Peggy Smedley Show

Peggy and Christian Crews, foresight and transformative growth lead, Kalypso, says success is being able to leverage datasets and get new sets of data coming into the product development lifecycle. He adds that now we are starting to get data out to end of life and warranty issues are just the beginning. We are now getting a closed-loop innovation cycle, he says. He explains we are going to need to protect the data and we need to make sure we are managing customer data well. At the end of the day, you have to take the lead from your customer.

Peggy talks with Kiva Allgood, chief commercial development officer, GE Ventures, who says she grew up on a farm and the phone did one thing, but now a phone does many things. In the consumer realm, a device serves multiple purposes—and this is beginning to extend to industrial. She says every industry has its own unique set of data and collecting data is more difficult than anticipated, but technology is catching up. She is excited about the fact that the technology exists, and now we just need to find the champions. We need trades to help build large industrial equipment, but that transition isn't going to occur fast enough. The companies who will do it faster will be more profitable, she says. If you can reimagine every single process and technology in the industrial space, imagine the impact it can have on people, she says.

Peggy Smedley answers the questions: Can artificial intelligence brew a better beer and can machine learning make better cannabis-related recommendations? She explains that there are a number of applications for AI and machine learning and they are changing the game for manufacturing. She says one of the greatest opportunities for manufacturing is to create personalized products, with manufacturing poised to bring more mass personalization. She also explains that how products are delivered through the supply chain will evolve.

Peggy and Jeremy Hitchcock, founder and CEO, Minim, talk about the DDoS attack against Dyn in October 2016, which served as the inspiration for Minim. He says the number of connected devices installed in our home is growing, but they are not necessarily put together with the best software. He says the best thing manufacturers can do is make sure their devices auto-update by default. He explains it is trying to create a shared sense of empathy and help make homes more secure.

Peggy speaks with Chad Markle, partner, Kalypso, about connected manufacturing, who says manufacturing has relied on advancing technologies to get a competitive edge. Manufacturers are used to exploring technologies and are focused on ROI, he explains. He adds that the focus in the beginning is to find an enlightened executive and then develop a solid strategy. He suggests keeping it small in the beginning, discover results, and then scale quickly. He points to the example of a client who asked: can we leverage generative design and advanced machine learning to generate fixtures that are generated by the machine? He elaborates on this example and what is entailed. He says the future is bright and it is exciting because it allows us to reshore and bring back some of the manufacturing capabilities that we offshored.

Peggy Smedley takes a moment to pause and remember the deadly attacks of September 11, outlining who a first responder is and the goal of using technology, which is to set first responders up for success by giving them the best resources available to perform their duties. She also says there are some exciting new applications of connected technologies that can help people get help in times of need. She explains with data, users can make better decisions about where to deploy officers or how to train first-response team. She also asks: Are we as a society truly investing the time and resources to make sure our first responders have the technology they need when and where they need it?

Peggy and Joshua Peschel, assistant professor, agriculture and biosystems engineering, Iowa State University, says some of the most interesting things going on are with small-scale manufacturing—and these manufacturers need to have access to AI (artificial intelligence) and robotics. He explains it is important because it is going to allow them to get into some new and different markets. He adds that technology companies should not price out the small manufacturers because those are the ones who could benefit from it the most. He adds that there are issues that are both upstream and downstream. For example, everyone is interested in shipping and is looking for the next Uber of shipping.

Peggy is joined by Trisala Chandaria, CEO and cofounder, Temboo, who says one thing that is really important is how to make emerging technologies more available to a wider group of people. She explains that software development and writing code is one of the biggest hurdles today. She says the company spent a lot of time on user experience and making it as easy as entering a field in a form. What has been interesting at Temboo, she explains, is it has been valuable to explore what customers are doing, and what she has observed is there are two types of adoptions or initiatives in IoT: the first is companies like Otis that are looking at how their business models can move into servitization, and it is still very early for that. The second is people retrofitting their existing equipment facility processes and doing it in a way where their current systems stay in place and they are adding on top of it a digital layer to help them with very specific problems that they have identified up front. Those are areas that have adopted the IoT most successfully, she says. She adds that people on the ground that are trying to build and use systems often come from a mechanical background, and that the responsibility of a tech company is to enable a mechanic or service technician to be able to prepare for the next evolution of what their work would look like.

