The Art of the Impossible

Taking products to market in a 21st-century world

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

In December 2024, Joe Zak acquired Fonda Flexible Manufacturing, a precision sheet-metal fabrication and component manufacturing company. Now leading both Fonda and Zentrypoint, he’s driving both businesses to stay at the cutting edge of design and manufacturing technology.

A key focus for Joe is sustainability. He’s positioning Fonda for B Corp certification, exploring opportunities in climate tech, and balancing startup support with long-standing partnerships for clients like Assa Abloy.

Joe is also modernizing Fonda’s operations with Autodesk Fusion 360 and generative AI tools to develop proprietary systems that boost efficiency. And unlike many consultancies that stop at design, Fonda goes further – helping startups with early-stage manufacturing to bring their ideas to life.

On this episode of The Art of the (Im)Possible, Joe shares his vision for the future of sustainable, tech-enabled manufacturing.

Shaping what comes next

Autodesk gives design and engineering teams the tools to innovate faster, work more sustainably, and go to market with confidence.

Explore our manufacturing ecosystem

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Rocket fuel for change: driving digital transformation in aerospace manufacturing and beyond

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Meng Zhu, former blue-chip consultant with IBM, Accenture, and Deloitte, has driven digital transformation for global leaders including Meta, Pfizer, PVH, Hilton, and aerospace innovator Blue Origin. She reveals how Organizational Change Management (OCM), AI, and a people-first strategy can turn ambitious visions into measurable results – from boosting adoption and streamlining processes to significantly cutting rocket engine production cycles from double-digit to single-digit weeks – and why leadership alignment is key to making transformation stick.

Shaping what comes next

Autodesk gives design and engineering teams the tools to innovate faster, work more sustainably, and go to market with confidence.

Explore our manufacturing ecosystem

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Creating product prototypes with iterative AI

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Tom Jarvis, Head of Industrial Design at Kingfisher plc, is exploring how generative AI can reshape product design. Leading a small team of seven UK-based designers, he discovered that pairing AI with CGI creates rapid prototypes for stakeholder feedback – streamlining decisions and accelerating the production of hundreds of products each year.

By iterating designs in Photoshop, Tom’s team has proven that new technology can scale even within large manufacturing organizations.

In this episode of Art of the (Im)Possible, host Asif Moghal and Tom discuss flat-hierarchy teamwork, rapid prototyping, and the role of AI in transforming design and manufacturing.

Shaping what comes next

Autodesk gives design and engineering teams the tools to innovate faster, work more sustainably, and go to market with confidence.

Explore our manufacturing ecosystem

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Designing for impact: Phil Gilbert on transforming industries with ‘design thinking’

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

As Head of Design at IBM, Phil Gilbert helped over 400,000 employees adopt new workflows by introducing design thinking – shifting focus from products to customers. The result? Faster time to market, reduced costs, and higher employee engagement.

Now Founder of Gilbert Workshop and Managing Partner at Ten X Labs, Phil has spent his career – from start-ups to global enterprises – proving how lasting transformation at scale can be successfully achieved. He has authored a new book on the subject, titled Irresistible Change.

In this episode of Art of the (Im)Possible, Phil shares how to hardwire digital transformation into every level of a business – and why lasting results start with a new perspective on change leadership.

Shaping what comes next

Autodesk gives design and engineering teams the tools to innovate faster, work more sustainably, and go to market with confidence.

Explore our manufacturing ecosystem

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Driving people-led change in the manufacturing industry

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Joanna Cooper, General Manager at Daimler Truck North America, is proving that people-led leadership drives measurable results. Her approach has already delivered more than $13 million in operational efficiency improvements across the organization.

Starting as a Procurement Specialist, Joanna rose through the ranks by embracing digital transformation and leading change with her teams. She grounds her leadership in the ACTIVE framework: Authenticity, Courage, Trust, Integrity, Vision, and Empathy – believing that when people are trained, trusted, and empowered, business success follows.

Shaping what comes next

Autodesk gives design and engineering teams the tools to innovate faster, work more sustainably, and go to market with confidence.

Explore our manufacturing ecosystem

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Bolts to bytes: transferring digital transformation principles across industries

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Digital transformation is reshaping the design and manufacturing industry, no matter the speciality. Few know this better than Emma Alexander, Chief of Staff (Engineering) at Relativity Space.

