Digital Enterprise Society Podcast: Recent Episodes

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Your personal brand isn’t what you say about yourself, it’s what others say about you when you’re not in the room. So how can you grow your personal brand into the most powerful tool of your career development? On this career-centered episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer is joined by Irishman Conor Cunneen for a conversation about tactics for devising and strengthening your personal brand in ways that will benefit your career. On today’s podcast, you will learn: What is your personal brand? ● Your personal brand is what people say about you after you’ve left the room. ● What you think your brand is might differ wildly from what other people say your brand is. ● Consider whether you are actually projecting the brand you want to project. How to take ownership of your mistakes ● If you mess up, don’t be afraid to apologize. It’s a powerful tool in protecting your brand. ● Everyone messes up at some point in some way. Just own it. ● If you want to maintain a positive relationship with someone, it is up to you to make it happen. Steps to develop your personal brand ● Collaboration is critical in PLM. ● Practice relating to others — the better you relate to others, the better your personal brand will be. ● Ask yourself — am I reliable, dependable, and easy to work with? ● What 3 words would you like your teammates to say about you when you’re not in the room? ● Take action today that proves you are those characteristics. How to find a career mentor ● Reach out to management for mentor recommendations. ● Identify a mentor who can encourage and coach you and offer truthful feedback. ● Join a mastermind or accountability group that is relevant to your career. Why does your attitude matter? ● The attitude of one team member can make or break a group, meeting, or gathering. ● Words and body language matter in the productivity and creativity of your team. ● Ask yourself — what do I want my attitude to be? ● Show up with the attitude you want to have, regardless of how you might actually be feeling. Develop a positive attitude with CHAPS ● Compliment others regularly. ● Hear the words ‘thank you’ by helping your colleagues. ● Address people by their names. ● Positive words and phrases create a positive atmosphere. ● Smile — put a smile on someone else’s face. Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org. Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Disruptive technologies continue to drive VC strategies. We hear plenty about venture capital and inventions, and there is plenty yet to be invented for PLM (product lifecycle management). On this episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome SineWave Ventures managing general partner Yanev Suissa for a conversation about venture capital, the technologies that are impacting real change, and the things that we are focusing too much on (and what should be center-stage instead).

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Finding new technologies in PLM

• Thesis-driven actions and data-driven decisions help shape the work at SineWave.
• With the end goal in mind, they can identify the technologies that are not yet invented.
• Collaborations with industry experts help identify needs and trends.

Technologies to look out for

• Capital-intensive endeavors tend to turn off venture capitalists.
• Craig shares examples from the car industry that need to be addressed.
• Different technology phases require different levels of investment.

• Yanev offers investment options at the seed stage, venture stage, and late stages.

• Sourcing information is often driven by the commercial world.

• AI technologies and use cases offer some of the most interesting places for VC to invest.

Disruptive technologies that are driving the VC strategy

• Higher performance and lower cost continue to be the key drivers in investments.
• Supply chain technologies are currently center stage.
• Securities technologies have moved toward identity-centric securities.
• AI may be overhyped, but it’s far from going away.
• VCs want to find entrepreneurs who know how to adjust within different timeframes.

Finding a VC to invest in your idea

• Get connected on LinkedIn in whatever ways you can.
• The most interesting solution sets often come from big company people who are ready to solve a problem they have dealt with firsthand.
• Entrepreneur geographical location does matter, whether or not it should.

What are we too focused on (that we shouldn’t be)?

• The sovereignty of technology is getting over-hyped.
• We need to refocus on the ground-level answers — what matters and what are technologies trying to accomplish?
• A combination of what is possible in the future and what is useful today is essential to real progress.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Who should be responsible for the development of tools? Citizen developers or professional developers only? Or maybe a combination of the two is the right answer. Back to help hash out the pros and cons of this hot topic, Mark Pendergast joins Craig and Thom on this episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast. Without their usual polar opposite views, Craig and Mark highlight the strengths of both citizen and professional developers and share their recommendations for working toward coexistence to promote better innovation.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Citizen developer vs. professionals only

• Mark has been a citizen developer most of his career.
• Anyone who has a day job but also writes code is a citizen developer.
• These developers may be trained, or they may be hackers.
• Professional developers may also be trained or may also be hackers.
• Professionals aim to fill the demands of the IT department while citizen developers meet the needs that are left unaddressed by IT.
• IT faces constraints while citizen developers are free to address whatever they’d like.
• Citizen developers don’t always possess the level of skill that the professionals do.

Advantages and disadvantages of the citizen developer

• Citizen developers are generally quite close to the business need.
• They understand what’s missing and how to address it.
• The best citizen developers are free from the constraints of the IT department.
• Citizen developers rarely have a long-term focus and tend to build non-scaleable products.
• A lack of understanding of the professional craft reflects poorly in their work.

Advantages and disadvantages of the professional developer

• Professionals are better trained to handle the scaling problems.
• Professionals tend to know what is coming before it hits the company.
• However, very few professionals really understand the full scope of the business.
• A clearly defined division of responsibility would benefit both the professional and the citizen developer, as well as the end product.
• Management doesn't always support the cooperation of professional and citizen developers because it limits innovation.

Craig’s rules surrounding the development of software

• Don't’ share (if you're the citizen developer).
• If the product is attached to the IT network of the company, it’s the company’s responsibility to keep it safe and scaled.
• Phototypes can come from anybody and should be in the hands of the people that use them.

Mark’s rules surrounding the development of software

• When the rules become oppressive, tyranny ensues.
• IT is too powerful and readily available to overcome.
• The more IT tries to shut apps down, the more they will be shared.
• Rules need to be reasonable all around so they don’t force citizen developers underground.

Final words and takeaways

• Mark argues that there can be peaceful coexistence but recognizes that it won’t be easy to achieve.
• Improving the craft is key to success.
• IT needs to work together with citizen developers to provide tools and offer support.
• Craig agrees with Mark — the more knowledge any developer brings to the problem the better they can solve the process.
• If IT can solve the problem, find a citizen developer who can.
• Coexistence is the answer to better innovation.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Regardless of the stage in your career, staying relevant is key to staying employed. To highlight some of the essential steps to making sure you are engaged and relevant in your work, on today’s career development episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer welcomes Carolyn Strauss. Carolyn is a speaker and former designer on the Home Shopping Network and has joined Thom to discuss tactics and tips for designing yourself as an essential member of your team and player in your industry at every stage of your career.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Designing needful products or services

• Designing is a basic skill for people that enhances the life of the people who are using it.
• Whether digital products or the Home Shopping Network, designing keeps you relevant.
• Focus on the ways you can make things better than you found them.
• Find out where the work is, then go there and meet the people you want to do business with.
• Have more than one iron in your fire in case one path doesn’t pan out.
• Consider how the product or service you are designing is perceived by your company or industry.

Tips for staying relevant

• Connect with the smartest people in your industry.
• Take time to learn something that you don’t already know.
• Subscribe to industry publications to stay informed on the latest updates.

Connecting with people

• Connect in more meaningful ways than likes and follows on social media.
• Consider the motivation behind your engagement with others.
• Learn the 5 love languages and use them to connect with others.
• Identify associations and find time to volunteer there. Make it a part of your career goals.
• Show up — meeting in person is always more effective than on-screen interactions.

Enhancing your professional development

• Spend money to invest in your professional development.
• Listen to podcasts that highlight industry experts.
• Keep track of your deliverables — know how to answer the question “What do you do?”.
• Show up, smile, listen, and show appreciation.
• Find a local association that you can join, learn from and contribute to.
• Volunteer to be part of projects that are interesting to you, even if it is outside of your specific position.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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We have come a long way from thousands of pages in filing cabinets and snail mail communications, but the digitalization of data comes with its own set of challenges. Digitalization allows for the automation of transactions, but because it deals with people, there are still limitations. How are companies evolving with these changes? On today’s episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Craig Brown and Thom Singer are joined by PROSTEP, Inc. US Federal Sales Executive and Industry Manger Jim Markwalder for a conversation about the history, progress, and challenges of digitalization.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

What is digitalization in 2023?

• Traditionally, business has been all about people and documents.
• Digitalization made it possible to save, store, and manipulate documents.
• The challenge then came with emailing copies and maintaining version control.
• Digitalization happens when moving from documents to data.

Limitations to digitalization

• Can a contract become just data? Smart contracts and blockchain are designed to manage and control contracts.
• The legal system is slow to catch up with digital documents.
• Digitalization is not limited to data sharing, it also includes collaboration.

Applying digitalization to the digital thread

• While digitalization applies across the globe, the digital thread applies specifically to the product lifecycle.
• The digital thread addresses the beginning to the end and back to the beginning again.
• The digital twin holds the possibility of a manifestation in the real world.
• The expression of a part from a digital format is a physical manifestation of the digital twin.
• Open CLM and PROSTEP allows increased visibility and federate data.

Getting the digital thread right

• Leading industries, including manufacturing, are setting the standard.
• Healthcare, retail, utilities, and construction are all adapting well.
• PROSTEP is a vendor-neutral leader who supports end-to-end digitalization.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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With all of the rapid technology changes that are emerging all around us, how can you better look to and prepare for the future? Will AI render your work useless in the near future? It takes the insights of a futurist to understand all of the potential and problems that the future really holds. On today’s episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome Futurist and Applied Foresight Consultant Simon Anderson. Simon works to help companies be more future-ready, and he shares eye-opening insights into what exactly the future holds and his top five tips for becoming more future-ready.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

What is a futurist?

• The title means different things to different people.
• Generally speaking, a futurist studies the future and makes predictions based on current and emerging trends.
• Futurists aim to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities created by rapid change.
• Famous futurist Alvin Toffler made an impressive number of accurate predictions about the future.

Three A thinking

• Attention, anticipation, and action are the three key points to an improved mindset and practice.
• With the three A’s, you can change how you think as well as how you do things.
• By paying attention to the peripheral forces at work in your life, you can locate a preview of what might be important in the future.
• Consider ‘what if, what then?’ not to predict the future but to anticipate potential futures.
• Finally, identify the actions you would take if the potential future were to happen.
• Take 15 minutes a week to consider these trends and their potential impact.

Augmented reality trends

• Some aspects of virtual reality have been in the workplace for a long time.
• Virtual reality is still in the early stages, and is currently the worst it’s ever going to be.
• Current setbacks are still pointing these innovations toward the future.
• Automation tools are not going to fully replace humans one for one.
• AI does have the potential to replace humans on a micro level, but not on a macro level.

5 steps to becoming future ready

• 1- take a future-15 moment as described above.
• 2- create a counterpoint file that challenges your existing beliefs.
• 3- conduct a pre mortem with your board or company to understand why your company may not exist one day.
• 4- find an informed outsider to offer insights into your industry.
• 5- find a reverse mentor- someone with a generational perspective than you that can guide you through current and future technologies

Post-pandemic advice from a futurist

• Massive shifts over short periods of time are certainly possible.
• Consider what might happen next and how to take advantage of the opportunities presented.
• Look at what processes can be automated now and in the near future.
• Utilize the certifications, classes and tools that could give you an advantage within your industry.
• Engage the people in your organization who are interested in and responsible for looking ahead to the possibilities of the future.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Is engineering like a factory? Is there really waste that needs to be eliminated? If so, what is holding us back from really cutting the waste and improving processes? In the latest Digital Battle, Craig Brown and the new Digital Enterprise Board of Trustees Vice President Mark Pendergast take on the topic of lean engineering techniques. Craig and Mark start out on the same side of this argument, but don’t worry, that doesn’t last long as they further examine the successes, roadblocks, and possibilities of lean engineering techniques.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Why is engineering resistant to lean techniques?

• From Craig's perspective, lean techniques require the user to examine how wasteful they are.
• Engineers, managers, decision makers (and all humans) tend to think everything they do is useful, so is there really any waste to be cut?
• Mark’s experience taught him about lean before engineering, so he has no problem with cutting where necessary.
• The elite attitude of engineering limits the ability for lean techniques to succeed.

How is engineering like a factory?

• Consider the flow of information and decisions as they relate to both engineering and a factory.
• If you can apply lean to decision making rather than to people, it can be easier to talk about.
• Mark argues that there is incredible amounts of waste in the bureaucracy of engineering.
• The bulk of engineering work is the same process day after day.
• The 5 Whys are the questions that engineers need to ask themselves to reduce waste.

Lean techniques that are incompatible with engineering

• Mark says no - the application of these techniques can only have a positive result.
• Craig agrees - there is no downside to applying lean techniques to engineering.
• Lean techniques more easily identify where the problems are on the factory floor and then do something about it.
• Engineering struggles most when they don’t know their process.
• “Draining the swamp” prioritized lean techniques to help control both the loss and the improvements.

Engaging engineering in lean transformations

• Craig recommends engineering spend more time on the floor for an eye-opening view of the waste that can be eliminated.
• Mark calls out middle management as the battleground - upper management needs to reward the people who are willing to implement these techniques, even if they fail.
• To get to the digital future, we’re going to have to eliminate not only the physical waste of today but the digital waste going forward.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Everywhere you turn you hear that we all need to be better systems engineers, even though systems engineering is not without its shortcomings. Today Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome returning podcast guest Patrick Hillberg for a discussion about the shortcomings and solutions of system engineering. Because if systems engineering causes dysfunction, what is the solution?

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Why is systems engineering a potential pitfall?

• Patrick argues that decomposition creates systems dysfunction.
• Decomposition is the breaking down of the entire product to focus on individual groups.
• Mechanical, electrical, and software all have to work together as well as individually.
• Craig proposes that systems engineering may be a skill rather than a discipline.

What can the individual do to solve team dysfunction?

• If dysfunction is the problem, there must be a solution.
• Individuals can move to remove performance management programs.
• Diversity in teams with a variety of skills have an advantage over others.
• The history of the decomposition approach reveals some of its shortcomings.

Teams and decomposition compatibility

• Digital exhaust addresses who is talking to who.
• Limited communication results in limited innovation.
• A team that frequently talks to each other but rarely talks outside of the team is going to be a very efficient team, but not a very innovative team.

Is our history useful for the future?

• Patrick argues that the past century has not prepared us well for the next decade.
• External costs have never been a key consideration, resulting in limited future accessibility.
• A lack of accountability and ignoring repercussions has created major problems for the future.
• It’s possible that the Industrial Revolution was never truly sustainable.
• External costs are absolutely coming due, possibly even this decade.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Welcome to a new year with The Digital Enterprise Society podcast. Today Thom Singer and Craig Brown revisit one of the hottest topics from the Digital Intersect Conference in Detroit and in today’s constantly evolving digital landscape. They are joined by Robert Baillargeon, Chief Product Officer at SodiusWillert for a conversation about navigating configurations, managing the digital twin, and maximizing the effectiveness of digital threads.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

What is the market demand for interoperable systems?

• The demand is great- bringing data together to make better decisions is the main request across the industry.
• Integration is essential, as well as keeping metadata and preserving security and access controls.
• Interoperable systems aim to get people the data they need when they need, but only people who are allowed to can see it.

An overview of RESTful

• RESTful is an interface that two computer systems use to exchange information securely over the internet.
• It allows people to interact, but it doesn’t address context or configuration.
• The current challenge addresses how different microconfiguations build up into an enterprise configuration.
• Industry standards need to build configurations in a way that highlights the newest version.

Baby steps for managing configurations

• Configurations need to be made available for others to use.
• Enterprise managers need to know which threads are being operated on for which configurations.
• Managing variations and legacy expectations will be essential.

The bigger vision of the digital thread

• Change requests, feature requests, and processes will all drive change flow.
• The digital twin might capture a smaller component in the middle.
• The digital thread offers an awareness of the decisions that were made leading up to the current point.

Recommendations for developing solutions

• Agile is a critical tool that will help focus on value.
• Everyone needs to be able to make some decisions, from all sides.
• Checkpoints and targets will help to gauge progress and success.
• Utilize AI to navigate data change as it continues to grow from a limited number of files on one computer to the limitless access available through the internet.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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This special episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast was recorded live at The Digital Intersect Conference in Detroit, Michigan on November 17th. On the second half of their live Digital Battle, Craig Brown and Mark Pendergast continue to agree to disagree while answering questions about the digital thread, the digital twin, PLM, cyber security, and recruiting the next generation to the industry.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Can you have a digital thread without a digital twin?

• Craig points out that a twin is a point in time, while a thread is what makes the twin possible.
• Mark says yes, but how effective is either one without the other?
• The value only comes when either one is making money.
• A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical object.
• The digital twin can be used to gain insights into what that object might be doing in the future.

Does the historical definition of PLM still fit today?

• PLM was defined in the 1960s and, according to Mark, thousands of years ago.
• PLM is much more than CAD- it’s whatever helps you manage a product to obtain a successful outcome.
• Sustainability is playing an increased role in PLM, but the process still needs to stay focused on the product.

To what degree do digital engineering tools allow effective remote work?

• Advanced web technologies and secure databases have made remote work much more effective in recent years.
• Cyber security has become a primary concern for companies, making more effective, safe work possible.

Why has work on the cloud finally been widely accepted?

• Despite the major skepticism of the past, cyber security has finally been widely accepted.
• The pandemic forced many companies into the acceptance of the cloud, and the results have been overall positive.
• New startup companies as well as OEMs have to utilize the cloud in today’s world.
• Many IT departments are exceptionally conservative, but forced new technologies have made for a successful transition to the cloud.

How can the next generation be recruited to the industry?

• The elder advisors have insights for the next generation that they are willing to share. All you have to do is ask.
• Don’t be intimidated by the enormity of PLM, just get involved.
• Find the leadership that embraces PLM and then step up to the challenge.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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This special episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast was recorded live at The Digital Intersect Conference in Detroit, Michigan on November 17th. Recorded in front of a live audience, Craig Brown and Mark Pendergast take on The Digital Battle, answering questions addressing the digital thread, the digital twin, company culture, cyber security, and recruiting the next generation to the industry. True to form, they disagree on a majority of the topics, but both effectively share their insights and wisdom while answering questions and taking comments from the audience.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Who owns the digital thread?

• According to Mark, the digital thread is not a thing to be owned.
• It’s a process, a dynamic that can’t be owned.
• While the CEO may be the main ‘owner’, everyone owns pieces of the digital thread.
• It can be a gauge of how well your organization can collaborate.
• Craig argues that the customer is a critical owner of the digital thread.
• The future success of the digital thread is in the hands of the users.

Is the digital thread a new focus or just rebranding?

• Rebranding by vendors might be Craig’s pet peeve.
• The buzzwords surrounding rebranding don’t excuse the need for real change.
• Mark argues that rebranding increases the scope of thought surrounding all that a product can do.
• The digital twin is constantly changing and isn’t helping PLM’s image.

Is corporate culture more like a bowling ball or a bowl of spaghetti?

• Culture, according to Mark, is many things and has to be reckoned with before it hits you in the face.
• Like a stir fry, the sum of the company culture is greater than the parts of the individual.
• According to Craig, corporate culture is more like an overcooked, mushy mess.

Where should you start implementing collaborative design?

• Is collaborative design best implemented first internally, or externally with partners?
• Craig says external implementation should come first by hiring people to teach you what you don’t know.
• The goal should always be to learn more, not to avoid learning.
• Mark argues that if you haven’t mastered internal collaboration, you won’t be able to master it externally.

To what degree do digital engineering tools allow effective remote work?

• Advanced web technologies and secure databases have made remote work much more effective in recent years.
• Cyber security has become a primary concern for companies, making more effective, safe work possible.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Companies in every industry have faced unprecedented disruption for nearly two years now, and it has been made clear that some are handling pandemic-induced challenges much better than others. But what is the key difference between those who struggle and those who succeed? On this episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by CIMData President and CEO Peter Bilello for a discussion about the role of PLM in thriving companies, the intersection of AI and PLM, and market trends that successful companies need to take note of and pivot toward today.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Why are companies booming despite the pandemic?

• Challenges and opportunities meet at the same point.

• The pandemic has impacted different industries in various ways based on what they deliver to the market, but all industries have experienced disruption of some sort.

• Whether positive or negative, dealing with disruption is the name of the game right now.

PLM as an enabler of success

• Margins tend to be better in companies that employ product lifecycle management.
• However, there are plenty of successful companies that do not use PLM as a strategy.
• A strong PLM foundation tends to help companies deal with disruptions more efficiently.

The downside of remote working

• While many companies have successfully transitioned to remote work only, some limitations come with it.

• Innovation happens haphazardly and most often amidst coworker side conversations rather than in virtual meetings.

• Collaboration is much less likely to happen when teams are not meeting in person.

4 key market trends

• AI and machine learning are gaining momentum in more companies.
• More companies are moving toward SAAS options.
• The true enablement of the life cycle is being realized more than ever before.
• End-to-end connectivity and much-needed configuration management are improving exponentially.

Managing chaos and improving resiliency with PLM

• There will always be a cultural, human element to chaos and resiliency.
• The first step to dealing with disruption is to understand what’s going on to begin with.
• The theory of constraints illustrates where the focus and optimization need to take place.
• Flexibility improves with the implementation of PLM.
• Products exist within true system-to-systems, and resilient companies can adjust fast enough that the disruption is not fatal.

Areas to focus on now

• Ask yourself if you are document-centric or data-centric.
• Documents can only get you so far as they tend to hide information.
• Identify model-based data and information constructs to unlock key information.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

GUEST BIO: Peter Bilello has more than 35 years of experience in the development of business-enabling IT solutions for research, engineering, and manufacturing organizations worldwide. He has participated in PLM analysis, selection, implementation, and training; CAD/CAM/CAE/CIM implementation and management; synchronous and lean manufacturing consulting; software engineering; and general data management strategy development and support. He has authored numerous papers and research reports on PLM and related topics, and his articles, commentaries, and perspectives have appeared in publications throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Peter has been directly involved with consultation on selecting, integrating, and implementing large-scale PLM solutions. He has spoken on a number of different PLM-related topics in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Peter holds a BS in Computer Science with a minor in Physics from California State University, Fullerton, and an MSE in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from The University of Michigan.

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The long awaited live and in person event The Digital Intersect will take place in Detroit, Michigan on November 17th. Today Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome back Digital Enterprise Society president and return podcast guest Adam Specht for a look at the details of this event, including speakers, breakout topics, and the benefits that come from meeting in person. Registration is now open!

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Meeting in person again

• The Digital Intersect will provide the opportunity to meet in person again.
• There is an irreplaceable value in meeting in person to exchange ideas, data, and strategies.
• Virtual events have served their purpose, but nothing virtual can replace the interactions that happen when people are physically together.

Overcoming the challenges of the virtual workplace

• This timely topic will be addressed at the conference.
• How can you build a winning team culture from the home office?
• We are a globally distributed workforce, which requires some virtual interaction.
• The Digital Intersect will allow people to meet in person to share strategies for effective virtual connections.

Conference networking strategies

• Your one-time attendance at a conference is not the only effort you have to make at networking.
• Identify people you can develop long term, mutually beneficial relationships with.
• Over a lifetime, career opportunities will come from the people in your network.

An overview of The Digital Intersect

• The Futurist Simon Anderson will provide a look at the future of the digital community.
• Peter Bilello will offer the state of the industry.
• Breakout groups will provide opportunities to address current challenges, including Collaborative Design, Digital Thread, and Team Culture.
• Vendors will address collaboration and management in a mixed toolset environment.

Maximizing your time at the event

• Open your mouth, share your ideas and be open to conversation.
• Recognize that everyone has a different comfort level post-pandemic and will respect others preferences.
• Push yourself to meet one new person at every break or meal.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Register for The Digital Intersect today

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Data aggregation compiles the information from databases with the intent to prepare combined datasets for data processing, and connecting humans to that data is the mission of today’s guest. On this episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome Rob Cooke, CTO and Founder of 3Forge, a lover of computers and computer science. Rob is constantly thinking about how computers work and has joined the podcast today for a discussion about data aggregation- what it is, what it isn’t, how it can improve data exploration and what the future of data aggregation could really look like.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Understanding data aggregation

• The goal of data aggregation is to take disparate sets of data and combine them into the consumable sets of data.
• The result allows humans to make usable meaning out of the data.
• The ability to aggregate data is a key part of data exploration.
• Data aggregation provides increased clarity and minimizes confusion around definitions.

The data aggregation elevator pitch

• The initial approach to data aggregation is to simply leave the data where it is.
• Transferring data from one location to another is rarely the best solution.
• A willingness to make the needed change is essential to successful aggregation.
• Once data discovery is completed, it’s time to move on to the next step.

Handling data from devices

• The massive amounts of data that are available now make things both easier and more complicated.
• The input of data, the ability to ask questions of your data and get answers back, and the evaluation of real time streamed data are all essential.
• As the data is taking place, it is critical to be able to process what is important as quickly as possible to filter critical data.

The four V’s of data

• Validity- Sometimes the data is just wrong, for however short a period of time.
• Variety- Refers to the variation that comes in data, often without explanation.
• Volume- the amount of data that is available has increased exponentially.
• Velocity- the speed that the data is coming at you is also increasing.
• The four V’s interact and each help to clarify and refine data.
• Simulation can help with collecting, analyzing, and improving data.
• The next layer that needs to be focused on is being aware of data systems, connecting those systems, and running analysis on the data and feeding it back in.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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As people live longer, retirement has taken on a new face. In the space between working full time and doing nothing at all, there are opportunities for retirees to find fulfillment and satisfaction in their days. On this episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome DES Trustee for Content Mark Pendergast for a deep conversation about retirement- how to fail at retirement (which both Craig and Mark have done exceptionally well) and how to find the right mix of work and relaxation as you reach the winding up stage of your career.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

What does it mean to fail at retirement?

• Failed retirement can mean getting rid of the drudgery and still actively participating in the fun parts of your work.
• If you still have one foot in the industry, you’re failing at retirement.
• In some instances, forced retirement means you’re pushed out of the workforce whether you like it or not.
• Failing at retirement may or may not have anything to do with your financial situation.
• A first attempt at retirement can teach you a lot about how you want to spend your days.

What does retirement look like now?

• As people live longer, retirement has taken on a new face.
• In between working full time and doing nothing full time, there are great opportunities for contribution and fulfillment.
• People who are passionate about their work are rarely ready to walk away from it entirely.
• Active retirees may not have the same stamina they once had, but their knowledge and experience are more valuable than ever.
• Retirement today means giving back to the next generation.

Why is retirement so hard?

• The physical aspect of a job might not be an option anymore, but the intellectual aspect of work doesn’t necessarily need to retire.
• Retirement is often viewed as a kind of failure, but it’s really just the next chapter of your meaningful contributions.
• Workaholics especially can have a hard time facing and filling the gap that retirement creates.
• A career creates identity, while retirement requires a reinvention of an identity.

How to prepare for a successful retirement

• If you’re a workaholic, start taking more time off from work.
• Take note of the work that you enjoy doing most.
• Take good care of your health so that you can fully enjoy this stage of your life.
• Build connections that will bridge you to this next stage.
• Identify the valuable contributions that you can make regardless of your current job.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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The pandemic proved that we can work remotely, but is it really best to be isolated from your peers as you are growing your career? Or are greater career benefits found in in-person connections? Enter user groups, an effective way to connect people to share strategies and best practices. On this episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Craig Brown and Thom Singer are joined by Scott Wertel, co-content trustee and board member of the Digital Enterprise Society, for a conversation about the value of user groups to any industry, the characteristics of the most successful ones, and the benefits that user groups can have on your career and your network.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

What are user groups and why are they so important?

• People should always be at the forefront of technology.
• People are the best resource for making decisions.
• User groups are designed to share knowledge and insights.

Characteristics of a successful user group

• Support from the parent company is essential.
• Local financial support is an indicator of success.
• Active participation is essential to a health user group.
• Common topics for discussion help drive a user group forward.

The evolving dynamics of user groups

• Face to face groups tend to work best, but the pandemic has restructured the successful user group.
• With more time available to them, more people have taken the time to participate in user groups.
• Five generations are in the workforce now, which means a variety of communication methods are necessary for success.
• Although remote work is an acceptable option, there are many benefits to in person interactions.
• Tips and tricks are the most common feature of today’s user groups.
• User groups have the major benefit of filtering content and providing peer review.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Who is a digital customer and what do they expect from companies in today’s fast paced, digitally driven world? On this episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Craig Brown and Thom Singer sit down with Howard Tiersky, CEO and Founder of FROM and author of Winning Digital Customers for a conversation about the role that digital tools play in today’s customer experience. Whether they realize it or not, nearly every customer experience is affected by digital tools, and it is up to companies to keep up with the rapid change of pace that customers are demanding.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Who is a digital customer?

• Digital customers live a digital-centric lifestyle.
• Techniques of digitalization can help a customer visualize a product long before it is made.
• Keeping the value the customer wants front and center continues to shift toward digitalization, especially in vehicles.

Maximizing the value proposition of customer preferences

• First, understand the customer you are addressing.
• Utilize a wide range of customer research strategies.
• Too many companies underinvest in customer research.
• Digital technologies bring the ability to show off what a product could be.
• Requirements are a tool, improved experience is the ultimate goal.

Clarifying the term ‘digital’

• The terms we use to describe digital anything is just a reference to the tools that are used.
• Digital refers to every aspect of a product or service, it is no longer an isolated department.
• Digital is the future of every business, even Taco Bell.
• The customer experience is improved when companies utilize digital.

Digitalization versus digital

• Digitalization takes something analog and creates a digital format.
• Digitalization can also refer to the digital transformation.
• Either way, customers have changed to be more digital and companies have to follow suit.
• The digital experience has to meet the needs of today’s customer.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Do you suspect that you have an unconscious bias that is limiting your network or your career opportunities? On this career development episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer sits down with Deborah Biddle for a conversation about why diversity matters and the importance of understanding unconscious bias in the workplace and in the world. Whether you’re the boss who makes hiring decisions or the employee who is looking to increase your understanding of the role that DEI plays in successful businesses, this conversation is filled with points to ponder and action items that apply to everyone.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Defining DEI

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion is a widely used term that refers to the unique and different experiences and identities that people bring to the table.
• Diversity defines who is in the room and what kind of support, service, and promotions do they get? Consider who engages in your circles that is different from you.
• Inclusion is the goal of creating an environment of connection and acceptance- who is valued and feels a sense of belonging?

Overcoming barriers in the workplace

• There is still an incredible amount of inequality to be overcome.
• Pay equity is still grossly unequal, from men to women, and also within women employees.
• There are barriers based on perception of abilities and disabilities.
• Access to information is not always widely distributed to everyone who needs it.

Increasing feelings of connection and respect

• Examine practices and procedures to determine if any one type of background, identity or life experience is being excluded.
• Eliminate barriers that keep people from being successful, including scheduling and the utilization of technology.
• Ensure that you are practicing what you preach- DEI only works when it is put to work.
• Consider ways that you can look beyond your immediate sphere of influence to make a difference in your organization.
• Flexibility is a key factor to equity and giving as many people as possible access to work.

What is unconscious bias and why does it matter?

• Unconscious bias is the stereotyping that can be affecting our actions and decisions in an unconscious way.
• Consider popular slogans and how they influence the decisions we make from exposure to them.
• A negative indoctrination can also have a negative influence on your decisions.

