DigitalituM Podcast - At the Intersection of Manufacturing and Digital Transformation
Manufacturing has its challenges. Digital Transformation has its challenges.
Welcome to the DigitalituM Podcast, where we delve into the intersection of manufacturing and digital transformation.
Manufacturing, a cornerstone of our global economy, faces various challenges—from optimizing production processes to ensuring quality control and maintaining a skilled workforce. In parallel, the digital transformation journey presents its own set of hurdles. Integrating new technologies, managing data, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement are just a few of the obstacles companies encounter.
In this biweekly podcast, we'll discuss these problems and, more importantly, the solutions making a real difference on the shop floor. We'll dive into how cutting-edge digital technologies like Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are being leveraged to address specific use cases. Whether it's enhancing training programs, improving machine maintenance, or optimizing production workflows, these technologies pave the way for smarter, more efficient manufacturing operations.
In the DigitalituM Podcast, we introduce you to some of the industry's leading voices and peers at the forefront of this digital revolution. They'll share their insights, experiences, and the transformative impact of digital tools in their respective fields.
So, please sit back, relax, and join us as we explore the intersection of manufacturing and digital transformation.
Welcome to the DigitalituM Podcast!
DigitalituM Podcast - At the Intersection of Manufacturing and Digital Transformation
DigitalituM Podcast Episode 22 - Mark Eferdinger - Card Monroe - Cutting Through the Digital Fog: Custom Automation & Digital Twins with Card Monroe
In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend and partner, Mark Eferdinger (Sales, Card Monroe Automation). We discuss the very real pressures U.S. manufacturers face—labor shortages, reshoring, tariffs, and the need to automate more quickly—and how a hands-on, customer-driven approach outperforms one-size-fits-all “modularity” every time.
About our guest
Austrian-born and U.S.-based for 15+ years, Mark came up through mechanical engineering and project management (Schaeffler, pharma packaging, custom machinery). He’s now helping Card Monroe design, build, commission, and support custom automation solutions across various industries, including automotive, food & beverage, chemical, aerospace, construction, and more.
What we cover
- Why custom beats catalog: Real-world cases where customers need tailored cells (palletizing, drilling, assembly, packing, vision-guided inspection) instead of off-the-shelf machines.
- Digital Twin & Virtual Commissioning: Simulate, emulate, and debug code before steel is cut—shrinking on-site commissioning and de-risking retrofits years later.
- Reshoring reality: Tariffs, supply risk, and floor-space constraints are pushing production stateside—while labor scarcity makes automation non-negotiable.
- Service that sticks: Why local, responsive support wins (time zones, language, standards) and how service packages can turn downtime into pit stops.
- The Digitalitum “toolbox”: Picking the right digital tools (AR/VR, IoT, PM/PdM analytics, AI/vision) to cut through the digital fog—and actually get adoption on the shop floor.
- AI, practically: Where AI already helps (PLC assist, machine monitoring, vision analytics, planning) and where it won’t (turning a wrench).
Key takeaways
- Start small, prove value, climb the digital-transformation ladder—don’t wait for the “perfect” platform.
- Digital Twin isn’t hype: it saves time at launch and during future product changeovers.
- U.S. manufacturers value speed, clarity, and proximity—and so do their best suppliers.
- The biggest failure mode isn’t software; it’s non-adoption. Implementation and training make or break ROI.
Events & where to meet us
- SPS Atlanta — Sept 16–18, Georgia World Congress Center. Visit DigitalituM Booth #1027.
- SOUTHTEC (Greenville, SC) — Third week of October. Meet Card Monroe Automation at Booth #1439.
- SC Manufacturing Expo — November 5-6th in Greenville, SC
Connect
- Card Monroe Automation (Greenville, SC & Hixson, TN) — custom automation, vision-guided systems, turnkey projects from concept to commissioning and service.
- Guest: Mark Eferdinger (LinkedIn)
- Host: Markus Rimmele / DigitalituM — let’s talk AR/VR, IoT/OEE, AI, and the right tools fo
Stay tuned for more inspiring conversations about manufacturing and digital transformation. Also, remember to follow and subscribe to the DigitalituM Podcast for exclusive insights from industry leaders and innovators.
We appreciate your likes and comments. If you feel you can add value to this podcast series and want to be our guest, send an email to Sales@DigitalituM.com
