police Bust $3.5M Underground Plant With 70-Year-Old Vinyl Presses In Case You Missed It - Pirelli Bets $1.2B to Expand U.S. Plant With Autonomous Modular Robotics - Bacteria Evolved to Survive and Eat Industrial Pollution - Manufacturers Are Moving Past Pilots and Scaling AI Deployments Please make sure to like, subscribe and share the podcast. And to email the podcast, you can reach any of us at Anna, Jeff or David@ien.com, with “Email the Podcast” in the subject line. Subscribe to our daily and weekly newsletters.

September 21, 2026Episode 2861 hr 3 min

Ford's $1B U.S. Investment; New Flying Car Factory; Cyborg Cockroach Paramedics | Today in Manufacturing Ep. 286

The Today in Manufacturing Podcast is brought to you by the editors of Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN). This episode is brought to you by Siemens . Small and medium-sized manufacturers encounter the same industry-wide pressures as large manufacturers: rising costs, labor shortages, and growing operational complexity. But conventional digital transformation programs are often out of reach for smaller manufacturers due to budget, time, and skills constraints. This paper from ARC Advisory Group, " How Siemens Is Positioning Xcelerator for Small-Medium Manufacturers ," outlines a more practical way for these manufacturers to do more with less and see results faster. Download " How Siemens Is Positioning Xcelerator for Small-Medium Manufacturers " right now. Every week, we cover the three biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week: - Cyborg Cockroach Paramedics Are Here to Save You - Samson Says It's Building a U.S. Factory for the Switchblade Flying Car - Ford Announces Another $1B U.S. Investment 2 Days After Being 'Blindsided' by DOT In Case You Missed It - Scientists Turn Dairy Waste into Fuel - Gen Z in Manufacturing: Why Young Engineers Are More Skeptical of AI Than Older Generations - Students to Transform 1976 Ford F-350 Into 'America’s Ultimate Trades Toolbox' for Northern Tool Challenge Please make sure to like, subscribe and share the podcast. And to email the podcast, you can reach any of us at Anna, Nolan or David@ien.com, with “Email the Podcast” in the subject line. Subscribe to our daily and weekly newsletters.

September 14, 2026Episode 2851 hr 1 min

Northern Tool Reshores; VW Cuts 50,000; Metal Foam Improves Car Safety | Today in Manufacturing Ep. 285

Editor's note: Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manufacturing podcast. The Today in Manufacturing Podcast is brought to you by the editors of Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN). This episode is brought to you by Siemens . Small and medium-sized manufacturers encounter the same industry-wide pressures as large manufacturers: rising costs, labor shortages, and growing operational complexity. But conventional digital transformation programs are often out of reach for smaller manufacturers due to budget, time, and skills constraints. This paper from ARC Advisory Group, " How Siemens Is Positioning Xcelerator for Small-Medium Manufacturers ," outlines a more practical way for these manufacturers to do more with less and see results faster. Download " How Siemens Is Positioning Xcelerator for Small-Medium Manufacturers " right now. Every week, we cover the three biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week: - New Metal Foam Could Make Car Crashes Safer - Volkswagen to Cut 50,000 More Jobs and Close 4 Plants - Northern Tool Reshores from Mexico, ‘Insources’ to Improve Quality In Case You Missed It - New Device Could Make Sleep Studies Much Easier for Patients - Manufacturers Pay Price When Factory Workers Miss Critical Updates - 'Living Character' Startup Spins Out of Boston Dynamics to Bring the World Fluffy Purple Robot Dogs Please make sure to like, subscribe and share the podcast. And to email the podcast, you can reach any of us at Jeff, Ben or David@ien.com, with “Email the Podcast” in the subject line. Subscribe to our daily and weekly newsletters.