First steps to making positive change

• Start by simply recognizing that some of what you have learned about others is true, and some of it isn’t.
• Commit to operating out of the best place rather than from your negative unconscious biases.
• Slow down in your interactions and assumptions of others.
• Ask others for feedback on identifying your biases.
• Take Harvard’s Implicit Association test to learn more about your biases.
• Pause long enough to process what you’re thinking and feeling about people who are different from you.
• Question the assumptions that you have about others and logically analyze your thoughts.
• Intentionally act in an unbiased manner and increase your exposure to a wide diversity of people.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Whether you're up for a promotion or considering looking for a new job altogether, the ability to concisely tell the story of your career in a way that highlights the expert that you are is more important now than ever before. On this episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer teams up with Dr. Janel Anderson, prior college professor and communication, leadership and technology expert, for a conversation about your career story- what it is, what it isn’t and how you can perfect it today.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Why is your career story so important?

• The minor details of your career story aren’t that interesting.
• Stay focused on what you want your listener to learn about you the most.
• A resume is not an adequate replacement for your career story.
• A resume can’t carry your message nearly as well as your career story.

The four steps to preparing your career story

• Think about the dramatic highlights that have moved your career forward.
• Identify the moment that launched you into your career.
• Think about the backstory- how much of it really needs to be included in your story?
• Define the resolution to dramatic highlights that have led you to this moment.
• Once you’ve defined these four points, reorganize them into your career story — first, backstory; second, launch story; next, the dramatic highlights; and finally, the resolution.
• Dedicate time to crafting each step while leaving space in between each one.

How much is too much information?

• Consider your audience — what aspect of your career story will interest them most?
• Different audiences will benefit from different variations of your story.
• Ask questions to clarify what your audience really needs to hear.

Mistakes people make when talking about themselves

• The elevator pitch does not substitute for your career story, but it can be the bumper sticker version of it.
• Don’t go too far back in time — no one wants to hear about your junior high hobbies unless they are a junior high teacher.
• Consider the most compelling and dramatic elements of your career story and focus on those instead.
• Don’t forget to practice your story in advance!
• Ask for professional feedback from someone that has insights into your actual career (most likely not your partner or roommate).

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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As prices for just about everything continue to rise, sustainability is earning it’s place in the spotlight over efficiency. PLM may indicate whether a product is created more efficiency, but is it a product that should be created in the first place? Products that don’t incorporate sustainability have been facing greater scrutiny in recent years, and today’s guest would argue that there is a better way to think about PLM. On this episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome back Patrick Hillberg for a conversation about the economic side of product development.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

What drives economies?

• What would happen if the demand for oil diminished greatly? $100 per gallon oil would drastically change the demand for oil.
• Externalities are the costs associated with a transaction that are not borne by the producer or the consumer.
• As our understanding of our impact increases, externalities also increase in their effect.

Increasing sustainability in PLM

• Most leaders agree that sustainability needs to be addressed.
• Redefining PLM is a critical step to incorporating sustainability as PLM doesn’t tell you if you’re making the wrong product.
• PLM only helps with improving the efficiency of whatever product you’re making.
• Digital disruptions caused by the pandemic- and Zoom specifically- have improved efficiency.

How do disruptions change PLM?

• MPL- managing product lifecycle- might be a superior approach than PLM.
• This approach focuses more on creating products that bring the greatest value to society.
• PLM has become a very technical topic that often misses the business aspect.
• Fossil fuels and batteries are an example of PLM disruptions.

Engineering toward sustainability

• The skills of digital engineering are transferable, and can be redirected toward more sustainable efforts.
• The electronic and mechanical worlds are intersecting as both are working toward greater sustainability.
• Patrick’s new paper, “What if gasoline were $100?” argues that high density power might not be available and that we should start thinking about correcting for it now.
• Efficiency often misses out on innovation and resilience, a problem that digital factory twins can help resolve.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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No one is more responsible for your career than you. You have to take ownership of your career path, but it can feel like an incredibly daunting task to know where or how to get started on your next career move. On this episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer is taking over the mic for another career-centered conversation. He is joined by Mark Herschberg, the author of The Career Toolkit, Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You. Additionally, Mark is a CTO, an instructor at MIT, and a speaker. Together they discuss the importance of taking ownership of your career path, how to find the next right move your career, and how to develop the skills that every employer is looking for in their next employee.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Developing critical career skills

• No one is taught the essential soft skills that employers are looking for, so it is necessary to develop them on your own.
• A career plan can help you recognize and achieve your target goals.
• Recognizing what you don’t know can help you get started.

4 steps to develop your career plan

• First, identify where you want to be at a specific endpoint.
• Second, clearly define the elements of the job or goal you are working to achieve.
• Next, ask other people for information about any required skills.
• After determining what long term skills you need, backtrack to identify the intermediate skills that will get you there.

What if you don’t know what you want?

• Understand that there is so much more to any job than what you might think it is.
• Ask as many people as you can about the ins and outs of a position.
• Pinpoint the elements of work that excite you, and then look for jobs that fit your preferences.
• Consider looking outside your industry to learn more about job opportunities.
• Reach out to those who have already done the work in an industry and allow them to help you along your way.

Overcoming common career plan pitfalls

• The plan does not have to be set in stone- prepare to adjust as needed.

• Regular check-ins will help you stay on track.

• Set a recurring six month reminder in your phone to “think about my career”.
• Value small changes- they can have a major impact over the long term.

Engaging others in creating their career plan

• Don’t discount your peers and other people who can also benefit from this exercise.
• You don’t have to only look to those that are further along in their careers for advice.
• Develop mastermind groups to share ideas with like-minded people.
• Encourage groups within your company, but don’t stop there.
• Don’t wait for the experts to come around- you can learn from your peers now.
• Managers need to help their team focus on career planning regardless of whether it’s within the company or not.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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The culture of your company can make or break your career, your competitive edge, and your industry experience. Can anyone really shape company culture? Or are you resigned to deal with the culture that is already in place? In the latest Digital Battle, Craig Brown and Mark Pendergast examine the hows and whys behind successfully changing company culture. Craig considers company culture a key component to staying competitive, while Mark argues that it’s very, very difficult to build a new company culture so you’re better off adapting the one you have with the problem at hand. But who is right?

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

What sustains and drives culture?

• Culture is the collection of stories around your company.

• With company culture, everyone knows the path to success and just follows it.

• Culture is shaped by what management pays attention to and rewards.
• It can be so difficult to change company culture because it’s distributed throughout the entire company.
• Alternately, accepting company culture can mean that your company is resigned to not staying competitive.
• Culture should be more about innovation and less about bureaucracy.
• Embracing change while maintaining quality is essential to staying competitive.

Subcultures within a company

• Subcultures that are innovating and creating need to be fostered throughout the entire company.
• Subcultures have the potential to change the entire company culture for the better.
• Subcultures can create tension with management and across the company.
• The overall company culture is present while specifics vary from group to group.
• Leadership, not management, has the power to change culture for the better.
• Quality cannot be negatively impacted by any attempts at creating subculture.

A manager’s impact on culture change

• People don’t follow managers just because of their title, they follow leaders they believe in.
• Leaders need to exhibit the culture that they expect people to follow.
• Effective change doesn’t happen with memos- it happens with actions.
• Culture is created with stories, celebrations and communications.
• Outside personalities do not have the same sustainable impact on company culture as leaders do.

Why do people resist culture change?

• Real change is uncomfortable, and it’s rare to find people who really want to change.
• Fear is a major factor in resisting change.
• People will resist change if they’re not confident that leadership will support them.
• Leaders have to be the driving force behind change.
• People don’t resist change, they resist being changed.
• Effective change happens when people are willing to make the change themselves.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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The network that will support your career isn’t just going to appear — it takes work on your part to get involved in industry associations. On this week’s episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer puts industry veteran Craig Brown in the guest seat for a conversation about the positive impact that involvement in industry standard groups, think tanks and associations can have on your career. From influencing the next generation and inspiring others to learning new things, the connections you make can make the difference between success and struggle at every stage of your career.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The impact of industry involvement on your career

• Involvement in these groups increases awareness of industry happenings.
• Traditionally, innovation groups shared research that wasn’t available in any other way.
• Today, these groups continue to share standards and best practices for testing methods and simulation.
• As technologies continue to advance, these groups still play an important role.
• Group collaborations provide a link to tool vendors.

Effective engagement in groups

• If you’re not engaging in broader industry groups, you’re missing a golden opportunity to learn.
• If a group isn’t providing the insights or education you were looking for, dismiss yourself from the group and find another one.
• Identify your fundamental beliefs and find groups that will support your career aims.
• Collaboration happens within a community, and community doesn’t happen by accident.
• Find a mentor that can help guide your career path.

The role of flexibility in growing your career

• Opportunities will continue to present themselves as you get involved through a variety of engagements, including podcasts, conferences, and networking meetups.
• Career advancement comes from being flexible at every stage in your career.

• Specializing is important but can also be to the detriment of your career if you’re unwilling to change as needed.

• Partnering with other companies can build critical relationships in your career.

• International companies can offer valuable cross-cultural references.

Supporting the next generation in your industry

• As your career advances, it is essential to send the elevator back down so you can help the next generation up.
• Identify and vocalize the potential that the next generation has to offer the industry.
• Leaving a mark isn’t about what you have created, it’s about the passion and inspiration that you’ve instilled in others.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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We used to say don’t bring your feelings to work, but what if our feelings and the way we show up and make others feel actually has a big impact on our own success and career trajectory? This week, Tom is joined by Trevor Blondeel, founder of Operations Kickstart. Through his speaking, writing, and coaching, Trevor works with manufacturers to remove roadblocks and connect the top to the shop floor. Tom and Trevor explore why the way that you show up matters, how to even gauge the way you are showing up and impacting others, and what to do when you get some honest feedback you weren’t expecting. Trevor shows some real-world and practical examples of what it looks like when you show up better for your team.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

What does it really mean to show up better for your team?

• How people feel and how we make people feel determines the extent to which they are going to engage with us.
• Communication is important, and especially for engineers and manufacturers, we can remove roadblocks when we are able to communicate to others in a clear and friendly manner.
• Times have changed in the workplace and we are now recognizing that people aren’t one-dimensional robots that lose their personality once they come to work.
• The more people feel connected at work, the more engaged they will be.
• We want to aim for a long-term connection with our team.

Why does your social network matter?

• You are heavily influenced by the 5 people closest to you.
• Our social business network is the creation of long-term and mutually beneficial relationships between two or more people. Everyone involved in those relationships finds more success than they would without them.
• One of the ways that humans build relationships is through community and collaboration.
• In order to get that feeling of community and to have collaboration, you have to be a whole person and can’t live in a silo.
• When we show up in a way that makes others around us feel seen and connected, their brains and broadening and building.

Why do people have trouble showing up and what can they do about it?

• First, it starts with knowing how you are showing up and impacting the group.
• Emotional intelligence is a skill, and we can all learn it.
• It’s humbling to hear the truth and to get feedback. This is not for the weak, but for the brave and vulnerable!
• Sometimes, people think compliments from others mean they are doing a great job and there’s nothing to change or improve upon.

How Can You Ask For Feedback, And What To Do Once You’ve Gotten It?

• Brace yourself because you may not know how you have been showing up.
• Find a trusted friend or acquaintance who will shoot it to you straight. Ask them how you show up and how they think it makes others feel. Listen to their observations with an open mind.
• It is important to say “thank you” and step away to process after getting feedback rather than getting defensive.
• Absorb the feedback and start to see how you can begin to make little changes in the way you show up and affect others.

Final thoughts on the conversation:

• The way we show up matters, not only for our career but for helping others to grow and be their best.
• Be vulnerable. Be brave. Ask for feedback and be open to hearing what others have to say.
• Find the right people. You are the sum of the five people you are most around, so pick good ones.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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How many engineering design tools do we really need to get the job done? Craig Brown says fewer, Mark Pendergast says more, and with that the latest Digital Battle is underway. Innovation is often driven by new tools, and innovation drives the need for new tools. In this uncharacteristically amicable digital battle, Craig and Mark examine both sides of the same coin and share the drivers, challenges and benefits of utilizing the new tools that are continually appearing in today’s engineering toolbox.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Why do engineers need so many tools?

• People use the tools they are used to, whether they actually need them or not.
• There are three areas of digitization- author tools, the database behind it, and the model libraries of knowledge- that Craig argues need to be minimized.
• Engineering products have become very specialized, and often push the frontier of the possible.
• Core tools and fringe tools need to be managed differently, according to Mark.
• Specialization requires more tools than was once the standard.

Should access to design tools be limited or uncontrolled?

• Computer-based tools present a higher cyber threat and bring in unknown risks.
• There needs to be a compelling reason to introduce additional tools.
• Craig favors limits on tools while also allowing the options for better tools when they are presented.
• Budgets create a practical limit on tool usage, and there are also abuses on the limited side.
• Many tools don’t have different physics but different application domains.
• Tools are about more than managing a design, it’s about managing the environment the tool works in and its behavior.

Will there always be a rapid pace of introduction of new tools?

• Mark would argue that there will always be new tools, and those tools are driving amazing new products.
• AI, big data and other solutions to problems are constantly and continually being invented.
• It is essential to properly manage the transition from one core tool set to the next.
• Innovation needs to be fostered in a controlled way.
• According to Craig, energy efficiency will continue to drive innovation, and that drive of innovation requires new tools to help manage it.
• Changes to manufacturing with 3D printing and additive manufacturing will also require new tools.

Final thoughts on the tool set

• The tool set is like a garden that needs to grow and be pruned as necessary.
• The process of renewal and finding new tools is controlled while also encouraging innovation.
• Tools that are not within your discipline deserve the same benchmarking as the tools you already use.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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The intelligent digital twin continues to transform the way that business is done in today's digital landscape. On this episode of the Digital Enterprise Society Podcast Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome back one of the show’s earliest guests, Dr. Michael Grieves, Executive Director and Chief Scientist at Digital Twin Institute. His life’s work is dedicated to moving from the physical to the digital world, and he has returned to the podcast to share insights on exactly why and how the usage and effectiveness of the digital twin has exploded so dramatically over the past few years.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Defining the Digital Twin

• There are over 400,000 definitions of the digital twin, and which one you’re accessing will determine what it means to you.
• There are three key types of digital twin instances that provide instances of how a product is going to perform- the prototypical digital twin, digital twin instance, and the digital twin aggregate.
• Products that are created virtually can be designed to perform exactly the way the user expects.
• Industry 4.0 aims to decrease the time between having a problem and being able to remediate it, and the digital twin can help with this.

Overcoming roadblocks to effectively using the digital twin

• Overhyping the digital twin is not helping the cause. It needs to be driven by use cases.
• Digital natives are very comfortable with the digital twin, more often it’s senior management that is the holdup.
• An inability to articulate the value of the digital twin hinders adoption.
• The digital twin has to effectively and clearly show its value.

Characteristics of the intelligent digital twin

• The intelligent digital twin is intended not to replace but to help humans.
• The intelligent digital twin is passive- it collects the data but the humans are responsible for its application.
• AI is simply predictive and will have a front-running simulation.
• The application of computers has transformed so drastically over the years, the digital twin is more essential now than ever before.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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The essence of the digital transformation journey is understanding trade-offs, and today’s digital battle offers clear points for each side of the argument. We all want the digital thread to work and data to flow without interruption, so where is the hold up? On the latest Digital Battle, Craig Brown and Mark Pendergast tackle the viscosity of data and why it doesn’t flow like it should. Is it the people or the technology that slows the processes down? Craig immediately attributes the hold up to people, Mark argues that the technology isn’t in place to make things happen effectively, and with that, another heated digital battle is under way.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Craig blames the people

• Data flow is impeded by people because of the differing opinions about which tools are the best ones.
• The unwillingness of people to conform to what matters to the company is what holds up the flow of data.
• If the data is stuck and won’t move, it’s because of the people.
• People try too hard to perfect their designs before they are willing to share data.

Mark argues against the technology

• People are trying to get their jobs done, and have to share information with others to do so.
• If data is stuck, it’s because of the technology.
• The tools are not mature enough to effectively communicate with other tools.
• The incompatibility of standards limits productivity.
• Maturity-based, phased release isn’t sufficiently supported by technology.

Is there a third player to blame?

• Processes might be the real culprit in this digital battle.
• Experience has taught too many people to hold onto their data rather than share it.
• Processes marry people to the technology and in many cases, is the true point of failure.

The impacts of poor flow

• Data isn’t able to be reused because it’s not optimally formatted.
• Change cycles greatly contribute to the lack of viscosity.
• Time to market is affected by poor flow.
• Quality is critically impacted by poor flow.

How can flow be improved?

• On the people side, people need to emphasize communication about the latest data.
• Quality checks need to be in place at every checkpoint.
• Understand how your widget fits into the bigger picture and how it is used by others.
• On the technology side, data flow needs to be designed to work.
• A plan to execute free data hand off from end-to-end would greatly improve flow.
• Data governance cannot be static- data flow governance is needed to make data flow.
• Metrics and rewards need to measure flow.

Key areas of value for viscosity of data

• Clear measures need to be established to identify reuse of data.
• Consumers willingness to pay for a product is really what matters most.
• Mainstream flow has many inefficiencies that need to be addressed.
• Vendors need to insist on new tools that fit with existing tools.
• The CAD to PLM to ERP chain needs to be refined end-to-end.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Whether you are at the beginning of your career or nearing the end of it, in order to remain relevant and useful to your employer, you have to be able to market yourself as someone who can solve big problems. Both employees and consultants rely on the same essential tool to market themselves, and it’s a concept that we talk about often here on The Digital Enterprise Society- your network. In today’s podcast, Thom Singer and Craig Brown and joined by Bruce Sing, a seasoned industry veteran who has insights into the role that your network will play in the later years of your career.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

How to leave your current position for the next one

• A common career misconception is that the job that you currently have is one that you can perform anywhere.
• Competition for the role can be a major hurdle to securing your next position.
• It is essential to market what you bring to the table to your potential employer.
• Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, you have to be able to market yourself.
• A LinkedIn profile is no longer optional.

Debunking the most common job search misconception

• ‘I can just apply for a job online and the company will want me and reach out to me.’
• The reality is that the talent acquisition process is designed around the assumption that they will be inundated with applications, and are designed to weed people out.
• Hiring managers don’t always know if or why applicants are being weeded out.

Tapping into the value of your network

• If you are beyond entry level, in order to find another job, you need a network.
• A network can allow you to enter into your new position through the side door.
• Your network can help you determine if a position listing is legitimate or just a standard business process.

Considerations for consultant work

• A consultant needs a network just as much as anyone else.

• Consulting allows you to provide your knowledge value in a project way rather than in a team way.

• Consultants still have to prove the value they are adding to the company.
• Consultants need to be able to prove that they can solve big problems in exchange for the money they are receiving.
• The more advanced you are in your career, the more expensive you are, and potentially more replaceable.

Finding work near the end of your career

• There are a myriad of opportunities to apply your wisdom and expertise at the end of your career.
• The important thing is that you are compelling and able to solve problems in a way that is valuable to someone.
• Whether you are working as an employee or a consultant, you have to market yourself as someone who can solve big problems.

Overcoming your job search fears

• Don’t take roadblocks or rejections personally.
• Leverage your network in every possible opportunity
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
• Stay current and understand the tools of business today.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Do you know the power of because? When people know your because, they are far more likely to be influenced to say yes. On today’s episode, Thom Singer is joined by marketing consultant Gerry O’Brion to talk about how to effectively influence others. Gerry shares the four questions about your audience that you need answers to, and he offers the single most critical thing you need to do to effectively influence others (and it doesn’t start with finding your why).

On today’s podcast, you will learn about:

Influencing people to say yes

• Regardless of your position, you are in a position to influence others.
• Effective influence techniques can be applied to any situation.
• A strong framework of influence can effectively change the decisions people make.

Four questions to ask about your audience

• Who are you influencing? Not everyone can be influenced in the same way, so your approach will have to change accordingly.

• What insights do you have about your audience? And what do they want more or less of, hope for, and fear?

• What is the outcome that you are going to cause? You need to have proof that you will deliver what you say you can deliver.

• What is your because? Your because is the logical proof that the decision is a good one.

How to best frame your influence

• Clearly identify what’s in it for them.
• Find actual metrics that prove the results that come when you put your promise to work.
• People want to be able to prove to others that they made a good choice — give them the evidence they need to say yes.
• Don’t focus only on the outcome, support it with rational, logical reasons that support the decision.

How to identify the because

• People may understand your why, but when they understand your because, you will really be able to have an effective influence on them.
• Understand the problems that leaders are trying to solve.
• Frame your solutions in terms of what they are thinking about, not what you are thinking about.
• Use the insights into their mindset to answer their concerns and solve their problems.

What Big Brands Know

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Shareables:

[8:09] “Get focused on who you are influencing, because not everyone is influenced in the same way.” — Gerry O’Brion

[10:35] “When you’re influencing someone who has five big problems on their plate and you're not one of them, they don’t care.” — Gerry O’Brion

[18:44] “Your brain needs a rational reason to make an emotional decision.” — Gerry O’Brion

[25:23] “You have to arm people with the information they need to make a rational, logical reason to agree with you.” — Gerry O’Brion

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ERP and contract management should be digital, but too many companies are still not streamlined and communicating with other businesses as effectively as possible. With the help of companies like Zumen, companies and computers are getting more connected and solving the issues that slow processes down. On this episode of The Digital Enterprise Society Podcast, Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Viswa Kuppuswami, founder and CEO of Zumen, Inc., a SAAS startup product manufacturing company that focuses on managing the direct material procurement process. They discuss the importance of effective ERP (enterprise resource planning), overcoming and preventing supply chain issues, and how to automate workflows more effectively.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

3 critical systems to effective enterprise systems

• ERP software, according to Viswa and Craig, comes first.
• Production planning and manufacturing processing comes next.
• PLM or PDM is the third step, although ideally it would be first.
• For growing and scaling companies, the first thing they need from a business perspective is a proper ERP system.

Streamlining the BOM-to-delivery process

• Zumen focuses heavily on the new product processing.
• As a product is designed and built, the accurate cost is also built into the product.
• There can be an overlap as the product travels from design to supplier.
• The product lifecycle and the procurement lifecycle both factor into a product entering the system.
• Design changes from suppliers and designers are managed by the PRQ and RFQ.

Overcoming supply chain disruptions

• The ERP system is becoming more critical than ever as companies continue to adjust their supply chain processes.
• More companies are identifying and appreciating the need for improved digitalization.
• Proactive strategies need to be employed to prevent future shortages.
• Digitized ERP systems can help companies identify their best options.

Automating workflows effectively

• Companies need to be careful not to skip review steps along the way.
• Digitized workflows can allow for a faster, but still as effective review process.
• Considering the cost of disruption is an essential aspect of effective workflow.

Managing the parts library

• Companies need a robust framework for information digitalization.
• Supply information and quality records are tracked and provided to companies.
• Ppap information should be provided, with additional conversations happening as needed.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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As we all continue to return to the office and other face-to-face environments, many people have realized that they are out of practice with connecting with people. To share the power of making uncommon connections, we’re turning to the network expert. On this career development episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer is taking over the microphone for a solo episode about building your network (and why it even matters). He shares how to more effectively interact with people, why you interact with people, and how, if you do, it will set you up for promotions, new jobs, and to have more fun and success in your career and in your life.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Why do interpersonal relationships matter?

• People do business with people they know, like and trust.
• Consider who you prefer to do business with- the people you know, like and trust.
• Mutual trust sets the foundation for accomplishing more in your work.
• Knowing more people makes it easier to answer the tough questions.
• Your expanded network wants to see you succeed.
• Connections strengthen your visibility as well as that of your company.

Thinking beyond the elevator pitch

• Although good in theory, rarely does the elevator pitch get the results we think it will.
• First impressions have less to do with what you tell others about you and more to do with what you ask them about themselves.
• Ask questions, be curious and encourage talking.
• People who do the talking tend to like the person that is listening to them.
• Learning more about others gives you the opportunity for follow up.
• Meeting someone you have met once does not make them part of your network.

Creating uncommon connections

• Uncommon connections are the ones that you have with only a handful of people.
• Networking is so much more than stale cheese and cheap wine.
• Networking is the creation of long-term and mutually beneficial relationships between two or more people where everyone involved finds more success because of it.
• You cannot have an uncommon connection with everyone.

Why should you strengthen your network?

• Shared experiences build stronger relationships.
• By knowing who you are and what you have to offer, you can confidently offer it to others.
• Introverts tend to have more successful networks because they are less inclined to talk about themselves.

How to strengthen your network

• Minimize distractions by putting your phone away.
• Focus on face-to-face interactions whenever they are presented.
• Uncover shared commonalities by asking questions and expressing curiosity.
• Focus on the few people that you are connecting with rather than the entire group- think quality over quantity.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

Shareables:

[2:10] “When we get back to basics and connect more with others, we’re going to find more success.” — Thom Singer

[8:40] “Meeting someone once does not make them part of your network.” — Thom Singer

[9:20] “If you want to make uncommon connections, you have to stand out from the crowd.” — Thom Singer

[29:20] “If you invest in people, it will impact every single area of your life.” — Thom Singer

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No matter the size of your company, operational excellence should be your goal. Business and model processing plays a key role in utilizing the extensive data that is available to companies today. On this episode of The Digital Enterprise Society Podcast, Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Pyze President and CEO Prabhjot Singh, for a conversation about the value and potential that is available through improved business processes for companies of all sizes.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

What can the data tell us about business processes?

• Data can inform business processes more effectively than ever before.
• Historically, process improvement has been a time-consuming, expensive endeavor.
• Software can identify the different ways that products can morph from start to finish.
• Time and cost effective analyses are readily available with data processes.

What complicates business processes?

• Any process that includes more than one person is bound to get complicated.
• “In God we trust, everyone else bring data.”
• Quality results come from quality measurements of data
• Successful digitalization is the result of utilizing data results in the PLM system.

Using data to prevent problems

• The end-to-end process is more complicated than it seems.
• It is essential to be aware of potential problems before they arise.
• Real time data can be used to make predictions and prevent problems.

Defining processes and workflow

• There is a lot of confusion about the differences and similarities of these two terms.
• Workflow is one instance of a process being instituted.
• A process consists of many workflow variants.
• An analysis of processes identifies which cases are outliers and deviations.
• Common trends and issues can be identified by examining processes.

Achieving operational excellence

• Regardless of company size, operational excellence should be the goal.
• Customers who don’t experience operational excellence are going to take their businesses somewhere else.
• Tracking changes is essential to identify improvements and errors.

Agile methods within processes

• Individual processes should increase flexibility.
• Development processes are a critical component of identifying and measuring how a release to market is affecting a business.
• Measures need to be confirmed with the paying customers who drove the change in the first place.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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As machine learning continues to gain traction in development processes, the way configuration management has always been done needs to adapt to these changes. Whether capital- or revenue-driven, configuration management helps to ensure that models remain useful. On this episode Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome back previous podcast guest Martijn Dullaart, Configuration Management Business Architect at ASML. Martijn has over 15 years of experience with configuration management and has rejoined the podcast today to share insights into the impact on the future of configuration management on PLM.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The value of models

• 3D models are the most popular and visualizable models, but there are other models worth considering.
• System engineering models breakdown product flow.
• Efficient communication and change surrounding models is essential.
• Application models identify the applicability of the system being delivered.

The impact of 4D on the model baseline

• The 4th dimension is a critical and revealing component of modeling.
• When conditions change, models have to perform based on the intentions of the changes you want to achieve.
• When model limits aren’t defined, intentions can’t be captured accurately.

Are all configurations discoverable?

• The software parameters affect the discoverability of configurations.
• Either the hardware is there or it isn’t.
• An alternate engineering paradigm could lend to more efficient validation.
• The hardware and software worlds can both stand to learn from each other.

New intentions affect both stories and configuration

• Most businesses keep their information in multiple tools, which isn’t always efficient.
• Mathematical model graphs offer greater information for greater exploration.
• Stabilized information is not always available based on current information.
• Combined information leads to a greater configuration until a system is created.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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In a time when trust appears to be at an all-time low, the importance of self-awareness and leadership skills has risen to an all-time high. We all have technical, relational, and leadership competencies to juggle in the workplace, but how can each of those skills best be improved? On this career development episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer is joined by leadership expert and retired Marine Wally Adamchik. Together they explore the importance of developing effective leadership skills (regardless of your current position), simple ways to improve self-awareness and enhance relationships, and the opportunities that come when we take time to focus on improving ourselves.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Leadership skills apply to everyone

• Regardless of your position in your organization, leadership starts with you.
• Every individual is responsible for leading themselves.
• Leadership is ultimately about exerting positive influence.

Defining the 3 competencies

• Technical competencies are the non-transferrable skills associated with your position.
• Relational competencies refer to interactions with self, others, and organization.
• Leadership competencies include change and influence, which can be accomplished at any level in any organization.

Ways to improve self awareness in your leadership

• Formal assessments can provide opportunities for introspection.
• Reflection through journaling can reveal themes and areas for improvement.
• Expressing gratitude on average days can be just as important as journaling about the highs and lows.
• Identifying the good that is happening all around you builds resilience when things get hard.
• The self awareness journey begins when you put it all out before you.

Opportunities that come with increased self-awareness

• Small wins create a positive experience that allows you to take on bigger wins over time.
• Resilience on a personal level is more important now than ever.
• The ability to persist and persevere is critical to success in the workplace.
• There will always be a need to continue on in scrappiness when seeking opportunities.
• The pandemic has required a greater need for resiliency in every facet of life.

The role of organizations in increasing belonging and community

• As we pivot back to in-person work, companies need to provide a place of trust.
• Trust, respect, and values need to be upheld within the workplace.
• The future of the workplace is one where employees feel safety and trust.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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The cloud is here and adaptation is happening at a faster rate than ever, but is it the most secure and effective place to store data? For many workloads, the cloud is the obvious place to be. On the latest Digital Battle, Craig Brown and Mark Pendergast reluctantly end up on the same side of the battle as they take a hard look at the pros and cons of storing data on the cloud versus on premises, including the workloads that are best suited for each option, which is most cost effective, and the benefits of standardization across the board.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Mark’s opinion

• Mark’s vote starts out on premise.
• The cloud is only applicable in certain circumstances, and is very use-case driven.
• There are trade-offs with both, but on premise is more widely accepted.

Craig’s opinion

• According to Craig, cloud lets the innovator win.
• Cloud enables faster innovation and offers the capabilities of a big corporation.
• Security is continually enhanced, making cloud a safer option.
• Cloud offers less investment with more capability.
• Cost is less of a limiting factor with the cloud.

Factors that determine the correct strategy

• Tolerance for latency is a major factor with the cloud.
• Data volumes impact cloud effectiveness.
• Limited access points into the cloud stunt effectiveness, while hundreds of access points can reduce security.
• Do files have to be moved, or is viewing the only necessary interaction?
• Security and accessibility are the number one and two factors.

Which workloads belong in the cloud?

• The cloud is good for general purpose computing.
• Generic video and sensory data is best in the cloud.
• Massively integrated data and intense simulations should remain on premise.
• CAD and PLM are both starting to make an appearance in the cloud.
• The more latency matters, the more the data needs to be on premises.
• Simulation is effectively moving to the cloud.