Peggy dives into the topic of security, saying it is a huge consideration for any business undergoing a digital transformation. She points to three big trends that can give manufacturers a better chance at preventing cyberattacks from happening in the first place. She continues, explaining that industrial IoT systems can open doors for cybercriminals to move laterally across a manufacturing network as they search for ways to wreak havoc and accomplish their nefarious goals. She says security checkups need to be put on the agenda at every meeting and employees need to be continuously trained about risks, solutions, and how they can help keep systems secure

Peggy and John Pletz, senior reporter, Crain's Chicago Business, discuss the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Chicago. Companies are trying to figure out how to use data to make manufacturing better, faster, and smarter, he explains. Still, many manufacturers are at the early stages. While there are sensors that are cheap enough to be on machines, the hard part is pulling it all in and making sense of it, he adds. They also discuss sensors in buildings, and he says new buildings are being built with the idea of sensors and data on the front end—and then a lot of buildings are being retrofitted with digital controls as well. This is allowing building operators to improve efficiency.

Peggy kicks off the segment, talking about how technology is redefining the workplace, and how the use of short-term contractors is estimated to grow. She and Greg Settle, director of national initiatives, TechForce Foundation, discuss new trends surrounding the workforce of the future. He says TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, with the mission to champion students to improve their education in the transportation industry. He explains that a four-year college is not the only path to success—and the problem with sending everyone there is that not everyone learns that way and we are not educating young men and women about the huge opportunity and demand in all the trades. He adds that with transportation technicians there is a lot of training that takes place once you get into the workforce. He says hands-on learners can fit in well with the technician profession.

Peggy talks about interoperability, saying in order for a smart factory to work as its intended, all of the different components of a system need to be able to talk to each other. She explains that mutually agreed upon standards for the Industrial IoT and the entire supply chain in manufacturing are important in supporting interoperability and reliability going forward. She continues that to achieve digital transformation, manufacturers will need to invest in the concept of individualized manufacturing and what some call "batch size 1."

Peggy and Dan Miklovic, research fellow, LNS Research, explains why companies struggle to get past the proof of concept on the industrial IoT side. He says too often companies pick a technology they think will be useful and implement it, but they haven't thought about how they are going to change business. On the other hand, there are companies that know exactly what they want to do and then they try to do a proof of concept, but the technology is not yet economical or it is too fragile. The tips to be successful is to find that sweet spot where you are using technology that is ripe and ready for deployment and using it to solve a business challenge.

Peggy and Chris Smith, vice president, service innovation, Otis Elevator Co., talk about how big-data analytics are changing how it provides services. He says it is a transition and it is learning as it goes, but the first thing it did was collect a lot of data. When he looks at what customers want, they want elevators up and running, so it looked at data and how to solve customers' problems. The company also identified how to create a predictive model and turn it into a proactive scheduled maintenance visit, and still do the maintenance, but during a time that the customer wants to do it. Otis has built an algorithm around predictive door maintenance, and Smith explains the IoT helps because it can provide data to the customer about how the elevator is declining in health and how it can move the needle back to a healthy state.

Peggy says two combined factors—global population growth and urbanization—could result in another 2.5 billion people living in urban areas by 2050. She asks the question: What exactly is going to happen when more than half of the global population resettles in urban centers? She suggests smart-city services are going to be an important part of how we solve the urbanization puzzle, from smart buildings and smart grid, to connected transportation and connected infrastructure.

Peggy and David Stephenson, author, The Future Is Smart, talk about his new book. He explains the primary audience of the book is not the thought leaders and doers, but the skeptical mainstream businesses that have maybe heard a little bit of the IoT, but they are intrigued about the economic payoffs. He talks about the concept of collective blindness, saying for the longest time when we manufactured something, we did not have real-time feedback. Approximations led to a lot of errors and inefficiencies. Companies don't realize how beneficial it can really be, hence collective blindness. Everyone who needs real-time information can share that information instantly, and that changes everything.

Peggy and Sam George, director of Azure IoT, Microsoft, talk about servitization. He says IoT is a pretty profound technique to sense the real world in realtime. When talking about the digital feedback loop, he explains an IoT solution today is not what the same IoT solution is going to look like tomorrow. Predictive maintenance is evolving into the predictive stocking of parts, for example. He says if you think about the life of a service engineer, what they care about is fixing the equipment the first time. With the digital feedback loop, and being able to proactively schedule, the service engineer gets empowered and feels a greater sense of accomplishment. They see themselves as being part of the cutting-edge IoT revolution and this has a profound effect on the companies hiring these engineers because they want to be part of a company that is forward looking. George adds that it is important to talk about digital transformation and change, along with the new technology when introducing it in a company.