After starting her career at John Deere, Emma has leveraged her expertise from farm vehicles to aerospace, demonstrating that innovation can be applied across diverse industries.

Emma champions iteration over perfection. Rather than delaying change with endless tweaks, she believes in launching, testing, and refining with her team until new practices truly work.

In this episode of Art of the (Im)Possible, host Asif Moghal and Emma explore staff-led decision-making, lessons from moving between industries, and how digital transformation will shape the future of engineering.

Shaping what comes next

Autodesk gives design and engineering teams the tools to innovate faster, work more sustainably, and go to market with confidence.

Explore our manufacturing ecosystem

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Designing and digitising liveable spaces beyond earth

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 15:11:56 GMT

Space exploration is in a constant state of innovation and development. As we advance understanding of it, astronauts are able to go further, and stay longer, in space. An inevitable step in this evolution is to explore how human habitats can exist in space and beyond.

Sebastian Aristotelis is doing just this. As founder of SAGA, an architectural firm specialising in space architecture, he uses his terrestrial experience in extreme environments like the Arctic to build structures fit for elsewhere in the galaxy. With such an impressive goal, Sebastian started SAGA with a clear plan of action: to put human wellbeing first.

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Revolutionising India’s mini-mobility industry

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 15:11:37 GMT

The automotive industry thrives on the pursuit of innovation—newer, bigger, and better. Vayve Mobility approaches this demand with a unique vision, focusing on agility and sustainability at the core of its vehicle designs.

With two models currently on the market, Vayve Mobility creates next-generation cars powered by electric charging and solar energy, aligning performance with environmental responsibility. Headquartered in India, the company designs vehicles specifically tailored to withstand high temperatures and navigate dense traffic seamlessly.

Nilesh Bajaj, CEO of Vayve Mobility, has leveraged his expertise in electronics design to spearhead the development of the company’s groundbreaking vehicles. Vayve made history by introducing India’s first line of eCars and earned the 2024 Global Startup Award for Best Greentech of the Year. In this episode, Nilesh delves into Vayve’s digital transformation journey and its vision for shaping the future of the automotive industry.

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Ensuring net-zero employment rates in the rise of AI

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 15:11:23 GMT

Digital transformation is a constantly evolving process, with new technology rapidly entering the fray. Currently, the biggest buzz centres around artificial intelligence (AI), which offers several opportunities – although some can be controversial.

Riddhi Karambelkar is Head of Manufacturing Engineering at Brompton Bicycle and strives to make AI and humans work together. With the belief that new technology should enhance jobs, not replace them, she is streamlining Brompton’s workflow by allowing AI machinery to perform everyday tasks, enabling more time to focus on profound creativity.

In this episode, Riddhi shares insights into how to ethically implement digital tools all while valuing the skills of employees.

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Data visualisation – the key to driving business performance?

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 15:10:17 GMT

Druck has taken a very manual industry and turned it into something very digital. The company specialises in highly-configured pressure sensors developed for a range of applications–from nuclear engineering to aerospace.

Claire Aitchison is Druck’s Executive Operations Leader. During her time at the company, she noticed that many customers needed Druck’s products, but didn’t have the resources or budget to go through an extensive trialling process. This led Claire to forming a data-driven solution for Druck customers. She breaks down her approach in the next episode of The Art of the Impossible.

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Digitising traffic management for cities of the future

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 15:07:02 GMT

Yunex Traffic is a global leader in intelligent traffic solutions. The company creates digital options for a previously practical industry, working with highway authorities to improve the function of roads. Its solutions transform cities into places where people can live, work, and move more freely with a better quality of life.

The company maintains a strong focus on sustainability, aiming to reduce emissions in the automotive industry – which accounts for a large portion of the climate crisis. Improved systems such as LED traffic lights and wireless systems cut down on materials like copper and provide a more efficient use of energy that makes the right steps toward a sustainable future for traffic control.

Simon Martin, Head of Global Manufacturing for Yunex Traffic, reflects on the company’s digital transformation process, the introduction of AI and AR to its workflow, and its unwavering commitment to sustainability.

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A transitionary tale – top tips from a product design expert turned consultant

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 15:05:47 GMT

As consumer products become more plentiful and accessible, it is increasingly difficult to get noticed. However, product consultancies like Zentry Point take away this challenge and provide production advice as well as design expertise.

