Beyond Tech

Cybersecurity, ROI, and Plant Upgrades: Modernization Made Practical

Cybersecurity threats, rising downtime costs, and aging automation systems are forcing manufacturers to rethink their upgrade strategies. But how do you modernize without

Breaking Down Islands of Automation: How LAIR and MES Enable Intelligent Manufacturing

Automation across laboratories and manufacturing has advanced rapidly, but many organizations still operate critical systems in isolation. Laboratory Automation and Indus

Building Your AI-Ready OT Foundation – Lessons & Next Steps

AI initiatives are everywhere in manufacturing, but many fail before they get started. This episode continues the conversation from our recent “AI Ready or Not” live sess

Phased Modernization: Building the Future Without Shutdowns

Modernization in manufacturing isn’t just a budgeting challenge—it’s an uptime challenge. Most facilities can’t afford to stop production, yet they’re under increasing pr

No Single Path: How Careers in Automation Really Begin

Careers in automation do not follow a straight line, and that is exactly what makes them so powerful. In this episode of Beyond Tech, we bring together professionals at

OT Cybersecurity Reality Check: Why Exposure Still Matters and What You’re Missing

Cybersecurity strategies are evolving fast, but many OT environments are still operating on outdated assumptions. In this episode, we explore why exposure, not just expl

MES Mythbusting: What Manufacturers Get Wrong About MES

Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) remain one of the most misunderstood technologies on the plant floor. Many manufacturers know they need better data, more consistent

Lab Automation Meets Digital Transformation: Connecting Bench-Level Innovation to the Enterprise

In this episode of Beyond Tech, Jackie Slaght and Dave O’Brien sit down with Sura Hadi and Niket Karode from E Tech Group’s Lab Automation and Industrial Robotics team to

Unifying Operations After Acquisition: Multi-Site Standardization & M&A Growth Challenges

Company expansion and growth through acquisition bring enormous opportunity, but also enormous complexity. New sites may run on different control platforms, network desig

Powering the Future: Automation and Resilience in Data Centers for 2026

Data centers are under pressure to deliver speed, scalability, and sustainability as AI and cloud workloads surge. As we head into 2026, operators must modernize infrastr

Beyond the Packaging Line: Automation, AI Readiness, and the Future of Pharma

Automation in pharmaceuticals is no longer confined to the packaging line—and that shift is accelerating faster than many organizations realize. In this episode of Beyon

The Real Barriers to Modernization — Unpacked

In this episode of Beyond Tech, host Jackie Slaght continues the conversation sparked during our recent live partner session, “Simplifying the Modernization of Food & Bev

Engineering After Hours: Home Automation Passion Projects

This episode features passionate engineers sharing their home automation projects, from elaborate Christmas light displays to smart home security and control systems. Dis

From Concept to ROI: How Digital Twins Deliver Real Business Value

Digital Twin technology is transforming how manufacturers design, operate, and maintain their systems. This episode explores how Digital Twins move from concept to measur

Forging Ahead: Automation and Modernization in Metals Manufacturing

Heavy industry is stepping into a new era of innovation, and the metals sector is no exception. In this episode of Beyond Tech, hosts Jackie Slaght and Jennifer Palumbo s

Inside the Future of Food and Beverage: Automation, AI, and the 2026 Transformation

In this episode of Beyond Tech, Jackie Slaght sits down with two industry leaders at E Tech Group: Randy Ruano, who leads the West Coast team with decades of expertise in

Transforming Life Sciences Manufacturing: Smarter Systems, Faster Innovation

Life sciences manufacturers are under increasing pressure to move faster, stay compliant, and scale efficiently, all without compromising quality. In this episode, we exp

Modernizing CPG and Food & Beverage: Automation, Sustainability, and Strategic Growth

The Consumer-Packaged Goods and Food & Beverage industries are transforming at an unprecedented pace. As manufacturers face mounting pressure to modernize legacy systems,

The Invisible Threat: Why OT Networks Are the New Cyber Battleground

Industrial networks are no longer flying under the radar. In this episode of Beyond Tech, hosts Jackie Slaght and Jennifer Palumbo sit down with cybersecurity experts Eri

From Bench to Factory Floor: Rethinking Automation in Life Sciences

In this episode, we explore how integrated lab automation and industrial robotics are transforming workflows in biotech, pharma, and diagnostics. We are joined by Sura Ha