Peggy asks: Are services really that important to growth? Simply, yes. She goes on to explain that IoT global spending will reach more than $772 billion in 2018—up about 14.5%. Even more, by 2021, services spending is expected to nearly equal hardware spending. She dives into vertical markets, saying in 2018 the industries that stand out in terms of the most money spent in IoT will include manufacturing, transportation, and utilities. In all three, asset management will be an important driver of IoT spending. She also takes a look at servitization in action, pointing to an example from Rolls-Royce and its Nor Lines. Servitization requires companies to think differently and step outside the box, she explains.

Peggy and Joshua Peschel, assistant professor, agriculture and biosystems engineering, Iowa State University, says if you look at the tracking different assets and understanding their supply chain, having access to detailed information is not something companies were able to have prior to now. He gives an example of taxi tracking in large cities. If you could know where taxis were located, you could know about illness spreading, because you know how many times taxis or Ubers went to hospitals. He says there is going to be a big squeeze on the supply chain, no matter what part of it you are in.

Peggy and Duane Wald, VP and managing director, EMEA and APAC, MultiTech, chat about the Internet of Things, and he says in the context of Industry 4.0, it is less about technology, and more about business strategies and business models. He adds that people understand the opportunity, but there is a lot of effort to use technology to solve problems. Creating the ecosystem and business model is what the industry is challenged with today—and that is where we are at in the evolution of this now, he explains. The technology is maturing and that is the key today, he says, as technology is making new applications possible that weren't possible five years ago.

Peggy talks about how servitization can open the door to new revenue streams. She explains that if you are in business today, you are in it to make money. Using IoT (Internet of Things) and data to sell services that complement a product portfolio is just smart business. She talks about how to go on the journey toward servitization—and make it a profitable one. She points to research that shows that companies that are further along in their servitization journey also report higher profitability.

Peggy and Chuck Freiheit, COO, F.H. Paschen, talk about the aging workforce. He explains that we have to be intentional about inspiring the next generation. He also says we need to use technology to attract the talent. The advent of the iPhone and the iPad have helped and one of the things it did a couple years ago is decide it wasn't going to have one platform to solve all problems. He adds that safety is very critical and technology can help.

Peggy and Claire Rutkowski, CIO, Bentley Systems, talk about our infrastructure. She explains that we are absolutely failing with our infrastructure and there are a number of reasons including a funding a gap. She says there are offsetting savings. For instance, repairing our roads can save drivers money. She adds that while funding is the most important, private investors have assets under management. Infrastructure projects, in theory, should be good, stable investments. Also, we don't have clear accountability in government for infrastructure improvements, she adds. Aligning priorities can help deliver improvements much quicker and technology can definitely help address the gap, she adds. The first step in change management is awareness, and she says there is broad awareness that there is a problem. She explains that we all know things have to change, which is half the battle, but the tricky bit is understanding how we need to change.

Peggy says one beacon of hope for people who hate sitting in traffic is connectivity. She says autonomous vehicles will be a part of our lives and it will reduce traffic and road accidents and fatalities. V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) communication enables the sharing of data, giving the ability to see around corners and through other vehicles. Someday these vehicles will react to the data, she says, rather than relying on the people to react. V2X (vehicle-to-everything) technology is going to play a huge role in helping drivers, and eventually vehicles, react to crash situations before it is too late.

Peggy and Cassandra Rutherford, assistant professor at Iowa State University, discuss some of the research she is doing as it relates to soil testing, foundation, and more. She explains that every project we have touches the soil and she looks at how soil responds to different types of loads. She is also looking to the future and doing research as it relates to critical infrastructure. A lot of research and funds need to be put into levees, she adds, saying we need $80 billion to maintain the levee system. She also talks about her efforts in elementary education, saying students admit they have never heard of geotechnical engineers, with many thinking engineers just drive trains.

Peggy and Rich DiClaudio, president, CEO, and founding board member, The Energy Innovation Center Institute, chat about this organization's mission, which is to transform how humans interact with energy and technology. He explains that we need a resilient electric grid and that the institute is always pursuing activities to enable resilient cities. He says in developed economies, it is unusual for a business to last more than 12 years. Looking at cities, unless something odd has happened like an earthquake, it is not unusual to see cities that are 500 years old, 1,000 years old, or more, and are still thriving quite well. He explains that human resources become more and more important.

