It’s failing because leadership won’t own the change.
In this episode of the Automotive Leaders Podcast, Jan Griffiths sits down with Søren Peters, CEO of HowToRobot, to get brutally honest about why automation projects stall, why robots sit unused on factory floors, and why buying a robot is never just a technology decision.
This conversation cuts through the hype around AI and humanoids and focuses on what actually breaks automation inside manufacturing: fear, siloed decision-making, short-term thinking, poor training, and leaders who disappear once the robot hits the shop floor.
If you’re serious about automation, re-industrialization, or preparing your organization for an AI-enabled future, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership, risk, and responsibility.
Automation is not a purchase.
It’s a transformation.
Chapter Highlights
[00:00] Why re-industrializing America keeps running into automation roadblocks
[02:16] What’s really happening in automation beyond AI hype and humanoids
[04:20] Why manufacturers know they need robots but delay decisions for years
[06:56] Fear, volatility, and leadership risk avoidance stall automation
[10:44] How silos and poor training cause robots to sit unused on shop floors
[11:46] Why educating only engineers guarantees automation failure
[14:41] Robots are workers and leaders must manage them that way
[16:03] How short-term supply contracts destroy automation ROI
[18:21] Trust, financing, and the fear of buying unfamiliar technology
[19:14] The DNA and mindset of leaders who succeed with automation
[23:11] Why automotive timelines sabotage automation before it starts
[27:46] The first step leaders must take before buying any robot
If this episode hit home, subscribe to the Automotive Leaders Podcast and share it with a leader who’s still waiting for certainty.
Because automation doesn’t need more analysis.
It needs ownership.
🎙️Check out our podcast, THE AUTOMOTIVE LEADERS Podcast, where we interview some of the finest leadership minds on the planet.
➡️ https://theautomotiveleaderspodcast.com/
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