BONUS: AI in Manufacturing: What’s Broken, What’s Working, and How Manufacturers Can Succeed with AI featuring PTC's Joseph June

BONUS: AI in Manufacturing: What’s Broken, What’s Working, and How Manufacturers Can Succeed with AI featuring PTC's Joseph June

Author: Chris Luecke July 10, 2026 Duration: 23:24

What if your AI strategy doesn't need more agents, just a better plan?

This week Chris sits down with Joseph June, who leads AI strategy at PTC to talk about what companies are getting wrong with AI - going too broad too fast.

Joseph goes into why picking one problem and really solving it is the way to go when onboarding AI. He shares a great example of what a strong AI use case looks like on the shop floor and unpacks the concept of ‘production data foundation’.

The conversation turns to where agents are headed. There's also some good, grounded discussion here on building trust with AI and how the process mirrors onboarding any new employee.

In this episode, find out:

  • How AI experience helped Joseph make the leap from ServiceMax into leading AI strategy at PTC
  • The most common mistake manufacturers make when rolling out AI
  • What separates companies making AI progress from those stuck in pilot purgatory
  • What ‘production data foundation’ means, and why simply having more data shouldn’t be the goal
  • How AI agents are being used in manufacturing today, and where that's headed next
  • Why the plan behind your agents matters more than the agents themselves
  • How to build trust in AI gradually, using the advise, assist and automate framework

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Tweetable Quotes:

  • “A lot of the hesitation and a lot of the concerns people have about AI are probably real, but a lot of them are sentiment, and it takes time to be able to build that trust.” - Joseph June, Head of AI Strategy at PTC
  • “What's unique about AI that is different from a person - it is capable of processing a very large amount of data in a faithful and ruthless way to be able to accomplish a particular outcome.” - Joseph June, Head of AI Strategy at PTC
  • “The type of data matters. Data that represents individual decisions that people or groups of people have made in efforts to accomplish a specific goal. That's really valuable data.” - Joseph June, Head of AI Strategy at PTC

Links & mentions:

  • PTC enables companies to differentiate their products and services, improve operational excellence, and increase workforce productivity. Manufacturers can capitalize on the promise of today’s new technology to drive digital transformation.
  • ServiceMax helps customers keep the world running with asset-centric field service management software. Their cloud-based software and mobile apps provide a complete view of assets to field service teams.

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.


There’s a lot of noise out there about the future of making things, but what does it actually take to build a thriving career or a resilient business on the factory floor? That’s the conversation you’ll find on Manufacturing Happy Hour. Hosted by Chris Luecke, this podcast sidesteps the hype to deliver honest, practical talks with makers, founders, and leaders who are genuinely moving the industry forward. Each episode feels like a candid discussion after hours, where guests break down the real-world application of new technologies and share the unvarnished strategies that worked for them. You’ll hear stories not just about success, but about the lessons learned from setbacks, offering a well-rounded look at modern manufacturing. Whether you're looking to sharpen your technical skills, navigate a career shift, or find smarter ways to run your operation, this series provides actionable insights without the jargon. It’s a resource built on the understanding that progress happens through shared knowledge and straightforward advice. Tune in for a regular dose of clarity and connection from the heart of the industry.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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