Zentrypoint Co-founder, Joe Zak, shares insights from his journey in product design and consultancy, discussing how embracing digital transformation has reshaped both his approach and the outcomes for his clients when bringing a new product to market.

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dormakaba: creating a flourishing data ecosystem

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 09:21:06 GMT

One of the cornerstones of digital transformation is integration. Making systems work together efficiently so no data is lost is a challenge that all companies face in their journeys. How do you manage it internally and how does it affect other parts of the business? From recruitment to clients and the product itself, we explore how Alexander Bradfisch, Senior Vice President of EntriWorX at dormakaba, found the solution to this challenge, and how this new ecosystem transformed their business.

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Northvolt: 3D Design at the Heart of a Sustainable Future

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 09:20:57 GMT

Most people would assume that a transition to 3D and digital design is more about productivity and efficiency but for some businesses, the added objective of achieving greater sustainability triumphs profit.

Sustainability through innovation is at the core of the Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt. They have taken digital transformation a step further by innovating across the entire business infrastructure. Not only does this apply to the design of products, it’s even reflected in the design of the global manufacturer’s factory floors. All the way through to the recruitment process which embeds strong values of passion to drive change and sustainability.

Factory Layout and Modelling Engineering Manager Axel Save has been with the scale up since 2020, while the business was still a start-up, and has implemented and overseen the transition from 2D into 3D factory layout design across the manufacturer’s ten global sites.

At the heart of Axel’s journey with Northvolt has been strong passion to deliver positive change through the production of sustainable batteries and this starts before the beginning of the manufacturing process – with the design of the factories.

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Nijhuis Saur Industries: Moving into 3D

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 09:20:57 GMT

From technical drawings to visual walkthroughs, 3D in design has been a game changer on all levels. 3D visualisation enables more iterative and agile workflows, leading to more straightforward communication with internal and external stakeholders.

In the third episode of season three, we explore the move from 2D to 3D with Ted Page, Head of Digital Design at Nijhuis Saur Industries We delve into the challenges, potential blockers, and the opportunities that derive from the move between 2D to 3D.

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Rathbane Group: digital transformation and change management

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 09:20:35 GMT

Change can seem daunting even to the most experienced of managers. Anticipation and effective communication is key to ensuring the successful delivery of a digital transformation project. From leveraging efficiencies to mediating resistance, having a solid plan and a change management strategy can mark the difference between success and failure.

Jude McCann, Innovation Manager at Rathbane Group, looks back on the transition from 2D to 3D and the implementation of a growing business systems team that is responsible for identifying digital innovation opportunities that not only improve design output but production pipeline and data efficiencies also.

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Visiconsult: The AI revolution in Design & Manufacturing

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 09:20:33 GMT

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming the next frontier of digital transformation. From automating processes to writing code and increasing productivity, the use cases for AI are as versatile as the companies that utilise them.

But it’s also one of the most hotly contested topics: how can companies in the D&M sector harness its power? Which processes lend themselves best to automation? How does it affect the job market, and what are the ethics and boundaries of using AI?

We discuss these topics with Lennart Schulenburg, CEO of VisiConsult.

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Bridgestone Tyres: unlocking the potential of Smart Factories

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 09:20:25 GMT

Like much of the technological jargon, the term Smart Factory seems to be used in a variety of ways with multiple meanings to it. Asif unpacks how one famous brand, Bridgestone Tyres defines a Smart Factory and what it has been doing to spearhead digital transformation from the factory up.

Andy Warren, Senior Engineering Services Support Manager at Bridgestone Tyres Americas, discusses the potential behind Smart Factories, the challenges of the transformation process, and the lessons learned along the way.

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Making Change Part of the Everyday

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 11:46:33 GMT

In recent years, we’ve had to deal with rapid and unpredictable changes both personally and professionally. How can companies maintain their agility, and make changes part of the ‘business as usual’ mindset? Join Autodesk’s Asif Moghal as he discusses what agile change means to people and processes in a D&M business, with Karim Sekkat, CEO of Oxford Engineering Group, and Dr Sally Eaves, CEO of Aspirational Futures and global strategy advisor.

