Join hosts Phil Seboa and Ed Fuentes as they chat with IoT expert Freddie Coertze in this episode, brought to you by Smithtek. They discuss the transformative power of IoT in industries, covering how it improves collaboration, asset management, and business alignment. Freddie shares real-world examples like energy savings in manufacturing and smarter monitoring in agriculture, while offering a fresh perspective on moving beyond traditional proof-of-concept models. Learn how AI-driven predictive maintenance, sensor data, and digital strategies are paving the way for successful IoT projects.

This Episode Is Brought To You By Smithtek.

Smithtek provides turn-key hardware and software for remote monitoring and control, supporting a wide range of industrial protocols and offering a web-based SCADA system. Designed and built in Perth, Western Australia, their solutions make asset management easy for industries like agriculture, mining, and automation, ensuring reliable and realtime control.

Smithtek is committed to providing reliable, Australian-made solutions for remote asset management. Our systems are designed to be intuitive and adaptable, making integrationwith existing infrastructure straightforward. We prioritize simplicity in user experience, ensuring that our technology is accessible for all levels of technical expertise. For more information, visit www.smithtek.com.au.

—————— 00:00 Introduction to the episode and hosts 01:10 Freddie Coertze’s background and journey in IoT 04:36 Importance of stakeholder involvement in IoT projects 06:52 Aligning IoT solutions with business strategy 09:18 Excitement and continuous learning in the IoT space 11:45 Use cases: Condition monitoring of assets 16:28 Automating production processes in chemical tank management 20:52 The benefits of reducing labor costs through automation 24:12 Lights-out manufacturing and technological advancements 27:30 Integrating sensor data through ERP systems 32:41 Optimizing motor life with IoT technologies 36:19 The evolution and benefits of pump scheduling 39:58 Challenges in implementing IoT for asset visibility 42:30 Adapting to and making the most of emerging technologies 46:11 Personal growth and trends in the IoT industry 50:12 IFM’s digital tools and future goals in predictive maintenance 54:23 Distributed AI models for localized data insights 57:54 Industrial use cases and client success stories 1:03:48 Advantages of IP-rated devices in field operations 1:06:32 The importance of digitization and digitalization 1:09:16 Integrating IT and OT for better decision-making 1:12:41 Emphasis on practical application over trend chasing 1:16:04 The need for use case-driven solutions and security

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Connect with Freddie on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/freddie-coertze-b24972155/

Connect with Phil on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-seboa/

Connect with Ed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-fuentes-2046121a/

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About Industry Sage Media:

Industry Sage Media is your backstage pass to industry experts and the conversations that are shaping the future of the manufacturing industry.

Learn more at: http://www.industrysagemedia.com

Amy Williams from Skellig Automation joins hosts Phil Seboa and Ed Fuentes to dive into the world of industrial IoT and automation in life sciences. Learn about Amy’s journey into life sciences, challenges in the pharmaceutical industry, and the potential of digital tools like the Unified Namespace and Industry 4.0. Discover how new technologies are improving data management and making healthcare more accessible. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on the future of life sciences and the digital revolution.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:30 Introduction of Amy Williams 01:45 Amy’s Background in Life Sciences and Automation 05:32 Paper vs. Digital Workflow in Pharmaceuticals 08:40 Insights on Graph Databases 10:50 GraphQL and Database Automation 13:00 The Future Landscape of Tech in Life Sciences 15:12 The Role of Biosimilars in Healthcare 17:35 Addressing US Drug Shortages 20:05 Skellig’s Initiatives in Supply Chain Digitalization 22:16 Challenges in Technology Adoption 24:40 Amy's Influences and Family Background 27:00 From College to Automation Engineering 30:15 Transitioning to Life Sciences 33:03 Personal Health Journey and its Impact 36:22 Making Healthcare More Accessible 38:40 Inefficiencies in Manufacturing and Costs to Patients 42:10 Advocacy for Industry Change 44:00 Upcoming News on Industry Innovations 46:30 Advice for Embracing Industry 4.0 49:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with Amy on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-williams-a8974b114/

Connect with Phil on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-seboa/

Connect with Ed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-fuentes-2046121a/

About Industry Sage Media:

Industry Sage Media is your backstage pass to industry experts and the conversations that are shaping the future of the manufacturing industry.

Learn more at: http://www.industrysagemedia.com

This week we welcome Keiran Stokes, Director and Head of Technology at Thred, all the way from New Zealand. Keiran shares his unique journey from being an industrial electrician to a control systems engineer and then co-founding Thred. Throughout this insightful discussion, you will gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies of industrial data engineering, the role of digital twins, and the importance of context in data analytics.

Keiran sheds light on the challenges of integrating industrial systems, the shortage of data engineers in the sector, and Thred’s revolutionary approach to bridging the gap between Industry 4.0 promises and current technology. This episode is perfect for anyone interested in the forefront of IIoT innovations and looking to understand the real-world applications and obstacles in the industry.

About:

Keiran Stokes is a leader in IT/OT integration and data strategy, renowned for his expertise in converging operational and information technologies to drive digital transformation. With a strong focus on supporting New Zealand’s industrial sector, Keiran specialises in enterprise and data architecture, helping businesses unlock productivity through digital solutions. His passion for bridging the gap between the factory floor and the cloud has positioned him as a thought leader in operational data, as well as in the engineering and operations that transform that data into insights and actionable improvements.

00:00 Introduction to Unplugged: An IIoT Podcast 00:35 Introduction to Guest: Keiran Stokes 01:45 Keiran Stokes' Journey: From Electrician to IIoT Expert 05:12 Transition into Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) Development 08:23 Founding of Thred: Mission and Goals 11:03 Differences Between Industrial and IT Systems 14:17 Challenges of Industrial Data Sharing 17:02 Importance of Domain Knowledge in Industrial Data Engineering 20:50 The Role of Knowledge Graphs in Data Contextualization 25:11 Insights on Large Language Models (LLMs) 28:44 Overview of Thred's New Tool: 3 Cloud 32:30 Concepts of Digital Twins and Real-time Cobot Replication 36:15 Industry Challenges and Solutions for Small Manufacturers 39:42 Data Engineering and DataOps in the Industrial Sector 42:15 Open Source Software in Industrial Applications 45:50 Final Thoughts: Closing Gaps in Industrial Data 48:37 Listener Takeaways on IIoT Innovations and Challenges 52:10 Episode Wrap-Up and Future Discussions

Don't forget to subscribe for more insights and updates on the future of Industrial Internet of Things and automation!

Connect with Keiran on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/keiran-stokes/

Connect with Phil on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-seboa/

Connect with Ed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-fuentes-2046121a/

About Industry Sage Media:

Industry Sage Media is your backstage pass to industry experts and the conversations that are shaping the future of the manufacturing industry.

Learn more at: http://www.industrysagemedia.com