A Voice for the Skilled Trades and the Journey into Manufacturing and Leadership

In this episode, we sit down with Darryl Gratrix, Production Manager at Molded Precision Components (MPC) and a passionate advocate for skilled trades.

From a geography degree to tool and die making, Darryl’s unconventional journey through stamping, molding, and management gives him a rare perspective across the manufacturing floor. His story is about more than machines—it’s about culture, communication, and lifting up the trades that power industry.

Key Highlights:

• Bridging the gap between tool rooms and production with real-world experience
• How internal customers and shared goals shape stronger teams
• Using custom-built tech (like MPC’s internal portal) to align with company culture
• Promoting the skilled trades through tours, outreach, and straight talk
• Darryl doesn’t just manage production—he helps lead the conversation about what manufacturing careers really offer.

Listen now and hear why the next generation of skilled trades needs more voices like his.

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Finding Value in EAM and APM Strategy with Phil Bragg of Hexagon at Streamline 2025

We sit down with Phillip Bragg of Hexagon at the 2025 Streamline Asset Management User Conference to talk about his journey from the U.S. Military to Civilian Life and how EAM and APM should be made useable above all else.

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Leave Maintenance Maturity to Cheese: APM Without the Wait

In this episode, CMMSradio interviews Alex Bolan from Digital Thinker Incorporated, who also supports Streamline Conferences. We explore a bold perspective on Asset Performance Management (APM), advocating for immediate operational excellence without waiting for so-called “maturity.” Bolan challenges traditional thinking in maintenance strategy and emphasizes cultural alignment, asset prioritization, and early action as keys to success in APM.

Bullet Points:

• Don’t wait for maturity—start APM now
• Challenge consulting mindsets that delay progress
• Focus on critical assets and maximizing return on asset (ROA)
• Importance of asking “why” before proposing solutions
• Culture and alignment matter more than tech maturity

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Bryan Bieschke returns to CMMSradio, reflecting on the panel at Reliable Plant and digging into the art of truly understanding clients. They spotlight the gap between buzzwords and real-world practices—especially when it comes to asking better questions, clarifying terminology, and integrating CMMS purposefully within well-defined maintenance roles.

Key Takeaways:

• Actionable insights over buzzwords
• Curiosity beats assumptions
• Language matters
• Role clarity promotes ownership
• Listening isn’t passive
• Real CMMS use relies on team cohesion

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This episode of CMMSradio features Drew Troyer of Bootleg Advisors, a seasoned reliability leader with over 36 years of experience. Drew and Greg Christensen dive into topics like Reliability Driven Innovation, the evolution of asset management, and the importance of reimagining maintenance and reliability as value-driven disciplines. The episode previews Drew’s upcoming keynote at the Mainstream UK Summit, where he challenges the traditional view of asset management as a cost center.

Key Takeaways:

• Drew’s decades-long career in asset management and reliability.
• Asset management as a value center, not just a cost sink.
• The importance of standardization, job planning, and the FLAB framework FLAB: Fasteners, Lubrication, Alignment, Balance
• Drew’s Mainstream UK Summit keynote on transforming reliability culture and improving data-driven decision-making.

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Brandon Cummings of Flowpath joins CMMSradio to explore the company’s deliberate and thoughtful approach to AI in maintenance. Over 12–16 months, Flowpath developed intelligent, reliable AI assistants to automate work order creation, analysis, and alerts—carefully avoiding AI drift and hallucinations. The result is a practical, verifiable solution already in the hands of users, with future expansions planned for asset lifecycle management.

Key Points:

• Flowpath spent over a year developing AI that prioritizes real-world problem solving.
• AI Assistant allows users to interact naturally—via text, images, and voice.
• A three-agent automation package addresses work order creation, monitoring, and alerting.
• Flowpath’s approach is grounded in control, transparency, and trust—avoiding AI hallucinations.

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$150M Round and a Bold Leap Forward for MaintainX 

• $150M in new funding
• $2.5B valuation
• Full throttle on AI-powered maintenance & asset management

Nick breaks down how MaintainX is going beyond buzzwords to deliver real results—focusing AI on Asset Intelligence (machine health) and Work Intelligence (empowering humans). We dig into:

• Why capturing tribal knowledge is critical
• How to overcome resistance to change
• What it takes to do more with less in the skilled labor crisis
• And why leadership needs to walk the floor—literally

Listen in or watch to see how they’re helping frontline teams win with better tools, smarter data, and bold moves.

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Tobias Pforr with Hexagon joined CMMSradio at Streamline 2025 in Greenville SC to talk about creating value, asset management, condition monitoring, data, and how AI creates unique dumbness.

