<p>U.S. Manufacturing Today features Bryce Carpenter, Chief Operating and Strategy Officer at Conexus Indiana, discussing why AI and automation efforts in manufacturing often stall at pilots and how to scale them into operational results. Carpenter explains Conexus as an industry-led nonprofit working with 130 Indiana manufacturers and public and education leaders to accelerate solutions by aligning stakeholders early. He argues adoption fails when companies lead with technology instead of clear problem statements and when cultural buy-in and workforce communication are missing, fueling fears of job loss. He notes small and midsize manufacturers can have advantages due to low AI cost barriers and fewer data-standardization challenges, but many lack connected equipment and usable data. Conexus is launching Industry Exchange Workshops and building an AI use-case inventory to improve ROI confidence. The episode also highlights flexible labor models, faster micro-trainings, and technology’s role in boosting U.S. competitiveness amid reshoring and tariffs.</p><p><br></p><p>Timestamps</p><p>00:00 AI Adoption Reality Check</p><p>01:12 Meet Bryce Carpenter</p><p>02:26 What Conexus Does</p><p>03:34 Ecosystem Bridge Building</p><p>06:54 Escaping Pilot Purgatory</p><p>10:44 SMB Edge in AI</p><p>13:15 Roadmap and Grants Lessons</p><p>15:46 Automation Upskilling Workers</p><p>19:19 Training and Talent Access</p><p>22:46 Flexible Labor Partnerships</p><p>24:27 Data Foundations for AI</p><p>28:27 Market Maturity and ROI</p><p>33:36 Reshoring and Competitiveness</p><p>36:00 Resources and Wrap Up</p><p>37:18 Final Takeaways and CTA</p><p><br></p><p>Links</p><p><a href="https://conexusindiana.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Conexus Indiana</a></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brycecarpenter/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Bryce on LinkedIn</a></p><p><a href="https://sustainment.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a><a href="https://www.veryableops.com/navigating-trump-2-0" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Navigating Trump 2.0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p><a href="https://www.veryableops.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Revitalizing US Manufacturing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p><a href="https://company.veryableops.com/create-profile" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign Up on the Veryable Platform ⁠⁠</a></p>