Increasing cloud adoption

• Regulations and standards need to increase.
• Don’t assume cloud adoption is a good thing- learn about it.
• Benchmarking needs to continue to prove the worth of the cloud.
• Cloud auditing will prove that it delivers what it promises.
• Cloud integration is essential for future adoption.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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The singularity is a hypothetical point in time at which technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible, resulting in unforeseeable changes to human civilization. But is this even concept real? Or is it just hype? And if it is real, how does the singularity have the potential to impact the digital enterprise? Should humans be scared of the singularity, or should we consider the possibilities that it will present to our livelihoods? On the latest Digital Battle, Craig Brown and Mark Pendergast take a seemingly sci-fi turn as they examine the possibilities, concerns and potential that the singularity presents. With Thom Singer as their mediator, they compare the advantages and disadvantages of what could happen as machine learning and AI continue to advance at their current rapid pace.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

What is the singularity?

• Considered by some to be a mythological event, the singularity happens when all projections of trends and innovations in the digital world are followed.
• Innovation trends are consistently doubling at a faster rate.
• Singularity suggests that computer intelligence becomes advanced to the point that humans can no longer keep up.
• Intelligence is not solely a human trait.
• The disruption of rote jobs represents the success of the singularity.

Is the singularity real or hype?

• According to Mark, a lot of the singularity is real, but even more of it is just hype.
• General intelligence can never be truly replaced by AI.
• The overhype of singularity is easy to see within every error of machine computing.
• According to Craig, AI isn’t really intelligence at all, it’s simply aided intelligence that helps humans compute information more efficiently.
• The singularity might be as promising as the flying car with big promises and little delivery.

Human benefits to the singularity

• What are the possibilities that might come with human potential if mundane or rote work could be significantly reduced or eliminated altogether?
• Work days could be reduced to 1 or 2 days a week, leaving humans with ample time to tackle the next set of hard problems.
• Turning the mundane jobs over to the machines would increase opportunities for humans.

How should humans react to the singularity now?

• Consider when to really trust the information that comes to you by way of your computer or phone.
• If your job is being replaced by a computer, consider your new possibilities and opportunities.
• Take ownership of the work you enjoy doing and how you can make a living doing it.
• The speed of change will have an impact on how humans should react to the singularity.
• According to Mark, singularity transformations are not going to happen immediately.
• Rejecting technology is not necessarily the answer to the next generation of technology.
• Increased human intelligence continues to be the key to innovation.

What could be the impact of the singularity on daily lives?

• Little decisions are going to be made faster, from insurance claims to doctors visits.
• In the PLM, more analysis tools will be utilized to improve designs.
• The advances that come with better pattern matching will have to be coupled with increased safety margins.
• Just as with the innovative transformations of the past, improved AI will continue to have a positive impact on human lives.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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The content that is offered here at the Digital Enterprise Society is continually transforming from good to great. For a look at some of the latest changes in content offerings at the Digital Enterprise Society, Craig Brown and Thom Singer turn to expert — content trustee Mark Pendergast. Mark highlights some of the most popular content from the last year, gives listeners first details about upcoming content offerings, including an in person event, and reflects on the power and purpose of the content that is created here.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Membership offerings

• DES is always working to improve content.
• There is an increased focus on improving and expanding podcast offerings, including the Digital Battles.
• The Digital Guidepost blog is ideal for members who want to read rather than listen.
• The content aims to inform members of important industry lessons early in their careers.

What’s next for DES content?

• There will be a live Digital Enterprise Society event this summer- details to come soon.
• A library of knowledge video offerings is in the works.
• The Industry Insider newsletter is making an updated comeback.
• Cross-connected content would transfer podcasts into blogs, blogs into webinars, etc.

Overcoming content challenges

• The limitations of content from 2021 have already greatly improved in 2022.
• Viewers of content have revealed the preferences of DES users.
• Blog posts and Digital Battles made up more than half of the top 20 content views, which means more of them will be coming.
• The data is driving the decisions that are being made about future content.

How can members help improve content?

• Everyone is going through their own digital transformation — this content is for you.
• Continue to offer feedback on your preferences.
• Share your favorite content with your coworkers and friends.
• Take advantage of the career guidance content.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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The pandemic has altered every aspect of how we get work done, including just how much time we need to spend together in person. And with all of the exciting new offerings of the metaverse, companies and their employees have more options for collaboration, innovation, and employee satisfaction than ever before. On this career development episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer welcomes Barry Vince and Sarah Cameron from Motive Workforce Solutions for a conversation about the future of work in the metaverse. From retaining employees and building company culture to finding your next position within the company that you’re currently at, this episode is filled with insights into the future of work, within the metaverse and beyond.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

What is the metaverse and how do we work in it?

• The metaverse is a virtual reality world where collaboration happens.
• Currency, social media, and gaming platforms all live in the metaverse.
• Jobs in the metaverse shot up in popularity in the wake of the pandemic.

Advantages of working in the metaverse

• The collaborative energy that exists in the workplace can be replicated in the metaverse.
• Workplace culture can be experienced from around the world in the metaverse.
• Employee interest and retention increase with natural interactions, even digital ones.
• From a hiring standpoint, a workplace in the metaverse is highly attractive to potential employees.

When and how to dive into the metaverse

• Don’t wait until your employer adopts the metaverse- look into it now and be ready when it comes your way.
• Do the research necessary to understand what the metaverse offers.
• Employers need to be prepared to get involved in the metaverse.
• Attracting the next generation to your company means meeting them where they are most comfortable.
• Collaboration with screen sharing, 3D printing, VR opportunities, and digital gatherings as well as live, in-person meetings are the ideal future of work.

Is it an employer or employee’s market?

• There has never been a higher demand for employees as there is right now.
• The pandemic has provided a reset for employees, resulting in the Great Resignation.
• Employers have to handle the employee shortage by redefining their business models and the demand on their employees.

Negotiating your next position

• Employees need to recognize what they want beyond a higher salary.
• Employees must be able to identify the value they can add to their new position.
• Utilize the tools that will help potential employers find you- especially your LinkedIn profile.
• Consider the options for improving your position within your current company.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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IT can be more expensive when kept in house, but outsourcing IT can mean giving up your competitive edge. Which one is more cost effective, which one is more productive, and which one has the potential to be the telltale sign of a faltering company? Should IT be outsourced or insourced? The questions aren’t easily answered, but that never stopped Craig Brown and Mark Pendergast from tackling the big issues. Together with Thom Singer they dive into another round of The Digital Battle on The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, this time examining every angle of the pros and cons of outsourcing and insourcing IT in today’s competitive environment.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

IT should be outsourced

• IT has always struggled to keep itself relevant.
• Strong partners can help IT achieve their mission by bringing in the critical skills that are hard to maintain in-house.

IT should be insourced

• IT is a key attribute of any business.
• In-house IT allows companies to achieve more without losing their competitive advantage.
• Industry leaders generally insource their IT.

Drawing the line between both

• Identifying what is strategic to your business is key to knowing when to outsource.
• Anyone who tells you that they know your business better than you do is wrong — you have to own your strategy and know what will make a real difference in your profitability.
• If you can’t afford to keep the best minds on your payroll, be ready to outsource.
• When the decision is driven by corporate benefit, it’s usually insourced.
• If you can’t afford a bidding process to get the best price, then outsourcing won’t be profitable.

The impact of the business model

• The culture and business model of any company has a great impact on this decision.
• Companies need to clearly identify what they are trying to accomplish with IT.
• If there is no interest in maintaining IT in-house, then outsourcing is the obvious choice.
• Large companies tend to follow each other in trends, including outsourcing IT.

Finding the right outsourcing partner

• Finding a partner that is innovative is more valuable than their larger size or agility.
• Insourcing is not always more expensive than outsourcing.
• Offshore versus onshore companies are also a consideration.
• Conflicting interests are a much bigger consideration when outsourcing.
• Is outsourcing the tell-tale sign of a faltering business?
• Outsourcing can be the source of finger pointing when things go wrong.

How often should a company assess their options?

• Looking at options every 3-5 years keeps your company in the know.
• Outsourcers need to know that they are replaceable.
• Changing vendors can be extremely difficult.
• If agility is your goal, you need to seriously consider outsourcing IT.
• Whether you insource or outsource, you need to have a plan in place.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Is there a hard conversation that you have been putting off having because you’re just not sure how it’s going to go? With the right skills, your conversations can create the connections that we are all seeking, especially in the workplace. Conversations and connections have the power to impact the bottom line, affect employee retention rates and have a positive- or negative- impact on your work. On this career-focused episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer is joined by diversity consultant and professional speaker Jessica Pettitt for a conversation about conversations. Jessica shares insights into the power of connection through conversations and the skills that result in the meaningful conversations that impact our relationships.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The conversations you need to be having (and probably aren’t)

• The hardest conversations can be the ones that have the greatest impact on your relationships.
• The cost of the conversations that aren’t happening in the workplace is incalculable in terms of retention, reputation, and job satisfaction.
• Politics, religion, relationships, and life struggles are topics that are traditionally left out of the workplace, but should they be?
• The best way to bring people together is to have responsible and respectful conversations.
• Increased self-awareness is essential, and happens when we are willing to try to have those difficult conversations.

Better conversations result in better connections

• Build up the skills you need before you need them.
• Practice your skills by elevating your connection with humanity- just try to make someone smile.
• Listen to others as if they know something you don’t.
• Identify how others are doing through their body language or punctuation.
• Remember- you are 100% responsible for the words that you say.

The skills that result in the meaningful conversations

• Do not fight to win or to be right in the conversation.
• Show genuine curiosity in the other person.
• Make sure you are listening at least as much as you talk.
• Remember- your goal is to increase your connection, not to ‘win’ the conversation.

Understanding the other person in the conversation

• Recognize that your story about the other person may not be accurate.
• Your story has been crafted to make you feel safe and prepared.
• Find ways to edit your story about the other person to find more truth about them.
• Curiosity and generosity are essential to positive interactions.
• Judgements and assumptions about others are human nature, but what you do with them is your responsibility.

Doing the best that you can right now

• Conversations should not be about external validation.
• Do the best that you can right now with what you’ve already got some of the time.
• Don’t expect that everything is going to go perfectly immediately.
• Be willing to try even when you don’t know how things will go.
• Admit that you are nervous, and that you are willing to try.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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What makes systems thinking superior to modern systems engineering? It starts with the constant feedback, which is needed more than ever in today’s digital world, but are engineers today embracing all that systems thinking has to offer? In today’s episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Patrick Hillberg, author, speaker, and professor of engineering management at Oakland University called Product Lifecycle Management for a conversation about the importance of managing product lifecycles (rather than product lifecycle management) and the important ways that systems management can help solve a myriad of complex problems.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

What does PLM stand for, exactly?

• The product life cycle can be sorted into four basic phases — create, build, support, and dispose.
• PLM often refers to the technology that manages CAD.
• PLM can also refer to Managing Product Lifecycles, which focuses on the cultural and organizational aspects that have an impact on a product.
• MPL is just as important considering how products are built is heavily dependent on how the organization which builds that product is structured.
• With mechanical, electrical, and software groups working on every product, high functioning collaboration between the three is critical.

Systems engineering is a misunderstood skill

• The complexity of products demands higher management requirements.
• Understanding and defining these complex views can enhance the effectiveness of the developing systems.
• Systems and products are not synonyms — each has its own set of complex requirements.

Solving complex problems with systems thinking

• Both systems thinking and systems engineering are necessary, and they’re on two different axes.
• One system is not an extension of the other.
• In reinforcing feedback loops, a small amount of growth enforces the overall likelihood of growth.
• Systems engineering techniques break complex problems down into smaller pieces.

The need to embrace systems thinking

• Systems thinking is clearly better than modern systems engineering simply because of the constant feedback it offers.
• Young engineers today are readily embracing all that systems thinking has to offer.
• To deal with complexity we have to deal with the organizational structure that is building these products.
• Reducing complexity is a key step in optimizing systems thinking.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Have you ever had an interaction with a coworker that you think you handled fairly well but then it derails the rest of your day? Gaining a higher level of emotional intelligence just may be the key not only to keeping your day on track but in advancing your career as well. On this career development episode of The Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer welcomes Black Diamond Leadership owner Robert Grossman for a conversation about emotional intelligence, self-mastery, and psychological safety. Robert works with teams to create high level engagement and performance, and he has joined the podcast today to share insights into the importance of self-mastery, how to minimize the aftermath of an emotional outburst, and how to achieve a higher level of psychological safety at work and in the world.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Why self-mastery and emotional intelligence matter

• Emotional intelligence is recognizing that human beings are emotionally driven and experience life emotionally first.

• The fight-or-flight mechanism is engaged whenever we confront something challenging.

• Emotional intelligence allows us to engage the rational brain to make sense of perceived and real situations.
• Work, family, and social engagements are all improved with refined emotional intelligence.
• Emotionally charged situations do not reflect what is really happening, but our brains cannot distinguish between what is real and what is imagined.

How to minimize the aftermath of an emotional outburst

• Stewing over past conflict prevents you from being present with current circumstances.
• Too much time is wasted thinking about how things could have been handled differently.
• The response chain can help to minimize emotionally triggering reactions.
• Identify the story that your brain is telling you and compare it to the facts you have.

Survival or self-mastery- which is best?

• We respond to situations out of either survival or self-mastery.
• A survival response includes blaming other people, assuming no responsibility, zero growth from a situation, and an element of living in the past.
• Survival responses tend to create additional survival reactions in the future.
• Self-mastery is the process of identifying survival reactions, then learning and growing from them.

The 4 paradigms of response

• Fear is the natural way of being, blames others, and is reactive rather than responsive.
• Duty reflects seeking safety through conforming and rule following.
• Achievement means striving to look good for other people until something disrupts that.
• Integrity assumes responsibility for our behavior, responding to situations rather than reacting to them, and generally presents multiple ways to solve a problem.

The value of psychological safety in the workplace

• Psychological safety has increased in importance as a result of the pandemic.
• Every member of the team needs to feel comfortable speaking up without fear of retribution.
• When achieved, this level of safety leads to learning and innovation.
• In a high psychological safety environment, team members feel comfortable admitting mistakes quickly and taking corrective action.
• A study by Google showed that psychological safety is the number one predictor of the success of a team.

Advice for anyone who wants to thrive in their career

• A Harvard study showed that people with a higher degree of emotional intelligence advance in their organizations and make more money.
• Developing emotional intelligence has profound workplace and real-life ramifications for everyone.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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For thousands of years all drawings were 2D, but in today’s digital age anyone can create 3D digital models. With all that 3D drawings offer, why would anyone want to keep their drawings on paper? Are 2D drawings really still necessary, or should we transition to 3D only? To shed some light on both sides of the debate, on the latest Digital Battle Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome back Digital Enterprise Society Content Trustee Mark Pendergast for another round, this time about drawings. There are strong arguments for both keeping and eliminating 2D drawings, and with strong opinions on both sides from Mark and Craig, and maybe even some switching sides, this is a digital battle you won’t want to miss.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

An overview of 2D vs 3D according to Craig

• 2D is just the way it’s always been done.
• Precision manufacturing enhanced 2D drawings were used by skilled craftsmen to obtain key measurements.
• The evolution of 2D drawings came with what was needed on the factory floor.
• The three-dimensional model offers infinitely more views than the 2D model, for better and for worse.
• Transitioning to 3D models requires a willingness to change, which isn’t easy to come by.
• The end of 2D models will come when only machines are making parts.

An overview of 2D vs 3D according to Mark

• There will be reasons to live in the 2D drawing world forever.
• Commercial and legal requirements will always demand 2D drawings.
• Manufacturing is still largely stuck in the 19th century, which demands the specificity of 2D drawings.
• The 3D drawing doesn’t draw your focus into any one point, while a 2D drawing clearly highlights the critical points.
• The clarity and specificity of what is important drives the value of 2D drawings.
• 2D drawings can more easily be shared and understood by anyone.

The challenges of eliminating 2D drawings

• Manufacturers don’t always have access to the technology required by 3D drawings.
• 2D drawings don’t require specific software sets or tools to be read.
• 3D drawings need to be auto-generated and free to be widely accepted by manufacturers.

Hiding and sharing proprietary information

• Proprietary data structures are challenged when 2D drawings are eliminated.
• Hiding proprietary information is easier with 2D drawings.
• There is significantly more control with 2D drawings.
• 2D drawings allow for specific communication of what you think is important, while the 3D model requires that you share everything.

Finding the right balance between 2D and 3D

• Paper clearly isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, so a balance must be found.
• If a 2D model exists, generate a 3D model as well.
• 3D should be the king and 2D should be generated only when needed (according to Craig).
• 2D is king and 3D is around only because it makes it easier to make 2D (according to Mark).

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Has the Great Resignation inspired you to find your next job? Many workers have learned over the past two years that they are ready to move on to their next position but don’t know where to start looking. On this career focused episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer is joined by executive coach Liz Molher for a conversation about getting people from where they are to where they want to be in their careers. Liz has insights, tips, and tools that everyone can use to prepare for a more fulfilling career path. From the key steps to take in improving your online presence to the two questions you need to be prepared to answer in your next interview, this conversation is filled with the advice you’ve been looking for to enhance your career.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Understanding the Great Resignation

• The pandemic has caused a major reevaluation of every aspect of life, including careers.
• Redefining what’s most important has resulted in a shift in focus.
• If you live another 30 years, or if you die tomorrow, what will your legacy be?
• Work-life balance is key to avoiding burnout.

Steps to avoiding burnout

• Don’t quit, start by considering ways that you can slow your work life down.
• Create a list of what you like (not love) and don’t like about your job.
• Set aside difficult working relationships when considering the actual work you do.
• Open the lines of communication that will allow you to improve your workload.
• If you are at a breaking point, find ways to leave your situation better before you go.

Figuring out what to pivot toward next

• First, figure out your potential and what you have to offer others.
• Create a blueprint that identifies your skills, core values and interests.
• Nurture your network- networking is just one letter away from not working.
• Utilize the technology available to you to make connections with others.
• A well filled out LinkedIn profile can be the key to finding your next position.
• Key searchable words will help recruiters, hiring managers and search robots find you.

3 stages to prepare for your next interview

• In today’s digital world, you need to be prepared and confident about what you have to offer.
• Research the company, their press releases, the industry and their competition.
• Google your next potential boss.
• Prepare your own success stories and appropriate answers to these two questions- “Tell me about yourself” and “Why should we hire you?”
• Consider the number one reason that people get hired and fired- finding the right fit.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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What can you expect from a company that actually uses their own products and shares what they learn with others? According to this episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, only good things. In today’s episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Siemens technical account manager Dave Chan. As a technical sales specialist, Dave supports Aerospace and Defense Federal and Marine with digitalization solutions, or in other words, all things PLM. Siemens is a company who actually uses their own tools, and delivers what they learn about them to other companies that are trying to use them as well. The result is well-informed employees, happier customers, and a company that has earned the trust of the industry. Listen in as Dave highlights his aims as a liaison, how Siemens works to overcome some unique challenges, and the career benefits that Dave enjoys as he volunteers his time to share his passion with others.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Dealing with conflicting voices

• As a liaison, Dave works to increase understanding on both sides of the discussion.
• The entire industry benefits by a better understanding of requirements.
• The voice of the customer has to be heard in every product.
• Collaborations can be humorous- just listen to Dave’s experience at Niagara Falls.

Unique upcoming challenges

• AWB’s focus in the upcoming year will include MBD- model-based definition, not design.
• Companies need to focus on the tools and solutions that are available to them right now.
• Defining the end use case of how customers are going to be using data is key.
• MBSE- model based system engineering- defines up front what a system is going to do in the end.
• Efficiently defining a system starts with acknowledging the purpose of that system.

Additional focus points

• There are many additional solutions within the PLM space.
• Planning and manufacturing under these new systems must be just as sustainable.
• More groups are expanding within the AWG to increase use cases.
• Additive manufacturing is a subgroup that will always be at the tip of the spear.
• Upfront certification would benefit the entire process and eliminate validation cycles that are independent of the development cycle.

Looking to the future of AWG

• Companies need to ask, “what else does Siemens offer,” over CAD or PLM?
• Automation is one key characteristic that differentiates Siemens from the competition.
• Manufacturing discussions need to continue to evolve to include more of the full lifecycle of what Siemens can offer.

Career advice from a company liaison

• What does anyone stand to gain from volunteer work with DES?
• The benefits of the collaboration and networking with experts in the industry are key to any career.
• By learning more about your passions, you can share your knowledge with others.
• Industry association provides increased opportunities with customers and companies as well.
• The company that supports volunteer time ends up with more satisfied customers.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Welcome to 2022 and a brand new year of insights from the Digital Enterprise Society podcast. On today’s episode Thom Singer and Craig Brown dive into the differences between digital and digitalization. Simply put, digital refers to using computers to do everything while digitalization is all about different ways of bringing value. But what does that mean companies should be doing about either? Given all of the facts, is it time to change our name to the Digitalization Enterprise Society? You won’t want to miss the insights on this episode, and the answer just might surprise you.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Defining digital and digitalization

• Digital refers to computers- the ones and zeros- and it means no paper or prototypes.
• Digitalization refers to the transformation of a business to taking advantage of computers and producing a new way of doing something.
• Digitalization results in increased profitability and performance and the ability to create new businesses.
• The transition of music from records to audio files is a great example of digital and digitalization.
• GPS is digital, traffic patterns represent digitalization.

Key elements of the journey from digital to digitalization

• Market research is an example of digitalization as it studies consumer patterns.
• Digitalization is understanding data and then bringing that data into a context to make decisions.
• Processes that once took months can now happen in a matter of hours.

Data < Information < Knowledge < Wisdom

• Your customized YouTube recommendations reflect the journey from information to knowledge, but what about wisdom?
• Wisdom is gained by applying the knowledge gained from digitalization.
• Wisdom is a human thing- even AI has a problem discerning the value and meaning of patterns.

Overcoming digitalization roadblocks and pitfalls

• Costs have drastically reduced, creating uncertainty about how to take advantage of all that computers have to offer.
• Ask more questions and apply more simulations.
• The pandemic has proven that the supply chain is not resilient to disruptions.
• Consider that we may not be measuring the right things- it’s important to consider what matters most.
• There is plenty of money available to continue testing, and companies can’t afford not to continue testing.
• Changing processes as digital tools become available is the key step to transforming to digitalization.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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If Santa was interested in making gifts for the world of PLM, he would be very busy trying to figure out what to deliver to our listeners. But we’ve got Santa covered on today’s episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast. Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined once again by Mark Pendergast, and this time everyone has agreed to be nice rather than naughty as they dream about the future. From PLM changes that need to happen to the killer app that all of our listeners are secretly hoping for, this episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast has something for everything as we bring 2021 to a close and look ahead to a bright future in 2022.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

A wish for new PLM features

• It’s time to embrace the data- we need PLM features that allow for easy ingestion of data.
• Seamless measurements in the PLM context would make this data processing much easier.
• This request is not impossible- it can be done easily and inexpensively.
• There is a need to unclog the parts (or the products) and simplify access to the critical information.

A wish for better support

• There needs to be better support for reidentification.
• Fit and form are generally addressed while function gets left behind.
• Functions and their behaviors need to be acknowledged.
• Implementation needs to be a higher priority.
• Some of this work has been ignored for half a century, and it’s time for a change.

A wish for new scope areas

• The object model needs to redirect to focus on people, products, and
• A workbench-oriented PLM that brings information together would allow people to do their job more efficiently.
• These workbenches could optimize the ability to do an engineering task.
• Supply chain resiliency could be resolved with better discussions about optimized PLM.

A wish for a more ERP-like model

• ERP is at least 20 years ahead of PLM.
• Standard business templates can help with customized processes.
• Niche providers have optimized templates that have aided in their success.

A wish for evolved relationships

• Solution provider and vendor relationships need to evolve to a higher level.
• Money tends to complicate the relationships that are formed over decades.
• Everyone needs to work to do the things that make partnerships stronger.
• A multi-discipline sharing of results would help to evolve relationships.
• An over-focus on sales and zero focus on revenue is hurting everyone.

A wish for the latest PLM apps

• PLM needs to move into the business process arena to fulfill its purpose.
• We need the ability to utilize an integration platform.
• The digital twin needs to be more readily available and in 4D.
• The killer app would bring high-speed internet, the cloud, and meaningful use cases together in a seamless way.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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How are video games being used to predict and prevent bad things from happening? On this episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Rob Kabera, co-founder and COO of Sync Energy AI and the only person to survive the Rwanda genocide and also be placed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Rob builds video games that focus on AI risk modeling, resulting in accurate predictions about real world events and provide insights into how to adjust accordingly. This conversation is filled not only with information about the many applications of AI predictions but also with advice and wisdom that can help to expand your views and enhance your career.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Using real world data to perfect AI predictions

• What makes AI learning and data so good, so real, and so accurate?

• Data on disruptive events is required to be kept, which lends to highly accurate predictions.

• Studying 350,000 events of the same phenomenon makes it easier to recognize.

• Not all companies are technology companies, but they are all technical companies in that many companies utilize the digital twin.
• The utility industry is exceptionally conservative, which means something really has to work before anyone will adopt it.
• The industry validates whether these predictions are working or not.

Employing these tools to make better decisions

• Digital engineering is all about making better decisions to improve predictive models.
• These tools can be used to improve productivity, improve efficiency and reduce risk.
• Vegetation management near power lines is a $100 million expense in high risk natural disaster areas.
• By utilizing AI tools it is possible to reduce power outages from 92% to 10% and significantly reduce the money spent maintaining assets.

Additional benefits of AI risk modeling

• AI allows companies to experience thousands of different scenarios and review the pros and cons of each.
• Risk spend efficiency can be reduced with the help of optimal simulations.
• Simulations can be used to help policymakers make informed decisions.
• Digital engineers should use their skills to develop the tools that will help make better decisions.

Developing a broader view in your career

• Rob considers a broad view his first and most important career lesson.
• Surviving the Rwanda genocide helped shape his outlook on life.
• Using your strengths to help others is a key component of a fulfilling career.
• Learn from the experiences of others to assist in your career.
• Identify your gifts and develop them so that you can give them away.
• Cross-generational networking can help to broaden your views.
• Good judgement comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgement- learn from others so you don’t have to learn the hard way.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Companies in every industry have faced unprecedented disruption for nearly two years now, and it has been made clear that some are handling pandemic-induced challenges much better than others. But what is the key difference between those who struggle and those who succeed? On this episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by CIMData President and CEO Peter Bilello for a discussion about the role of PLM in thriving companies, the intersection of AI and PLM, and market trends that successful companies need to take note of and pivot toward today.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Why are companies booming despite the pandemic?

• Challenges and opportunities meet at the same point.

• Different industries have been impacted by the pandemic in a variety of ways based on what they deliver to the market, but all industries have experienced disruption of some sort.

• Whether positive or negative, dealing with disruption is the name of the game right now.

PLM as an enabler of success

• Margins tend to be better in companies that employ product lifecycle management.
• However, there are plenty of successful companies that do not use PLM as a strategy.
• A strong PLM foundation tends to help companies deal with disruptions more efficiently.

The downside of remote working

• While many companies have successfully transitioned to remote work only, there are limitations that come with it.

• Innovation happens haphazardly, and most often amidst coworker side conversations rather than in virtual meetings.

• Collaboration is much less likely to happen when teams are not meeting in person.

4 key market trends

• AI and machine learning are gaining momentum in more companies.
• More companies are moving toward SAAS options.
• The true enablement of the life cycle is being realized more than ever before.
• End-to-end connectivity and much-needed configuration management are improving exponentially.

Managing chaos and improving resiliency with PLM

• There will always be a cultural, human element to chaos and resiliency.
• The first step to dealing with disruption is to understand what’s going on, to begin with.
• The theory of constraints illustrates where the focus and optimization need to take place.
• Flexibility improves with the implementation of PLM.
• Products exist within true system-to-systems, and resilient companies are able to adjust fast enough that the disruption is not fatal.

Areas to focus in on now

• Ask yourself if you are document-centric or data-centric.
• Documents can only get you so far as they tend to hide information.
• Identify model-based data and information constructs to unlock key information.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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We all have an average of 27 conversations a day, but how many of them are really good ones? Our guest today knows how to improve every question you ask so that you can get more out of the conversations you have. Joe Ferraro is not only a high school teacher, he’s also the host of the One Percent Better podcast and the founder of Damn Good Conversations. He has joined Thom Singer on this episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast for a damn good conversation about simple ways that you can increase your curiosity and make better connections. From identifying the right kinds of questions to ask to training yourself to be more bold in your conversations, this episode is for anyone that is looking for effective ways to get more out of the conversations we all have to have in the workplace.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

What makes a good question?

• If it can’t be clever, it has to be clear.
• Good questions don’t leave anyone confused.
• The goal isn’t to be understood, it’s to ensure you cannot be misunderstood.
• Lean into novelty and curiosity- what questions haven’t been asked before?

3 simple steps to asking better questions

• Conduct a quick self assessment to determine how often you ask questions in your personal or work life- are you afraid to ask questions?
• Identify the beginning of the questions you ask. Replace ‘do’ or ‘are’ with ‘what’, ‘why’ and ‘how’ to invite better responses.
• Define what you are hoping to achieve by asking any question.

How to train yourself to ask more questions

• Utilize your two ears and one mouth to be an active listener and learner.
• Be curious, not judgemental.
• Take note of those around you that ask good questions and make note of the questions they ask.
• Pause whenever possible to process the questions you hear.

Techniques that create better questions

• High velocity questions maintain novelty and get specific about details.
• Ask questions like a poker player- ask yourself what exactly you want to gain from others.
• Lead with curiosity and identify the best way to get what you want.

Developing the curiosity that leads to greatness

• Curiosity in the workplace can start wherever you are- in incremental steps.
• Identify one place that you feel curious about and focus your effort there.
• The relationship between curiosity and questions can work both ways.
• If you want to walk two inches taller, ask better questions.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

Damn Good Conversations

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How much should customers and suppliers share with each other? What role does trust play in sharing information? Who is responsible for overcoming this major roadblock to a more effective digital transformation? Questions like this can only mean one thing — it’s time for another round of The Digital Battle. In this episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome back Digital Enterprise Society Content Trustee Mark Pendergast for another digital battle. These seasoned industry veterans do agree on one aspect of this debate — that trust is a severely limiting factor in the ability to achieve excellence in manufacturing. Together they debate what level of sharing is appropriate, the factors that inhibit sharing, and what exactly it will take to achieve a higher level of effective sharing that will benefit the entire digital transformation.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

How much should customers and suppliers share with each other?

• According to Mark, the answer is as little as possible.
• There are too many downsides to sharing too much information with customers.
• According to Craig, withholding information is not the way the business works.
• The ultimate value should be in the customers hands.
• Quality people need to see enough details to know that high quality will be maintained.
• The discovery process of developing new technologies should be shared.

What factors inhibit sharing?

• Oversharing can lead to the loss of business on the part of suppliers.
• OEMs have a tendency to switch to different sources when oversharing occurs.
• Long term business trust is eroded when oversharing happens.
• Fear from suppliers inhibits sharing and destroys time and investment.
• In-sourcing products that are in greatest demand can eliminate the role of suppliers.
• Legal implications play a real role in oversharing.