September 7, 2026Episode 2841 hr 2 min

Deadly THC Explosion; SpaceX's Biggest Salvage Op; PBR Heist | Today in Manufacturing Ep. 284

Editor's note: Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manufacturing podcast. The Today in Manufacturing Podcast is brought to you by the editors of Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN). This week's episode is brought to you by Opswat . AI is moving from pilots into manufacturing operations, helping teams improve productivity, quality and scale. But as more files, devices, suppliers and OT data flows become connected, cyber risk expands in an industry already targeted more than any other. Watch this new on-demand webinar, " Manufacturing Cybersecurity in the Age of AI ," to learn how to protect critical operations in the age of AI. Every week, we cover the three biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week: - 40,000 Pounds of Beer Swiped From California Distribution Center - SpaceX Pulls Off Biggest Salvage Operation Yet - Deadly THC Facility Explosion Leads to Murder Charge for Owner In Case You Missed It - This Cookies is Made From Plastic Bottles - Ice Cream Cones, the Ingenious Invention of American Immigrants - DARPA Gives Northrop $7M to Make Diamond-Cooled Microchips for the Military Please make sure to like, subscribe and share the podcast. And to email the podcast, you can reach any of us at Jeff, Anna or David@ien.com, with “Email the Podcast” in the subject line. Subscribe to our daily and weekly newsletters.

August 31, 2026Episode 2831 hr 8 min

Illegal Cookie Factory; Starr Sues Over Google Review; Freedom & Glory Makes Flags | Today in Manufacturing Ep. 283

The Today in Manufacturing Podcast is brought to you by the editors of Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN). This episode is brought to you by Siemens . Small and medium-sized manufacturers encounter the same industry-wide pressures as large manufacturers: rising costs, labor shortages, and growing operational complexity. But conventional digital transformation programs are often out of reach for smaller manufacturers due to budget, time, and skills constraints. This paper from ARC Advisory Group, " How Siemens Is Positioning Xcelerator for Small-Medium Manufacturers ," outlines a more practical way for these manufacturers to do more with less and see results faster. Download " How Siemens Is Positioning Xcelerator for Small-Medium Manufacturers " right now. Every week, we cover the three biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week: - Freedom and Glory Featured in New Episode of 'Made in America' - Ohio Manufacturer Files Defamation Lawsuit Over 1-Star Google Review - Illegal Cookie Factory Caught Substituting Charcoal for Cocoa In Case You Missed It - Chinese Humanoid Robots Smash Human Records in Sprint, High Jump - Yellow School Bus Faces New Reality - SpaceX to Build World's Largest Spaceport in Louisiana New Segment: Executive Q&A with Michael J. DeVoney, OptiCrib Michael J. DeVoney is the executive vice president of OptiCrib . DeVoney flew to Madison, Wisconsin, last week to be in studio to discuss physical AI warehouse automation, "grab and go MRO," critical spares management and Amazon's new robotics manufacturing facility in Austin—as well as fears over the ecommerce giant entering the B2B industrial market. Please make sure to like, subscribe and share the podcast. And to email the podcast, you can reach any of us at Jeff, Anna or David@ien.com, with “Email the Podcast” in the subject line. Subscribe to our daily and weekly newsletters.

August 24, 2026Episode 28253 min

Big Changes at Tyson; Blame Over Boeing's Broken Window; 5 Cars Disappearing in 2027 | Today in Manufacturing Ep. 282

The Today in Manufacturing Podcast is brought to you by the editors of Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN). This episode is brought to you by Siemens . Small and medium-sized manufacturers encounter the same industry-wide pressures as large manufacturers: rising costs, labor shortages, and growing operational complexity. But conventional digital transformation programs are often out of reach for smaller manufacturers due to budget, time, and skills constraints. This paper from ARC Advisory Group, " How Siemens Is Positioning Xcelerator for Small-Medium Manufacturers ," outlines a more practical way for these manufacturers to do more with less and see results faster. Download " How Siemens Is Positioning Xcelerator for Small-Medium Manufacturers " right now. Every week, we cover the three biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week: - 5 Notable Cars That Won't Be Around Next Year - Engine Debris to Blame for Broken Boeing Window That Sucked Out Passenger - Tyson to Close 2 Facilities, Cut 3,200 Jobs In Case You Missed It - AI Companies Look to Ocean as Place to Put More Data Centers - Meat Processor Accused of Dumping Animal Blood, Waste Into Nearby Waters - How UAV Technology Can Help Combat the Growing Cargo Theft Crisis Please make sure to like, subscribe and share the podcast. And to email the podcast, you can reach any of us at Andy, Nolan or David@ien.com, with “Email the Podcast” in the subject line. Subscribe to our daily and weekly newsletters.