263: Change Management and Making Robotics More Digestible for the Workforce featuring Ben Perlson and Jason Gryszkowiec

Robots are becoming more and more mainstream in manufacturing, but most organizations still think of them with sci-fi imagery rather than everyday tools. The gap isn't in the technology, it's in how we prepare people to work alongside it.

Jason Gryszkowiec from St. Onge Company and Ben Perlson from ABB Robotics join us to discuss why successful automation deployments focus on making robotics more digestible for everyday workers.

Jason emphasizes that the biggest challenge isn't the technology, it's ensuring supervisors understand both the capabilities and limitations of the systems they're managing, while Ben explores how future developments like AI and voice control could bridge the gap from fixed path programming to more dynamic, adaptive systems.

The conversation covers why skipping change management creates bigger problems than the technology solves. Both Jason and Ben share practical approaches to starting with automation, from modular pilots that validate technology and training needs, to understanding how enterprise operations differ from Mom-and-Pop shops who need more hands-on partner support along their automation journey.

In this episode, find out:

• Why shortcuts during implementation create bigger issues for end users
• How operators and supervisors are being upskilled and reskilled to manage new types of automation
• The importance of getting high-potential employees involved early as super users
• Why you need a champion at the site who enables automation projects to succeed
• How modular implementations helps validate technology and training needs before roll-out
• The risk management approach to introducing automation without killing operations with downtime
• How ABB Robotics’ four-level project segmentation helps meet customers where they are

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Tweetable Quotes:

• “The biggest hiccup or problem we typically see is a lack of successful change management. What very frequently happens is that shortcuts are taken during the implementation process which makes it less digestible for the people that end up using the system day in day out.” - Jason Gryszkowiec
• “When we talk about upskilling and reskilling, it’s about making people more comfortable to work alongside automation and to handle basic troubleshooting and fault correction. There’s still going to be different roles for different skillsets, but it’s about bringing people along the automation journey, rather than throwing them in the deep end.” - Ben Perlson
• “With experimental or new technology, do a pilot. Go out, confirm the concept, bring it in, test it out, and confirm it. This not only gives you a chance to confirm the economic feasibility and validate the technology, but as an organization, you can understand what training and SOPs need to look like before roll-out.” - Jason Gryszkowiec

Links & mentions: 

• The Robotics Group (TRG) are leading manufacturers, integrators, consultants, and component suppliers of robotic solutions designed specifically for warehousing and distribution applications. 
• ABB Robotics, one of the world's leading robotics suppliers offering industrial and collaborative robots, autonomous mobile robots, and intelligent software solutions for industries including automotive, electronics, and logistics.
• St. Onge Company, a world-recognized supply chain strategy and logistics consulting firm.
• Listen to episode 78, “Overcoming Technology Hesitancy with Plus One Robotics CEO Erik Nieves”.

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.