What are the positive implications of sharing?

• More than documents, a framework for modeling is what needs to be shared.
• Sharing the benefits of any product can lead to increased trust.
• Neutral models would support sharing and savings for both suppliers and OEMs.
• Time to market and time to change would both be positively impacted by sharing.

Who should drive an increase in sharing?

• Safety failures will always demand improvement, independent of suppliers and OEMs.
• Quality and safety will continue to be the key drivers in increased standards.
• Poor relationships on both sides of this argument will only further complicate sharing.
• Government regulations play a role in demanding higher safety standards.
• Trust will continue to be a limiting factor in the ability to achieve excellence in manufacturing until a solution is found.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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In this episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer and Craig Brown are switching up the usual interview format to dive into some of the most laughable quotes that have been proven wrong. With combined nearly 75 years of experience in the business world, Thom and Craig have seen their fair share of absolute truths get completely upended, only to result in more advanced technology and positive market disruptions. From the ‘supernova collapse’ of the Internet to the destined failure of remote shopping, this episode covers a variety of quotes that everyone will agree were (thankfully) 100% wrong.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

“Why would anyone want a personal computer?”

• This now-laughable quote was made by MIT engineer and Digital Equipment Corporation co-founder Ken Olsen in 1977.

• Just a decade later, people were lugging around personal computers.

• This quote may have been that there are other things to do in life besides sitting at a computer and working with simulations.
• Car phones once seemed like an equally laughable idea.

“You can have time to market, quality, or lost cost, but you can’t have all three.”

• The evolution of this quote might still depend on where you are.
• In the world of building a product from scratch, this was once a common phrase.
• Low-cost producers have figured out how to do high-quality work that is faster to market.
• The wake-up call comes from lessons learned from US car businesses in the 80s and 90s.

“Whoever releases first sets the interface standard...”

• Craig has the details of this engineering lesson learned.
• An unwillingness to change is how businesses fail in changing industries.
• The actual winner is whoever releases a complete working system.
• Companies need to have standards and maintain them, regardless of who releases first.

“There is no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share.”

• Steve Balmer, the CEO of Microsoft, said this infamous quote in 2007, when the iPhone was first released.
• Innovation is the key to market disruption.
• Companies that succeed are the ones that focus on what matters to consumers.

“We could never live without face-to-face” and “We’ll never go back to face-to-face.”

• Which one is right? In light of the pandemic, we are capable of proceeding with both.
• Societies that have prospered are the ones that have figured out how to hold social interactions best.
• There is an irreplaceable set of benefits that come with face-to-face interactions.
• Many businesses have not suffered in the expected ways through the pandemic.
• Humans are better when we work together, but we can be selective about how we get together.
• Collaboration will always happen best in person.
• Face time matters- if you’re not in person, you might be forgotten or passed over.
• Time together should be spent on the most meaningful things.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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Why does your mindset matter when you’re climbing the corporate ladder? Whether you’re feeling stuck, dreaming big, or wondering what exactly it would take to achieve your next big career goal, today’s episode has something for you. In today’s episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer is joined by The Mindset Master Chef Frank Kitchen. Frank is a professional speaker who found the courage to pursue his passion and has developed the “I Live F.R.E.S.H” recipe that he now teaches to audiences and clients around the world.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Career lessons learned from The Master Chef

• Ask yourself- what are you doing to challenge yourself and reach your goals?
• Every business is a people business- learning how to communicate with and interact with different people is a critical career skill.
• If you want to move up you can’t continue only doing what you’ve always done.

Why does mindset matter when you’re climbing the corporate ladder?

• Where your mind goes, your body will follow.
• It is essential that you showcase what you are capable of, or you will be passed over.
• Program what you want to achieve, and then express it to the people around you.
• If you are overreaching for a job, you just might find a better job along the way.
• Articulate your desires- you can’t assume that anyone knows your aspirations just because you showed up.

The key to understanding your personal mindset

• You are a reflection of the people you surround yourself with.
• Identify the attitude and energy that you want to exhibit and connect with similar people.
• Define your goals, the timeline required, and the people who can help you reach those goals.
• Interview your employers- find out what support they have to offer you in your career.
• Ask the company about their culture and learn from their response.

Live F.R.E.S.H. in your career

• It’s not enough to think or talk about your goals, you have to be living them.
• Living fresh means committing your time, your talent, and your team or network to achieving your goals and helping others achieve theirs.
• Living fresh happens every single day- and you have the potential to be a life-changer for others.
• Focus- Identify a clear focus on what you want and how you’re going to get it.

• Resource- tap into your network to get what you want most.

• Enthusiastic- even if you’re not excited about the work you’re doing, you should be excited about the results.

• Strong- nothing is easy but anything is possible.

• Honest- are you helping or hurting the process of reaching your goals?

3 steps you can take today

• Find someone in your company who has the position that you want and interview them about their career path.
• Tap into human resources- they are there to support your professional development.
• Educate yourself so that you are prepared for your next promotion or interview.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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ALM and PLM may be driven by different demands, but both have the same end goal in mind- to meet consumer demand. But what does the future of product lifecycle management really look like? In this episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome back Digital Enterprise Society Content Trustee Mark Pendergast for another digital battle, this time debating whether PLM or ALM is the driver for the future of product lifecycle management. With a history in ALM Craig has the insider’s perspective on all things application while Mark takes on the role of defender of PLM. They discuss the limitations and advancements of each, and come to a surprising agreement at the end of the battle that proves that the future of product lifecycle management is headed in one direction- forward.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Defining application lifecycle management

• ALM refers to the management of an application that is delivered to a customer.
• The app can have a relatively short or very extensive lifespan.
• ALM is driven by consumer demand for new services while PLM is driven by product demand.
• ALM is perceived as a new process while PLM has been around for centuries.

Do limitations stem from systems or management?

• Why doesn’t hardware run at the speed of software? It starts with atoms and electrons.
• PLM the philosophy and PLM the tool are not running at the same level.
• ALM plans are virtual, allowing for increased ease of use in any environment.
• Hardware testing requires constant building and breaking, which is time intensive.
• By embracing digitalization, the building and breaking can happen with electrons and speed up the process.
• Until management demands faster hardware, change is just not going to happen.

The philosophy and the tool that is PLM

• PLM the philosophy refers to managing products from beginning to end and includes ALM, finance, procurement, and parts sourcing.
• PLM the tool grew up organically with CAD vaulting.
• PLM tools were architected to the PLM philosophical vision.
• The philosophy says everything is PLM while the implementation has not yet achieved the promise.

Will PLM and ALM ever merge into a combined approach?

• The two are already merging slowly, which is going to be necessary in the future.
• According to Craig, one vaulting solution won’t solve both camps.
• According to Mark, the effort to get to the combined solution is going to be the same effort that ALM already did once.
• Too many vendors are lacking the vision that structures PLM as a whole, rather it’s a limited jigsaw puzzle that prevents ALM and PLM from effectively combining.

Solutions and predictions for PLM and ALM… and BPM

• Mark defines BPM as the tool that will talk to both PLM and ALM and get whatever is needed to get the job done.
• Business process modeling is the solution that will include products, applications and services.
• A look at the past shows that tools have been created at the right pace to keep up with demand, and at the pace that management has allowed it to move.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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An effective strategy has the potential to influence the product side, the marketing side, and everything in between. Our guest today has designed his career around the things that he likes to do most, including creating collaborations between companies to give customers what they want. On today’s episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Brett Hillhouse, IBM Global Industry Leader of Automotive at AI Solutions. Together they discuss where the future value of cars lies, the true value of exchanging data and encouraging partnerships with competitors, and how anyone can work to shape a career around the work they want to do most.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Where is the future value of cars?

• Battery and car parts are becoming less important compared to software.
• The value of cars in the future is clearly in the software.
• There is an increasing need for software experiences that delight and customize for the customer.
• Consumer expectations will continue to shape the innovation of each brand.

Exchanging data and encouraging partnerships with competitors

• Not everyone is willing to develop partnerships with competitors, but Brett sees immense value in doing so.
• Helping clients often happens best with competitor collaborations.
• Recognizing that every other company is not a competitor can help make collaborations easier.
• Cross company partnerships focus on finding solutions together.

Advice for improving partnerships

• There has to be a company-produced cultural element to successful partnerships.
• Company values don’t necessarily need to duplicate, but they do need to closely align.
• From a customer perspective, everything needs to be use-case driven.
• Integration can happen with tool stacks if users are open-minded.
• Value has to come from both sides, not a one-way data transfer.
• The goal of partnerships should be a full digital thread that goes in both directions.

What can customers do with partnership solutions?

• Brett’s greatest hope is that users find deficiencies in partnerships.
• By finding these deficiencies, development times and overhead costs are all reduced.
• The technologies going into today’s sustainable vehicles are constantly improving and enabling innovation.

Creating a your own role within a company

• Identify what is more important to you than simply moving up the chain.
• Increase your awareness about what you want to do within your career.
• Create value and expertise around the work that you do.
• Respect those that you work with so that they are interested in working with you.
• Establish yourself as the expert in your role.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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The average professional spends up to five hours a week dealing with complainers in the workplace. Does this sound familiar to you? In today’s career focused episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer is joined by consultant, speaker, and negotiation expert Linda Swindling for a conversation about why people complain and how to set the boundaries that will help improve- or limit- your interaction with these energy drainers. Linda defines the five types of complainers and shares the tools that will help you tackle the whiners, controllers, and other complainers that may be in your workplace.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Why does anyone cause workplace drama?

• Everyone has a negative side that has the potential to appear in the workplace.
• When we are at our best, we use our superpowers for good.
• When we are stressed or otherwise at our worst, we use those superpowers to get what we need the most.
• Complainers tend to live in the negative space where they are constantly trying to fill a need.

5 types of complainers and how to interact with them

• Whiners, complicators, prima donnas, controllers, and evil toxics all make appearances in the workplace.
• Whiners have to have their hand held through the workday, and they’re seeking relationships through negative connection.
• You can turn these negative relationships around by listening, showing empathy, and then putting the control back in their hands.
• Complicators seek to keep things stable and in their control.
• Slow down communication with complicators by acknowledging their efforts and including them in change.
• Toxics have an illogical approach to relationships, you need to aim to protect yourself from your interactions with them.
• Watch what works for others but steer clear when necessary.

Handling a negative boss, peers or coworker

• Identify the level of negativity that you’re really dealing with.
• If it’s manageable, look for the need they are trying to fill with their negativity.
• Ask these questions- Why are they acting this way? Is it them or is it me? What are they trying to address?

Starting a conversation about change

• The average person spends upwards of five hours a week dealing with complainers, wasting almost a month of every year.
• Start conversations about change by creating rules around what will be tolerated in your work environment.
• Value positive styles of communication and take time to develop them in yourself and your team.
• Identify what works with various complainer styles and implement those tactics wherever possible.

4 takeaways to tackle the complainers today

• Identify who you’re dealing with to calmly assess why behavior is happening and how to best approach a conversation with them.
• You have to negotiate this behavior so that you can stop it before it gets worse.
• Most people are dealing the best they can with the situation they’re in, the rest of them have to be stopped or removed from your workday.
• You are the only one that is going to fully take care of your career. You have to set up your own boundaries.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

Visit stopcomplainers.com or text ASK to 42828 for more resources and links to help you navigate workplace drama.

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All products aim to be safe, but is it possible to make them even safer? According to failed retiree, passionate digital twin expert and host-turned-guest Craig Brown, anything is possible with the aid of the digital twin. On today’s episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Craig takes a turn in the guest seat to explore the safety net that the digital twin offers model based engineering. With Thom Singer acting as solo host, Craig explains the digital twin in relation to everyday consumer life, defines the importance of understanding known unknowns, and highlights many of the unique and valuable safety benefits that the digital twin has to offer.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

How does the digital twin make products safer?

• The benefits of any product are enhanced by the presence of a digital twin.
• Simulation can replace physical testing and eliminate its boundaries.
• Sensors can be placed anywhere in a digital model, and need to be physically tested as well.
• Simulations allow for easier discovery of the ‘known unknowns’.

Understanding known unknowns

• When you don’t know why your power has gone out, it is a known unknown.
• Engineers work to understand known unknowns and to improve upon them.
• Although time consuming and expensive in physical testing, simulations allow for increased understanding in a more accessible and affordable environment.

Additional insights into the benefits of the digital twin

• Simulation can fool anyone into thinking they have the answers, so physical data still must be tested.
• Increase in sensing data provides opportunities to make data better.
• Potential lessons learned from the Internet of Things.
• Simply stating that the digital twin will make a better product isn’t enough- the specifics are in the increased safety possibilities.

Safety around the digital twin

• The way we do quality management will continue to evolve.
• Quality people have the skills needed to improve safety where it’s needed most.
• Phone updates illustrate the benefit of agile development.
• Unknown unknowns offer an entirely new level of system robustness.
• The digital twin is a context that helps improve understanding and improves the maturity scale on any topic quickly.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Are any tools truly 100% ready to use out of the box? Or do they all require tailoring for a company’s specific needs? And why do companies purchase tools that require tailoring for their specific needs? On today’s episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome Jim Brogoitti, a fellow failed retiree who understands the demands and limitations of customization. He shares his experience with customization, his approach that works for meeting a variety of CM2 requirements and how to effectively create a career that you just may not want to retire from.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Are any tools truly ready to use out of the box?

• In Jim’s experience, tools had to be ready to use right out of the box.
• Customization was allowed but configuration was not.
• The expectation was set from the beginning that customization was not an option.

The pitfalls of customization versus configuration

• Customization is not free, and it requires continuing support costs.
• Customization is not easily measured, making it difficult to know how to quantify it.
• Everything should start with requirements and those requirements should be documented and balanced against company needs.

Meeting a variety of CM2 requirements

• There are set requirements addressing what a PLM system has to be able to perform as well as a set of requirements on the tool side.
• Everyone tends to look at tool requirements in a slightly different way.
• Once everyone understands what the requirements are, those requirements are weighted based on importance, criticality and ease of implementation.
• A great solution vendor takes the time to listen to the needs of a cross industry forum and then works to meet those needs.

Solving the problem of boredom in retirement

• Like Craig, Jim is effectively failing at retirement.
• He currently works at the Institute of Process Excellence and is aiming to build an out-of-the-box tool that is IPX compliant targeted for small businesses.
• Jim is leveraging the tools available to him to make this goal a reality.
• Because of the pandemic, everyone has become more comfortable with working from home and collaborating online.

Advice for a mobile and flexible career

• Identify your replacement so that you can leave a job behind when the next opportunity presents itself.
• Keep your ears open for opportunities.
• Don’t be afraid to take risks.
• Trust your team even when there is no training for your position available.
• Listen more than you speak.
• Engage in a mentorship program.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Digital transformation is everywhere you look, but what exactly about this transformation enables the supply chain to be so much better with technologies? To better understand the possibilities available to companies that embrace digital transformation, on today’s episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome IBM Associate Partner Melissa Drew. Melissa has been in the procurement and supply chain for over 27 years and now sits at the intersection of procurement and AI technologies. She has seen what it takes to execute a successful digital transformation, as well as the true role that agile methodology can- and should- play in companies today.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Defining digital transformation in the supply chain

• Transformation is the act of changing from one form to another with an improved end result.
• Digital transformation took off in 2007 with the adaptation of the cloud.
• The supply chain is greatly enhanced with the digital technologies that meet rapidly changing consumer demands.
• Better data is available through digital transformation.

The impact of the digital transformation on people

• Short-term focus is a problem when thinking through the broader impact of the gains of reducing a workforce.
• The digital transformation aim should be to automate repetitive tasks and tactile activities.
• This transformation allows people to do what humans do best- the strategic relationships, thinking, analyzing, and application of the work that machines can’t do.

AI and supply chain disruptions

• The pandemic placed an unprecedented strain on the supply chain resulting in a new kind of demand.
• Can AI help solve supply chain disruptions and potential resiliency? Absolutely.
• Where infrastructures and technologies are already in place, disruptions are significantly minimized.

The ideal role of the agile methodology

• Agile methodology should be used for improved product development.
• The SAFe agile methodology gives you a framework for the entire organization.
• The best use of agile methodology is in innovative software that needs constant updates.
• Agile methodology adaptation will only happen when the company can train, change, and transform the mindset of the entire company to adapt and follow it.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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If you’re anything like me and so many people I know, caring for yourself in a healthy and nourishing way these days may be a bit challenging. Self-care is often difficult for many of us, and over this past year and half, it seems to have gotten even harder, for a number of understandable reasons. On today’s show, I share some of my own current struggles with self-care and why it can be so tricky for so many of us these days (and in general). I also offer some specific ideas that can allow you to more effectively and compassionately care for yourself right now.

Resources:

We’re All in This Together (book), by Mike Robbins

Bring Your Whole Self to Work (book), by Mike Robbins (now out in paperback)

Mike Robbins Website

Mike Robbins Blog

Mike Robbins Podcast

Mike Robbins on Facebook

Mike Robbins on Twitter

Mike Robbins on Instagram

Mike Robbins on YouTube

Adam Grant’s TED talk - How to Stop Languishing and Start Finding Flowv

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The benefits of agile practices are proven and plentiful, yet many companies are still hesitant to adopt them, in part simply because they haven’t learned enough about it yet. Today Craig Brown and Thom Singer are joined by someone who was willing to try something new, and it has paid off in a big way. ‘Spanish major turned product geek’ Christian Cox is the Co-Founder of Piola Digital, a near shore product development agency helping companies build, support and enhance products. Chris has joined the podcast to highlight these agile practice benefits from the refreshing perspective of someone who does not have an engineering or technology degree. As a curious learner and perpetual student of his craft, Chris’s experience shows that examining something from a new or different perspective just might be the key to improved processes, decreased time to market, and even greater career opportunities.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Key benefits of agile practices

• Agile development helps customers hone in on what they really need.
• Progress can be measured by tracking agile development.
• Agile practices and predictions can help better plan based on team capacity.
• Business prioritization happens more readily with agile practices.

Pitfalls of agile techniques

• Growing pains are standard as companies continue to implement agile practices.
• Too many companies focus on one thing exclusively and then drop it altogether to focus on something else.
• There is a fine line when balancing priorities that companies have to navigate.

What companies don’t understand about agile

• Speed to market is an essential component of company success, and is only improved when utilizing agile practices.
• The upfront costs of implementing agile practices have the potential to yield a major payoff.
• The far-reaching aftermath of the pandemic presents challenges that can in part be solved with agile practices.
• Company size and age can both have an impact on the effectiveness of agile practices.

Career advice from a Spanish major

• If you are considering work that does not line up with your formal education, find opportunities to do the work and show the value you can create within it.
• Stay curious and become a student of the craft- ask questions and do your research.
• Get involved in the community that you want to be a part of.
• Identify the unique skills that you possess- they provide job opportunities.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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There has been an incredible revolution in the software world around agile, but have those agile methodologies been taken on by the hardware people yet? And should they be taken on at all, or is it all just hype around something that isn’t really possible? On this episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Digital Enterprise Society Trustee, Mark Pendergast for the latest digital battle, this time taking a dive into the details of and need for agile hardware development, what role it fills, and whether it will ever catch up to agile software development — and whether it needs to at all.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Defining agile hardware development

• The definition could be Introducing fast, iterative cycles with the customer involved.
• This happens often for software, but rarely for hardware.
• Is there any difference between this and the expensive and endless prototype cycle?
• Moving material is a costly aspect of any hardware development.

Advantages and disadvantages of agile hardware development

• Prototype cycles evolved into broken and purposeless over time.
• Agile has the ability to keep hardware development on track.
• The vast team required to get hardware prototypes ready is much harder to scale than with software.
• Agile is designed for small teams, which doesn’t work well with hardware.
• There is a greater sense of urgency with hardware that should also be applied to software.
• Early simulations done on computers have the potential to have a much quicker turnaround time.
• Constraints drive agile hardware development because they are cost effective.

Steps to improving agile hardware development

• Decide that you want to be there and are committed to developing the tools and simulations to get there.
• Get the unknowns off the table and stay within the constraints.
• Build the minimum to test the unknown and then move on.
• Employ additive manufacturing to create prototypes that increase insights.

Does agile hardware development solve a real problem?

• Time to market decreases dramatically with the use of agile hardware.
• People that are working in silos have got to wake up, get out and start figuring things out.
• The end to end process has not been entirely worked out yet, but pieces of it are slowly emerging.
• Architecture plays a critical role in making these products work.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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Today Thom Singer is joined by author, speaker, and founder of The Accountability Institute Sam Silverstein. Sam is the author of The Theory of Accountability: Building a Truly Accountable, High-Performance, High Growth Life for Yourself and Your Organization. He has joined the podcast to define the kind of accountability that inspires individuals, enhances relationships, and improves team cultures. Suppose you’re looking for ways to improve your accountability and increase your level of success. In that case, you won’t want to miss Sam’s inspiring advice and the simple action items that anyone can take today to move toward the career they really want.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Defining next level accountability

• Accountability is simply keeping your commitments to people.
• Accountability to people is not the same as the responsibility that you have to projects
• Tactical and relational accountability are two separate things.
• Accountability can inspire improved workplace culture.
• Accountability results in increased team engagement and greater productivity.

Inviting accountability into the team culture

• The first step is to define the culture that you want to realize.
• Values need to be modeled after this clear definition.
• The culture needs to be protected and then celebrated.
• The highest performing organizations focus on culture as much as they work on their tactics.

The theory of accountability, or E=mc2

• E equals experience, M equals mindset, and C equals commitment.
• If you can clearly define the experience you want, you can focus on your mindset and commitment.
• You either have a limited belief or an empowering belief in every situation.

How to change your mindset

• The mindsets of abundance, gratitude, and respect are critical to success.
• Identify what these mindsets look like and recognize times that you need to realign yourself.
• Accountability partners are not responsible for ensuring you get your work done; they are meant to help you hold true to your values.
• Take time to have conversations around value, purpose, and mission.

Committing yourself to accountability

• Commitment means you’re in or you're out; there is no in-between.
• Focus on the impact that your experience is going to have on your life and the lives of those around you.
• When you recognize the positive impact you can have, your desire to be committed will increase.

Creating a positive experience in your career

• Leaders have an obligation to help lead their team to be their best.
• Leading others to be their best will also lead you to be your best.
• Leaders may have to let go of team members if it’s in their best interest.
• Take time today to identify your values.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

Values Worksheet from Sam Silverstein

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It seems that the pandemic has presented more challenges to the supply chain than we’ve ever seen before, but why? To help unpack the challenges of today’s supply chain, today Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Jennifer Herron, founder and CEO of Action Engineering. Jennifer works to help manufacturers build resilient futures centered on connected, trusted models. Jennifer is the author of Re-Use Your CAD: The Model-Based CAD Handbook, and is working to bring vision to the industry so that people can reuse their CAD to their business value. Today she and Craig take a deep dive into the ins and outs of reusing CAD, the many changes that are happening in the digitization of the supply chain and who exactly is driving the standards behind these exciting new changes.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

How to reuse your CAD

• This information is not tool-set specific, it’s about exchanging models.
• It’s all about data exchange and exchanging information about a product that needs to be built.
• Communication about acceptable exchanges has to happen between all invested parties.

An overview of changes in the digitized supply chain

• More and more companies are using 3D models to enhance digitization.
• Reusing data to create manufacturing and process models is fun.

• Who is driving the transformation within the supply chain?

• Digital feedback is critical to enhancing what is available in manufacturing now.

• Aerospace and defense systems are leading the way in these changes.
• Traceability provides understanding into where materials came from and when they were manufactured to give insights into the quality of a product.

Standards that help 3D model exchanges

• There are many standards because there are many perspectives and ways to interpret the vast amounts of data.
• Every organization is approaching standards from a different perspective.
• The standards are meant to help purchasing with their jobs.
• Standards also assist in not rewriting everything with every new contract.
• Common language helps in simplifying the standards process for everybody.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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The process that turns a good idea into a great product can be an incredibly daunting one. But in today’s world, creating a high quality prototype that can be perfected long before it heads to market is easier than ever before thanks to additive design. Today Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Kevin Mako, founder of MAKO Design + Invent. Known as the Invention Guy, Kevin is a lifelong entrepreneur who focuses on product development for hardware startups. He shares the first three steps that inventors need to take when processing their next big idea, tools that can help you get started more effectively, and pitfalls to avoid on the journey of bringing your next breakthrough idea to market.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Your very first 3 steps

• Start by identifying the core problem and then visualizing how to best solve that problem.
• Sketch out your idea- whether you're an independent entrepreneur or part of a big company this is the essential early step.
• Focus on the simplest, high quality version of your product- you can add the bells and whistles later.

Tools to help you get started

• It’s easier than ever before to both develop and test a new product.
• Market research will help direct your efforts.
• Prototypes can be made easily with the help of software and additive manufacturing.
• Additive manufacturing allows for physical testing at a fraction of the cost.
• Variations to initial prototypes are easily customizable with additive manufacturing.

How to succeed as an innovative entrepreneur

• Focusing on iterative design and constant feedback are key to pinpointing your best product.
• Spend time learning about and perfecting your product every single day.
• Maximize the tools of the trade when testing your market- harness the power of crowdfunding.

Avoid these pitfalls

• Feature creep happens when you try to integrate too many features into your first prototype- there is no way to fix a faulty product once it’s in your customer’s hands, so get it right at the simplest level first.
• Don’t try to provide too many things to too many people or worry about having a too-small market. Chances are you won’t be able to completely saturate even a tiny market.
• Scale your product intentionally right from the beginning.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Do you have a big idea that you want to launch into the world but have no idea where or how to get started? Many people have dreams about starting their own companies, and today’s guest has insights for anyone who is trying to figure out where to get started. Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Stoke Ventures founder Andrew Lees, a successful entrepreneur who helps people develop products and launch them into the market. Andrew knows what works and what doesn’t work, and has joined the podcast to share valuable advice and simple tips to help get you started.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

How to put the audience before the product

• Too many entrepreneurs focus solely on the product and forget about the people who are going to use it.
• It’s much easier to launch a product into an existing market.
• A captive audience is already much more interested in your product.
• Entrepreneurs need to at least start building their audience before they finish developing the product.

Simplifying the complex aspects of your product

• Focus on the customer experience to ensure product adaptation.
• ‘Two clicks away’ and ‘closing the rings’ demonstrate the simplicity that makes a successful product.
• A great customer experience results in an easily expandable market.
• Simple marketing research will help guide your work.

Focus your efforts where you will get results

• Identify where you can best place your time and effort.
• Avoid the ‘shiny object syndrome’ that keeps you bouncing from idea to idea.
• Don’t overreach- pick one area that you can focus on and work to perfect.
• Learn how to more effectively manage your time.

Avoid these common mistakes

• Lack of strategy and lack of understanding of the entire process is the number one mistake entrepreneurs and inventors make.
• Misunderstanding costs associated with developing a product can be overcome by increasing research before you get started.
• Customer service has to be the number one focus for start-up companies- and it isn’t difficult to get it right.
• Form partnerships with people who are on the same page as you and start on a trial basis.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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What are people in your office saying about you when you’re not in the room? Your personal brand is everything that people think about you, say about you, and expect from you, so it is essential that you know how to present your very best. Whether you're networking within your company or convincing your boss to get on board with your great idea, promoting yourself is a critical part of your successful career. To help you get started on refining your personal brand, on this episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer is joined by Amber Hurdle, CEO of Amber Hurdle Consulting. They discuss the importance of quality brands, how you can better promote yourself and work, and how you can better communicate inside your company and manage the time you have with your supervisor so that you can excel.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The importance of quality employer — and personal — brands

• Forward-thinking companies have started greatly focusing on their brand.
• Company brand plays a key role in both recruiting and employee retention.
• When companies take care of their people, their people take care of their customers.
• Employees have the ability to complain or praise their employers like never before with social media platforms.
• Similarly, personal brands are a critical component of a successful career.

3 steps to promoting yourself within your company

• First, clearly define your values. Articulate what you do to bring value to your team.
• Next, improve your sales skills. You can only get what you want by selling it to others.
• Finally, define the ‘WIIFM’ — What’s In It For Me?’ whenever you are promoting anything. Alternately, identify ways that your proposal will help eliminate your boss’s fears.

Fine-tuning your PR skills

• Position yourself as a key player in your company’s communication cycle.
• Networking within your company is just as critical as external networking.
• Positioning the value you offer is refining your personal brand.
• The projects you ask for, how you show up in meetings, and how you interact with colleagues is all part of your personal brand, so make sure you are acting intentionally.
• Define your target audience and shape your message directly to them.

Key aspects of a well-defined personal brand

• Develop a self-awareness that allows you to focus on the greatness in others.
• Address the contrast between you and others so that you can tailor your message in a way that suits them.
• Stay true to your brand while recognizing and working with the differences in others.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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What did you dream about becoming when you grew up? Many children daydream about STEM— science, technology, engineering, and math — without realizing the potential that their dreams have to change the world. Our guest today knows the importance of transforming those childhood dreamers into the problem-solving engineers of the future. Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Marsha Tuft, retired engineer, author, and STEM enthusiast. As a fellow ‘failed retiree’ Marsha now volunteers her time to inspire and encourage others to consider careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM fields).

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

How to engage kids in STEM

• Start early — elementary school-aged kids are the ideal age group.

• Make it fun by designing experiments that connect with kids interests — anything from how bicycles move to how butterflies fly is the perfect place to get started.

• Address the curiosity factor in all that kids experience and dive deep into helping them find answers to their questions.

Teaching kids to learn from what you don’t know

• Increase exposure to a variety of things that kids may not know they like until they try it.
• Everyone is born with an innate desire to create — explore it and enjoy it.
• Allow opportunities for kids to own their creations — whether it’s a cardboard boat, a piece of art, or a cooking creation.
• Marsha shares the teaching and engagement lessons she learned from designing the perfect cardboard boat.

Exploring STEAM

• The A in STEAM focuses on the Arts.
• Kids who are interested in interior design, fashion, or consumer products will find ample career opportunities.
• Arts are a great way for kids to learn from failures and develop problem-solving skills.
• Kids tend to be more willing to try new things in the arts with less concern about failing.
• Intrinsic motivation has the potential to lead to the greatest breakthroughs.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

Putney Designs

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Innovation is consistently driving new tools to the market, but which ones are the best fit for your company? Or would an integrated suite be the right answer? In the latest digital battle, Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Digital Enterprise Society Trustee Mark Pendergast for their most agreeable battle so far. Together Craig and Mark dive deep into best in breed and integrated suite tools, the benefits of each, and how to determine which one is the best fit for an organization. After going the rounds, they reveal that there is in fact a bottom line that can help you determine which direction your company needs to go first and why.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Defining best in breed and integrated suites

• The best in breed strategy allows companies to select the best tools for each function they perform.
• Best in breed highlights the productivity of engineers and enhances their ability to work effectively and make good decisions rather than focusing on data sharing with the entire organization.
• Integrated suites offer an overall system but don’t always offer the best quality that gets the job done.
• Integrated suites focus on ensuring that information flows as seamlessly as possible throughout the entire organization.
• The vision here is that if data is integrated well, information will flow from tool to tool more quickly and efficiently.

Do companies have to choose one or the other?

