<description> &lt;p&gt;Most organizations are asking the wrong question about AI. It's not whether to invest, but how to make it really work.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;In this episode of Decision Loop, Christine Babington speaks with Ron Crabtree, CEO of MetaOps Inc., about what it takes to build AI-enabled organizations in manufacturing and retail to truly prosper in an AI-augmented world.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Ron draws on decades of experience in operational excellence, Lean Six Sigma, change management, and supply chain transformation to explain why organizational readiness matters as much, if not more, than the technology itself.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;They explore what's driving AI urgency in manufacturing and retail today, why the people-process-technology sequence is more critical than most leaders realize, and how value stream mapping with activity-based costing can expose the 20% of steps driving 80% of the opportunities.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Ron also shares a practical framework for building AI-enabled teams, one that starts with measurable business outcomes before tooling.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;If you lead a supply chain, retail, or manufacturing organization and want a clear, practical guide to getting ahead with AI, this is a strong place to start.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Chapter Markers&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;(00:00) - Episode Introduction&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;(02:15) - What is driving AI urgency in manufacturing and retail&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;(05:52) - The four future-of-work scenarios and what they mean for industry&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;(07:39) - Why starting with technology is a mistake&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;(09:27) - How to start: building from business outcomes&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;(11:47) - Engaging people through value stream mapping and process data&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;(15:21) - Making the process practical – scoping it down to what matters&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;(18:53) - What AI-enabled teams look like&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;(21:15) - One piece of advice for leaders starting this journey&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;(22:57) - Key takeaways and close&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;🔗 Useful Links&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Christine Babington LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/christine-babington-smith&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Ron Crabtree LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roncrabtree&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;RELEX Solutions Website: https://www.relexsolutions.com/&lt;/p&gt; </description>

Decision Loop: AI for Retail & Manufacturing Leaders | Presented by RELEX Solutions

RELEX Solutions

How Your Organization Can Prosper in an AI Augmented World - Ron Crabtree, MetaOps

APR 1, 202623 MIN
Decision Loop: AI for Retail & Manufacturing Leaders | Presented by RELEX Solutions

How Your Organization Can Prosper in an AI Augmented World - Ron Crabtree, MetaOps

APR 1, 202623 MIN

Description

<p>Most organizations are asking the wrong question about AI. It's not whether to invest, but how to make it really work.</p> <p>In this episode of Decision Loop, Christine Babington speaks with Ron Crabtree, CEO of MetaOps Inc., about what it takes to build AI-enabled organizations in manufacturing and retail to truly prosper in an AI-augmented world.</p> <p>Ron draws on decades of experience in operational excellence, Lean Six Sigma, change management, and supply chain transformation to explain why organizational readiness matters as much, if not more, than the technology itself.</p> <p>They explore what's driving AI urgency in manufacturing and retail today, why the people-process-technology sequence is more critical than most leaders realize, and how value stream mapping with activity-based costing can expose the 20% of steps driving 80% of the opportunities.</p> <p>Ron also shares a practical framework for building AI-enabled teams, one that starts with measurable business outcomes before tooling.</p> <p>If you lead a supply chain, retail, or manufacturing organization and want a clear, practical guide to getting ahead with AI, this is a strong place to start.</p> <p><b>Chapter Markers</b></p> <p>(00:00) - Episode Introduction</p> <p>(02:15) - What is driving AI urgency in manufacturing and retail</p> <p>(05:52) - The four future-of-work scenarios and what they mean for industry</p> <p>(07:39) - Why starting with technology is a mistake</p> <p>(09:27) - How to start: building from business outcomes</p> <p>(11:47) - Engaging people through value stream mapping and process data</p> <p>(15:21) - Making the process practical – scoping it down to what matters</p> <p>(18:53) - What AI-enabled teams look like</p> <p>(21:15) - One piece of advice for leaders starting this journey</p> <p>(22:57) - Key takeaways and close</p> <p><b>🔗 Useful Links</b></p> <p>Christine Babington LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/christine-babington-smith</p> <p>Ron Crabtree LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roncrabtree</p> <p>RELEX Solutions Website: https://www.relexsolutions.com/</p>