The Connected Factory | Manufacturing Industry Podcast

Guest: Britta Mittlefehldt, Partner Smart Manufacturing @ Deloitte
In this episode, Niklas sits down with Britta Mittlefehldt from Deloitte to explore what it takes to scale AI and digitalization across manufacturing operations. Drawing on her background as a certified welding engineer, former plant manager in China, and 16 years in consulting, Britta gives a direct assessment of where the industry stands today. They discuss why lighthouse projects fail to scale, how IT/OT convergence is reshaping organizational structures, and what manufacturers must solve on the data and people side before AI delivers real value. The conversation also covers Unified Namespace, data ownership, and Deloitte's Smart Factory in Düsseldorf — a live production environment built for testing connected factory infrastructure.
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🔗 Britta Mittlefehldt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/britta-mittlefehldt-68a82919b/
🔗 Niklas Hebborn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niklas-hebborn-13994682/

Guest: Max Morwind, Manufacturing Sales Director Switzerland @ Microsoft
In this episode, Niklas sits down with Max Morwind from Microsoft to explore how AI, data, and modern cloud technologies are reshaping global manufacturing. They discuss the evolution from early IoT projects to today’s AI-driven factories, why many digital initiatives stalled in the past, and what manufacturers must do to build a solid data foundation. The conversation also covers the human side of AI adoption—how HR, culture, and skill development play a decisive role - as well as the rise of agents, unified data layers, and the future of automation.

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Guest: Heiko Wirtz, Co-Founder and CTO of ANTICIPATE

In this episode, Alex and Heiko from Anticipate dive into the role of AI and computer vision in modern manufacturing. They trace the journey from early image processing to today’s deep learning–powered quality inspection systems, discussing the challenges of integrating AI into legacy shop-floor environments and the opportunities this technology brings for scalability, accuracy, and reduced costs. The conversation also explores the balance between in-house development and external solutions, the hype around generative AI versus practical industrial applications, and strategies for getting started with computer vision projects in manufacturing.

The evolution of computer vision from traditional image processing to deep learning.
How AI improves resilience and adaptability in quality inspection.
The integration hurdles with legacy machines and protocols.
Why ease of use is key for automation engineers and SMEs.
The risks of overestimating DIY in-house AI projects.
The gap between AI hype at C-level and real shop-floor needs.
Practical advice for engineers: start small, use open-source tools, and show ROI quickly.
How computer vision fits into the bigger IT/OT and AI landscape.

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Guest: David Ariens, Author & Founder of The IT/OT Insider
In this episode of The Connected Factory Podcast, David Ariens joins hosts Alexander Krüger and Jeremy to unpack what it really takes to bring IT and OT together. Drawing on his journey from mathematics to chemical-plant digitalisation, David explains why open learning, shared language, and trust drive success on the shop floor. They discuss:

Why an interdisciplinary background accelerates digitalisation initiatives
How paywalled, uneven education slows IT/OT teamwork
What “infrastructure convergence” means and why factories need it now
Why cybersecurity must be a joint mission, not a turf war
How building trust and a common language turns siloed teams into partners
A practical playbook: clear business cases, visible leadership, and community support

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Guest: Natan Linder, Co-Founder & CEO of Tulip
In this episode of The Connected Factory Podcast, Natan Linder, CEO and co-founder of Tulip, joins Alexander Krüger, Co-Founder of United Manufacturing Hub, to explore what it really takes to empower shop floor workers with data insights and tools — beyond buzzwords like “digital transformation.” They discuss:

Why traditional digital transformation strategies often leave shop floor workers behind
The role of composable, low-code platforms in enabling dynamic, scalable operations
The shift from rigid architectures to open, ecosystem-driven solutions
How Tulip is helping turn frontline engineers into citizen developers
Why treating every worker as a "knowledge worker" is key to future-proofing operations
The real impact of AI on industrial workflows — beyond the hype

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