Peggy says we have some challenges to solve if the IoT (Internet of Things) can be as widely adopted as it could be. She talks about Operation Prowli and how it had been spreading malware and malicious code to servers and Websites. She also points to the example of Adidas, which announced that an unauthorized party may have gained access to certain customers' data. She adds that it is distressing to see the number of cyber attacks on the rise and that they are not going down. She concludes, explaining that we need highly secure systems to help protect infrastructure from physical security breaches.

Peggy says there are always delays in services because of an outdated infrastructure. She challenges listeners to force their politicians to take action and to finally invest in our future—now. Further, she addresses the challenge of the aging workforce and that the younger generation isn't showing an interest in construction, which makes it more difficult to rebuild roads, bridges, or a smarter infrastructure.

Peggy and Rick Splawinski, senior project manager, Nevada Dept. of Transportation, discuss surface transportation. He says aesthetics are important, but we can't have beautiful roads in America if we don't have roads at all. He adds our ability to maintain surface transportation is shrinking every year due to the rate of inflation. He explains that the problem is that Americans are not tuned in or engaged and we don't have the political courage. He adds that technology can really aid in helping pinpointing where the investment should be made because there is not enough money to go around.

Peggy says IoT (Internet of Things) solutions are allowing oil and gas pipeline operators to analyze flow and events in near-realtime. She explains IoT systems can integrate with other systems in the enterprise to improve efficiencies. She continues that oil theft is a multibillion-dollar problem, and remote monitoring can help tackle the issue. Drones can also pinpoint leaks, she says, which is a safer, more efficient, and more cost-effective method.

Peggy gives a glimpse into some famous infrastructure. She looks at the new World Trade Center in New York City, Crossrail in London, the Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland, the Grand Paris Express, and the Chicago Express Loop. She says there is an opportunity for the Internet of Things to drive revenues and new services to clients. She wraps up the show by giving a sneak peek into Elon Musk's plans to build an underground system of high-speed autonomous pods to link downtown Chicago to O'Hare airport.

Peggy chats with Steven Weitzman, president and CEO, Creative Design Resolutions, who says there is an opportunity for infrastructure to visually speak to the people in the community. He asks: Why can't infrastructure express the story of where you are? He adds that infrastructure will always need to be safe first, functional next, and then aesthetics can come in and that the company is bilingual—as it speaks both aesthetics and engineering.

Peggy avoids the political landmines, but highlights the controversy surrounding pipeline infrastructure. She says in 2017, the amount of energy produced was about 87.5 quadrillion BTU (British Thermal units). Also, the amount of energy produced in 2017 was equal to about 90% of the U.S.'s energy consumption. She explains that there has been a significant shift in the source-and-use balance, and this has turned the sector on its head. She says we can put the IoT (Internet of Things) to work to build pipeline infrastructure.

Peggy Smedley is joined by Josh Peschel, assistant professor of agriculture and Biosystems engineering, Iowa State University, who says there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution to all of the problems geographically—there are too many variables. He explains that there is a bill, and it has to be paid. People are going to argue about how that has to be done, but ultimately it has to be paid

Peggy chats with Kristina Swallow, president, American Society of Civil Engineers, about our nation's infrastructure and its grade of a D+. Swallow explains that the ASCE sees three solutions that can help solve this: investment, leadership, and planning for the future. She says it has also identified that between now and 2025 in order to bring the grade to a B, it would require $4.6 trillion—and we are currently spending $2.6 trillion. She suggests public-private partnerships are one piece of the puzzle, but ultimately it is user fees.

Peggy kicks off a new month, looking at the topic of infrastructure. She says today many systems are not modern, as they don't leverage technology to maximize efficiency. IoT (Internet of Things) technology can help by catching breaks before they even occur. She also explains that sensor systems and predictive analytics need to be applied to manage and maintain our infrastructure.

Peggy Smedley is joined by Juan Pablo Segura, co-founder, Babyscripts, who talks about the demand that is being fueled on the patient side in healthcare. He explains that the company has created a new model for managing pregnancy care through IoT (Internet of Things) devices. He says it is focused on capturing data on patients in between appointments, while automating care.

Peggy chats with Dr. Moira Schieke, founder, Cubismi, who says the company is developing technology to tailor care for each patient, explaining that it will create a new technology to reorganize digital data. It will essentially be a Google Map of the human body and it will have higher quality datasets for the predictive analytics engine. She says it can detect diseases sooner with the help of big data.