• Most companies have a combination of best in breed and integrated suite.
• When tools become obsolete, best in breed allows for an easier transition to an updated tool.
• Integrated suite owners are more likely to hold onto tools long after they no longer best serve the processes.
• If flow of data is a problem in your organization, best in breed is most likely your best option.

Key factors to help you choose the right one

• Step one- can you find an integrated suite that aligns with your needs?
• Simple needs lean toward a simpler integrated suite option.
• Complex systems are more likely to benefit from competing best of breed tools.
• Best of breed should be used when it offers a competitive advantage, not when it’s just another tool that you have to have.
• Best of breed tools tend to follow technology more closely initially, and are then adapted into integrated suites eventually.
• Investments in tools tend to decrease over time as tools are integrated into suites.

Securing best of breed in its place

• Turn over of tools is something that best of breed vendors continuously do.
• Cutting edge tools have to be replaced as often as necessary to stay at the industry forefront.
• Best of breed focuses on the impossible, and moves on as soon as something becomes more mainstream.

Handling the overlap between the two

• Acquisition tends to bring best of breed and integrated suites head to head, but doesn’t always require that one win out over the other.
• If money is being made, there is no reason to force a change.
• Best of breed tools need to be kept around because it might be the direction business goes next.
• Product awareness and map tools are essential to determining the best of the two choices.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Guideposts Blog

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The pandemic highlighted two defining characteristics of successful companies — agility and the exceptional customer experience. To help explain the importance of each of these characteristics, Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Agile World principal Greg Kihlstrom. Greg is an expert on the intersection of customer experience, employee experience and digital transformation. In this episode he defines the customer experience, explains what exactly happens at the intersection of agility and experience, and takes a look into the incredible possibilities that are waiting to be realized in the future of work. And no matter what level your position is in your company, you won’t want to miss Greg’s insights into simple and effective ways to improve the employee experience.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Defining the customer experience

• Customer experience is the customer’s perception of their holistic experience within an organization.
• Every employee has a touch point with the customer, from software engineers to the frontline retail employees.
• It is essential that everyone understands their role in maximizing the customer experience.
• Measuring the customer experience can be challenging because it has to encompass the interaction with the entire company.

Innovation or customer experience — what makes the market?

• There has been a major shift in how consumers spend their time and money, leaning the market toward the customer experience.
• 90% of brands consider the customer experience to be their main differentiator.
• The pandemic has only heightened the demand for a high quality customer experience.

The intersection of agility and experience

• The customer experience is a series of moments in time, and companies have to be nimble and able to adapt to changing technologies.
• Continual adaptation and adjustments are essential within progressive companies.
• The pandemic has proven the importance of making adjustments quickly.

• Successful companies are the ones who actively stay ahead of changes.

• Qualitative, quantitative, product and process measurements all provide data that helps maximize the customer experience.

Looking to the future of work

• Machines are better at completing jobs than humans (in some cases).
• Humans are going to be elevated to more creative levels of work in both strategy and operations.
• There is a growing place for independent workers, which creates greater autonomy for employees.
• Rules have to be dictated by humans, not by machines.
• Resilient companies were not as adversely affected by the pandemic as they could have been, which indicates a positive future.

How to improve the employee experience

• Improving the employee experiences starts with understanding the whole journey of the employee.
• Seek to understand and empathize with employees about their first 30- or 90- days or first year at a company.
• Identify a clear trajectory that defines the path that employees can expect to take at the company.
• Excellent leadership is key to a great employee experience.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

The Agile World Podcast with Greg Kihlstrom

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Every day, we are all faced with more distractions than ever, making time management seem more critical than ever before. But today’s guest would argue otherwise. On this episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer is joined by attention management expert Maura Thomas. Maura teaches people how to focus their attention, not manage their time, because attention management is the new path to productivity. If you’ve ever struggled to stay focused and get the important work done, you won’t want to miss the insights and advice of this conversation. On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The key difference about attention management

• Productivity means achieving a significant result over a period of time.
• Time management is not the problem — we always have the same amount of time to get things done.
• You cannot solve a distraction problem with a time solution.
• Attention management is the new path to productivity.

Where to start focusing your attention

• Technology has created a habit of distraction in every part of your life.
• Increasing control over your technology is essential to overcoming these distractions.
• The consequences of being distracted limit our access to the full range of our talent and minimizes our patience.
• Focusing on the big to-do items will create a greater sense of accomplishment.

Improving attention management in the workplace

• Constantly checking email and other communication channels is the greatest distraction in the workplace.
• Tracking improvement in attention management requires finding measurable ways to quantify productivity.
• Managing email and other overwhelming communication is the key to managing productivity.
• Communication clutter is robbing us of moments of downtime and dreaming.

4 ways to improve your approach to email

• Filter your email so that you are only processing the essentials.
• Remember that email is work that requires your time and attention, and treat it as such.
• Do not ‘reply all’ whenever possible.
• Control your attention by minimizing the time that you attend to your email and other notifications.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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The average company has between 300 and 600 business processes, all of which need to be managed. Enter enterprise resource planning, the operational glue for your company. To help explain the ins and outs of ERP, today Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Sam Gupta, Principal Consultan,t and CEO at ElevatIQ. Sam unpacks the mechanics of ERP and explains how to successfully implement it into your work. He explains how supply chain problems, e-commerce challenges, and even career roadblocks can all be solved with the proper implementation of ERP.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Defining and successful implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP)

• ERP is the consolidated process of gathering and organizing business data through an integrated software suite,

• ERP refers to anything and everything that goes into building your products, from inventory and equipment to machines and labor — ERP is the operational glue for your company.

• There is a wide variety of vendors available to assist in transitioning to ERP.

• Regardless of the system, increased adoption of this system is key.
• Tools are not capable of comprehending the processes, even the really good ones.

Can ERP solve supply chain problems?

• COVID-19 related supply chain issues are being seen worldwide, especially in companies that are still utilizing manual processes.
• There is a clear divide in the market between companies who do and don’t understand that ERP can fix their problems.
• ERP can reduce the time spent tracking parts, solving supply chain issues, and minimize admin duty time.
• Disruptions can be reduced with more effective modeling.

The intersection of e-commerce and ERP

• Your business model most likely determines which came first.
• Diversification is the key to protecting yourself against unexpected changes in the e-commerce business.
• Improved operational efficiency is going to increase your overall competitiveness.
• How can you decide whether to focus on e-commerce or ERP first?

Navigating surprises in today’s manufacturing community

• Increased creativity can be both a benefit and a detriment to companies today.
• Standardized processes are of greater value to a company than creative processes.
• More effective management comes by standardizing and simplifying systems.
• Systems that are more integrated are guaranteed to be more effective.
• Education needs to be made available within the community.

Career advice from a CEO

• Simply being good at your craft is not enough to make your business successful.
• Understanding your customers is the key.
• Take time to relate to and connect with your customers.
• Selling your services to customers starts with understanding what they need.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Working smarter, not harder, should be the goal of every organization. Product line engineering makes that possible, and today Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by an expert who knows how to help companies work smarter. Product line engineering expert and VP of Customer Success at BigLever Software Paul Clements shares his insights into the value of product line engineering, the problems it solves, how to adapt it into any process, and which companies are doing the best job of getting it right.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

What is product line engineering (PLE)?

• PLE is an architecture that is designed to support multiple products simultaneously and produce greater business gains.
• PLE takes advantage of the similarities of products while also managing their differences.
• Successful companies have learned to manage components within a family of products.
• PLE is not a new concept, it has been in practice for centuries.

Who practices PLE, and why?

• PLE is common sense — why do things multiple times if you don’t have to?
• A standard was necessary to normalize competing ideas.
• First and second generations distinguish between feature-based PLE and otherwise.
• The ability for companies to start conversations at an advanced stage is one of the greatest uses of PLE.
• Self-driving cars stand to benefit greatly from PLE.

Collaborating computers and engineers

• PLE is not about replacing people, it’s about helping people concentrate on higher-value work rather than lower-value repetitive work.
• PLE allows people to work on the innovative and new parts of work.
• No one works on the things that have already been done, they work on the new aspects of a project.

How to adopt PLE

• Organizational change is required to adopt PLE, and that is never easy.
• New roles will have to be filled in this transition.
• Failure to embrace changes will result in failure of successful adoption of PLE.
• Which companies are doing the best job of adopting PLE?
• Cost, schedule, and quality are all key to successful adoption.

Career advise from a PLE expert

• Concentrating your efforts on what you enjoy most will propel you toward greater career success.
• A career that focuses on teaching rather than practicing can be just as rewarding.
• When teaching others, hone your presentation, speaking, and writing skills.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Systems engineering is a critical industry niche that continues to experience exponential growth, but how do systems engineers fit into the big picture? In today’s discussion Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome systems engineer and Vitech President David Brown. David works to help really smart people build really complex stuff, and he’s joined the podcast to highlight just a few of the key components and contributions that systems engineering makes in today’s digital world.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Are MBSE and SysML one and the same?

• MBSE focuses on why we use models to improve engineering, while SysML focuses on descriptive architecture.
• The confusion about this overlap has been around for well over a decade.
• This is one of the greatest myths in the industry — they are not the same thing.
• SysML is simply one approach, while MBSE covers a much larger scope.

The Model Based Engineering Manifesto

• This manifesto was released in 2018, the same year as the US Office of the Secretary of Defense released the Digital Engineering Strategy.
• The manifesto addresses the question ‘How can we enhance data-driven systems engineering practices?’
• Systems are intentionally left out of the manifesto, instead, it is modeled after the agile manifesto.

Exploring context within model based tools

• Systems context is continually changing, which requires isolation to effectively impact needed change.
• Simulations are essential in today’s rapid pace environment.
• Exploring context within models will only improve knowledge and understanding of how systems work.
• Models assure that a system and its interactions will perform as expected.

Should the main focus be manufacturing-centric?

• Being system-centric rather than manufacturing-centric recognizes the whole as being of greater value than the sum of the parts.
• Exceptional architecture specifies need and interaction between all parts.
• The context of the product are all characteristics that all have to be factored into a system.

Unlocking collective intelligence

• Systems engineers uniquely get involved with transdisciplinary problems.
• Systems engineers work as the technical connective tissues that bring experts together, study problems from multiple viewpoints, and create exceptional solutions.
• Systems thinking is an approach that has been utilized for over 100 years.

Advancing your career

• You may not need to transform into a systems engineering career, but it can be valuable to have systems awareness because everything you deliver is part of a system.
• Getting involved with your professional network will increase your opportunities.
• Leadership opportunities offer skills and lessons learned that will enhance your organization.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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How can you set yourself up to find greater career opportunities, whether within your company or across your industry? On today’s episode of the Digital Enterprise Society Podcast, Thom Singer is joined by senior level executive recruiter and Managing Director at Stanton Chase International David Harap. David has interviewed close to 10,000 executives who were searching for jobs in varying industries, and he knows exactly what potential candidates need to do — and avoid doing — in order to secure their next position. From maintaining an active and robust presence on LinkedIn to staying connected to your industry network, investing in yourself, and nailing your next interview, this episode is filled with actionable steps that you need to take today, regardless of when you might find yourself making your next career move.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The what and why of recruiters

• The three main types of recruiters each perform different searches based on the needs of the hiring organization.
• Recruiters always work for the best interest of their client- the hiring company.
• Recruiters are not looking for a job for you, they’re looking for the right fit for the position they’re working to fill.
• Recruiters are generally not going to proactively help you find a variety of career opportunities.

Steps to increase your visibility

• Recruiters use LinkedIn as their primary source for potential candidates.
• Focus on updating your LinkedIn profile first, including a list of searchable keywords.
• Select “ready to work” rather than “open to work”.
• LinkedIn recruiter is a service that works to find the best candidates for open positions.

Mistakes to avoid when interviewing

• Negativity is the biggest mistake candidates make when interviewing.
• Avoid speaking negatively about past companies, coworkers, or experiences.
• Positivity is the best approach to every interview.
• Focus on your key takeaways and lessons learned from any experience.
• Be articulate about your impact on past organizations.

Advice for internal or external advancement

• Staying current with professional development is key to advancement within your organization.
• Stay visible within your networking groups as well as within your organization.
• Invest in yourself and your personal brand.
• Networking across your company is always a good idea, especially before you are looking for a new position.
• Prepare for internal interviews just as you would for an interview with a new company.
• Internal candidates have a position of strength over external candidates.

• Getting to know people across your company will have the highest ROI on your time.

• Position yourself to be as visible as possible, especially on LinkedIn and in industry groups- activity on LinkedIn is just as important as your robust profile.

Negotiating your new salary and getting references ready

• Understand the marketplace for your position.
• Do not expect to negotiate every aspect of your salary — select two or three top priority line items.

• Long negotiations are unprofessional and start your new career out on the wrong foot.

• Have a list of six to ten references ready to offer when requested.

• Stay in touch with your network and maintain a running list of people you could use as references.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Is customization really worth the cost? The answer might be found in round two of The Digital Battle. On this episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Digital Enterprise Society Trustee, Mark Pendergast to hash out the facts and frustrations behind customization. In this insightful and sometimes heated debate, Craig and Mark debate all things customization, including its shortcomings, benefits, and why (or whether) customization is really an issue at all.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Why is customization an issue?

• The commitment of money over time and people's satisfaction with systems makes this a hot topic.

• Higher quality and delivery standards are not met by today’s PLM tools.

• Organizations rarely know how to embrace something that they don’t create.

• Too often companies avoid investing the resources needed for customizing.

• Best practices from other industries are often underestimated.

Why customize at all?

• World-class lean manufacturers achieve excellence and pursue low-cost labor, which can be a recipe for disaster.

• The current tools on the marketplace don’t offer the help that companies need in today’s highly competitive world.

• Adopting and adapting may be secondary issues to the greater need for training on new tools.

• The counterargument to customizing is maintenance. Over time, the lifecycle cost does not justify the expense of customizing.

• Is bad management to blame for ineffective customizing?

• When you can’t measure what you’re getting in exchange for customization, it’s easy to discount the value of the customization.

How to achieve effective customization

• The ideal balance comes when defects are caught without committing overly high cost.

• Utilizing specialized workers is not the answer- an overall, non-evasive, least impact approach will get the results needed.

• Easily maintained customizations can be achieved by limiting invasions.

• Vendor architecture and providers seem to struggle with much-needed change.

• Moving beyond CAD data is the critical step to effective customization.

• Demanding customers are only adding to the problem, not the solution.

• Management needs to optimize for the constraint and then focus on the only customization needed.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Guideposts Blog

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What does the ‘E’ in MBE actually stand for? On this episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, we are focusing on the model based environment and the role that it plays in today’s rapidly changing technology. Today Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by subject matter expert and Model Based Engineering Technical Authority at LMI Ben Kassel for a deep dive into the critical role of the model based environment, including areas of growth within the model based definition and a look at whether humans might actually be removed from the engineering equation anytime soon.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Defining the ‘E’ in MBE

• The model based definition is the foundation of all other parts.
• Without the virtual side of the model based data, there is no digital twin.
• Model based technical data is the model based definition.
• The model based environment enables a model based enterprise to practice model based engineering.
• The model based environment is powered by the model based definition for core data.
• This product model is the technical DNA of an enterprise.

Understanding MBE

• MBE plays an integral role in the supply chain.
• Emphasis has always been on design and manufacturing within CAD.
• Models of sustainment need to play a greater role in this equation.
• Different technologies have created limiting silos that need to be overcome.

Finding a place for model based technical data

• Should data be developed from the perspective of the application?
• When the product is developed from the perspective of the application we neglect to define the product from the perspective of the actual product.
• If products are defined from the perspective of the products behaviors and functional characteristics, these new technologies will not work.
• A combination of data forms transforms the stereotypical CAD model into a product model.
• The product data manager has the ability to integrate the external with the internal.

Further MBE insights

• Material properties play a significant role in the mechanical design and need to be included in the technical data.
• Various emerging tools show that true integration has not yet been achieved.
• Does engineering need to change to accommodate the all-inclusive industry?
• Humans are not going to be eliminated from the equation any time soon.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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How can engineering constituents, services, and agents do their job better? The answer might be found in the Digital Engineering Strategy of the Department of Defense. This strategy aims to identify what exactly needs to be done to work in the digital space to increase universal understanding and the assimilation of the authoritative source of truths in every job. To help explain this initiative, today Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Philomena (Phil) Zimmerman, Director for Engineering Tools and Environments within the Department of Defense Office of the Deputy Director for Engineering. She explains the goals of the DOD Digital Engineering Strategy, how you can learn more about it, and what the world might look like when everyone is more reliant and tolerant of the digital world.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The goals of the Department of Defense Digital Engineering Strategy

• This effort aims to improve engineering practice by taking advantage of available computational powers.

• Engineering practices are made more rigorous when utilizing these tools.

• The digital engineering strategy identifies what needs to be done to work in the digital space.
• The services and agencies are responsible for how the work is done.
• The digital engineering strategy aims to help people do their jobs better.

How to learn more about the strategy

• The digital engineering strategy is readily available and widely accepted.
• Papers and courses about the strategy are taught at most universities with a systems engineering curriculum.
• The Systems Engineering Research Center has focused research on the topic.
• SIM data presents regular talks on the digital engineering strategy.
• The strategy is bringing together critical pieces for the DOD to pay attention to.

Gaining confidence in authoritative sources of truth

• The two main features of authoritative sources of truth are time dependence and question or use dependence.
• Computational work has to have a consistent place to start from and will continue to evolve as designs evolve.
• Exact characteristics have to be entirely accurate.
• There cannot be a discussion about which analysis is correct if you’re starting from two different points.

Key points behind the Digital Engineering Strategy

• The catalyst for this change happened when industry requested expectations for model-based techniques from the DOD and services simultaneously requested help from OSD.
• There was a need for a greater technical framework in communication.
• This strategy should help to streamline the supply chain.
• There are very rigorous pockets of adoption in various important places within the DOD.
• The lack of interoperability standards should not be a deterrent to embarking on these efforts.
• A look at the future shows the possibilities of all that this strategy has the potential to accomplish.

Department of Defense Digital Engineering Strategy

Systems Engineering Research Center

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Integrated circuits are what enable digital enterprises in our society… and yet, they’re considered by some to be a constraint. Disruptions in integrated circuits have been a hot topic recently, and while the pandemic may be partly to blame, there are several additional reasons behind these shortages, from outsourcing and supply chain to resourcing. On today’s episode of The Digital Enterprise Society Podcast, Thom Singer puts Craig Brown in the guest seat as they take a deep dive into the word ‘digital’, attempt to unpack all that is behind integrated circuits, shortages, and supply chains, and highlight the importance of resilience in all that we do.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Identifying integrated circuits

• Integrated circuits are everywhere — from your phone to your car, they are a critical piece of digital technology.
• These tiny silicon chips hold upward to the billions of simple gates.
• The pandemic placed an unprecedented strain on supply and demand, but who is to blame for that?
• Highly streamlined supply chains have resulted in limited capabilities in times of trade war or global crisis.

The role of models in digital technologies

• Building models to better understand the decisions that need to be made is key.
• Models can have a broader reach than simply what is being manufactured, from the plant to the flow of materials.
• How much time and money will be required to build increased capacity and resiliency?
• There is value in building plants in locations that don’t require shipping goods across oceans

Resilience in the digital enterprise

• Supply chains will adjust to balance out capacity and economics.
• Can digital engineering help fabrication and design through transitions?
• Resilience to the unknown is a critical component in every industry.
• Improved and rapidly increasing integration and chip design play an essential role in effective digital design.

Timelines toward improvements

• Adjustments will have to continually be made as we progress out of the pandemic.
• Effects from the pandemic are going to be a factor in all processes for the foreseeable future.
• Awareness of potential variants is essential to resilience and progression.
• Better models lead to better decisions and allow for adjustments that eliminate surprises.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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If you had the opportunity to expand your network, increase your skillset and improve your resume, would you take it? It’s a simple step that only a fraction of the workforce makes time for, yet it can be one of the most effective ways to advance your career. On today’s episode of the Digital Enterprise Society Podcast, Thom Singer is joined by keynote speaker, author, and volunteer enthusiast Lisa Ryan for a conversation about the value of volunteering at every stage in your career. You won’t want to miss this conversation that is filled with insights into the value of volunteering, the mindset that will bring the best results, and steps to help you get started today.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The value of volunteering

• Networking happens more naturally with volunteering.
• Volunteer efforts result in business opportunities.
• Committee, board, and other volunteer opportunities are widely available across all industries.
• Volunteer work creates a higher level of connection to others.
• All career opportunities come from your relationships with people.

Three questions to ask yourself before volunteering

• Approach volunteering with the right attitude to make it a worthwhile endeavor.
• Ask yourself ‘What can I learn from this?’, ‘Who can I meet from this?’, and ‘How can I help?’.
• The reward of asking these questions will pay off your efforts exponentially.
• Focusing solely on what’s in it for you misses the mark of volunteering.

Advancing your career through volunteering

• Invest in yourself and your career through volunteering.
• Volunteering demonstrates your willingness to progress your career to leadership.
• Leaders who volunteer are modeling the behavior they want to see in their employees.
• Your involvement will increase visibility and opportunities to invite others to join you.
• Volunteering allows you to expand your skillset and your resume.

How to get started

• There is an association for everything — find one that matches your interests and learn how to get connected today.
• Identify causes that inspire you and that make a difference.
• If you join an organization that is not a good fit after a few months, move on to another organization and try again.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Master data and digital thread each play a critical role in effective strategies, but which one needs to come first, and why? Today Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome back Digital Enterprise Society president and return podcast guest Adam Specht for a debate about the role and order of master data and the digital thread — which should come first, the benefits of each and where to start when establishing these strategies.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Defining master data and digital threads

• Master data is the critical set of data that always stays with the product.

• Critical information about a product is used to map its use and tie it to its function.

• Master data of a product lives beyond the current work.

• Name and convention of a part needs to be established with clear definitions
• Digital thread refers to the product lifecycle from start to finish.
• Digital thread is the connection and link between each step of a process.

Which comes first?

• Company size is a major factor when determining which comes first.
• Defining company processes needs to be the preliminary step to determine the data that is consumed at each step of the process.
• Thread first, then data, to determine master data status.
• Constant reuse of data should not break the digital thread.
• Process diagrams can help identify the data needed at each step.

The benefits of master data and the digital thread

• Key requirements are more clearly defined with precise data and product usage.
• This information facilitates greater reuse and less duplicate parts.
• Upfront effort to define capabilities and usage will make the job more efficient.
• Supply chains are a major beneficiary of master data and digital threads.
• A clearly defined master data strategy eliminates redundancy and enhances synergies.

Career advice from an engineer turned IT director

• Cross training is a critical component to successfully transforming across departments.
• Identify your interests and increase your training to move in a new direction.
• Find opportunities to enhance your experience through volunteering
• Networking is key to broadening your knowledge base.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Decisions don’t have to be driven by emotions; data can be used to effectively inform and improve processes in any organization. Today’s guest is a change agent within process modeling who knows how to make that happen. Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined today by Thavron Solutions CEO Nan Braun. Nan works to help companies effectively navigate needed change, and shares insights into the importance of using data to more effectively inform the changes that will bring greater value to your company.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

A more effective approach to changes

• Change is more effective when it is data-based, rather than emotional.
• Constructive process feedback needs to come from test results and reflect the full lifecycle of data.
• Properly managed data can help better inform processes.

Understanding cost vs. value

• The standard for measuring the value of services has rapidly evolved in recent years.
• In today’s digital enterprise, everything relies more heavily on IT.
• The measurement of value has to change within companies, regardless of cost.
• It is essential to highlight cost within context to fully understand value.

• Models are a key component to making data-driven decisions that can be used to inform priorities that make sense.

• Modeling services can help bridge gaps and more effectively define value streams.

Navigating change amid resistance

• Provide data-driven information that supports the change that needs to be made.
• Timing is a critical factor in affecting change.
• The pandemic has informed rapid and meaningful change with digital tools.
• Change fatigue is a legitimate consideration when transitioning to well-balanced processes.

Modeling a change agent

• Look for changes that could benefit your current roles and responsibilities.
• Take the emotion out of decision-making.
• Observe ways to leverage data that already exists to empower new decisions.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

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Welcome to the 100th episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast. Today Thom Singer and Craig Brown reflect on the depth and breadth of the first 100 episodes of the podcast as well as look forward to the future of the podcast. This milestone episode also marks the first episode of The Digital Battle, a new opportunity for listeners to hear both the point and counterpoint of a hot topic in the digital world. To help with the first debate they are joined by Digital Enterprise Society Trustee for Content IT Mark Pendergast. Craig and Mark debate the role of business and IT in digital transformation, addressing who should lead, the roles of vendors, outsourcers and consultants, and lessons that can be learned from both successful and unsuccessful digital transformation initiatives.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Business or IT — who should lead?

• The person with the skills and knowledge should be the leader, but that often isn’t the case.

• Greater alignment across all boards leads to greater productivity and results.

• Define what measures of success are to each interested party — increased communication will lead to increased alignment in efforts.
• Digital transformations too often fail because IT doesn’t understand business processes.

What drives digital transformation?

• Crisis is a great driver to instigate change in a company.
• The pandemic has created great opportunities to create change.
• Changing consumers, conditions and efficiencies also drive change.
• Cost centers and enabling savings are both critical considerations when implementing change.
• “If it’s not broken don’t fix it” is not the right mindset for an effective digital transformation.

What is the potential payback for a digital transformation?

• A true transformation goes far beyond a few low-cost tweaks here and there.
• Process corrections need to happen before a digital transformation can happen.
• Longer term paybacks are most likely to come to companies that are led by system thinkers.

Partnership or competition?

• There will always be a competition if the measures are inconsistent between business and IT groups.
• Competitive advantages come when IT departments and business departments both bring solutions and meaningful data to the table.
• There are important lessons that can be learned from successful partnerships in digital transformation.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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What does it mean to be a trusted leader? If you don’t have the trust of the people you work with, how can you start to gain their trust? Today’s episode is filled with advice that will help you grow your career, become more successful, and improve your company as well. On this episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom welcomes speaker and author David Horsager for a conversation about developing and maintaining trust in the workplace. He shares the eight pillars of trust, how they relate to each other, and action items that you can take to start building greater trust today.

On today’s podcast, you will learn about:

What is trust?

• People do business with people they know, like, and trust.
• Trust does not mean you like someone, it means you have confidence in your relationship with them.
• Trust is not a soft skill, it is the core issue of all relationships
• Trust cost is reflected in the effort and time we put into everything we do.

The eight pillars of trust

• Each pillar is essential and each pillar is interrelated to the others.
• All eight pillars must be exercised in order for any one of them to be effective.
• The eight pillars of trust include clarity, compassion, character, competency, commitment, connection, contribution, and consistency.

How to build better connections

• Genuine gratitude is the greatest connector between individuals.
• Transparency is not the same as trust, but both are essential in building relationships.
• Increased transparency about mistakes will increase our connections.

How to effectively demonstrate the pillars of trust

• Competency is apparent in leaders who are well-read- push yourself to read books rather than waste time on irrelevant digital content.
• Contribution means that you do the work that you are expected to do.
• Commitment breeds commitment and is essential to building trust.
• Trust is rebuilt only by making and keeping new commitments.

• Identify what you are doing well as well as which pillars you need to focus on building up.

• Break down the how until you have a list of action items that you can apply today.

Trusted Leader: 8 Pillars That Drive Results by David Horsager

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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In today’s digital world of Industry 4.0, highly prepared systems engineering graduates are in greater demand than ever before. Today’s guest understands how optimized relationships between academia and industry are an essential component of successfully preparing the next generation. Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Pawley Professor of Lean Studies and Chair of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Oakland University Robert Van Til to discuss the critical role of industry and academia partnerships in today’s digital world.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Why academia must lean toward relevance in today’s digital world

• A focus on industry trends is an essential first step into the digital world.
• The vast majority of engineer graduates will work in industry positions.

• Understanding the role of systems engineering is vital to industry progress.

• The intersection of industrial and systems engineering bridges many complex domains.

Embracing Industry 4.0 in academia

• There is an increasing need for a focus on training students in today’s available tools.
• There are more tools available than ever before to help take advantage of the myriad of data.
• Academia needs to develop opportunities for training students before they graduate into the industry.
• Bridging academic silos has countless benefits in systems engineering.

A look at the future of the industry

• Over the next 5 to 10 years academia needs to embed industry tools and methods into their classrooms.
• Academia and industry need to work together to collaborate on relevant projects.
• Students need opportunities to gain real-time problem experience in companies.
• Graduates who are more thoroughly trained are in greater demand.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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Every industry is facing the demands of the digital transformation right now. Digitization is taking center stage, and partner programs can work to create value and drive innovation across the board. To understand how this happens, Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Siemens Strategy Team and Digital Enterprise Society Board Member Manuel Loeffler for a look at the kinds of partnerships that create solutions.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Preparing for next generation for the digital industry world

• Who is ultimately responsible for training the next generation for the digital industry world — parents, professors, or the industry?
• The digital transformation is overtaking all industries across the board.
• Industry members have been actively pushing for better preparation for the new digital age.
• The companies that succeed are the ones that are willing to pivot toward the digital age.

The benefits of partnership programs

• Partnerships help to drive change and innovation across companies.
• Partnerships provide insights into customers preferences.
• Industry trends are easier to identify and implement within partnerships.
• The demands of the digital transformation can more easily be met within partnerships that exchange ideas.

What does digitization mean in today’s digital world?

• Digitization efforts have to move beyond simply the removal of paper processes.
• Digitization has the ability to simplify every aspect of business, including COVID-19 vaccines.

A look at employee resource groups

• There is value in empowering employees to take ownership of their careers and work environment.
• Employee resource groups can offer professional skill set development.
• All members work to learn from each other, regardless of experience or expertise.
• These resources can help build out your network and aid in your career advancement.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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The rate of innovation in today’s digital world often seems to be outpacing the implementation of the tools. To help understand the most effective solutions to today’s biggest digital tool challenges Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by SBE VIsion President and CTO David Vredenburgh. SBE Vision works to solve the world’s toughest engineering problems, from overcoming information silos to keeping up with today’s pace of innovation and implementing AI in data configuration, you won’t want to miss these lessons learned from one of the industry's leading experts.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

A tool development approach that works

• The centralized control of information is not as effective as it once was.
• Overcoming information silos will require an updated approach to data and tool management.
• The constantly increasing pace of digital innovation has created an abundance of tools that need proper management.
• Focused innovation is essential for continued business growth.

An agile approach to configuration

• Effective information correlation requires solving both semantic problems and configuration problems.
• Building the next prototype is not always the best next step in configuration.
• Overcoming such hurdles will require key collaborations of many smart people.

Lessons learned from the developing tools in the defense industry

• Configuration in the defense industry presents a unique set of challenges.
• Solving these problems will require advanced technologies coupled with very smart people.
• Regardless of who solves the most difficult problems, they will be solved.
• The pace of innovation seems to have slowed only because the complexity of systems has grown exponentially.
• There is a direct correlation between high quality data sets and high quality results.
• AI plays a critical role in today’s effective data configuration.
• It is essential to focus on the end user with every system that is created.

