Equity and Opportunity in a Software First Mindset: The Mission of Automation Alley

 
A new surging economy is emerging in Detroit, MI. That emergence finds its roots
embedded in Detroit’s past in manufacturing. That rich history is poised to rise again
through advanced automation. Companies like Automation Alley, a nonprofit Industry
4.0 Knowledge Center and home to the World Economic Forum’s US Centre for
Advanced Manufacturing, want to lead those efforts to bring Detroit back into a global
leadership position in manufacturing. And with visionary leaders like Pavan Muzumdar,
COO at Automation Alley, on board, those lofty goals could see Michigan back on top
sooner rather than later.

DisruptED podcast hosts Ron J Stefanski, and Dr. Caesar turned their
attention to Muzumdar for their latest episode in DisruptED’s Advanced Manufacturing
series to hear about the mission of Automation Alley. Stefanski recognizes Muzumdar as a bright and shining brainiac, and one thing
he knows about brainiacs; they are disruptors who know how to get stuff done. Still,
getting stuff done doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a journey, one Muzumdar was happy to
share.

“My back story is, I was born and raised in India,” Muzumdar said. “Been fortunate to
come from a family with education as one of the most important things you could do. My
dad was a doctor, and my mom was very much into education. She didn’t necessarily
have a formal degree, but they were both into education. For me, it was a given that we
would be educated.”

In addition to Muzumdar’s road to Automation Alley, Stefanski and Mickens Jr. discuss
with him:

• The mentors who supported Muzumdar throughout his career

• The transformation of Automation Alley into the Industry 4.0 knowledge center it
is today

• The mission of Automation Alley for equity and opportunity

“As we started digging deeper and deeper into industry 4.0, we realized that there are
much, much bigger possibilities with going down this path,” Muzumdar said. “And it’s not
just about a technological renaissance; it’s actually about being fundamentally to be
able to change what society is.”

Pavan Muzumdar is an engineer, author, and COO. He describes his professional
journey as anything but linear. From his early career days working for Cambridge
Technology Partners in the 1990s, Muzumdar branched out as a CEO of MV Software.
Eventually, his journey took him to the founding of Pieris Capital, which bridged the
world of investment banking and management consulting. That vision led to the
formation of Revalue and PCS insight a few years later. As COO of Automation Alley,
Muzumdar looks to enhance the global competitiveness of Southeast Michigan and
advance this region as a high-tech powerhouse at the forefront of innovation worldwide.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

dock scheduling
C3 Solutions Boosts Delivery Speed Through Intelligent Dock Scheduling and Yard Automation
April 28, 2025

Logistics networks continue to grow more complex as supply chains race to meet rising ecommerce demand. As of 2024, 80% of consumers expect retailers to offer same-day delivery, with 30% anticipating this service to be free. This pressure is pushing supply chain operators to modernize traditionally overlooked segments like yard management and dock scheduling….

Read More
trucking
The People Business: Keep on Truckin’ & Earning A Good Income
April 28, 2025

In this Career Paths episode of The AppleOne Podcast, host Brett Howroyd explores the essential—and often underestimated—world of trucking with two guests who know it well: Chip Stewart, VP of Service Operations at Select Transportation Resources in Houston, and Jill Apperson, Area Manager at AppleOne in North Carolina. Together, they break down why trucking…

Read More
england veteran series
Honoring Service Through Sport: The New England Veteran Series
April 25, 2025

The New England PGA REACH Foundation is opening new doors for veterans with its inspiring New England Veteran Series. Designed exclusively for those who have served, this golf tour offers competitive opportunities at premier courses across New England, blending the spirit of service with the love of the game. Veterans will not only sharpen their…

Read More
Education R&D
Will the New Education R&D Bill Spark the Innovation Schools Desperately Need?
April 25, 2025

In a rare show of bipartisan cooperation, Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and John Cornyn (R-TX) have introduced the New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act, aimed at revolutionizing how the U.S. invests in education innovation. The bill proposes a new National Center for Advanced Development in Education—akin to DARPA but for schools—within the Institute for…

Read More