Peggy asks: Do health apps really work? She explains that health apps in general aren't as effective as they could be, and there are just too many different people looking to self-manage their health and each of these individuals have unique needs. She adds that health apps have incredible potential, but only if patients can access them, figure out how to use them, and find the effort worth their while.

New IoT Drives Women Peggy Smedley is joined by Cami Zimmer, executive vice president of business development and marketing for Glympse, who talks about the changes that have happened in the IoT space and how it impacts those in tech—as well as others in other industries. She says she is inspired by the fact that nothing stays the same—what happens today might not be the solution for today—and that is what motivates her.

Peggy chats with Scott Moody, CEO, K4Connect, who says that we all want to live that independent, happy, and healthy life. He explains that his company helps people who are getting older to live the same way as when they were younger. He does this with three basic foundational ideas: simpler, healthier, and happier. A simpler life includes integrating home automation technologies such as home repair services. A healthier life involves wellness devices and care services such as a scale or blood pressure monitor. Finally, a happier life brings connectivity outside of the community such as video chat capabilities with family, being able to order meals, or to even call or message anyone else in the community through an app.

Peggy kicks off the episode, saying cyber-security is a big issue in healthcare and it seems to be getting worse. Today, cybercriminals continue to prove they are clever. She explains the most common problems are still user practice issues and outdated software. She continues that threats are preventable and we need to make sure end users are educated on how to protect themselves.

Show regular Robin Raskin, founder and president, Living In Digital Times, says products need a women's touch in order to survive, and we are seeing that all over the place. She explains that some of the older generation are uncomfortable with technology and they need a lot of features built in for comfort, which includes robots. Alexa is one example that is doing well with an aging population because it does one thing at a time, she suggests.

Peggy speaks with Dr. Jennifer Schneider, chief medical officer, Livongo, who says she is very blessed with an incredible family and she grew up with an older brother and younger brother and it never occurred to her that girls were any different from boys. She explains that technology is a way to propel is us forward, almost without knowing that it is working behind the scenes. Also, technology is only one of the tool sets for us that allows us to do more at a different pace and in a better fashion.

Peggy says there is a culture around the futuristic robotic movies and television, showing the impact of AI (artificial intelligence). She explains that AI could open the door for more accessible healthcare that relies on relevant accessible data. Going forward, technology can help reinvent the healthcare industry by helping humans automate repetitive tasks, which will also improve patient outcomes, she continues.

Show regular Josh Peschel, assistant professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, Iowa State University, talks with Peggy about inspiring the next generation of workers by informing them of the opportunities that might be available to them. He says we need to prepare people at a young age, and educate them well in college. After we educate somebody well, we also need to create opportunities and establish a network of success for long-term growth in the field that they chose.

Peggy is joined by Colleen Egan, director of people, culture, and endless possibilities for Clarity Partners, explains how she started as a nurse, and soon became involved in administration, but was discouraged by the lack of technology adoption in healthcare. She always knew that people were the most important part of companies. She discusses how women make up 57% of the workforce, but only 20% of the tech industry, and there has been a shift since she has started. There has always been a cultural definition of women's work, but girls need supportive parents and educators, and need people to get past the gender bias and these roadblocks. She says the most important thing for women starting out in their careers is to believe in themselves.

Peggy says connected devices can collect data about a person's health and monitor a person's activities, connecting older adults to other people. She explains that smart-home systems can make it easier for adults to age in place and are making home care possible. She continues that devices can keep an eye on vitals, which are life changing and we will see a shift in the next 12 months of what the means.

Peggy talks with author of The Leader Habit and CEO of Pinsight, Martin Lanik, who says he chose the word habit because most of our daily behavior is influenced by habit. He asks: What if leadership was a habit and how can you develop positive habits as a leader? He explains that microbehaviors turn into habits, and leadership should become as natural of making your bed in the morning or brushing your teeth. We know effective leaders delegate in an effective way, he continues.

Peggy chats with Amy Tabb, research agriculture engineer, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services Laboratory, about creating automation in the tree fruit industry. Tabb explains that fruit trees produce more flowers than they need to produce a full crop and to have larger fruit, you have to thin. Sometimes this is done with chemicals and other times it is done manually. She says the biggest thing for grower today is to solve labor availability and create systems to sense tree structure. She hopes the field will soon see automated harvest equipment commercialized.