Today’s engineering teams are facing skyrocketing expectations. The products they’re designing are more complex than ever, there’s constant pressure to raise quality while lowering cost, and it seems like every company is trying to drastically slash time to market so they can get products launched faster. Yet many of today’s market leaders are still designing products the same way they did 20 years ago—and it’s holding them back. That’s why Adam Keating and Jeremy Andrews founded CoLab Software. On this episode of Peer Check, Adam and Jeremy share CoLab’s origin story and talk about how teams are using CoLab to get results. Join us as we discuss: How Adam and Jeremy went from developing one of the world’s first Hyperloop vehicles to working in Silicon Valley—then deciding to shift gears Why the status quo for engineering collaboration doesn’t cut it The evolution of CoLab from early concept to today What engineering leaders are saying about trends in the market More information about Adam, Jeremy, and today’s topics: LinkedIn Profile (Adam): https://www.linkedin.com/in/adammichaelkeating/ LinkedIn Profile (Jeremy): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyandrewsmun/ Company Website: www.colabsoftware.com Peer Check Homepage: https://www.colabsoftware.com/podcast/peer-check To hear this interview and more like it, subscribe to Peer Check! Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website—or just search for Peer Check in your favourite podcast player.

There’s a lot of talk about Model-Based Definition (MBD), which means there’s also a lot of different opinions out there. It’s one thing to paint a picture of some future vision for a Model-Based Enterprise—but how can you start taking steps today to make MBD practical for your team? That’s exactly what the Action Engineering team does. Jennifer Herron, Founder and CEO, and Rhiannon Gallagher, Chief Business Psychologist, join Adam Keating to talk all about MBD and what they’ve seen working with organizations to achieve MBD and MBE goals. In this episode, we discuss: Why bother with MBD at all The challenges of shifting toward MBD How psychological safety impacts manufacturing organizations MBD and supply chain relationships More information about Jennifer Herron and Rhiannon Gallagher and today’s topics: Jennifer Herron: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-herron-cad/ Rhiannon Gallagher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannongallagher/ Action Engineering: https://www.action-engineering.com/ Peer Check Homepage: https://www.colabsoftware.com/podcast/peer-check To hear this interview and more like it, subscribe to Peer Check! Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website—or just search for Peer Check in your favourite podcast player.

Keeping track of progress and KPIs feels like a never-ending challenge in any industry. But for engineering and manufacturing businesses, it gets even more difficult. When unexpected delays and obstacles can pop up at any moment, how can leaders set the right goals to guide their team to success? Niru Somayajula, CEO of Sensor Technology, joins Adam Keating to dive into her approach to setting KPIs within an engineering company, how to be an effective leader, and what it takes to foster growth. Join us as Niru and Adam talk about: How a technical background impacts growth and success as a business leader How financial transparency improves a team’s understanding of KPIs and company goals Setting company goals using revenue targets and budget constraints How Sensor Technology balances OKRs with individual KPIs Lead and lag indicators in an engineering context More information about Niru and today’s topics: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niru-somayajula-96650119/ Company Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sensortechnologyltd/ Peer Check Homepage: https://www.colabsoftware.com/podcast/peer-check To hear this interview and more like it, subscribe to Peer Check! Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website—or just search for Peer Check in your favourite podcast player.

The idea of the “solo innovator” working alone on an invention is pretty familiar to most of us. But when it comes to complex mechanical design, engineering is inherently collaborative work. Great breakthroughs don’t come from individuals; they come from teams. Dr. Alison Olechowski, Assistant Professor at University of Toronto, joins host Adam Keating to share perspectives gained from leading multiple studies on the impact of collaborative practices in engineering. Listen to the full episode as Alison and Adam discuss: The results of successful collaboration The benefits of designing collaboratively The need for stakeholder input in co-design How to create opportunities for co-design The future of design engineering  More information about Alison and today’s topics: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonolechowski Ready Lab (University of Toronto): https://readylab.mie.utoronto.ca/ Peer Check Homepage: https://www.colabsoftware.com/podcast/peer-check  To hear this interview and more like it, subscribe to Peer Check! Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website—or just search for Peer Check in your favourite podcast player.

From legacy infrastructure to prohibitive costs, innovating within the manufacturing world comes with many obstacles. On today’s episode, we discuss what it takes to shake things up, introduce new methods, and decide which digital transformation trends are worth paying attention to (and which aren’t). In this conversation with Robin Dechant, Co-founder of Aveo, you’ll hear: Aveo’s origin story The most exciting digital transformation trends in manufacturing The biggest obstacles holding innovation back How disruption happens in manufacturing More information about Robin Dechant and today’s topics: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robindechant/ Company Website: https://aveo.one/ Peer Check Homepage: https://www.colabsoftware.com/podcast/peer-check To hear this interview and more like it, subscribe to Peer Check! Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website—or just search for Peer Check in your favourite podcast player.

Implementing change in an industry as complex as shipbuilding is extraordinarily difficult to accomplish. But sometimes change is necessary to keep up with technological innovations. The best way to get through it? With an open, collaborative mindset. In this conversation with Chad Mercer, Director of Delivery at Genoa Design International , you’ll hear: How industries are adapting to the demand for better, greener, and more efficient technology The driving factors for industry-wide changes How the Genoa Academy helps people transition from other engineering and manufacturing roles into shipbuilding How collaboration helps companies thrive during the digital transformation process   More information about Chad Mercer and today’ s topics: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-mercer-82341b6/ Company Website: https://genoadesign.com/ Peer Check Homepage: https://www.colabsoftware.com/podcast/peer-check   To hear this interview and more like it, subscribe to Peer Check! Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website—or just search for Peer Check in your favourite podcast player.

All great engineering managers have one thing in common: they know how to build strong relationships. Those relationships become the key to unlocking career progression, building trust, and earning the authority to implement new methods. Hear our conversation with Leila Kheradpir, Program Manager at StarFish Medical, as she chats with host Adam Keating about: How building strong relationships is vital to succeeding as a leader The differences between a technical manager and a people manager Why true leaders need to be big-picture thinkers   Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Peer Check in your favourite podcast player.

The engineering world may have been slower than other industries to embrace cloud-based tools, but that gap is narrowing. More and more engineering teams are seeing the value of cloud-native solutions that integrate well with other tools. In this episode, we speak with David Heiny, CEO at SimScale, about recent trends in engineering software, the future of simulation tools, and the challenges of making change within engineering organizations. Join us as we discuss: Strategies to successfully bring cloud tools into your organization The future role of simulation across the product lifecycle The tricky balance of conserving value vs. driving innovation

Today’s workers want modern tech. The 21st century is well underway, and workplaces need to keep up if they want to attract (and retain) top talent. In this episode, we speak with Ivan Filipic, Director of Operations and Engineering Centre at Schneider Electric Field Service, about creating a culture of improvement in large engineering companies. After 24 years in the industry, he knows how to get things done. Join us as we discuss: Successfully implementing change in the engineering space Adopting digital tools and embracing the 21st century The challenge of proving ROI and getting buy-in

How do great engineers become great leaders? It takes more than a title change—it takes a mindset change. In this episode, we speak with Gregory Smyth, former Group Manager at Tesla turned Career Pivot Coach at Career Pivot Accelerator, about best practices for managing both your team and your supply chain. Join us as we discuss: Leading an engineering team effectively Managing your supplier relationships Making strategic supply chain decisions       Check out the book Greg mentioned: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey