BONUS: Predictive Maintenance: The Key to Replacing Unplanned Downtime with Personal Downtime (Sponsored by AssetWatch)

BONUS: Predictive Maintenance: The Key to Replacing Unplanned Downtime with Personal Downtime (Sponsored by AssetWatch)

Author: Chris Luecke August 25, 2026 Duration: 33:24

Some of the best manufacturing advice comes down to one simple idea - buy back your weekends.

In this bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Chris is joined by Patrick Carmitchel, VP of Product Management and Dustin Moore, Condition Monitoring Engineer Manager at AssetWatch, to break down what condition monitoring and predictive maintenance looks like in practice, no jargon required.

They get into the differences between preventative and predictive maintenance, why the biggest ROI often comes from just doing one thing well, and how AssetWatch's own founding story led them from wireless power research into one of the fastest-growing names in industrial monitoring. Along the way, Dustin shares a personal philosophy that gives this episode its name.

In this episode, find out:

  • Why doing one thing well with your most critical assets can catch the majority of issues before you need to expand into other monitoring methods
  • How a maintenance technician went from feeling threatened by AssetWatch to calling it the best thing that ever happened to his job
  • What criteria actually determine whether an asset is "critical" - and why size has nothing to do with it
  • How AssetWatch went from researching wireless phone charging to building one of the fastest-growing platforms in industrial monitoring

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Tweetable Quotes:

  • "The proof is in the pudding... once they start seeing the results on their end - that bearing running a lot cooler, a lot smoother - that's when they come around." - Dustin Moore, Condition Monitoring Engineer Manager at AssetWatch
  • "You've got to start somewhere. Meet maintenance teams where they're at - they're all in different parts of their journey." - Dustin Moore, Condition Monitoring Engineer Manager at AssetWatch
  • "Predictive maintenance means you're looking at early warning signs... it's about your ability to be able to plan so that you do not have unplanned downtime." - Patrick Carmitchel, VP of Product Management at AssetWatch

Links & mentions:

  • AssetWatch combines vibration, temperature, and oil analysis in one platform for a holistic asset health view, detecting issues that a single technique might miss.

Make sure to visit https://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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