Career advice from a CTO

• Never stop learning as much as you can about the topics surrounding your position.
• Software engineers continue to be in incredibly high demand around the world.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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Today’s episode comes from Thom Singer’s widely successful podcast Making Waves at C-Level in which he interviews technologist, keynote speaker, and author Kate O’Neill about her outlook on tech, humanity, and careers. Kate is known as both the “Tech Humanist” and “Optimistic Futurist,” and is helping humanity prepare for an increasingly tech-driven future. Listen in as they discuss where to start your conversations around digital transformation and the steps you can take to always be advocating for both the user and the customer.

On today’s podcast, you will learn about:

The connection to humanity in technology

• It is essential to remember the humans that will be using the products that technology creates.
• Company jargon should not be used when describing products to customers.
• Consider what customers are going to do with the product and align company strategies with that use.
• Kate shares her experience with merging technology and humanity at early Netflix.

Conversations leaders have about digital transformation

• Successful companies are consistently looking ahead to the next technological advancement.
• Identify what your company is trying to do as well as what customers want to do with your products.

Growing your ideal career

• Identify companies that interest you and take the initiative to reach out to them.
• Highlight the skills and expertise that you can bring to a company.
• If a position doesn’t exist yet, ask the company if they can create one for your expertise.

The powerful role of strategic optimism

• Strategic optimism will help identify the direction your company should be moving.

• Consider not only what could go wrong but what to do when things go right.

• Set yourself and your team up for success by creating contingencies for every situation, both bad and good.

“Tech Humanist: How You Can Make Technology Better for Business and Better for Humans” by Kate O’Neill

Making Waves at C-Level Podcast with Thom Singer

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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What are the main differences between companies that have struggled and those that have continued to thrive over the last year? Today Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Chief Engineer at the Institute for Process Excellence and Digital Enterprise Society board member Scott Wertel to examine the critical importance of configuration management and company resiliency. Join in as they cover a variety of key topics, from the importance of employing configuration management to avoid unnecessary costs to the value of combining digital and human engineering to maximize productivity, and how to remain resilient during the pandemic.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The importance of configuration management

• Tooling is an expense that every manufacturing company has to incur.
• Configuration management is a highly effective tool to help avoid financial, brand image and opportunity costs.
• Configuration management is needed for better quality control.

Combining digital and human engineering

• The speed of drawing and simulating models cannot replace human time to comprehend a model.
• Visualization is an essential component to effective digital engineering.
• Improved software needs to include a human element of processing.
• Is generative design as advanced as human ability?

Resiliency during the pandemic

• The most resilient companies are the ones that were resilient to begin with.
• A “yes-and” mindset provides greater opportunities for growth.
• Be willing to say yes to opportunities and then figure out how to make it happen.

Looking forward at the Digital Enterprise Society

• Members can expect an increase in excellent content.
• The DES is working to become the best source for unbiased information about the tech industry.
• Collaboration will continue as lessons are shared about CM2, the importance of impact analysis and utilising shared configurations.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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Whether it’s a result of the pandemic, working from home, or the extreme winter weather, chances are some time in over the last year, you’ve felt either a little bit stuck, or maybe even completely overwhelmed. If you’re looking for ways to reignite your creativity in your work, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss. Today Thom Singer is joined by coach, speaker, and author Leslie Ehm, to discuss the role of creativity in advancing your career and finding satisfaction in your efforts. From finding your swagger to effectively sharing your ideas and taking steps to advance your career today, Leslie is filled with the encouragement and enthusiasm that we all need to hear right now.

On today’s podcast, you will learn about:

The definition and power of creativity and swagger

• Creativity is the ability to identify problems and develop richer and more effective solutions.

• Anyone in any business is capable of learning and enabling creativity.

• Swagger is the ability to manifest who you really are and the belief that who you are is good enough to bring the success you dream of.

• The powerful combination of creativity and swagger has the potential to advance your career, your department, and your company.

• The ability to speak your truth and come up with new solutions to unprecedented problems is the most valuable thing you can do for your organization right now.
• You will create more value by generating more self-belief and sharing it with others.

How to effectively share your ideas

• Regardless of your age, position, or years of experience, you can develop ideas that will create positive change.
• Connect with colleagues that will champion and further build on your ideas.
• Once you have several people interested in your idea, share it with the next level up to take it even further.
• Don’t be the person who says, “yes, but” — instead create a “yes, and” environment around your ideas.
• Get others involved — people who create without the influence of a manager are less likely to successfully implement new ideas.
• Understand the difference between risk and innovation and the critical role of both.

How to effectively advance your career today

• If you want to be noticed in your work, you have to take the time and effort to get noticed.
• Don’t focus exclusively on upward movement in your career, focus on the opportunities and people around you as well.
• Test out your leadership skills at a linear level right now.
• Don’t pretend to be anything that you are not, but don’t allow yourself to be paralyzed by imposter syndrome either.
• Ask for help and answers when you need them or limit yourself to effectively connect with and learn from others.
• Empowering self-belief will enable you to connect with others and take risks with confidence.
• Failure is all of the things that you don’t do. The things that you are willing to try are called growth.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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The pandemic has created a greater need than ever before for companies that are both digitally resilient and intensely focused on strong digital initiatives. Today’s guest represents a company that has excelled at both, and has experienced continued growth, even during the pandemic, as a result. Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome return podcast guest Susanne Lauda, the Director of Global Advanced Manufacturing Technology at AGCO. Susanne uses the latest technology to improve her company’s productivity. Today she shares the successes AGCO has experienced over the last year and weighs in on key factors that have resulted in minimal disruption during the pandemic, from the ever-increasing importance of digital resilience to the power of a digitally correct thread.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Handling orders during the pandemic

• The ability to build anywhere has greatly helped companies despite the shut-down.
• Companies that have been able to fulfill orders during the pandemic have expanded.
• Disruptions in the supply chain have required changes in consumer preferences, and resulted in required changes to the market environment.

Utilizing digital initiatives during the pandemic

• Companies who were prepared were able to pivot to a home office environment overnight with little interruption.
• Digital tools have enabled greater planning and a greater ability to work from home.
• Production companies have been able to produce extra PPE and other essential equipment.
• Digital has helped overcome supplier issues and continue deliveries to customers.

The importance of digital thread correctness

• Companies have realized that remote working options are critical, even for the shop floor, which means virtual tools are gaining importance.
• Communication with customers requires effective service and correct information.
• Increased digital tools decrease the manpower required to man stations, supporting social distance requirements.

Lessons learned from digitally resilient companies

• This pandemic will continue to accelerate the digital transformation.
• Spread will be minimized as less people are required to man the workforce.
• More meetings than previously thought can effectively be held virtually.
• Don’t be afraid of technology as you pursue your career.
• Create a network and attend industry conferences when you can.

Susanne on Digital Enterprise Society Episode 40- Leaning into Smart Engineering

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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One main difference between the companies that have struggled through the pandemic and those that continue to thrive is the ability to effectively integrate new technologies. To understand this better, Craig Brown and Thom Singer are joined by Digital Enterprise Society board member Yaser S. Kabakibo for a deep dive into the intersection of the technology provider, the service provider, and the customer. They cover the importance of meeting the needs of all invested parties when integrating new tools and processes and how doing so will protect against the unknown as well as maximize the return on investments.

On today’s podcast, you will learn about:

Understanding the intersection between sales and technology

• Both work to add new features that meet customer demand.
• Cost reduction and operational efficiencies cannot be the only considerations
• Failure to consider integration potential and new business processes result in untapped potential.
• Do service providers really offer a third perspective to bridge the gap between sales and technology?

Measuring return on investments

• New technologies come with their own set of challenges that have to be learned.
• How can we move toward a better ROI for all invested parties?
• Effectively implementing a tool is just as critical as understanding the financial value of the investment.
• Knowing which requirements are associated with the market is critical in order to pursue more market share.

Lessons learned from the pandemic

• Resiliency is no longer a marketing gig to push toward customers, it’s a must for companies that want to survive.
• Companies that have successfully transformed digitally, within their organizations and their incentives, have been more successful during the pandemic.

• Companies that are stuck in legacy mode are going to continue to have a harder time.

• The DES provides a bridge to the gap between service and technology providers and customers.

Career opportunities within the digital transformation world

• Integration needs to be part of every toolset.
• Being really good at one thing is not as beneficial as diversifying your skillset.
• Resilience is a critical component to career success.
• Understanding end-to-end integration is key.

Join the Digital Enterprise Society here for FREE by using code DES+2021.

Register for the Agile Leadership for Digital Transformation here.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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What does it take to manufacture a product by the billions? The numbers may change, but strategies and the role of digital technologies stay the same. On today’s episode Craig Brown and Thom Singer are joined by someone who understands why and how that is possible. Siemens Digital Industry Software Vice President of Consumer Products & Retail Strategy Suzanne Kopcha helps consumer products companies find their digital enterprise strategy. She understands the role of simulation and the importance of the ability to quickly adapt to real time decisions in the manufacturing environment, even during a pandemic. And as someone who genuinely loves the work she does, Suzanne shares powerful ways that anyone can improve their network connections, even in today’s virtual world.

On today’s podcast, you will learn about:

Manufacturing challenges of consumer products

• What does manufacturing by the billions look like?
• Efficient operations are key no matter the size of your product.
• Technology transfer with different equipment can be a real challenge.
• Simulation technology and engineering challenges are present in every industry.

Data science as a form of engineering

• Tracking market trends and consumer data has been available for a long time.
• Machine learning has to be balanced by human learning when processing data.
• Consumer products are expected to adapt to consumer demands in a matter of weeks.
• Data analytics and machine learning are key to identifying current trends.
• CAD design can be superior to human design with the right technologies.

Digitization versus digital processes

• Creating a digital ecosystem and defining processes with digital technology is critical.
• You should be asking ‘what can my processes be because I have digital technology?
• Transparency should be embraced in all processes.
• The digital enterprise and employing the role of the digital twin are essential to forward thinking companies.

Improving virtual connections

• Practice what you are going to say before you say it.
• Be vulnerable enough to allow critique from others.
• Ask questions to be sure that the people on the other side of the screen are receiving your message.
• Increase connections by turning on your video and asking others to as well.
• Schedule events that force you to step away from your computer.

How to develop a career you love

• Pursue work that you love to do.
• Invest in yourself through training, education and networking.
• Maintain a diversity of perspective and stay well informed.
• Find quality mentors that will provide honest feedback.
• Give back to your industry in meaningful ways.

Understanding logistics during the pandemic

Join the Digital Enterprise Society here for FREE by using code DES+2021.

Register for the Agile Leadership for Digital Transformation here.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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Over the past ten months we have all learned that no one knows when the next big change is going to happen. And whether you’re planning to make your next career change or not, you need to be prepared for changes as they come. One of the very best ways that you can be prepared is to have a solid network, a task that can seem pretty difficult during a pandemic.

In today’s episode, Thom Singer shares what has changed, and what has stayed the same, in today’s rules of networking. He illustrates the reasons why fostering relationships has become more essential than ever before. Thom offers simple and stress-free ways that you can have better conversations, network more effectively (even while social distancing) and strengthen your relationships, starting today.

On today’s podcast, you will learn about:

The why behind networking

• All of the opportunities in your life come from the people you know.
• It is critical to strengthen your network, especially in a time of social distancing.

• Networking is a long-term play that leads to mutually beneficial relationships.

• You can’t have relationships with people if you aren’t talking to them.

• Shared experiences create bonds between people.
• Unscripted conversations don’t have to be hard.

6 ways to have better conversations

• Be curious about other people — ask questions and pay attention to the answers.
• Look for shared interests and commonalities with others, including alma maters, organizations, and friends.
• Be intentional when you go into conversations — define your purpose for being in there.
• Have a story to tell that is unscripted and interesting.
• Don't prejudge other people.
• Have fun — enjoy the opportunities that come with connecting with others.

How to network during the pandemic

• You have to take ownership of finding ways to connect with others.
• Attend the virtual events that are currently available.
• Reach out to the contacts that you already have.
• Be the person who creates virtual events.
• Schedule one-on-one appointments with the people you work closely with.

Email Thom directly at thom@thomsinger.com.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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You may think that PLM is about tools, processes, and data, but today’s guest understands that effective PLM is much more than that. PLM is all about people understanding what they are doing with product data and why they’re doing it. Today Craig Brown and Thom Singer are joined by Mark Pendergast, retired Technical Manager and Systems Architect to examine the value of PLM as it relates to people. Mark shares his experiences with helping companies embrace agile as a process and engaging within the company to increase the scope of PLM where it matters most — with the people.

On today’s podcast, you will learn about:

Surprises in PLM

• PLM is all about people getting their job done every day with the assistance of some technology.
• Effective adaptation of PLM happens when there is a vision that people can get behind.
• Technology is secondary, storytelling is the primary effective approach to adapting PLM.
• Convincing management can be the greatest challenge, but it doesn’t have to stop progress.

Pervasive computing and increasing the scope of PLM

• Embracing a metaphase-based system starts with an increased understanding of the full process.
• The more moving pieces there are, the less people tend to understand any of it.
• Effectively increasing the scope of PLM requires understanding the entire model.
• Understanding the flow of data and decisions is critical to company-wide improvement.

Understanding agile as a process

• Effective agile supports budgets and timelines.
• Agile is meant to offer a change in emphasis, not in processes.
• Thinking has to shift from feature outcomes to business outcomes.

Customization vs. adaptation

• Staying current with the commercial marketplace is essential to continued company growth.
• Error-proofing happens most effectively with customization.
• Customization has to happen with production and information systems.

Career advise from an industry veteran

• The best employees will take on assignments that will increase your understanding of company products.
• Take field trips to understand what the products you are developing do.
• Build out your network and leverage it to get things done.
• Offer to help anyone who is in need in whatever way you can.

Join the Digital Enterprise Society here for FREE by using code DES+2021.

Register for the Agile Leadership for Digital Transformation here.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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If you haven’t heard of scrum, you’re not alone. Scrum is a framework that addresses complex adaptive problems and results in the delivery of the highest possible value. Today’s guest is an Advanced Scrum Master and understands the value that agile and scrum bring to any organization. Craig Brown and Thom Singer are joined by Gafcon, Inc. Project Manager and Digital Enterprise Society board member Kristin Greathouse to define agile development, highlight the value of scrum and discuss the importance of bringing software development to the forefront in today’s industry.

On today’s podcast, you will learn about:

Understanding agile development

• Agile refers to several different incremental software approaches, including scrum.
• A look at the history of iterative development.
• Common misunderstandings about scrumming include adaptation requirements.
• The value of a scrum master when implementing a new framework within an organization.

Effectively managing expectations

• Various roles within scrum dictate the priorities when handling a backlog.
• Thorough meetings are necessary to effectively approach implementation.
• A scrum master will help navigate the best approach to these efforts.

The value of scrum in a pandemic

• Team communication is imperative in a virtual workplace.
• Agile is becoming more important as technology continues to advance during the pandemic.
• Tools that aid in retrospect feedback following virtual meetings.
• Engagement and actual listening are critical components to team connection.

Career advice from someone who loves their work

• Finding your career path has to come organically- don’t try to force it.
• Chasing money will not be the most fulfilling way to approach a career.
• Become a subject matter expert in what interests you most.
• Find mentors that will educate and support you along your path.

Join the Digital Enterprise Society here for FREE by using code DES+2021.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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The new year is finally here and it’s time to take a look at the future of the Digital Enterprise Society. There are several exciting opportunities in the works, and in today’s episode our hosts are joined by the new Digital Enterprise Society president Adam Specht to discuss all that is in store. Adam is also the Product Development IT Director at DRiV Incorporated and as the first three-time guest on this podcast, you can be sure that what he has to say is worth listening to. Adam shares the successes of the Digital Enterprise Society during an unprecedented year, highlights areas of focus in the new year, and offers a look at all that members of the Digital Enterprise Society have to look forward to in 2021 and beyond.

On today’s podcast, you will learn about:

2021 areas of focus for the Digital Enterprise Society

• The podcast will continue to be a key means of communication, education and networking.
• Webinars will continue to be made available to members at no additional cost.
• A partner directory resource is being developed and is on track to be released this year.
• Teaching, learning, and creating community will continue to be a priority for DES.

Continually improving areas of focus

• Collaboration efforts have and will continue to improve.
• Virtual meetings are now more productive than ever before.
• Effective communication is a continually improving area of focus.
• The Digital Enterprise Society will continue to improve collaboration sharing problems.

Looking ahead at the Digital Enterprise Society

• Board members are working to bring new guests to the podcast.
• The career center is working to help people find work in this difficult post-pandemic environment.
• Conferences and face-to-face opportunities will return as a priority when it is safe to do so.
• The foundational pieces of the Digital Enterprise Society are continuing to come together to create a beneficial platform for collaboration and learning.

Join the Digital Enterprise Society here for FREE by using code DES+2021.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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How can you influence people to say yes? Regardless of your professional position, you are in a position of influence. Every day you are faced with opportunities to influence others, whether it’s your boss, your coworkers, or your customers. In today’s episode Thom Singer is joined by marketing consultant Gerry O’Brion to talk about how to effectively influence others. Gerry shares the four questions about your audience that you need answers to, and he offers the single most critical thing you need to do to effectively influence others (and it doesn’t start with finding your why).

On today’s podcast, you will learn about:

Influencing people to say yes

• Regardless of your position, you are in the position to influence others.
• Effective influence techniques can be applied to any situation.
• A strong framework of influence can effectively change the decisions people make.

Four questions to ask about your audience

• Who are you influencing? Not everyone can be influenced in the same way, so your approach will have to change accordingly.
• What insights do you have about your audience? And what do they want more or less of, hope for, and fear?

• What is the outcome that you are going to cause? You need to have proof that you will deliver what you say you can deliver.

• What is your because? Your because is the logical proof that the decision is a good one.

How to best frame your influence

• Clearly identify what’s in it for them.
• Find actual metrics that prove the results that come when you put your promise to work.
• People want to be able to prove to others that they made a good choice — give them the evidence they need to say yes.
• Don’t focus only on the outcome, support it with rational, logical reasons that support the decision.

How to identify the because

• People may understand your why, but when they understand your because, you will really be able to have an effective influence on them.
• Understand the problems that leaders are trying to solve.
• Frame your solutions in terms of what they are thinking about, not what you are thinking about.
• Use the insights into their mindset to answer their concerns and solve their problems.

What Big Brands Know

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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As the year comes to a close many of us are reflecting on the challenges and opportunities that came with 2020 and wondering where to go from here. On today’s episode Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome return guest Barry Vince, Digital Enterprise Society Career Development board member and co-founder of Two Roads Professional Resources staffing and recruiting company. Barry outlines the essential steps to take to refocus your career path, including what you need to do before, during, and after every interview, as well as the most effective way to mentally prepare for whatever the new year may bring.

On today’s podcast, you will learn about:

A snapshot of the current market

• Which industries were hit the hardest during 2020?
• Is switching industries the right move for you?
• Consider opportunities within companies that have done well during the pandemic.

Effective job search strategies

• Write down a game plan for your job search.
• Identify the industries that you are most interested in.
• Set clear metrics to guide and measure your daily efforts.
• Build out your online profile to match your resume.
• Stay connected with your network — physical isolation does not equal online isolation.
• Pursue multiple angles within your network and your interests.

Mastering the interview

• Prepare for a virtual platform and get familiar with the program.
• Practice with family or friends to increase your ease in the interview.
• Handle network interruptions with a smile and go with the flow.
• Bring positive energy to the camera to portray your best self.
• Follow up after the interview with direct emails to all attendees.

Career advice

• Carve out time in your employment strategy to do something that you love.
• Maximize your time management by turning off external distractions.
• Take time to get outside and out of your head whenever needed.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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If 2020 has taught us anything it is that the ability to work remotely is an absolutely critical component to successful companies. In today's episode, Craig Brown and Thom Singer are joined by Nicholas Holian, Americas Region Chief Technology Officer at DXC Technology and expert in enhancing remote visualization capabilities. Nick highlights the high-speed and highly secure capabilities that are available within current remote engineering and who would benefit most from these offerings. He also shares insights into the career advice that has taken him this far, and if you've listened to this podcast for more than one episode, you probably won't be surprised to hear that it all starts with networking.

On today's podcast, you will learn about:

Perfecting remote engineering

• The shutdown in March made remote engineering a greater priority than ever before.
• Remote engineering drives companies back to a better security model by moving data back into the data center.
• Updated technology does not require the same level of dependency on a network.
• The performance of a workstation in the data center never changes regardless of your location.

Enhancing remote visualization capabilities

• Constant technological advancements have driven massive improvements in sharing technologies.
• Because data is no longer being transmitted, instant access is possible anywhere in the world.
• Time savings on engineering has been astronomical as companies have been able to reduce their data-sharing turnaround time.;

Enabling businesses to work remotely

• These services can be scaled to as little as 12 and up to thousands of engineers.
• There are different benefits to utilizing cloud technology, bursting, and green fielding.
• Security receives high priority when using these data services.
• Training has to happen in order to effectively transition to remote working.
• Remote work is faster and more secure than ever before — check-in times are now seconds rather than minutes or hours.

Career advice from an industry expert

• Involvement in organizations within your industry will greatly benefit your career.
• Networking is essential to connecting with industry experts.
• Forums and groups can provide personal development opportunities.
• Get involved by contacting committee members and putting your name out there to demonstrate your sphere of influence.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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There is a vast selection of valuable design tools available today, and yet many companies struggle to implement the best ones. In today’s episode, Craig Brown and Thom Singer are joined by an impartial expert who understands the importance of successfully choosing and using the best design tools. Author and owner of Dezignstuff Matt Lombard started as a musician in the Navy and his career has taken unexpected turns that have led him to work in which he has truly excelled, even if he isn’t exactly passionate about it. Matt shares some of the reasons that so many companies experience challenges when adopting new tools and how to more successfully implement those tools, as well as valuable career advice about the steps that anyone can take to position themselves as an expert in their field.

On today’s podcast, you will learn about:

The variety of tools but still an administrative gap

• Why are there so many tools to choose from but companies are still experiencing gaps that result in administrative challenges?
• The loyalty of tool producers and their users can create unnecessary challenges when trying to implement the best tools for the job.
• A willingness to embrace change will ease the integration of new products.

How to successfully implement new tools

• Expect that the transition will take time to implement.
• Recognize the traditional methods that will have to be given up when transitioning a new workflow.
• Expand processes without breaking the bridge to valuable legacy experiences.

The effect of additive manufacturing in the design process

• Point-based data is becoming more and more important to the mechanical engineer.
• Subdivision modeling has been kept at arm’s length until now because of 3D printing.
• Many design advances are a direct result of 3D printing becoming so popular.
• More tools are available than ever, they just need to be taken advantage of.

How to position yourself as an expert in your field

• Don’t underestimate the value of opportunities that appear unexpectedly in your career path.
• Set career goals but be flexible as you work to meet them.
• Align your talents with a field that you are interested in even more than the areas you are passionate about.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Shareables:

[21:54] “Mechanical engineers involved in design need to have a little bit of any eye for the aesthetic.” — Matt Lombard

[26:17] “These advances are all a direct result of 3D printing becoming so popular.” — Matt Lombard

[29:30] “The tools are there and I wish a lot more people were taking advantage of them” — Matt Lombard

[32:54] “Don’t underestimate the value of opportunities that appear unexpectedly.” — Matt Lombard

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The new year is right around the corner, and for many people that means setting new goals, but have you considered setting new goals for your career? At the intersection of goal setting and productivity, you will find a successful career path that you can start down today. In today’s episode, Thom Singer is joined by author and executive consultant Dr. Mary Kelly to discuss how to plan your career, how to set goals, and how to move forward to execute those goals. She shares some of the reasons that planning your career goals can be difficult, how to combat the obstacles that are keeping you from the career you want and action items that will get you where you want to be, starting with just five minutes.

On today’s podcast, you will learn about:

Common career planning mistakes

• Too many people don’t focus on networking, which results in a limited understanding from others about what you do.
• Keep your supervisors and peers up to date about the work that you are doing.
• It is your professional duty to communicate clearly with others about the work that you are doing.
• Take ownership of your career path by clearly defining your goals.
• Run a cost-benefit analysis of the work you are doing and what you want out of your career.
• If you want to advance your career, stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about other people.

How to set the right career goals

• Identify the work that you want to do by shadowing leaders in your field.
• Solicit constructive criticism and take action accordingly.
• Make your boss a partner in your career path.
• Delegate the work that you don’t need to be doing to free up more time to spend on strategic career planning.
• Contact three people a month to solicit advice from the smart people in your network.

How to meet your goals

• If you want to accomplish something, put it on your calendar, not your to-do list.
• Identify the obstacles that might get in your way and brainstorm a solution for every obstacle.
• Set small action items that you know you will accomplish.
• Review your efforts monthly and pinpoint the work that you still need to do to meet your goals.
• Find people that you can be accountable to make a habit out of your goal.
• Write down action items that you can cross off your list.
• Organize your time and identify what you can accomplish in just five minutes.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Productive Leaders 2021 Success

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Collaboration is quickly becoming more important than ever in today’s unpredictable supply chain. In today’s episode, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome Product Development IT Director at DRiV Incorporated and Digital Enterprise Society board member Adam Specht and Jim Schwarz, founder and director at Intersphere Industries. Together they discuss the importance of collaboration and supply chain, and the integration of suppliers to minimize risk and optimize return despite constant industry disruptions.

On today’s podcast, you will learn about:

Handling industry disruption

• Change inevitably comes with an industry maturity curve combined with technical breakthroughs.

• Global supply chain is an integrated network that easily adapts to more stable markets.

• Relationships and security are key to successful industrial manufacturing.

The role of PLM in supply chain

• The true cost of supplies include tariffs and other legal considerations.
• PLM creates greater flexibility to pivot when disruptions come.
• Supply chains need to identify alternative options when suppliers become unavailable.

Understanding collaboration and risk management

• Effective collaboration requires identifying relationships with other companies.
• Capacity collaborations work to maximize leverage and minimize risk.
• Mutual interest can no longer be the main basis for collaboration.
• PLM is only successful if the organizations using the tools know how to use their ERP.
• Risk can actively be managed at the data level without even knowing the risks.

Key indicators within risk management, collaboration and PLM

• Greater risk management is needed when companies have uncontrolled and unmanaged inventory.
• Constant warranty returns indicate that greater risk management is needed.

• Effective collaboration can be measured by flexibility metrics.

• The speed of change from both volume and design perspective is essential.

• Current logistics has had a great impact on single sourcing.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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This year has provided a unique opportunity to empower and drive the next generation of digital talent forward, and today’s guest has seen the benefits of doing so first hand. In today’s episode, Craig Brown and Thom Singer are joined by Dora Smith, Senior Director of the Global Academic Program at Siemens. She works to set the strategy for Siemens approach to reaching out to the academic market, including enhancing university relations and executing academic competitions. She shares the areas of digital technology in which today’s students are the most and least prepared, how the pandemic has affected their education and opportunities for learning and growth, and the steps that need to be taken to bridge any remaining gaps.

On today’s podcast, you will learn about:

Embracing digitalization during the pandemic

• Tools are being put in place to enhance the future of engineering education.
• The pandemic has accelerated the embracing of digitalization in the university setting.
• Curriculum, certification, and training all aid in increased post-graduation preparation of students.
• Understanding the business value of PLM is critical to successfully preparing students.

The roles of all invested parties

• Big companies such as Siemens and GM are working hard to influence positive change.
• Government could influence public policy and increase funding to help bridge the gap.
• Universities are working to get all programs up to speed.
• The older generation needs to be willing to learn best practices from the younger generation.

Accelerated digital changes due to COVID-19

• Many opportunities have appeared as a result of the pandemic, including increased collaboration skills.
• Extra time has allowed for more preparation for digital learning.
• Virtual learning has provided more opportunities for monitoring students.
• Progress is being made in bringing the EDA and mechanical worlds together.

Career growth advice

• Take advantage of public speaking and other stretch opportunities to increase your own learning.
• Leverage your network and look for ways to put yourself out there.
• Identify and develop the skills that you recognize that you are lacking in.
• Get involved in both formal and informal mentorship programs.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Siemens Business Value of PLM Webinar

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Electric airplanes were once an invention that was only seen in dreams, but today’s guest is using out of the box tools to help to make them a reality. In this episode, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome Bye Aerospace Director of Design Engineering Jim Forrester, who works to enable his team with the processes and tools they need to successfully design airplanes. He shares the challenges and triumphs of designing electric airplanes and highlights the value of utilizing tools out of the box to help increase your company’s competitive advantage.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The value of using tools out of the box

• Relying heavily on a custom code can be a major detriment to a company.
• The more code you have the more intractable you are with respect to upgrading from version to version.
• Working out of the box can be an integration challenge but is more beneficial in the end because it doesn’t rely as heavily on a custom code.
• Custom code comes with the danger of getting stuck in a less effective program.

All about electric airplanes

• Battery advances have made electric airplanes possible like never before.
• The trainer plays an essential role in successful flights.
• Electric planes can now travel for up to three hours between chargings.
• Simplicity is the marketing key to successfully producing cost effective electric airplanes.

Redesigning an airplane

• Shifting the center of gravity in electric airplanes has increased stability in flight.
• Eight people were able to redesign an entire airplane in less than one week.
• CAD is so much more than a 3D drawing board — its capacity is so much more than that.
• Effective program management is essential in this constantly changing environment.
• Anticipate and embrace change to use it as a competitive advantage.
• Differences between and functions of design BOMs, engineering BOMs, and manufacturing BOMs.

Career advice

• Transitioning from a large scale to a smaller company starts with learning from other people.
• Master your craft — become a subject matter expert in the tools and products you work with.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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Business communication has never been as important as it is the crazy world that we’re living in now. Between online Zoom meetings, increased email and the occasional in person presentation, it has become absolutely essential to know how to communicate your best self. In this episode, Thom Singer dives into the importance of business communication with Jim Comer, expert in helping people get their message across through the spoken word. From knowing how many points to make in a presentation to key tips for communicating more effectively online, Jim has the advice that we all need to hear to become better communicators in today’s workplace.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

How to communicate your individuality

• Individuality leads to likeability and likeability leads to connection.
• Be the best person that you are, and don’t try to be perfect all of the time.
• Be authentic — authentic people are more approachable and relatable.
• Don’t make major changes to the way you present yourself whether you’re at the water cooler, in a meeting or on stage.

How to communicate your point effectively

• Make a few points well, not many points badly.
• Choose the top two points that you want to drive home and forget the rest.
• Repeat your points in interesting ways with examples and stories.
• Do not read off your slides — memorize your top two points and then talk to your audience.

How to give a memorable report or speech

• Your content has to be authentic, individual and personal.
• Practice the delivery and perfect your expression.
• Let your words and your tone match — if you are sharing exciting news, sound excited.
• Consider how you are coming across to your audience.
• Forget trying to sound perfect — no one wants to hear perfection.

How to communicate effectively online

• Zoom is not going anywhere — embrace it as a means of regular communication.

• Check your lighting and sound before you start a meeting.

