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Why the Voice of the Customer Matters More Than Ever in Manufacturing

Products

Oftentimes, when I sit with manufacturers, whether it’s on a shop floor, in a conference room, or over a cup of coffee, the conversation starts the same way. They’re proud of what they make. They can talk in great detail about tolerances, materials, throughput, and quality. But when I ask a simple question, “Who exactly is your customer, and why do they buy from you?”, the room gets quiet.…

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The Rise of the Digital Coworker

Technology

Every few years, artificial intelligence gets declared “new” all over again. A new interface, a new model, a new wave of hype. But the truth is far less dramatic, and far more interesting. AI has been on a steady maturity path for more than 50 years. What is new is not that machines can think, but that they can now work alongside us. Artificial intelligence has quietly powered manufacturing…

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AI in 2026 for Manufacturers: From Eagerness to Execution

Technology

Often,  in conversations across the manufacturing sector, the topic of AI surfaces immediately. Leaders know AI is reshaping industries, and few want to be caught flat-footed. But just as often, that enthusiasm is paired with uncertainty around where to start, which use cases matter, and how to judge whether the investment is worth it. The gap between idea and execution is a central theme highlighted in Fischgrund Consulting’s 2026…

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The AI Standards Every Manufacturer Should Know

Technology

From predictive maintenance to smarter robotics, AI is everywhere, and it’s movingfast. But along with the opportunity comes a new set of responsibilities: fairness, safety,data integrity, and trust. That’s where ISO and IEC step in. They’ve built a globalframework of AI standards designed to keep innovation safe, consistent, andtransparent. Think of these as your roadmap for using AI responsibly without slowingdown progress. Here’s your guide: what each standard does,…

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From Shop Floor to AI Search Results: AI Visibility Tips for Manufacturers

Technology

By Kathy Hennessy, Marketing Metrics Corp. As if the day-to-day business challenges weren’t enough to keep you on your toes, now you must steer your manufacturing/industrial company through the increasingly complex and dynamic digital landscape. Pause to think: Is your business truly visible in the new world of search? Ten years ago, buyers found suppliers on Google search. Today’s buyers ask AI ‘advisors’ like ChatGPT, Google’s AI Overviews, Perplexity,…

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