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Innovative Thinking in Manufacturing

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 11:44:28 GMT

With the complete overhaul in product design and manufacturing processes in recent years, there has never been a greater need to implement innovative thinking within the Design and Manufacturing industry. In this episode, Asif Moghal – Director of D&M Market & Industry Development at Autodesk – speaks to Ben Maddock, Design Engineer at Steller Engineering, and Sam Rogers, Test Pilot and Additive Design Lead at Gravity Industries to discuss the importance of innovation in delivering the product experience customers expect.

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Inside Out Disruption - Building a Culture of Innovation

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 11:42:10 GMT

Digital transformation is one of the most important enablers of innovation, but it’s not enough to create a lasting impact. The willingness and awareness to innovate and keep learning have to be ingrained in the company culture in order for businesses to keep thriving and evolving with the times. In this episode, we are joined by Kim Dabbs, Global VP of Social Innovation at Steelcase, and Dylan Horvath, Founder & President of Cortex Design. We’ll be discussing how company culture can be a facilitator of innovation.

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Championing Sustainability One Innovation at a Time

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 11:39:04 GMT

As a society, one of the biggest challenges of our age is tackling climate change by finding long-term sustainable business solutions across industries. But how can digital transformation facilitate sustainability? We are exploring innovative technologies that can pave the way for a greener future with Alec Anderson, co-founder of Koolmill Systems, and Dr. Taryn Foster, founder of Coral Maker.

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Bridging Data Access

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 11:37:12 GMT

The strategic importance of data is well-known across the D&M industry. But while many companies collect huge amounts of data, it can be hard to know how to process it effectively. In this episode, Asif Moghal speaks with Rob Marchant, CEO of MarchantCain Design Ltd., and Tom Jones, Senior Solution Architect Manager at Amazon Web Services, to explore how data can be collected and used to enact effective change in your company.

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The Extended Realities of Design

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 11:09:34 GMT

Virtual reality is no longer a science-fiction fantasy, and recently, it’s been growing in use in professional and industrial settings. But how are architecture and design firms taking advantage of this technology? In this episode, Asif Moghal speaks with Brendan Mullins, Associate & Architect at Stantec, and Craig Bunyan, Associate Director at Seymourpowell, to find out how Extended Reality (XR) is being implemented in workflows and what this means for their respective industries.

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Collaboration - the Key to a Better Tomorrow?

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 12:18:58 GMT

The past 12 months have shown us, beyond all doubt, that being more collaborative can result in phenomenal outcomes. In this episode, Asif Moghal talks to Tony Cox, owner and co-founder of Great British Outdoor Fires and John Grimshaw, Product Manager at Elcometer about what collaboration is and why it’s the only way to succeed.

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Customer Experience Vs Customer Service

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 12:18:22 GMT

How exactly should SMEs build a customer experience mindset into their business? What's the difference between that and customer service, and what does good look like? To explore this subject, host Asif Moghal welcomes Ilham Said, CEO and founder of Engineer 2 Engineer (E2E), and Richard Hagan, Managing Director of Crystal Doors.

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Flexible Thinking Leads Flexible Manufacturing

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 12:17:57 GMT

While the Covid-19 pandemic has shown how quickly companies can shift, creating essential life-saving PPE equipment overnight, in today’s episode we get down to the nitty-gritty stuff around flexibility. To unearth just how flexible the industry really is through real-life examples, Asif Moghal talks to Adrienne Houston, Director of Euro Evacuum Products, and Tom Mongan, General Manager at Subcon Laser Cutting Ltd & Vice President of the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.

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The Race to Sustainable Manufacturing

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 12:17:29 GMT

The demand for products is on the rise, driven by the increasing global population. But the resources we need to meet these levels of demand are finite, and we’re becoming increasingly aware of and concerned by the impact this will have on climate change. In this podcast’s episode, we welcome James Selka, CEO at the Manufacturing Technologies Association, and Denise Taylor, Director of Wylde Connections, to discuss how companies in the design and manufacturing industry can embrace the ideas of sustainability and apply them to the way we design, make and sell products.

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Achieving More Through Automation

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 11:00:14 GMT

Automation is so much more than industrial robots or productivity. And while certain economies seem to be way ahead of the investment curve, many worry about the comparatively high costs of automation for an SME and the ever present concerns about jobs. Asif Moghal is joined by Jocelyn Cole, Goods Lift General Manager for Penny Hydraulics and the University of Warwick’s Dr Simon Leigh to try to understand if the design and manufacturing is taking too narrow a view on the topic of automation and what it needs to do to embrace change.