• Make eye contact online — look at the lens and imagine your audience.
• Use a background that is not distracting or cluttered.
• Dress professionally.
• Make sure you know when your camera is ON or OFF.
• Acknowledge the obvious — something might go wrong but you can handle it with optimism.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Comer Communications

Shareables:

[2:38] “Individuality leads to likeability and likeability leads to connection.” — Jim Comer

[7:30] “The way you deliver a speech has to be just as deliberate as the words themselves.” — Jim Comer

[11:37] “Trying to be perfect is the biggest mistake you can make. No one wants to hear perfect.” — Jim Comer

[15:47] “If you want your key points to be remembered you’ve got to make them come alive.” — Jim Comer

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An effective PLM strategy can make an astounding difference in today’s product lifecycle environment, and today’s guest has over 30 years of experience in both engineering and information technology to prove it. In this episode, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome Aerospace & Defense Product Lifecycle Management Strategist and Architect Jim van Oss. Jim emphasizes the value of employing a PLM strategist in companies and outlines the importance of taxonomies within engineering as well as the potential reach of PLM when properly employed. He also shares the value of participating in working groups and the positive effect it can have on your network and career.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

How to effectively employ a PLM strategist

• Simply installing software is not the career-defining work that a PLM strategist does.
• A PLM strategist works to transform engineering by utilizing model-based definition, eliminating the data chase and managing intellectual property.
• Resistance to change can be overcome by utilizing builder information and breaking down the value system of the bills of information and material.

The importance of taxonomies within engineering

• Are the bill of information, bill of design and bill of manufacturing all the same taxonomy?
• One bill of material should rule all of the bills available for any one product.
• A manufacturing bill of material should be a version of the engineering bill of material.

The reach of PLM

• PLM should go all the way through the product life cycle and to the retirement of the product.
• Properly implemented PLM has the potential to explain and preserve all product design and decisions.
• New designs will benefit from initial PLM documentation as well, resulting in saved time and increased value.

The value of involvement in working groups

• Jim highlights his role in materials compliance and the aerospace working groups.
• Connecting common threads and sharing benchmarking information will positively impact all involved parties.
• Actively participating in working groups can help define company requirements.
• Taking an active role in groups can help shape the information that you’re trying to influence.
• Involvement in working groups has the potential to expand your professional horizons.

Advancing your career

• Pay attention to company culture — a good company culture has the potential to create a good long career.
• Look for opportunities for job variety within a company to expand your skills.
• Follow your passions and strategize to find a way to make a job out of them.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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In today’s episode, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome the Chief Analyst and CEO of Lifecycle Insights Chad Jackson. Chad works to help engineering executives understand what drives change in the industry in order to make better decisions about investments, enhancements and other solutions. Today he shares key components to successful adaptation to digital enterprises, lessons that can be learned from adapting to these new systems, and the career opportunities and trends that Chad sees most frequently in companies today.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Key components to successful adaptation to digital enterprises

• Being proactive is the number one indicator of successful adaptation to digital enterprises.
• Recognize that new systems will bring disruption to your company.
• Identifying your comfort or discomfort level will help to ease the transition to new systems within your organization.
• Recognize the role that organizational politics will play in adapting new systems
• Work to bring all leaders onto the same page in what needs to change and how to get it done.

Lessons learned from systems engineering adaptation

• Be keenly aware of the scope of what you’re going to take on.
• Systems engineering is a mindset rather than a discipline that needs to be approached as an abstract that is open to providing many solutions.
• Cultural changes have to happen across disciplines in order to be successfully adapted.
• The amount of software and electronics in products is overwhelming and presents its own set of problems.

Understanding mathematical modeling

• Innovation within mathematical modeling in mechanical design is the key to meaningful advancement.
• Additives have changed the options with shape — shape is no longer limited but can now effectively affect the functional properties of designs.
• Benefits include lower cost and increased flexibility and speed of production.

Adapting virtual commissioning

• The technology has to be properly developed before companies will fully adapt the option.
• Companies have the opportunity to be more competitive in time to market with virtual commissioning.
• Visualization and cloud technology are making it possible to more greatly exploit virtual commissioning.

Career opportunities and trends

• Companies are facing increased product complexity, and need systems engineers to help mitigate that complexity.
• Sharpen your skills around the inherent political nature of organizations.
• Understand and compromise with leaders to find compromises and solutions.
• Identify the companies that are willing to adapt with the constant change of today’s digital world.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Lifecycle Insights

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Way back in January 2020 the guests on the Digital Enterprise Society Podcast, like the rest of the world, had no idea what this year had in store. In today’s episode, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome back guests Eric Kozikowski, Kevin Del Re, and Soho Yun; three graduate students from Purdue University who are each earning a Masters Degree in PLM. Together they reflect on the changes and opportunities that all of the uncertainties of the pandemic have presented in both the university and the industry settings.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

A look at the effective transition from onsite to virtual learning

• The virtual learning curve has not been as difficult to navigate as originally anticipated.
• Virtual learners have been able to quickly adapt to the new COVID-enforced learning environment.
• Online learning has created alternative opportunities for research testing.
• Keeping all students actively involved in learning has been more challenging in a virtual environment.
• University-wide COVID testing and strict social distancing regulations have helped keep Purdue University open.

Career lessons learned from the pandemic

• Flexibility is key to handling whatever new challenges present themselves.
• Increased communication and connections within your network have become more important than ever.
• Reaching out to others is the secret weapon to a successful career moving forward.
• Respecting others' space is essential to help everyone get through these times.
• Utilizing communication platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams is essential.
• Keeping a cloud-based digital copy of all work files will help with an immediate or unplanned pivot to online work.

Progressive industries and economic adjustments in a post-COVID world

• Businesses have had to adapt to survive these new and trying times.
• Remote working will continue to be a highly desired option for many companies.
• RVs, bikes, and sporting goods are more popular and presenting more career opportunities than ever before.
• Manufacturers are bringing manufacturing back to the US as a result of the pandemic.
• Industries with vertical integration are going to be increasing manufacturing in the US.
• The economy is continuing to change, and there are opportunities for work within PLM everywhere.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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Do you find yourself staying silent when you know you should speak up? Do you understand unconscious bias and the role it has in the workplace? On today’s episode of the Digital Enterprise Society Podcast Thom Singer interviews attorney, speaker, consultant and author Kelly Charles-Collins about unconscious bias and doing what it takes to keep your company on the right side of the next #hashtag movement. They discuss the differences between racism and unconscious bias, steps you can take to minimize unconscious biases in your company and your career, and the importance of never being a bystander when action needs to happen.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Understand unconscious bias

• The stereotypes you make about people have an effect on your daily decisions in the workplace.
• Unconscious bias has the ability to protect us, but more often it betrays us when we make decisions based on incorrect information.
• Racism and unconscious bias are not the same thing — one uses power structures to intentionally marginalize groups of people while the other is based on cognitive instinct — but the impact is still the same.

Discover and minimize unconscious biases in the workplace

• Understanding these biases will help monitor patterns of behavior that may not best serve your company or your career.

• Subjective “good fit” is the enemy of diversity and inclusion in the workplace while objective “good fit” considers individual contributions to the efforts of the workplace.

• You can minimize biases through training and self-reflection on the decisions that you’ve made in the past.

• The Harvard Implicit Association Test can help reveal and address your biases.
• Slow down in your actions to give your brain an opportunity to consciously consider your decisions.

Next steps in overcoming unconscious biases

• It’s one thing to be aware of a bias, it’s an entirely different endeavor to overcome it.
• If you can’t immediately eliminate a bias you can start by disrupting it and course correcting from where you are.
• Identify the filters you’ve used in your life that have supported your unconscious biases.
• Have intentional conversations with people you haven’t talked to before.
• Support a workplace culture shift from silence to accountability.

The message of The Bystander Effect TED Talk

• Individual accountability is at the core of everything that we do.
• Be willing to speak up when the small things happen to reduce the possibility of big explosions happening.
• Find ways every day to interrupt patterns of inappropriate behavior.
• Be aware of when you are acting as a bystander and find ways to speak out.
• Take action when action needs to be taken.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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On today’s episode of the Digital Enterprise Society Podcast Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Natalie Straup, Agile Requirements Product Owner at Boeing Defense, to discuss the current state of agile requirements for PLM. Natalie highlights the career milestones that led her to the position she is in today and offers insight into how companies can better embrace the agile requirements for PLM interfaces. She also shares tactics for proactively managing career changes and offers doable steps anyone can take to handle all of the work, life, and network disruptions that have come with 2020.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Understanding agile requirements

• The varying needs of the programs is the top priority in agile requirements.

• Agile requirements are focused mainly on PLM.

• Understanding compatibility factors on continuous release products and managing integration requirements for sites that are in different stages of the product life cycle.

• How to manage integrating packages and agile requirements for PLM.
• Options for balancing the attention given to model based systems engineering with supply chain and product support.

Embracing PLM interfaces

• Government instituted policies have helped with the embracing of PLM interface
• Fighting for government funded programs requires vigilance of acquisition systems
• Involvement in government programs has the ability to be an enabler as well as an inhibitor

Handling the disruptions of 2020

• Proactively making connections with coworkers will help get the work done
• Expect and plan for constant interruptions from home
• Disable time wasting websites to increase your productivity
• Allow time for pauses from technology lags in communication
• Get outside, get exercise and stay socially engaged
• Be proactive in identifying and accomplishing the work that needs to get done

Looking to the future of the Digital Enterprise Society

• Mentorship needs to remain a top priority, even if it has to be a virtual experience for now
• Networking will continue to be a critical component of a successful career
• Take time to reach out for feedback on the work that you are doing to minimize feelings of isolation
• Check in on your retired friends to see what they are working on

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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On today’s episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Aras Technical Account Manager David Ewing and Assistant Professor of Practice at Purdue University Travis Fuerst to discuss the importance of teaching students about PLM in the classroom long before they enter the workplace. David and Travis co-authored the valuable book Essentials of Product Data Management: Enabling the Digital Enterprise — a resource for educators that exposes students to the concepts, capabilities and processes associated with PDM.

Today they share the importance of improving PLM and PDM education, critical reasons that the digital enterprise needs to be digitized, and why there is a greater need than ever before for a transition from PDM to PLM.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

How can PDM and PLM improve in education and in the workforce?

• Students need to be better equipped to work with PDM and PLM straight out of college.

• A PDM model in the classroom would avoid the need to unteach bad habits in the workplace.

• Engineering and technology need to be better merged and released from their silos.
• Senior management needs to be willing to look at new tools to improve processes.
• System engineering should be engaged from Day 1 until the time a product stops being used.

3 reasons the digital enterprise needs to be digitized

• PDM is more than just CAD, which means the author needs to be more deliberate in how data is stored.
• Travis and David’s book takes digitization down to the user’s level and answers the question ‘what’s in it for me?’.
• Academia needs to be better prepared for the demands of post-school PLM requirements.

The need for a transition from PDM to PLM

• Product lifecycle management still requires that the process comes first.
• Data has to be stored somewhere, which is where the PDM underpinning of PLM comes into play.
• The product life cycle applies not only to engineering, it is a critical component of every digital industry.
• The days of planned obsolescence are gone — customers want to buy the product that has the most promising lifecycle.

Career advice from experienced industry pros

• Follow what you love and be prepared to pivot toward it.

• Don’t be afraid to take on the next challenging job.

• Work yourself out of a job and then hand it off to the next person.

• Challenge yourself to stay curious about the work you are doing and the work you want to be doing.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Essentials of Product Data Management: Enabling the Digital Enterprise by Amy B Mueller, Jorge D. Camba, Travis J. Fuerst, David L. Ewing

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When you look back on 2020 will you remember it as a year of despair or a time of great opportunity? Today’s guest has joined the podcast to explain why these unprecedented times are filled with good news and opportunities for meaningful career change. Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome executive career coach Chris Hoff, the principle of Hoff Consulting, to discuss the importance of finding the opportunities in any situation, even in a pandemic. Chris highlights the importance of shaping the story that you tell yourself about your current situation, how to find the good even in these trying times, and the importance of focusing on the relationships that can lead to the greatest opportunities of your career.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The value of shaping your narrative

• Narratives assist in connecting people and helping them visualize the result.
• Share your stories of resiliency and creativity as well as the stories of your trials.
• Turning the negative into a positive starts with focusing on the moments of hopefulness.
• Ask questions that highlight moments of triumph in an environment of dismay.

How to find the good news in bad situations

• Employ a confirmation bias by looking for the good in the information you consume.
• Changes in your career situation due to COVID-19 can be laced with opportunity.
• Identify the space between your comfort zone and where future possibilities lie.
• Tell the stories of success that have come as a result of your challenges.
• Focus on the innovation that comes when change is forced upon you.

Effective ideas for improving your current situation

• Feelings of isolation are only going to exacerbate your discouragement — don’t allow yourself to remain isolated.
• Now is the time to develop relationships with people in your professional and personal circles.
• Look for ways to get outside of your own story through service and volunteering.

How to cultivate business relationships that lead to opportunity

• Make yourself more visible to your company and your network.
• People matter more than ever in this current situation.
• Check in on the people in your circles — try sending three texts a day.
• Introverted people will benefit from a more concentrated effort to reach out.
• Focusing on acts of service will take the ego out of your efforts.
• Use social media as a tool to help increase your visibility.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Shareables:

[8:05] “You can’t really know despair unless you have a vision for hope.” — Chris Hoff

[10:10] “Employ the understanding that embedded in the bad news there is always good news to be found.” — Chris Hoff

[16:20] “Things may seem bleak at times, but lean into it and trust that you’re going to find the next step.” — Chris Hoff

[19:07] “There is always opportunity if you’re looking for it.” — Chris Hoff

[21:07] “There is a lot more possibility than we might be able to see right now.” — Chris Hoff

Guest Bio:

Dr. Chris Hoff is passionate about helping individuals become more fulfilled in their personal and professional lives, assisting organizations to meet and surpass their goals, and dissolving conflict between individuals, teams and in organizations in more creative ways. He began his career in sales and sales management with a division of a Fortune 500 company in the aerospace and defense industry. After winning individual and sales management awards (highest performance in sales, branch of the year), he went on to co-found Two Roads Professional Resources Inc., a full-service engineering and information technology staffing company. After helping to grow the business to eight figures in sales and over 200 employees, Chris successfully exited the business in January 2010. During this successful run, he was an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award finalist and was twice recognized for Excellence in Entrepreneurship by the Orange County Business Journal.

After finding corporate and entrepreneurial success, Chris decided to follow his dream of becoming a therapist. His formal education includes a Ph.D. from Loma Linda University in Marriage & Family Therapy where his concentration was in organizational development and systems consulting. Chris also received his Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University.

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If this wild year has given you any time to pause and reflect on what you really want from your career, then you will welcome the advice that you’re going to hear on today’s episode of the Digital Enterprise Society. Today Thom Singer welcomes Sara Canaday to discuss impactful ways that you can take your career to the next level. Sara is an executive coach, trainer and author who knows what it takes to pivot from the job you have to the career you want. They discuss the importance of identifying your reputation in the workplace, questions you need to ask yourself about the effectiveness of your work, and how to more strategically balance every aspect of your career.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

How to pivot toward success

• Solicit feedback to pinpoint the subtle things you may be doing that are keeping you from reaching the next level.
• Your mindset around change will greatly affect your level of success.
• Look at change as an opportunity to reimagine, to reinvent, and to rebrand yourself.
• A willingness to try new things makes all the difference in pivoting toward success.

How to develop a mindset of success

• Questions to ask yourself about how other people perceive working with you?
• Reflect on more than your credentials — how do you make other people feel at work?
• What are you doing to be on the “Do Not Lose” list at work?
• Develop a network filled with internal and external relationships that serve you now and later.
• Look outside the career map that your current employer has set before you.

How to take your career to the next level

• Pay attention to the experience that you are creating for others and for yourself.
• Balance your bias for action with your bias for thought.
• Take strategic pauses for time away from your to-do list and a mental ‘time-in’ to process all of the information that you have encountered each week.
• Make space for strategic pauses in your schedule.
• Identify what you need to give up in order to get more of what you want most.

How to handle career chaos after COVID-19

• Living in a VUCA world has required everyone to pause and then pivot.
• Put structure around the unknown to better handle your current situation.
• Have a plan in place for both best and worst case scenarios.
• Look at this time as an opportunity to identify what you really want and then reinvent where necessary.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Learn More:

Sara Canaday

You According to Them: Uncovering the blindspots that impact your reputation and career by Sara Canaday

Leadership Unchain: Defy Conventional Wisdom for Breakthrough Performance by Sara Canaday

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Dr. Carol Dweck

Sara Canaday’s Linkedin Learning

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Have you ever wondered how the other guys are getting things done but are too afraid to ask because they’re the competition? Today’s guest is here to explain the reasons why you are only hurting yourself when you don’t take time to build effective partnerships in digital strategy. Today Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Paul Nelson, Chief Technical Strategist at Northrop Grumman to discuss the value of partnerships and collaboration in digital strategy. Paul shares the mutually beneficial experiences he has had when collaborating with the competition, ideas for creating effective partnerships, and the importance of finding the common denominators that will allow you to get the tools you need to create the projects your company is working toward.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The power of partnering with competitors

• Collaboration and resource sharing can be equally beneficial to all involved companies.
• Partnerships will help increase understanding of current simulation tools and data management.
• Inviting collaboration does not have to mean that you are trying to steal secrets from the competition.
• Effective partners take time to listen, incorporate, and then respond.

How to create effective partnerships

• Identify the work that each company does and ways it could be improved upon.
• Don’t be afraid of sharing secrets at the expense of gaining meaningful knowledge.
• Sign non-disclosure agreements to mutually protect private information.
• Identify the enablers that will allow you to get to the end goal you are working toward, and have the conversations needed to get the tools that will help you get there.

Rising from intern to chief officer

• Trying out various positions can help you identify the work you are most interested in.
• Career transitions don’t have to be triggered by dissatisfaction in your current position.
• Bringing a different perspective to your new work will benefit all invested parties.
• Understanding the culture of each company will help you be a more effective partner and employee.
• Don’t settle for status quo— be willing to challenge the why behind the way things currently are.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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In today’s episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Vantage Associates CEO and CCO Kevin Wright to discuss ways to effectively manage career transitions during a pandemic and beyond. In his career Kevin moved from engineering and sales to CEO and he knows the steps that it takes to advance a career in any situation. He shares ideas for developing professional resilience and networking advice that can take you from the job you have to the job you want. He also explains the importance of promoting your skills rather than your job titles, and recommends the tools and the mindset that will increase your productivity and your marketability, even during a pandemic.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

OEM limitations in a time of pandemic

• The pandemic has amplified the challenge of bandwidth limitations.
• Limited availability among users creates a problem with getting work done during business hours.
• Physical security tokens can limit the ability to transfer work to another person.
• Answers to these limitations can be found in the cloud.

Developing professional resilience

• Look to the more advanced professionals for tried-and-true advice.
• Managing transitions requires building on the work that you were doing and applying it to the work you want to do.
• Resiliency comes in knowing how to assign value to the problems you have solved.
• Talk about your skills rather than the details of the positions you’ve held, and distill those skills and strengths into the value that you can add to any position.
• Secure a mentor who can help you identify your skills and strengths.
• Translate your skills into what your new employer is looking for.

The next step on your journey toward CEO

• Seize the opportunities that appear on your career path.
• Network effectively by talking to as many people as you can in every setting.
• Collaborate in groups wherever possible, even in a world of social distancing.
• Be willing to get out of your comfort zone.

Career advice during COVID-19

• Secure the digital tools that can increase your productivity during the pandemic.
• Emails and texts are not enough — connect with coworkers on a more personal level with phone calls and small gatherings.
• Don’t let masks get in the way of having conversations and making connections.
• Intentional collaborations can happen just as effectively in a digital space.
• Continue preparing for the next change because it is always coming.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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In today’s episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown interview industry veteran Bill Bone, CTO for Automotive at Aras Corporation, to discuss the changing and adapting world of PLM and ALM in the automotive industry. They examine the value of bringing these two critical systems closer together and highlight the potential benefits to companies utilizing them. Like Craig, Bill is a failed retiree and shares valuable advice not only for those that are nearing the end of their career but for those that are just starting out as well, and it all starts with developing your passions and tapping into your network.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Bringing ALM and PLM together

• There are still challenges, but Application Lifecycle Management and Product Lifecycle Management are closer together than ever.
• When do you lead with software and when do you lead with hardware?
• Computers and services are both essential components of a flexible PLM solution.
• An effective PLM platform is a critical component of the structure of all functions.

• Utilization of requirements and features is an essential component of the PLM structure.

• Features have long-term capability and long-term reliability, and refer to what the customer is willing to pay for, not the mechanical content of a vehicle.

The value of connecting ALM and PLM

• A PLM strategy without an ALM strategy is a losing strategy.
• Excelling at software development is the first step to tying into a valuable customer database.
• It is key to remember who your customers are and what they are willing to pay for.
• Service data is the key to managing a successful application or product lifecycle.
• The future is going to focus on Service Lifecycle Management as it contains such valuable information.

Advice for those who are failing at retirement or growing a career

• There is great value in continuing to work with things that give you a sense of involvement and purpose.
• Identify the topics that you are most passionate about and frame your efforts around it.
• Your network will help you stay involved and informed.
• Don’t be afraid to make the phone calls that will keep you engaged in meaningful work.
• There are constant changes in most industries — go with the flow and keep up with the changes.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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There are valuable opportunities for growth based on customer feedback, but too often companies just aren’t listening to what their customers are saying. In today’s episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown interview Samantha Ziesel, expert on Voice of the Customer and the importance of listening to your customers and changing your company based on their feedback. In this new pandemic world, it is more important than ever to understand and respond to your customers' needs, and Sam explains why as she defines the VoC process, highlights it’s benefits, and explains how every job has a critical element of customer satisfaction to it.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Defining and capturing the Voice of the Customer process

• VoC is a business and technology term for the process aimed at capturing your customer’s expectations and experiences working with you as their supplier
• VoC offers better insight and a snapshot of reality of your customers expectations and bridges the gap between engineers and market research

• This process overcomes some of the silos that are commonly found in organizations

• VoC doesn’t reflect a pinpoint in time, it’s a continuously evolving journey that must be continuously acted upon

• If appropriate action isn’t taken immediately, VoC can become a negative experience
• Companies have to be agile and willing to change based on customer feedback

The benefits of an effective VOC program

• VoC offers improved customer experience and customized products and services that will better respond to customers needs
• There is always potential for new opportunities with new customers
• VoC allows you to understand your company performance and success through the eyes of your customer

• VoC increases customer satisfaction, loyalty and prioritization of high-impact customer issues

• Relying too heavily on digital interface loses the human-to-human interface- the human element behind digital communication is a critical link to your customers

• Failure to listen to the real voice of your customer can result in major lost opportunities

Embracing flexibility for greater company success

• In this time of COVID-19, company flexibility is more critical than ever as safety is currently more important than ease of use
• Internal and external VoC are both equally valuable to the future of your company
• Even if it’s not good news, companies need to be ready to embrace information that provides a great opportunity
• Every position in every company should have some element of VoC to it

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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In today’s episode, Thom Singer shares an interview he conducted on “The Webinar Talk Show Podcast”, in which he and co-host Eliz Greene interviewed Mike Ciannilli, the head of NASA’s EDGE Apollo, Challenger, Columbia Lessons Learned project. This project explores what can be learned and what can be avoided from the tragedy of space disasters. Mike understands the importance of recognizing our mistakes, being open and transparent about them, and learning from them in order to create a more successful future. He shares the importance of embracing the diversity of dissenting opinions in order to produce the best possible outcome on any project, and highlights some of the lessons you take away from the chaos and change that has been forced upon all of us in today’s COVID-19 world.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The value of learning from your mistakes

• NASA has done a lot of things right over the last 6 decades, but the times they missed the mark are the lessons that they need to learn from most.
• Study and understand your history and the reasons that certain decisions were made.
• Pinpoint the good and the bad, and then choose which one you want to repeat.

Lessons learned from the Columbia disaster

• Rocket science is the easy part of a NASA project, communicating with people is the harder but most essential part of the success of any project.
• Learn to be a better listener to decrease the likelihood of miscommunication among team members.
• Over time people can be conditioned to ignore small changes, so be wary of the human ability to be conditioned to accept negative changes.
• Be vigilant in keeping up the habits that matter most every day.
• Understand your audience so that you can communicate effectively with them.

The critical role of diversity in your organization

• Encouraging diversity of dissenting opinions is a critical component to the success of every team and project.
• Allowing team members to share different opinions or possible solutions will produce better results for everyone.
• Apollo 13 proves that every idea has the potential to save the day.
• The ability to problem solve is at the heart of NASA’s success.

Advice from a NASA expert

• Every person on your team is built with the DNA to do amazing things.
• Be aware of the traps that we all fall into of not listening or considering different ideas.
• Keep learning everything you can and bring your A-game to work every single day.
• Build a strong network of relationships with your team members.

Overcoming the chaos and change of COVID-19

• Identify what you can learn from the losses you are experiencing.
• Don’t disregard the difficulty of now, but also don’t lose out on the lessons that could save the day in the future.
• Find the rays of sunshine that will help you do better and be better.
• Ask yourself what is around the next corner that will make the future better than today.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Shareables:

[6:02] “Learning lessons from the past ensures future success.” — Eliz Greene

[8:25] “Take all of the really good things and repeat those, but learn from the things you could have done better and do not repeat those mistakes.” — Mike Ciannilli

[19:54] “Cultivating a freeness for finding solutions to problems is critical.” — Mike Ciannilli

[26:21] “We are all built with the DNA to do amazing things.” — Mike Ciannilli

[30:29] “Don’t disregard the difficult, but don’t lose out on the amazing lessons that could save the day in the future.” — Mike Ciannilli

Learn More:

The Webinar Talk Show Podcast

NASA EDGE

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

In today’s episode, Thom Singer welcomes stress management expert Eliz Greene to discuss the importance of managing stress while dealing with uncertainty in your career and your life. Eliz survived a heart attack at 35 while 7 months pregnant with twins and she has joined the podcast to share simple ways to bring stress levels down in any situation. This timely advice applies to all of us as we are dealing with uncertainties surrounding the pandemic, and it can help you both advance your career and improve your life. She explains that even though you may not be able to control all of the uncertainties in your life, you do have the power to master your stress levels and perform like a pro in any situation.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Controlling for the uncertainty that causes stress

• Eliz shares the experience that led her to focus on controlling for the uncertainty that causes stress.
• How do you feel about stress? Achieving work-life balance may not actually be as important as taking control over other stresses in your life.
• 93% of respondents in Eliz’s survey indicated that slowing their pace in the workplace and reducing uncertainty would be more beneficial than achieving work-life balance.
• A physical reaction to uncertainty is natural for our bodies, but that doesn’t mean it has to take over our daily lives.

Why should you master your stress levels?

• Managing stress is not a soft skill — it is an essential life skill that keeps us balanced and properly functioning.
• Stress itself is not a bad thing — the boost of energy that comes with a cortisol boost is how we get things done.
• Staying in a high stress level all of the time is not only bad for your physical health, it’s damaging to your mental health.

Ways to reduce your stress level

• Raise your heart rate and let it come back down to signal to your body that it’s okay to let go of stress-induced cortisol.
• Slow and lengthen your breath and clear your mind through meditation of any form.
• Recognize how you best disengage from stress, either by choosing to do nothing or by staying highly occupied, and then give yourself permission to actually do it.
• Staying connected with your coworkers while working remotely is essential to managing stress.

How can managing stress help your career?

• People are unable to work well when they’re stressed out, but you can avoid burnout by learning how to manage your stress proactively.
• If you can effectively handle incoming stresses then you can perform well where others are unable to.
• Reducing stress will increase your creativity and critical-thinking skills.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

In today’s episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Kevin Brittain, the Multidisciplinary Optimization Group Leader at Cummins, Inc. Kevin coaches a team that is focused on bringing cross-functional models together to solve problems across the product life cycle. He defines MDO, explains why it is so powerful, and highlights the importance of putting people before processes or tools. He offers suggestions to help overcome adoption resistance and highlights the overarching benefits of rejecting silo work and embracing cross-functional decision making. As an industry leader who is clearly passionate about his work, Kevin’s career advice is advice that will help anyone excel in their work and in their relationships.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Understanding multidisciplinary design optimization

• Kevin defines MDO as the enabling of cross-functional decision making through the integration and optimization of diverse simulation models across the product lifecycle.
• How can you bring functions together rather than having parallel functional model silos working independently on a broader problem?
• What is the key to linking information across models for greater information sharing?

• Bringing this information together allows for greater cross-functional decision making.

• Enable decision making and highlight the trade-offs that come as a result.

Why is MDO so powerful?

• MDO is more affordable than ever, making it widely available for greater use.
• What are the benefits of honing in on the optimal trade space that exists between the decision makers and the constraints?
• MDO allows for utilizing the models that would be used to help make decisions in the product development cycle to answer the problem of constraints across several groups.
• MDO effectively addresses the manufacturing cost factor of optimization.

People, then processes and tools

• Making sustainable change requires a broader vision that focuses on people.
• How are roles defined in order to enable a bigger vision? How is change enabled through process?
• Changing the workflow is the critical step to effecting lasting change for any problem.
• Democratization refers to bringing the capabilities of powerful simulation tools into the hands of non-experts.
• Models have tremendous knowledge of systems and can be used throughout the whole product lifecycle to help make better decisions.
• Resistance to change needs to be addressed and the people who hold the knowledge need to be valued.
• People who help make changes feel ownership of the new culture and will embrace it even faster.
• There doesn’t need to be any competition — effective change happens by taking what was already great and improving upon it.

Career advice from an engineer

• If you don’t understand something, start by Googling it.
• Building relationships is the key to a successful career — engineering is a social exercise.
• Find the work that you are passionate about and then enjoy working hard at it.
• Maintain high standards for the company that you work for and for the people you work with.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

On today’s episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Ryan Choura, an event builder who has turned the devastation of a global pandemic into an opportunity for service and growth. Before the pandemic Ryan’s company focused on superior event planning and execution, but now that the event industry has gone into hibernation, he has set his sights on something far more essential and meaningful. After spending 90 days researching and perfecting the best possible COVID-19 testing experience, Choura Events is set to become the largest testing company in the nation. Ryan shares the motivation behind creating a more effective testing company and offers advice to anyone that is looking for ways to build their career by helping where help is needed most.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Using digital tools for event execution

• Ryan highlights the key role of digital tools for industries of every kind.

• Digital tools provide the virtual simulation needed to visualize spaces in event planning and execution.

• Digital tools assist in meeting the quick turnaround requirements for event planning.

Pivoting from event planning to COVID-19 testing

• COVID-19 has changed the spacial requirements that must be met at events.
• The devastation of the pandemic has given Ryan’s company the opportunity to use their rapid building skills to use in a new way.
• The output experience at hospitals has to change in light of COVID testing, and Ryan’s company is prepared to make that change happen.
• A comparison of the output of an average testing facility compared to what Ryan’s new testing company will be able to service.

Career advice for times of forced change

• Use the assets and skills you have to bring good to the world.
• Have open hands and don’t hold too tightly to the way things currently are.
• Look for problems and find ways to provide better solutions.
• Examine your network and make yourself valuable within it.
• Have a vision for the challenges that are placed in front of you.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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Ryan Choura

“How One Company Went From Servicing Coachella to Helping Hospitals in Need” from Rolling Stone

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

With over a year of podcasts under the Digital Enterprise Society belt, Thom Singer hosts a very special guest on today’s podcast — industry veteran Craig Brown. Craig is taking on the role of interviewee today as they discuss the major changes that he has seen in the PLM world over the course of his career. Craig and Thom also share top takeaways, advice, and lessons learned from the first 60 guest interviews and conversations of this podcast. A self-proclaimed ‘failed retiree’, Craig has valuable insights for every stage of your career and shares insights about the whys and hows of bringing tools, processes and people together for anyone that wants to become a technical leader in today’s digital world.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The journey from aerospace to automotive

• Craig shares the historic events that inspired his career journey.

