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Automation for the Modern Manufacturer

Automation is showing up in more shops than ever but most small and midsize manufacturers still assume it’s too expensive, too complex, or “not for us.” In this episode of The Value Blueprint, Shayla McLean interviews Alex Bae and Arsalan Warraich from Weldmatic about how they’re making welding automation and shop-floor robotics accessible for SMEs across Canada. We unpack the real-world truth behind automation: Why automation is a workforce and safety strategy, not a “replace people” plan The common misunderstanding about “hands-off” automation Bottlenecks, flow, and how to avoid optimizing one step while breaking another How SMEs can start with an affordable “Lego-block” approach and scale up The role of welder buy-in, process changes, and simple training curves Beyond welding: cobots for pick-and-place, grinding, palletizing, and more What emerging tech (like laser welding) could mean over the next 5–10 years If you lead a fabrication shop, manufacturing team, or operations group (and you’re thinking about productivity, consistency, and capacity) this episode will help you frame automation decisions with clarity. Chapters / Timestamps: 00:00 Intro + why automation is a hot topic for SMEs 00:45 Weldmatic’s origin story + the real problem they solve 02:35 Alex’s background in welding + why safety matters 03:21 Why Arsalan joined + customer-first culture 05:03 Top operational pressures: labor, myths, adoption 06:18 What automation is (and isn’t) + expectation setting 07:30 Bottlenecks + why faster isn’t always better 08:24 The 3-step success model: people + process + equipment 10:30 How the mindset around automation is shifting 12:58 “We’re not big enough for automation”—response 16:59 Hidden costs of not automating (retention, risk, consistency) 20:04 Beyond welding: cobots + broader applications 22:14 The typical SME automation journey (shop visit → design → test → install) 27:48 What surprises teams most after implementation 31:22 What’s next: laser welding + emerging trends 32:24 Final takeaway for SME leaders: practical, not scary, not always necessary To Learn more: Weldmatic (contact): https://www.weldmatic.ca/ Value Driver (book a discovery call): https://valuedriver.ca/ If you’re navigating manufacturing growth, leadership, systems, and execution, subscribe to The Value Blueprint and share this episode with an owner or operator who’s thinking about automation. Keywords: welding automation, manufacturing robotics, cobots, automation for small manufacturers, fabrication shop automation, Canadian manufacturing, labor shortage, TIG welding, laser welding, operational efficiency, productivity, quality consistency, process improvement.