From the Shop Floor to Sales Engineer: Triston Stone on Solving Manufacturing Challenges

Peter Parsons sits down with Triston Stone, a sales engineer at Promess Incorporated, to talk about his path from final assembly to press build to applications engineering and now sales, all within a few years. Triston shares what it was like to finally see the systems he built running inside massive assembly lines, why Promess approaches sales as an engineering company first, and how custom solutions like the radial crimper came to life. They also get into the sheer scale of manufacturing (washing machines and ketchup caps included), the growing demand for data and Industry 4.0, whether AI will ever replace application or sales engineers, and the biggest lesson from the sales team’s book club so far.

Peter is on the road this week, so Lauren Rall and Matthew Rall are stepping in to host a special IMTS 2026 recap episode of Manufacturing Unscripted. While Peter walked the show floor in Chicago, he sat down with a few of the people and companies making an impact in manufacturing today, and Lauren and Matthew are bringing those conversations back to the studio.In this episode, you'll hear four interviews recorded live at IMTS 2026. Jacob Sanchez of igus talks about what they brought to the show, Brent Pietila of SteelHead shares how their team is helping job shops run smarter, Tyler Gendusa of EDM Performance Accessories gives a look at what's new in the EDM space, and Jeremy Isaacs of Ahaus talks through what he's seeing across the industry. Between clips, Lauren and Matthew share their own takeaways and talk about what these conversations say about where manufacturing is headed.If you couldn't make it to IMTS this year, or just want to catch up on what people were talking about, this episode is a great place to start.Sponsored by Promess Inc., the leading provider of fully electric servo presses for manufacturing.  

Software teams don't fail because they're not smart. Theyfail because nobody ever taught them how to actually ship. In this episode, Peter sits down with Thanos Diacakis, chief troublemaker and software effectiveness coach at Cosmic Teacups, to dig into why so many software teams struggle to get products out the door, even when they know their industry inside and out.Thanos has spent almost 30 years in software, from earlystartups to leading Uber's bikes and scooters team to running his own consulting practice today. He and Peter talk through why teams reach for long term planning before they've even mastered short term execution, why "specialization" can quietly wreck a team's ability to ship, and how AI is changing what's actually possible when it comes to speed, safety, andrewriting old codebases without blowing everything up.They also get into how manufacturing environments handle the tension between moving fast and staying safe, why bad habits stick around long after anyone remembers the reason for them, and what Thanos thinks the future actually looks like for software jobs in the age of AI. Whether you're managinga software team or just trying to figure out why your company does things the way it does, this one's worth a listen.Sponsored by Promess Inc., the leading provider of fullyelectric servo presses for manufacturing.  

Peter Parsons wraps up his two part conversation with Mike Kubacki and Elliot Keas of IACMI, digging into the perception problem manufacturing still faces with parents and students alike. Elliot and Mike talk through why so many people still picture manufacturing as dangerous and dirty, and how technology and innovation have reshaped what these environments actually look like today.The conversation also covers the different tiers of skill development in a modern facility, why apprenticeships matter for knowledge transfer, and how IACMI is partnering with veterans groups and job boards to connect people directly with industry. Mike and Elliot close things out by sharing their 10 year vision for the program, from expanding westward to building industry confidence in US manufacturing for the long term.If you missed part one, check out our previous episode for the full conversation.Learn more:IACMI.org MetalForAmerica.org americascuttingedge.orgSponsored by Promess Inc., the leading provider of fully electric servo presses for manufacturing.

Peter Parsons sits down with Mike Kubacki and Elliot Keas of IACMI, the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing and Innovation, to talk about how they're building the next generation of the manufacturing workforce. Mike directs the METAL program and Elliot directs the ACE program, and together they break down how these initiatives connect academia, industry, and government to close the skills gap in advanced manufacturing.They dig into the K through 12 outreach efforts getting kids hands-on with sand casting and machining before they ever set foot in a factory, why foundries have declined 40 percent over the past 20 years and what that means for national defense, and the career paths (apprenticeships, boot camps, internships) that can lead to a six figure salary without a four year degree. Mike and Elliot also share their own winding paths into manufacturing, from wire bonding microelectronics for space and defense projects to leading 600,000 square feet of manufacturing operations.This is part one of a two part conversation. Join us next episode as we continue the discussion with Mike and Elliot.Learn more:IACMI.org MetalForAmerica.org americascuttingedge.org

Peter Parsons sits down with Len Ward, Managing Partner of Commexis, for a wide ranging conversation on AI in manufacturing. Len traces his path from Wall Street to digital marketing to leading a company that helps businesses shift from a "search and retrieve" mindset to a "solve my problem" one.They dig into why B2B manufacturers are actually ahead of the curve on AI adoption, the rise of the "AI pilot" role inside factories, and why the best AI hires often come from within your own team rather than an outside resume. Len also shares his take on which jobs are safest from AI disruption (hint: anything tactile, like nursing or skilled trades), where he sees the biggest upside for AI in healthcare, and why he thinks the next wave of two to five person companies could disrupt entire industries.This one covers a lot of ground: AI blueprints, business bottlenecks, the coming shakeup in company size and structure, and what it really means to build an "AI first" company instead of just bolting AI onto old processes.

Automate 2026 with John Krause Pt. 2

Promess Sales Manager, John Krause, joins Peter to review and discuss the Automate Trade Show in Chicago Illinois. Peter and John talk about various aspects of trade shows and how the Automate Trade Show went this year and what they were excited to see.Peter also interviewed multiple vendors in their booths discussing what they brought to the show. John and Peter watch and discuss the products on display.

On this episode of Manufacturing Unscripted, host PeterParsons sits down with Michael Weller, who leads the global manufacturing practice at Verizon Business, to unpack how private cellular networks are reshaping the factory floor. Michael makes the case that private 5G occupies a"middle lane" between rigid, expensive wired connections and best-effort Wi-Fi giving manufacturers a deterministic, flexible network purpose-built for the explosion of IoT sensors, AGVs, scanners, and AI usecases headed their way.The conversation goes well beyond connectivity. Michael andPeter dig into "innovation in a drawer" (the good ideas manufacturers shelve over infrastructure fears), why dead zones leave expensive tablets gathering dust, where AI actually lives on the plant floor today, the hiddencompute and edge questions most AI projects ignore, and how a more connected, visual environment can help manufacturers retain Gen Z workers who learn verydifferently than the generations before them. There's even a sustainability angle: every million linear feet of copper cabling contains roughly 13 tons of copper that private wireless can take out of the equation.A practical, jargon-light look at what it actually takes tomodernize a plant—and why the next five to seven years may make private cellular feel less like a novelty and more like a necessity.Sponsored by Promess Inc., the leading provider of fullyelectric servo presses for manufacturing.  Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/laOpUbps-Y0 @Michael Weller@Verizon Business@peter parsons   @promess  

In this episode of Manufacturing Unscripted, host Peter Parsons sits down with Juha Pitkänen, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Solar Foods, to talk about a protein literally made out of thin air. Juha explains how Solar Foods uses CO2, hydrogen, and renewable electricity to grow a microorganism that becomes Solein, a yellow protein powder already approved in Singapore and the US. A fascinating look at food production without agriculture, the regulatory road ahead, and where this technology could go next. Sponsored by Promess Inc., the leading provider of fully electric servo presses for manufacturing.   Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/1SnyF_Bev_Y  @ Juha-Pekka Pitkänen @Solar Foods @peter parsons    @promess