The Secret Engineering Behind Everyday Machines with Andrew Schiller

CONEXPO – CON/AGG Podcast: Construction Business Insights For Contractors

Frustrated with outdated manufacturing processes? Discover how engineering expert Andrew Schiller of Utah Tech University is revolutionizing how students and professionals think about design, automation, and the future of construction. Andrew reveals that engineering isn't just about calculations, you get to see real world applications of everything from start to finish.

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🎯 BIGGEST TAKEAWAY [16:02]:

"There's a really cool company right now called Toolpath Labs and they have an AI tool...you can load a 3D model in there and it will tell you ‘you can machine this’ or ‘you can't machine this’...So I was using it the other week and took what would probably be 45, 50 minutes of work and made it 5 minutes."

Watch how AI is transforming even the most complex manufacturing processes, saving time and boosting efficiency.

🎯 KEY EPISODE TAKEAWAYS:

✨ INDUSTRY GAME-CHANGER [07:29]:

"There are some Tesla models that have a front and a rear frame component that's a die cast aluminum part, but it's huge...and they can make very large single piece castings. And I believe it's in the back of the Model S, they're using this die casting for the rear of the frame and they're replacing something like 320 individual parts with a single casting."

See how groundbreaking manufacturing innovations are not just for Tesla – they're impacting the entire heavy equipment industry, leading to greater efficiency and affordability.

⚠️ AI DISRUPTION ALERT [14:08]:

"The people who are currently most concerned about AI are generally the people who do a lot of writing... I have students submit stuff that's purely written by AI sometimes...But that is a huge question. How is AI changing both education on my end and then for a company like Caterpillar or an equipment manufacturer, or even for you for what you do?"

Learn how AI's rapidly evolving capabilities are forcing a rethink of traditional roles and skills, and why embracing (not fearing) the change is crucial.

⚡ REAL-WORLD APPLICATION [26:55]:

"My motive in doing that is part of what we've been talking about. Students have a somewhat limited understanding of ‘here's what it would look like to be an engineer’....So my hope in doing that and really goal was to expose students to these companies and this equipment and say, “Hey, this is the kind of place you could work for.”"

Andrew takes his students to CONEXPO-CON/AGG to expose them to real-world applications of everything that they are learning.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Engineering Meets Real-World Manufacturing

01:09 - From Idea to Production

02:48 - Trends in Engineering Students

06:11 - Tesla’s Game-Changing Manufacturing Innovations

08:51 - Inside Caterpillar

09:19 - Engineering Starters & Alternators for Large Equipment

12:06 - Robotic Assembly

13:50 - The Complexity Behind Engine Control Modules

14:06 - AI in Manufacturing

18:06 - Autonomous Machinery and 3D-Printed Foundations

20:14 - AI's Role in Construction

22:06 - How Students & Businesses Are Embracing AI

26:46 - Engineering Careers That Truly Make an Impact

26:56 - Taking Students to CONEXPO-CON/AGG

28:38 - The Hidden Engineering Behind Everyday Machinery

29:54 - Extreme Conditions

30:23 - The Importance of Showcasing Engineering in Construction

🔗 CONNECT WITH ANDREW:

• [email protected]
• Utah Tech University