Smart[ER] Shop

IMTS+ Original Series are produced video series specific to the manufacturing technology industry. Creating a new perspective with insight, humor, and education, IMTS+ Original Series are cultivating a new community of manufacturing enthusiasts, strengthening those already a part of this incredible industry, and engaging the next generation.

The debut of “Smart(er) Shop,” brought to you by Autodesk, is “This Old House” for manufacturers. Host Ryan Kelly, general manager of AMT’s San Francisco Tech Lab, is joined by Adam Allard, senior manager of technical environments for Autodesk, at their Boston Technology Center as they take a frank look at the gap between the tech-enabled future of manufacturing and the status quo, connecting the traditional manufacturing job shop with new innovative and “smarter” solutions to everyday problems and technology challenges. The series also features a “call for problems,” where factories submit short videos of annoying problems they face in their facilities—things they’re pretty sure technology can help solve, but they don’t know where to start.

Dust collection, compressed air, and hoppers—they’re essential components of modern manufacturing shops. But what happens when they overflow, malfunction, or run dry? Operations cease. Workpieces are scraped. Everyone loses time and money. It’s time to do something smart(er)!

In less than 10 minutes per episode, Adam and his team deliver smart shop solutions that can be applied now. These solutions don’t require months of meetings, blueprints, big budgets, coding experience, or even an engineering degree. With just a few hundred dollars and a few hours, you can make your shop smart(er).

“We wanted to find things that we could do NOW to help shops integrate technology. We focused on what matters most to real shops: time and money,” Ryan explained.

Adam added, “I spent more than 20 years as an independent machine shop owner before coming to Autodesk, so I know exactly how frustrating, time consuming, and costly it can be when things go wrong.”

Whether it’s harnessing air or taming liquids or more, each episode delivers solutions that make shops smart(er)!