Jay Hack with Fluke Reliability

Jay Hack, Vice President of Business Operations at Fluke Reliability, discussed his role and the company's non-destructive testing (NDT) business, which focuses on eddy current inspection of steel rods. He highlighted the recent acquisition of Azima, which uses AI to enhance predictive maintenance, allowing customers to monitor thousands of assets more efficiently. The acquisition, completed in August 2023, is ahead of expectations. Hack also mentioned ongoing efforts to integrate Azima's technology with Fluke's existing solutions and explore new partnerships to expand their connected reliability ecosystem.

Action Items

• [ ] Integrate Azima acquisition more fully within 1 year to allow seamless data integration between Fluke's existing solutions and Azima's AI capabilities.
• [ ] Continue exploring partnerships around areas like spare parts management, connected worker solutions, and other modalities to expand Fluke's predictive maintenance offerings.
• [ ] Connect with Jay Hack via email (jayhack@fluke.com) or LinkedIn to learn more about Fluke reliability's solutions.

Outline

Introduction and Welcome to Accelerate 2024

• Scott MacKenzie welcomes listeners to the Industrial Talk podcast, highlighting the event's focus on industry professionals and their contributions.
• Scott introduces the guest, Jay Hack, and mentions Jay's role as Vice President of Business Operations for Fluke Reliability.
• Jay shares his experience from the previous year's event, where he lost his voice due to excessive celebrating.
• Scott and Jay engage in small talk about the event's atmosphere and the busy schedule.

Jay Hack's Role and Fluke Reliability Overview

• Jay provides a background on his role, including leading MNA and partnerships, general management of the non-destructive testing (NDT) business, and overseeing the Florida Business System (FBS).
• Scott asks Jay to explain NDT, and Jay describes it as non-destructive testing, focusing on eddy current inspection of steel rods.
• Jay explains the niche market of NDT and its importance in the steel production process.
• Jay mentions that Fluke Reliability is a global leader in this niche market, with a long-standing business model.

Discussion on AI and Azima Acquisition

• Scott shifts the conversation to AI, noting its ubiquity and the challenges in applying it across various applications.
• Jay explains the acquisition of Azima and its integration with Fluke Reliability's existing offerings.
• Jay describes how Azima's AI technology enhances predictive maintenance by making vibration analysts more efficient.
• Jay highlights the benefits of Azima's business processes and AI architecture in improving maintenance efficiency.

Integration of Azima and Future Expectations

• Scott inquires about the integration of Azima with Fluke Reliability's existing solutions.
• Jay explains that the integration is still in progress but is ahead of expectations, with a focus on enhancing current offerings.
• Jay discusses the future expectations of Azima, including expanding and deepening predictive maintenance capabilities.
• Jay mentions the exploration of new partnerships and categories, such as spare parts management and connected worker solutions.

Challenges and Opportunities in AI and Predictive Maintenance

• Scott asks about the types of data Azima can handle, and Jay clarifies that it focuses on vibration data.
• Jay mentions the potential for bundling vibration data with other modalities, such as ultrasound and thermography.
• Jay highlights the importance of conferences and meetings with customers to understand their needs and explore new possibilities.
• Scott and Jay discuss the strategic direction of Azima and its potential to create a robust ecosystem of solutions.

Conclusion and Contact Information

• Scott wraps up the conversation by asking Jay about his contact information for listeners interested in connecting with him.
• Jay provides his email and LinkedIn profile, making it easy for listeners to reach out.
• Scott thanks Jay for joining the podcast and encourages listeners to connect with Jay and explore the Industrial Talk platform.
• The podcast concludes with Scott promoting the Industrial Talk network and its mission to highlight industry professionals.