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Rethinking Traditional Value Propositions

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 11:00:01 GMT

The world of design and manufacturing is digitizing at an exponential rate. Whilst keeping abreast of changes might represent a challenge to some, it also presents a great opportunity for businesses to rethink traditional value propositions and apply them to new products, markets or even business models in timescales once thought of as impossible. But how do we get there? To explore this topic, Asif Moghal is joined by Charlotte Horobin, regional director across the Midlands and East for Make UK, and Ralf H. Komor, from Komor Interim Management.

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Making Manufacturing Personal

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 10:59:47 GMT

In this episode of the podcast, Asif Moghal asks Dr Saeed Talebi, a Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering and the Built Environment at Birmingham City University, and Founder of Equitus Engineering Limited, Raam Shanker, to discuss the cross-pollination of mass customization from the design manufacturing industry into the construction industry. They explain the nuances within mass customization; its drivers across the design manufacturing industry; how it is slowly innovating within the construction industry; and where and how business owners can find help and advice on their digitalization journey.

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The Future of Supply Chains

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 12:32:58 GMT

For as long as civilisation has existed, we have thrived and survived in our ability to get access to stuff that we need further and further away from our homes, or more complex things to allow us to work and play in the way we've become used to. In today’s episode, Asif Moghal discusses the future of supply chains and what resilience looks like with transport and manufacturing expert Rachel Eade MBE and Managing Director of Playdale Playground Barry Leahey MBE. They explore what the supply chain really involves, beyond widgets and services, the importance of building a large network, and how cultural changes must lead innovation.

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Education and Industry Working Together

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 12:32:29 GMT

In this episode of the podcast, Asif Moghal speaks with Paul Perera, technology manager at myMaskFit, and Nicole Pellizzon, aeronautical engineer undergraduate at Imperial College London, about how education and industry can work together to drive innovation. They discuss the transformational impact of their individual experiences; what’s preventing more businesses to take on board innovation; the increased push to crowdsource expertise; and how SMEs and universities can collaborate.

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Plugging the Digital Skills Gap and Building for Tomorrow

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 12:32:09 GMT

In this episode of the podcast, Asif Moghal speaks with top 100 women in UK tech and Founder of The Immersive KIND, Kadine James, and Managing Director of Hosokawa Micron, James Moore, about the digital skills gap in the design and manufacturing industry. They discuss some of the currently desired skills in the sector; the fact that certain capabilities, due to their digital nature, are constantly and rapidly changing; the technologies that will be transformative in the upcoming years; and how the UK is preparing a generation of digitally-empowered designers, engineers and managers.

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The Challenge of Innovation

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 12:13:09 GMT

A good idea, executed at the right time, in the right place, has the power to create markets, unlock potential, generate opportunities. Innovation seems to be something we’re all chasing, but being innovative doesn’t come without its risks. In this episode, we welcome Matthew Maclennan, mechanical design engineer at Steve Vick International, to talk about what defines an innovative idea, and, more importantly, how to turn it into a business model.

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Creating the Next Generation of Manufacturing Leaders

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 12:11:55 GMT

Leadership is always an important topic in the design and manufacturing industry. To explore what it truly means to be a leader in the 21st century and how we can create the next generation of digitally empowered manufacturing leaders, we spoke to Nick Hussey, CEO of The Manufacturer, and Jason Cole of Jonathan Lee Recruitment.

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Powering Businesses Through Digital Transformation

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 12:10:30 GMT

People and technology are empowering businesses, reshaping manufacturing and building the industries of tomorrow. In this podcast, our guests William Bridgman, Chairman at Warren Services, and Chris Greenough, Chief Commercial Officer at SDE Technology, share their thoughts on Digital Transformation, what it actually means, their journeys to get there, and their advice to those who want to give it a go.

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Welcome to The Art of the Impossible

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 13:23:00 GMT

Asif Moghal, Autodesk Senior Industry Manager, Design & Manufacturing, introduces a new podcast series which will showcase industry pioneers, business leaders and bright young minds working at the cutting edge of design and manufacturing and discuss the big ideas driving the sector forward.

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