• What it meant to work on car computers before anyone knew they were there.

• The career path that led Craig from embedded software and simulation in the aerospace industry to filling the PLM gap in the automotive industry.

Major changes in the PLM world

• Working with vendors who once touted that they had a full toolset product that solved every problem but were never actually able to deliver it.
• The lack of a real competitive state-of-the-art PLM system from any one vendor made it easier to collaborate to develop the best for everyone’s use.
• The efficacy of processes and the skills of employees are of a far greater importance than the tools that they utilize.
• A digital engineering strategy has become more essential than ever to remain the technological leader.

Main takeaways from a year of podcasting

• Craig reflects on the podcast’s most memorable guests and topics, including conversations about the cross-industry topic of the theory of constraints.
• Many of the most insightful interviews included career advice about pursuing your curiosities.
• Surprising podcast moments, including the discovery that widely different industries use the same tools to meet the needs of their consumers.

Career advice from an industry expert

• Stay flexible — you cannot always know what your next career steps are going to be.
• Stay curious — if you’re getting stale in your work it’s time to take a new risk.
• Stay informed — keep learning about your industry processes and tools.
• Stay connected — maintain relationships with the people in your life and career that matter most.
• Don’t be afraid and don’t limit yourself.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

In today’s episode, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome Alena Keck, the Lean-Agile Enterprise Transformation Leader. Alena has joined the podcast to discuss the benefits of utilizing agile software and explain how to maximize the value that you are delivering to your customers. She offers suggestions on ways to overcome adaptation limitations or resistance and highlights the four pillars of overcoming challenges in the automotive industry. The conversation concludes with an honest look at the ways that the pandemic has forced a change on all of us that just might result in more effective teams and creative results than ever before.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Bringing the benefits of agile software practices to the automotive industry

• What are the main differences between waterfall and agile systems?
• Complex and empirical systems benefit from agile systems

• Agile can better support the changes that are made based on consumer preferences.

• Benefits include decreased time to market, which is expected from the best companies.

• Quality in continuous testing is best achieved with agile software.
• Increased customer focus and satisfaction as well as employee happiness.

Overcoming the limitations of agile adaptation

• Companies need to properly set their own expectations — the goal should always be to deliver quality and value to the customer at a sustainable pace.
• Some infrastructure transformations are harder to make than others and will need to be given extra attention and time.
• Management needs to make agile values clear and tangible to leadership and teams.
• Teams need to clearly communicate the successes of the agile transformation.

Four pillars of overcoming challenges in the automotive industry

• Change management and organizational structure need to be addressed first to achieve a successful transformation.
• Embedded systems and regulatory environment are industry-specific and
• Integrated continuous compliance

Thriving in a time of pandemic

• Self-organizing teams that believe in their purpose will thrive in spite of a pandemic, remote working or any other distractions.
• Many companies have proved that they can think outside of the box in these unprecedented times.
• Remote work can produce effective results with the right employees and the right management.
• Remove yourself from your comfort zone by actively seeking feedback from others.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

In today’s episode, Thom Singer tackles the topic of navigating career change during a pandemic. He is joined by Jan-Bart Smits, the Managing Partner of the Stanton Chase Amsterdam office in The Netherlands and Global Leader for the firm’s Technology and Professional Services Practice Groups. Together they discuss strategic ways to position yourself now for higher-level positions later in your career. Jan-Bart offers steps that you can take today to make yourself a critical part of your company’s organization, including expanding your t-profile, increasing the visibility of your contributions, and practical tips for improving your digital communication.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

What technology firms are looking for in executives

• Fitting into the culture of the company is essential at every employment level
• An ability to adapt to the increasing rate of change within the industry is critical
• Hard work and the ability to make decisions quickly are essential skills

Tips for positioning yourself as a strategic hire

• Post COVID-19, many companies are only hiring for critical positions
• Take actions now that prepare you to achieve higher-level positions later in your career
• Develop your t-profile — the ability to go wide and deep within your specialty as well as within your organization
• Increase your communication skills so that you can explain products and services in a way that people can easily understand
• Make your contributions visible so that you are an obvious choice for a strategic hire
• Fine-tune your video conference and digital communication skills — don’t waste anyone’s time with technical difficulties

Career advice at every level

• Do what you enjoy because you will spend a lot of time doing it
• Look ahead to where you want to be in 10 years, then take steps toward it every day
• Networking is still the number one way to secure a new position

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Learn More:

Stanton Chase

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

In today’s episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Stefan Jockusch, the Vice President of Strategy at Siemens Digital Industries. Stefan has seen first hand the value and importance of transforming business through the relationship between the strategy and diversity initiatives. He shares insights into fostering and nurturing workplace diversity and overcoming intrinsic cultural biases in order to maximize your company’s potential. This concept is more critical than ever, and while studies have shown that companies that do well with diversity do better with their bottom line, it is even more important that we all work to more fully embrace diversity simply because it is the better way of conducting business.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The importance of strategically transforming business

• What does it take to help a business make a lasting transformation?

• Asking questions and challenging processes is an essential step to strategic transformation

• A diverse workforce is a key component of a successful, strategic workforce

How to improve workforce diversity

• Gender diversity is the first and critical starting place for a diverse workforce
• An open and transparent workforce will move equality forward to equity
• Common challenges that companies face when increasing diversity and ideas for overcoming intrinsic cultural biases within your company
• The importance of taking a stand in your company and in your community, including avoiding otherwise limiting cultural clashes
• The measurable and unmeasurable benefits of promoting cultural diversity within your workforce

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

On today’s episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Tom Gill, a Senior Consultant at CIMData who advises manufacturing companies and engineering software companies on how to better design their products. Tom offers his expert insight into the world of agile software development and details the importance of managing BOMs and understanding process innovations. He also offers encouraging career advice for anyone that is wondering how to take control and move their career forward.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

All about agile software

• This software style includes incremental development that offers continual improvement

• The Agile Manifesto defines the goal of developing working increments of software on a fixed cadence that provide value

• The goal of agile software is to adapt to changes while continually providing value

Managing multi BOMs

• Why does X BOM matter? It starts with the need to keep information connected across the lifecycle
• The process starts with requirements and ends with in-service operations
• Linked product operations have the ability to satisfy both design and customer requirements
• The platform creates a single logical source of truth, which is comprised of multiple interconnected systems

Understanding process innovations

• Process, people, and technology — which one comes first?
• Innovation processes will most likely inhibit the likelihood of single tool vendors
• Legacy processes and human limitations require slow and incremental improvements
• Vision, strategy, and tactics are essential to continual planning and improvements
• Are computers phasing humans out? Understanding the next steps forward and embracing constraints

Who is responsible for advancing your career?

• No one is as responsible for your career as you are
• Keep learning and understand what processes above and below you look like
• If you’re smart enough to automate your job your employer will find something else for you to do

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Agile Manifesto

Tom Gill

CIMdata

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

In today’s episode, Thom Singer welcomes communication coach and TEDX speaker Joe Hirsch to discuss what the transition from remote management to in-person teamwork after over 3 months of quarantine. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to reconsider the conventional way that we source ideas, hold our meetings, and share feedback. Today’s episode focuses on the tactics that leaders can employ to help their team’s productivity and creativity continue to rise when the reopening unfolds with more force. He shares ideas for conducting meetings and group interactions in a way that will result in better teamwork and better results, minimizing chaos in the return, and rethinking the importance of employee flexibility work arrangements as we all return to the workplace.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Sourcing ideas more effectively

• Traditional brainstorming practices do more to suppress ideas than activate them
• Brainwriting allows a team to develop ideas at the same time without employing group think or production blockages
• A partnership approach provides a way to tap into the best ideas of the group

Holding more reflective meetings

• Leaders need to focus on the how of meetings over the who or what of the details
• Introduce opportunities for reflection on solutions in meetings, rather than demanding immediate conversations
• Try standing around the table and walk around the meeting room rather than staying sedentary in chairs
• Better meetings will result in higher quality ideas and a culture of listening, respect, patience, and humility

Minimizing chaos in the return

• Take this COVID-19 induced opportunity to tap into the full value of every team member and to rethink every traditional workplace practice and procedure
• Be transparent about your intention to reevaluate and improve upon standard practices
• Seek feedback from team members to help craft a new vision
• Even if you’re not a decision-maker, you can still be a leader by your actions

The future of working from home

• Flexible work arrangements are going to become top priority for employment
• Identify what you are willing and able to do from home and lobby for those arrangements
• It will be essential to demonstrate a certain level of competence and confidence in your ability to work from home
• Define clear objectives that will create the conditions of productive, happy work environments
• Be humble and stay curious about the things that you don’t already know regarding the future of how work is performed

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Joe Hirsch

The Language of Leaders

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

In today’s episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Erich Meier, CTO at Method Park. From his early days of software education to a successful career in product lifecycle management, Erich has seen the benefits of effective process modeling for any industry. He explains its value and highlights the innovative benefits of implementing process modeling. He also offers a look at opportunities that are beginning to present themselves as a result of COVID-19, and shares key advice that can help you develop a truly stellar reputation in your career.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Process modeling versus typical PLM workflow

• A process model works where the typical workflow for a next generation product doesn’t
• Process modeling can work in any variety of scenarios, whether it’s in sequence, parallel, or iterations
• Process modeling provides a higher level of extraction for more complicated products
• It is an asset to know your processes and your findings, and both can give you a greater competitive advantage.

The benefits of effective process modeling

• Most companies that would benefit from process modeling don’t yet know that it exists
• Process modeling provides tools that create greater products by answering the questions of who, what, how and why

• Highly effective product lifecycle management always includes process modeling

• Process modeling allows for a better implementation of incremental innovative visions

• Companies that benefit most from process modeling have highly complex products and disruptive innovations in a highly regulated environment

Impacts and opportunities from COVID-19

• Working from home is option for more industries than previously thought possible
• Companies are preserving R & D projects as cost pressures will remain even if product complexity doesn’t change
• Standards and regulations will most likely continue to increase internationally to ensure safety and encourage innovation

How to develop a stellar career reputation

• Take time to listen before you speak to other people
• Seek to understand before you seek to be understood
• Never stop asking ‘why’ when you are given tasks — it will allow for opportunities of greater innovation

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Shareables:

[6:10] “A process model represents what people do and how they interact to achieve a certain goal.” — Erich Meier

[14:38] “In incremental innovation you need to have a clear vision and a clear path to implementing that vision.” — Erich Meier

[15:10] “Process innovations don’t help you create more innovative products, but they do help you to manage their complexities. Without process management, you have no chance to implement them.” — Erich Meier

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

On today’s episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Jeff Moffa, President of Auros Knowledge Systems, to discuss the importance of knowledge management in every industry. Jeff highlights the value of effective knowledge management, the importance of effective provision mechanisms and contextual value, and defines the role of active knowledge in the ever-changing digital world. He also highlights the benefits of the changes have come as a result of the COVID-19 required need to work remotely.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The value of knowledge management

• Knowledge management refers to the need and ability to capture, share, and reuse knowledge in productive ways
• Capturing and indexing knowledge is best done while communicating with others during processes
• Provision mechanisms offer the greatest opportunity to capture knowledge
• Contextual value can vary based on time frames, situational usage, and assembly
• Provision knowledge refers to obtaining only the information you need to know, precisely when you need to know it
• Industries that benefit from provisioning knowledge include software, automotive, financial, and other non-mechanical workflows

Understanding the role of active knowledge

• Do active knowledge-based machines need human assistance in order to perform properly?

• Various digital tools are becoming more and more model-based

• The application and implementation of active knowledge will only continue to increase over the years

Industry changes resulting from COVID-19

• Company leaders need to know that knowledge has not been applied as effectively as it could be
• COVID-19 has given people an opportunity to examine whether there is a need for the next level of variation and change that companies are often pushing for
• More is not always better — companies might actually benefit from reducing their competition
• Many companies in the building industry can easily thrive at a distance thanks to online collaboration technology

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Auros Knowledge Systems

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

In today’s episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Matt Heying, product leader at Vertex Software, to discuss the ins and outs of working remotely. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced all of us to rethink traditional work standards and practices, and Matt has joined us to discuss the tools, tips, and practices that will allow manufacturing and engineering employees to get the job done, wherever they may be working from.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

How to overcome the limitations of working remotely

• Design is naturally a highly collaborative process, but a majority of the process can be completed remotely
• Software programs such as Vertex facilitate design wherever you are
• Collaboration doesn’t need to be limited to the office — the right tools can reach engineers wherever they are
• Cloud-based applications offer a higher level of security than traditional methods
• Digital design reviews give multiple views of the same design, offering a higher level of collaboration and efficiency

Defining the ‘new normal’ in the workplace

• Many companies have already been effectively working distributively for years
• People are often more efficient when they’re not working in an open plan office
• There is a great advantage for knowledge workers to do their ‘thinking work’ remotely
• Curriculum and training that can be delivered remotely should be wherever possible
• Quality design reviews can still be effectively conducted remotely
• Companies don’t need to aim for a completely virtual workplace, but do need to reconsider utilizing remote technologies

Looking to the future of remote working

• COVID-19 has required a shift in thinking regarding supply chains and traditional practices
• A recent study shows that 60% of employees don’t want to return to the office full-time
• Accountability should not come from the “checking in” at the desk that many managers demand
• Work should not be about where you are, rather what you are getting done

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Sponsor:

Vertex Software is a cloud-based digital twin platform that fuels team collaboration by unlocking 3D data and providing aligned visuals across engineering, manufacturing, sales, marketing, service and the supply chain.

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

On today’s episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Mark Driscoll, senior director of Enterprise Sales at AMC Bridge, to examine the ways that key information can more effectively be exchanged across systems. He defines the three pillars of the digital enterprise and offers a starting point to get systems running at maximum effectiveness within companies as well as from suppliers to manufacturers. Mark also shares key career advice that can help anyone come out on the other side of this worldwide pandemic with stronger connections and greater innovative opportunities than ever before.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Understanding and managing the three pillars of the digital enterprise

• Data availability and management — is the information you have relevant to your design?
• Domain expertise automation includes the proper application of employee expertise and skills

• Application of technology solutions ensures appropriate access to the product elements that users need

• There may not be a one-size-fits-all tool that will solve all of your tool needs but there are several highly effective options to choose from

How to successfully exchange key information across your supply change

• Evaluate the CAD interchanges and PLM tools that vary from suppliers to manufacturers
• Identify the legacy systems that have the potential to unnecessarily complicate processes
• When trying to maximize effectiveness of systems, don’t tie yourself to one process
• Automating domain expertise can minimize language and system disparities
• Companies need to automate wherever possible in order to allow humans to apply higher-level value to processes

Advice for your career in regards to COVID-19

• Companies need to adapt to the virtual gathering options
• Embrace social tightening opportunities by connecting with coworkers and mentors — even if it’s through virtual meet-ups
• These circumstances are presenting opportunities for innovation as we’ve never seen before
• Don’t be afraid to innovate — innovative tools are what drive the digital enterprise forward

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

On today’s episode, Thom Singer joins CEO and author Stacey Hanke to address the challenges of staying connected and productive while working remotely. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed nearly every aspect of our professional lives, and Stacey has ideas to help both managers and team members make a more effective transition from the normal work environment to a remote setting. It is more important than ever for teams to stay connected, and Stacey offers actionable ways that managers can effectively lead remotely and that employees can remain informed, engaged, and effective while working from home.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

How to stay connected virtually

• Communicate with your team frequently
• Virtual messages need to be delivered succinctly and in a way the receiver can understand
• Use your webcam regularly to keep your staff visually connected
• Assign a meeting facilitator to increase involvement
• Start meetings by sharing resources, gratitude lists or even show-and-tell

Effective management tips

• Remain calm in front of your staff
• Communicate confidence in the future of your company and your team
• Offer updates and action items to keep everyone focused
• Acknowledge the reality of this situation in every conversation
• Use empathy to connect and engage with your team

Ideas for employees

• Create routines to help structure your day
• Focus on keeping your mindset healthy
• Find ways to develop your personal and professional skills
• Look to the future and decide now how you want to remember 2020

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Stacey Hanke, Inc.

Influence Redefined: Be the Leader You Were Meant to Be, Monday to Monday by Stacey Hanke

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

In today’s episode, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome Nate Hartman, department head for computer graphics at Purdue University and Co-Executive Director of the Indiana Manufacturing Competitiveness Center to discuss industry updates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us are looking for ways to help during this pandemic, and this episode offers an inspiring look at how one university is taking on the challenge of medical equipment shortages. Purdue University has transitioned several of its manufacturing research labs to manufacturing centers in a matter of two weeks and is now manufacturing personal protective equipment including face shields, gowns, and prototype face masks. Nate shares both the motivation behind the change and the lessons that the manufacturing industry is learning in this unprecedented time of COVID-19.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

How the manufacturing industry is battling the pandemic

• Colleges at Purdue University with the ability to design and manufacture needed medical supplies have been doing so for over a month.
• Production includes both hard and soft PPE (personal protective equipment), including ventilator components, face shields, face masks, and hospital gowns.
• One university alone is producing 1,000 face shields, 1,000 ventilator components and 500 body gowns every day.

Lessons learned from tackling this challenge

• Collaboration between diverse academic units and businesses is greater than ever.
• Tackling a common challenge brings people together in a way that no other situation can.
• Effective product lifecycle management is more important than ever.
• The lack of capacity in the medical supply chain shows how critical a supply network is.
• It is essential that we continue to design and manufacture within the United States.
• Companies who have the expertise and capacity to help need to do so now.

Industry growth that will come as a result of COVID-19

• Manufacturing companies and their supply networks need to learn from the countries that were hit earlier or to a lesser extent than the United-States.
• Collaboration and communication will increase as we continue to problem-solve together.
• Measures of success are shifting away from financial success to greater collaboration and preparedness in any circumstance.

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

In today’s episode, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome Liz Nilsen, Associate Director of the Agile Strategy Lab at the University of Northern Alabama. Liz will be one of the featured instructors at the upcoming “Agile Leadership for Digital Transformation” online course and has joined us today to discuss ideas for effectively inspiring change within your organization. Why are some organizations so successful while others seem so dysfunctional? Liz understands that effective leaders are the key to successful organizations, and highlights the value of strategic doing. In an inspiring conversation you won’t want to miss, she shares ideas to help leaders increase effectiveness in networking, in communication, and even in meetings.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The value of strategic doing

• The crossroads between those who develop and those who implement strategic plans is the critical role of strategic doing

• How do effective employees make time to implement strategic plans?

• It is essential to take time to plan your strategy, then take time to implement that strategy

A more effective approach to leadership

• Today’s most innovative work happens in a network setting- companies need to transition away from a hierarchy leadership style to a network leadership style
• Effective leaders gather people with different skill sets to learn through challenges together
• The best leaders express confidence in employee ideas and give them permission to make changes wherever possible

• Agile leadership conversations focus on opportunities instead of problems- ask “what could we do?”

• Effective meetings end with assignments that include deliverable tasks and deadlines

• Model actionable behavior in meetings that can be adapted by everyone in attendance

Skills for effectively working remotely

• Maintain a structured routine for your workday
• Look for ways to maintain social networking while observing physical distancing
• Intentional social tightening within your network is more critical than ever

Note- The “Agile Leadership for Digital Transformation” course is not a webinar, rather it is a 7-module online course designed by faculty at the University of North Alabama and Purdue University to help you understand and implement the skills of agile leadership in the context of helping organizations meet the challenge of digital transformation. You can register for the course here.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Agile Leadership for Digital Transformation

Strategic Doing

Strategic Doing: Ten Skills for Agile Leadership by Liz Nilsen

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

On today’s episode, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome Leon Lauritsen, Vice President and Partner at Minerva in Denmark, to discuss the critical role of PLM in manufacturing and the supply chain. In recent weeks many companies have found themselves wondering if they can still keep their workforce operating in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. These unprecedented times have proven that the need for company-wide adaptation of PLM is greater than ever. Leon explains the reasons that companies need to overcome their excuses and implement PLM now. He shares insights into how to effectively introduce PLM into company processes and offers powerful career advice to anyone that is entering the world of PLM.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

Learning the tools of the manufacturing and supply chain

• Manufacturing and supply chain tools becoming increasingly more complex
• COVID-19 is presenting both opportunities and challenges in manufacturing
• Companies that are still struggling with people-dependency would benefit by adjusting their reliance on PLM tools
• COVID-19 is illuminating the need for improved Information and process flow in manufacturing companies
• Fear and incomplete information are two common drivers in not participating in PLM

Why and how to fully implement PLM in any company

• A simple adaptation of PLM is a fairy tale that too many people still believe in
• Implementing PLM is not going to be as easy as people want to believe it will be
• Organizational change will require time and commitment from the entire company
• Best practices for PLM implementation include
• • Identify key players that will commit to the change
  • Surround yourself with the right level of knowledge needed to implement change
  • Do not underestimate the power of the knowledge you need to have to make the right decisions for your company
  • Understand the differing industrial requirements and cultural differences in various geographic regions

Advice for newcomers to PLM

• Make sure that you have a clear and definite understanding of the needs and challenges of company you are working for
• Understand that PLM is ultimately all about solving business challenges
• Technology will continue to change, but a valuable employee is able to change with it
• If you can bring solutions to business challenges, you will always be able to grow your career

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

In today’s episode, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome Isaac Bennett, Digital Transformation and IT Director at Detroit Manufacturing Systems. Isaac understands the need for a transformation to digital manufacturing for any company that wants to remain innovative and competitive in today’s digital workspace. He shares ways that companies can maximize value within the supply chain and how IT can be used to better identify and solve business problems. As a speaker at the Leadership Seminar, Isaac will share ideas on where to start with smart manufacturing, what companies need to tackle first when approaching a digital transformation, and how to maximize the business value of digital manufacturing.

Note: The Leadership Seminar: Journey to Industry 4.0 Seminar mentioned in this episode has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Check back here for more updates.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The need for a transformation to digital manufacturing

• Manufacturing tends to be the main driver behind a company’s digital transformation
• The goal of making products more efficient and effective is driving the digital transformation
• Because the greatest ROI generally happens in manufacturing, more innovation and analytics happens within manufacturing as well
• Departments need to focus on solutions that offer a great impact with the potential for scaling the plan across the company

Maximizing value within the supply chain

• Customers within manufacturing would benefit from increased EDI (electronic data interchange) and embracing blockchain

• A central portal for all providers and suppliers would offer solutions and increased communication between manufacturers, including Tier 1 and Tier 2 companies.

• Innovative companies need to stay up-to-date and on the edge of the most current technologies
• PLM solution providers need to work to catch up to current technologies
• Cloud computing security needs to be a greater topic of conversation

Using IT to identify and solve business problems

• Software is only as good as the people using it
• Proper training is essential for a successful transformation
• Identify workflow bottle-necks to better understand processes and problems
• Value stream mapping is an essential method for more effective management

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

In today’s episode, Thom Singer addresses the topic that is on everyone’s mind right now — the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect it is having on every aspect of life. The spread of the coronavirus has forced many of us to work from home, bringing disruption to not only how people are getting work done but also to their equally important social connections. We at the Digital Enterprise Society are here to support you. Join Thom as he shares several practical ideas that will help you effectively connect with others during this uncertain time.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The “why” behind social tightening in times of uncertainty

• First and foremost, recognize that every interaction you have is with a human being that is coping with these uncertain times in their own way
• The epidemic of loneliness started long before the coronavirus arrived
• We are all in this together and we all need each other
• Begin with empathy — try to understand how people are personally being affected
• Maintain contact with The Big Five
• • Your family — both in your house and extended family
  • Your friends — don’t let them feel distanced or alone
  • Your work contacts — your boss and coworkers
  • Your clients — offer to help however you can
  • Your community — find ways to serve those who are in need

Tips for tightening relationships while social distancing

• Aim to be more personal and less broadcast in your communications
• Schedule regular check-ins with people that matter
• Take time to send handwritten notes
• Initiate a virtual coffee or happy hour meet-up to connect with your social network
• Use calendar reminders to dedicate time to connect with people
• Make a list of 50 people you would like to socially tighten with while socially distancing
• Be understanding and patient with coworkers if they drop the ball
• Actively engage in social media to let people know that you are there for them

Tips for maintaining sanity and productivity at home

• Focus on being as productive as you can, within reason
• • Identify a clear start and stop time for each day
  • Communicate your work plan with your family
  • Have a list of goals and projects you can accomplish during this time
• Keep up with the news to maintain awareness of the current situation
• Schedule personal time to maintain sanity — get out into nature
• Have a family activity every day — eat dinner together, watch a movie, go on a walk

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek H. Murthy, M.D.

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

In today’s episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Altair Kaminski, the PLM administrator in the space sector at Northrop Grumman. Altair has joined the podcast to share her perspective on the possibility of integrating the big three silos of PLM, PRP, and MES into companies of any size, and details some of the current challenges that the Aerospace Working Group is working to overcome as the digital enterprise moves forward. Most importantly, Altair shares her perspective on the importance of both mentoring and networking within any industry. If you want to gain a better understanding of the hard work and rewards that take place within the best subgroups of the Digital Enterprise Society, this episode is for you.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The future of the Big Three

• Potential synergies between PLM, PRP, and MES may be a possibility in the future
• Because each tool plays a specific role, it would be difficult for one software program to support all three within one tool set
• Overlap between systems has the potential to complicate integration
• The user experience within each of these domains is significantly different

The work of the Aerospace Working Group

• A brief history that brought three major aerospace companies together to minimize overlap and maximize efficiency.
• Combining interest and awareness increases opportunities for all companies.
• Additional subgroups have been created to tackle current challenges, including
• • Increased understanding of implementation of model-based systems engineering.
  • Seeking a better industry definition of MBSE
  • Integration of tool sets and reusing digital information to include the digital thread and digital twin
  • Options to best involve suppliers in the reuse of data
  • Migrating and eliminating the excessive legacy data that comes with aerospace and defense companies
  • Engaging software vendors in offering assistance with upgrades so that companies can take advantage of the latest and greatest features
  • Handling continuous release of software updates
  • While PLM is getting too large to manage as a single group, subgroups can now offer specific feedback to various pieces of the toolset

Mentoring and networking advice

• The evolution of the Digital Enterprise Society and its benefit for companies of any size and employees of any experience level
• Experienced employees need to be willing to mentor those who ask
• Providing good mentors can protect against poaching of a company’s best employees.
• There is incredible value in getting involved and helping large companies like Siemens understand how heavily we rely on them to communicate with each other, suppliers, and customers.

Correction- at [23:00] the guest incorrectly stated that what was previously PLM World is now Realize Live. Rather, in 2019 Siemens took ownership of the Siemens PLM Connections - Americas annual conference previously hosted by the independent users group PLM World. Digital Enterprise Society was founded by a PLM World transitional Board of Directors. Learn more at https://www.digitalenterprisesociety.org/page/plmworld.

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Looking for Mentorship? Visit https://www.digitalenterprisesociety.org/page/career

Guest Bio:

Altair Kaminski is a senior business process analyst and PLM administrator in the space sector at Northrop Grumman. After attending Westminster College in Utah she worked for ATK as a process engineer with a focus on composites layup, then moved to L3 Communications where she worked for five years as a process engineer. While there Altair began working on Big Bang, the process of transferring the company’s legacy systems into the Big Three — the PLM, ERP, and MES systems. Following this project Altair was the manager of the PLM team. It was while there that she was asked to lead the same implementation project at Orbital ATK, where she works today.

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

In today’s episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Lory Antonucci, the director of workforce innovations and solutions at Manpower. Lory understands the importance of evolving with the constantly changing digital workplace, and she shares effective ways to embrace those changes at any stage in your career. She highlights three important connections you need to make in the digital workplace and offers practical advice for both managers that need to lean into coaching and to the younger generation as they are just starting their careers.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

How to evolve with today’s digital transformations

• Evolution is essential to continued survival and this applies to the digital world, too
• Why do we have to adapt to modern technologies?
• Embracing change is a critical component to a successful transformation
• Seek opportunities to obtain additional training and solicit feedback from peers and managers

• Stay curious and take chances when they are presented to you

• Many companies allocate company funds for promoting learning and inspiration

Top 3 digital connections you need to make

• Connections across company organizations and well as with supply chains and the community
• Connections made with data that supports quantifiable knowledge
• Connections made from mission-oriented work provide opportunities to connect with like-minded people

What managers need to know about workforce changes

• Coaching employees through a vision will be more effective than spouting directives
• Creative problem solving and critical thinking skills are in high demand
• Areas of computing and artificial intelligence are not as essential as refined human skills

The importance of networking

• Designers of solutions are more effective when they share ideas with others
• Connections and shared experiences with other people are an essential component to a successful career
• A good network doesn’t require additional education or expense, but it is extremely valuable to your career

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

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Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.

On today’s episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome James Ricci, principal at 2764 Advisors and Manufacturing Adviser at IoTco. James has joined the podcast today to offer insights into the value of prioritizing and embracing the rapidly changing digital enterprise for companies of all sizes and individuals of all education and skill levels. He shares practical ways to successfully implement digital improvements in any company and offers advice that will propel your career forward at any stage.

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

How to define the digital enterprise

• Is there a one-size-fits-all approach to the digital agency?

• The digital enterprise offers a sustained competitive advantage using digital tools

• The transformative process will be the same for all companies regardless of size
• Companies can prioritize the implementation steps by defining the critical path and maximizing end-to-end processes

Tips for making lasting digital improvements

• Highlight the benefits of updating digital tooling
• Data sharing will be a critical part of successful digital transformation
• Solution providers can offer greater standards of the change management aspect
• Technology is changing exponentially while people change logarithmically — here’s what to do about it
• New technologies will require new competencies to be fulfilled either through training or new hire

A look into the upcoming leadership seminar

• James will speak to the real data and information about what Industry 4.0 means for you
• The seminar will highlight step-by-step integration of digital transformation
• Practical education and examples of solutions for universal problems
• The seminar will be held on May 5, 2020 in Auburn Hills, Michigan

Career advice from an experienced manufacturer

• Embrace a lifelong learning mindset and a willingness to reinvent yourself along the way
• Being multiskilled is a huge asset to whatever organization you are a part of
• Stay curious and aware of how you fit into the larger picture at your company
• People need to be just as flexible and adaptable as changing machinery and technology

Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

Leadership Seminar- Journey to Industry 4.0

Guest Bio:

James Ricci has 30 years of experience in engineering, manufacturing, quality and supply chain focused on implementing lean and process improvement initiatives, developing and executing operational turnarounds, developing manufacturing strategies, performing due diligence and market research. He has globally executed more than 500 operational assessments, due diligence and improvement initiatives throughout his career for nearly every type of manufacturing industry stakeholder. His manufacturing expertise includes stamping, tooling, machining, plastic processing, die casting and value-added assembly.