In this episode, Ann Wyatt interviews John Piller, a seasoned expert in automation and controls, who shares his journey from working in a corporate environment to starting his own consulting business. The conversation delves into the importance of workforce development, the role of Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEPs) in supporting small manufacturers, and John's passion for teaching the next generation. Additionally, John discusses his involvement in a fundraising event for at-risk youth, highlighting the significance of community support and mentorship. In This Episode: -00:00: Introduction to John Piller and His Journey -02:38: The Importance of Teaching and Mentorship -05:21: Passion for Youth and Workforce Development -07:49: Real-World Applications in Education -10:30: Teaching Challenges and Successes -12:59: The Role of Engineering in Understanding Systems -15:44: Connecting Theory to Practice in Engineering -18:14: The Impact of Teaching on Future Generations -20:53: Understanding Complex Concepts Through Simple Analogies -22:55: The Importance of Manufacturing and MEPs -26:31: Data as the New Currency in Manufacturing -34:46: Community Engagement and Supporting At-Risk Youth More About John Piller: John Piller is the founder of JPiller Design and Consulting, where he helps small and mid-sized manufacturers chart their path into the era of smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0. With a career spanning industrial controls, advanced automation, and OT/IT integration, John combines deep technical expertise with executive-level strategy to guide organizations through digital transformation. Today, John is recognized as a fractional CTO and thought leader, helping executive teams turn complex technologies into practical, scalable solutions. His work emphasizes not just adopting new systems, but building the culture and strategy to make them sustainable. Check out the Over The Edge Fundraiser here . Learn more about John and connect with him here . The Future of Work (and this Episode) Is Brought To You By Secchi: Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here .