Be sure you attend Streamline in 2026! New format and tons of learning from real pros!

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Reimagining Maintenance and Reliability at The Mainstream UK Summit 2025

The Mainstream UK Summit is coming to Birmingham, England!

This episode features Steve Morris of the Mainstream Community, discussing the power of community learning, practical problem-solving, and a human-centric approach to maintenance and reliability. With the upcoming Mainstream UK Summit as a backdrop, the conversation emphasizes the importance of reimagining maintenance and reliability by focusing on people, shared knowledge, and core fundamentals.

Mainstream Community supports professionals through learning, advisory boards, and summits. A people-first mindset—technology is a tool, not the focus.

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CMMS Friend or Foe with Maintenance Industry Veteran Joel Levitt

What happens when you mix nearly five decades of maintenance experience with a sharp sense of humor and a passion for teaching? You get Joel Levitt—trainer, author, board member at Reliable, and the mind behind the comic book series “CMMS: Friend or Foe.”

In this episode of CMMSradio, we sit down with Joel to ask the real questions:

Why does CMMS still frustrate so many teams? Why do vendors overcomplicate simple problems? And what can we learn from a real-deal pro with 50 years in the industry?

Tune in and find out.

MMS isn’t just about software—it’s about people, processes, and how data actually gets used on the shop floor.

Joel’s comics are a fresh way to capture decades of lessons—and keep them alive for the next generation.

We also get into the promises (and perils) of AI in maintenance, and what we risk when we lose sight of the fundamentals.

Key points from the episode:

• Humor helps address serious maintenance challenges.
• CMMS struggles with data quality, interpretation, and trust.
• Standardization resistance still holds many teams back.
• AI may accelerate problems if fundamentals aren’t in place.
• Storytelling tools like comics can improve knowledge retention.

Listen now and hear why Joel says, “The more things change in maintenance, the more they stay the same.”

Connect with Joel and Springfield Resources here: https://www.maintenancetraining.com/

Find and buy all if his books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/…

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That’s a Wrap with Alex Bolan at the 2025 Streamline Asset Management User Conference

Alex Bolan sits down with CMMSradio to wrap up the 2025 Streamline Asset Management User Conference in Greenville, SC. Alex and the team at Digital Thinker, Inc, are already preparing for Streamline 2026! Be there! This event, focused on community, delivers at every level. It is not a selling event – it is all about adding value in asset management, maintenance management, and related.

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CMMSradio Correspondent Katie Sanders Hitting the Booths at Reliable Plant 2025

Check out these awesome clips from CMMSradio Correspondent Katie Sanders! She’s a Dynamo! It all started with Reliable Plant 2023 Orlando Florida! The rest is history! Hear from Adrian Messer (SDT), Jon Fazenbaker (WCI), Shon Isenhour (Eruditio), and Dylan (Waites)!

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A CMMS talk with George Williams Recorded at the 2025 Streamline Conference

WARNING! Real AF talk ahead! We swear in this one. A lot! We also swear, literally, you do not need a CMMS to have a reliable plant! We caught up with George Williams, of ReliabilityX, at the 2025 Streamline Asset Management User Conference to talk about CMMS in a super real way! Enjoy these real deal insights from a pro that gets it! Buckle up for numerous F-bombs and some real talk. Skip the talking heads!

Are you going to StrEAMline in 2026? https://streamlineconferences.com/

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From U.S. Marine Service to CMMS Support at MVP One with Jose Funes

In this episode of CMMSradio, Jose Funes joins to share his unique career journey, from his time as a United States Marine aviation aircraft data specialist to his current role in CMMS software support. His military experience in data analysis and maintenance administration provided a strong foundation for his work optimizing user experiences in CMMS systems. Jose discusses his approach to technical support, emphasizing effective communication and understanding user needs. He also reflects on his philosophy that true work-life balance doesn’t exist for those chasing ambitious goals, advocating for a blend of work, education, and hobbies.

Key Topics:

• Transition from military aviation data specialist to CMMS industry.
• Connecting military maintenance practices with CMMS software.
• Focus on user experience optimization in technical support.
• Work-life balance philosophy and the pursuit of ambitious goals.

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Asset Performance Management with Stephan Schomberg and Joe Caetano of Elevotec from Streamline 2025

We sit down with Stephan Schomberg & Jose Caetano of Elevotec from the 2025 Streamline Asset Management User Conference in Greenville SC to talk about their journeys and what matters in Asset Management. We cover a ton of maintenance, reliability, asset performance management and more!!

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