Manufacturing automation is changing the future of work—and industrial robots are not doing what most people fear.Instead of “robots taking jobs,” the real story inside modern manufacturing often looks very different: robots can help protect jobs, stabilize factories, and make work safer.When people hear factory automation, they imagine machines replacing humans and empty production floors. But after sitting down with Danielle Vigent, Robotics Development Engineer at Formic, that assumption quickly falls apart.Danielle doesn’t talk about robotics like a sales pitch.She talks about it with purpose.She describes her role as “bringing robots into the world”—and what she really means is guiding automation from concept to reality, in a way that actually works for people on the factory floor.Because real industrial automation isn’t just a robot arm on a line.It’s the full journey: from customer commitment to site validation, CAD layouts, warehouse measurements, factory acceptance testing, installation, rate testing, and hands-on training—until the system is running in the real world.Danielle starts by walking the factory floor.Not relying on plans alone. Not just listening to management.She looks for the binder—the real production sheets showing what’s actually being built. That’s how automation gets designed to fit the space, the process, and the people doing the work.One of the most powerful stories in this episode comes from a legacy snack factory in Ohio.This is the kind of plant that keeps a small town alive.Generations of workers. Real pride. Real livelihoods.But the company was struggling.They needed automation—but couldn’t risk a massive capital expense. Hiring was difficult. Labor was tight. Growth felt stalled.Instead of selling equipment and walking away, Danielle’s team offered something different:Robots as a Service.No massive upfront cost.No financial cliff.A partnership model where success only happens if the system actually runs.They automated one line—and that single step unlocked momentum. Leadership could say yes to growth without betting the company. Automation became an operating expense instead of a risky capital expenditure leap.

Danielle Vigent is a Robotics Development Engineer at Formic, where she works on deploying robotics and automation solutions that help manufacturers grow without massive capital investment. Her work focuses on practical, human-centered automation — using robots to strengthen factories, protect jobs, and build long-term sustainability.CHAPTERS00:00 – Robots Are the Fun Part of Manufacturing01:24 – What She Really Does With Robots02:05 – Site Validation: “Show Me the Binder”02:56 – “I Bring Robots Into the World”03:18 – Choosing the Right Systems Integrator04:09 – Getting Hands Dirty on Install Day04:51 – Robots as a Service (Partnership Model)06:11 – Why Faster Deployments Matter07:14 – The Ohio Snack Factory Story08:32 – Automation Without Big CapEx09:23 – “Robots Are Taking My Job” Fear10:15 – From Fear to Excitement10:59 – The Magic of the First Robot11:24 – When the Robot Starts MovingA big thank you to our sponsors for supporting Manufacturing Runs the World and helping us share real stories from the factory floor.🔹 Ellison TechnologiesEllison Technologies empowers manufacturers with advanced CNC machines, automation, and expert support—helping shops work smarter, faster, and more competitively.👉 https://ellisontechnologies.com🔹 GSC – 3D & AutomationGSC is one of the nation’s leading resellers of SOLIDWORKS CAD software and Markforged industrial 3D printers, empowering engineers and manufacturers with cutting-edge design, simulation, and additive manufacturing solutions.👉 https://gsc-3d.comYour support helps keep these conversations about manufacturing, automation, and leadership alive. Thank you for investing in the future of industry.