Episodes | Industrial Talk

Paul Crocker with ReliabilityX

Industrial Talk is onsite at SMRP 2025 and talking to Paul Crocker, Sr. Reliability Engineer at ReliabilityX about “Cultural alignment with your reliability strategy”.

Paul Crocker emphasizes the importance of storytelling and podcasting for creating human connections in business, especially in the context of AI. He suggests using Industrial Talk as a platform to amplify voices and build resilient businesses. Crocker discusses his career journey, starting with the Board of Public Utilities in Kansas City, Kansas, and his role in implementing Maximo systems for reliability and maintenance. He highlights the need for effective training and cultural alignment between operations and maintenance. Crocker also touches on the challenges of sustaining success and the potential of AI to assist in maintenance processes.

Bert Warner with Propane Education and Research Council

Industrial Talk is onsite at PowerGen and talking to Bert Warner, Director of Commercial Business Development at Propane Education & Research Council.

The Industrial Talk podcast, sponsored by the Propane Education and Research Council, discusses the growing role of propane in power generation. At Power Gen in San Antonio, industry professionals highlight the advantages of propane, including its speed of deployment, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits. Propane is a byproduct of natural gas extraction, with the U.S. using only about 10 billion gallons annually, while the rest is exported. The conversation emphasizes propane’s potential to replace diesel and natural gas in certain applications, offering flexibility and economic benefits. The discussion also touches on the need for infrastructure and equipment to meet growing demand.

John Shegda with KMM Group

Industrial Talk is onsite at MD&M West and talking to John Shegda, CEO at KMM Group about “Solving complex, high-precision manufacturing challenges”.

John Schegda, CEO of KMM Group, discussed the company’s unique capabilities in high-tolerance machining and grinding, emphasizing their role in solving complex manufacturing challenges. KMM Group, formed by integrating three companies, specializes in difficult-to-manufacture parts, particularly in the medical device and aerospace sectors. Schegda highlighted a notable project involving a NASA component with stringent tolerances, illustrating their expertise. He also touched on the future of manufacturing, stressing the importance of right-sizing in the supply chain and the potential transformative impact of AI on the industry.

Martin Weber with SPARETECH

Industrial Talk is talking to Martin Weber, CEO at SPARETECH about “Tools to effectively manage spare parts inventory to reduce cost and improve optimization”.

Martin Weber from SPARETECH discussed their innovative spare parts management solution on the Industrial Talk podcast. Weber highlighted the challenges of managing spare parts, including high inventory levels and inefficient procurement. SPARETECH’s software integrates with ERP and CMMS systems to optimize inventory, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. They have a database of 40 million parts and use AI to standardize part descriptions. Weber emphasized the importance of manual data extraction for the first six months to achieve ROI within a year. The company successfully rolled out their solution in 300 factories globally in 2022.

Matthew Roeser with Wildcat Power Gen

Industrial Talk is onsite at PowerGen and talking to Matthew Roeser, President at Wildcat Power Gen about “Power Generation leadership in a changing market”.

Scott Mackenzie and Matt Roeser discuss the growth and expertise of Wildcat Generation, a power generation company founded in 2013. Wildcat has evolved from selling generators to providing comprehensive solutions, including stationary, mobile, and engineered products. They emphasize their focus on reliability, efficiency, and innovation. Roeser highlights the importance of branding, the company’s 13-year journey, and their commitment to long-term customer support. They also discuss market trends, such as the rise of data centers, the potential of microgrids, and the future of nuclear power. Wildcat’s team, led by experienced engineers, is key to their success.

The world is changing fast! Industrial businesses are juggling every facet of business maintenance and growth, ranging from technological/digital media adaptations to cash flow management and operational efficiency challenges. How do industrial business leaders stay current while managing growth and casting vision for the future? The answers could be found in a learning environment, but never before has there been a place for continuing education in the industrial business arena. UNTIL NOW…

The INDUSTRIAL ACADEMY IS HERE. Finally there is a clearinghouse for all things industrial to assist the business leader. Course offerings provide up-to-date applicable information in business development, technology, finance, operations and leadership presented in an engaging, movement-oriented manner by those in the know. These professionals don’t just talk the talk. They walk the walk with purpose and passion for building not just the industrial business but also the people who make things happen.

The Industrial Talk Podcast family looks forward to learning and growing with you!

When I was in elementary school, our teacher would show us films of industrial professionals making our lives better. For me, these films instilled the passion for industry.

Today, industry has come along way from when I was a boy. It is innovative and focused on solving problems. In short, it’s really cool and exciting.

We need to teach children, around the world, and bring back the “Cool” and “Exciting” and why industry is a wonderful profession. That means we need industrial professionals to re-instill this industrial passion.

This is the Purpose of Industrial Pop. It is an online learning management platform (LMP) dedicated to educating our youth in the ever expanding and innovative world of industry. We also provide this LMP for our teachers to share with their class.

These are very exciting times for industry and we must begin educating our future and it starts with you. If you are interested, please contact me at: https://industrialtalk.com/contact/ and just let me know that you are interested in positively impacting our future industry leaders.