Clocking In Podcast
Voices of NC Manufacturing, your host Phil Mintz, Director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP). We will be interviewing some of the manufacturers who have made North Carolina manufacturing the powerhouse it is today.
Episode 73
CESMII The Smart Manufacturing Institute
Production Team
Talent/Host: Phil Mintz
Executive Producer: Phil Mintz
Producer: Loree Blue
Sound/Audio Engineer and Editor: Rich Sigfrit
Graphic Designer: Rich Sigfrit
Smart Manufacturing for Every Manufacturer: Breaking Down the Barriers to Industry 4.0 with Conrad Leiva
Conrad Leiva
Smart manufacturing isn’t just for large corporations anymore. In this episode, Conrad Leiva of CESMII explains how small and mid-sized manufacturers can leverage affordable digital technologies, build a strong data foundation, and prepare their workforce for the future. Learn how smart manufacturing, lean principles, and AI are helping manufacturers improve performance, increase competitiveness, and drive continuous improvement.
In this episode of Clocking In: Voices of North Carolina Manufacturing, host Phil Mintz sits down with Conrad Leiva, Vice President of Ecosystems and Workforce Development at CESMII (The Smart Manufacturing Institute), to discuss how smart manufacturing is becoming more accessible to manufacturers of all sizes, no matter how long you’ve been manufacturing.
Conrad shares how advances in affordable sensors, wireless technologies, and digital platforms are helping small and mid-sized manufacturers begin their Industry 4.0 journey without massive capital investments. He explains why smart manufacturing is about more than technology—it requires a cultural shift toward data-driven decision-making, enterprise-wide connectivity, and continuous improvement.
The conversation also explores the powerful relationship between lean principles and digital technologies. Rather than choosing one approach over the other, manufacturers can achieve the greatest impact by combining lean methodologies with smart manufacturing tools and automation.
LINKS
About the Guest
Conrad Leiva has served as Vice President of Ecosystems and Workforce Development for CESMII, the national Smart Manufacturing Institute, since March 2020. With more than 20 years of experience in manufacturing systems, he is a recognized expert in digital transformation, workforce development, and the integration of smart manufacturing technologies across the industrial sector.
Conrad holds an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, certifications in MES/MOM (Manufacturing Operations Management) methodologies, and is a certified Quality Auditor. He is a frequent speaker at conferences, and his writing includes guidebooks, whitepapers, online courses, and articles. His recent work has focused on Smart Manufacturing, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and the digital thread among engineering, business, manufacturing, and sustainment systems.
About the Host
Dr. Phil Mintz is the Director of NC State University Industry Extension Services (IES). Through his leadership, IES supports manufacturers across the state with resources in innovation, process improvement, workforce development, and business growth.
About NC State University Industry Extension Services
NC State University Industry Extension Services (IES), established in 1955 as the outreach team for the NC State University College of Engineering, provides resources, tools, and customized training programs to help businesses survive, thrive, and grow.
IES delivers comprehensive training and development programs tailored for a diverse range of sectors, including manufacturing, educational and research institutions, healthcare, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, defense contractors, aerospace, automotive, energy, and government agencies.
Your IES dedicated Regional Manager is available to assist in identifying and implementing customized solutions, tools, and resources designed to optimize your organization’s productivity, efficiency, quality, and profitability. ncstateies.com/RM
