Hello. I'm Nicole Bulanda.
I work for Rockwell Automation as the
Customer Advocacy Program Manager, and
we're here to talk about Results Achieved.
We're joined by Kathleen Murri from
Beta Technologies to talk about some
of the results that they've achieved.
Hi, Kathleen. Hi. How's it going? Good.
Can you tell everyone what your title is
and what you do for Beta Technologies?
Yes, I am the ERP manager,
so I manage the ERP system and
work on the implementation of Plex.
We're all technically team members, so
anyone should be able
to pick up and do anything
to help out wherever needed.
That's great.
And where are you coming to Beta Technologies
from career wise?
I know you worked for a couple of different
companies that kind of led you to this role.
Yes.
So I've I've been a Plex user or
consultant for a total of probably
about 8 years now and started
in automotive manufacturing and
then was a consultant with a Plex
partner and in that role is actually
how I met Beta Technologies.
I never thought that I would go back
into the manufacturing side of things,
but I just fell in love with Beta Technologies.
It was a unique opportunity
with them being a startup.
And I thought, you know, this is so cool.
How often do you have the
opportunity to go in so early in
the processes and set things up
with best practices, and the
way that you think they should be?
So Beta Technologies is really cool.
I understand why you changed
course career-wise to jump in.
Can you explain what Beta Technologies does?
Yes.
Beta Technologies is based on Vermont, USA.
We are an aerospace manufacturer
developing electric vertical takeoff and
landing aircraft, also known as eVTOL.
So it will take off vertically,
fly horizontally and then land vertically.
That really helps in
congested vertical spaces, and it's all electric,
so a very sustainable company.
I love it.
Earlier you said, "take off like
a helicopter, fly like a plane."
Yes.
I just think that's such a cool
technology to be a part of.
And so you helped bring Plex on board
and it's a unique situation because
you're not really manufacturing yet, right?
Right.
We're not really in a state
of repeatable manufacturing yet,
so that was sort of challenging.
And you know,
we really have focused on the processes
that are more mature like our battery
packs and we're starting to record
production for our motors as well now.
But really started with batteries,
they were the most mature process,
one of the most important processes.
Because even though we are
still in development phases,
it's very important for us to be able
to capture the traceability and know
what parts are going into the product,
who they came from, and also be
able to collect some quality
data around those parts.
Yes.
And it's not just important for
your own knowledge,
you need this for certification
I'm guessing? Yes, yes.
So we are working towards
our FAA certification.
So we need those systems in place.
You know, it's a unique situation we
need to build to prove that we can
handle production, traceability,
you know, all of those things that go
into production before we're really
in a full state of of doing it.
What an interesting situation
and I think a situation that a lot
of customers watching are probably
a bit envious of. That you can set
it up exactly how you want it.
So tell us why you chose to
put Plex in place,
what your goals are for the future
and how you see it growing as
you get more manufacturing online.
Yes. So eventually we
plan to be very
integrated and using all of
Plex capabilities. It's been exciting
to see what Rockwell Automation will
bring into it with some of
the other products.
We want to have a full
manufacturing plant with digital work
instructions put right up to the operator.
You know we've
already
integrated with our CAD software.
So we're bringing in the designs,
Bill materials,
new parts. So we've integrated that
and automated that process so it
flows through using the proper workflow
to all the appropriate departments.
So purchasing can set up
everything that they need to.
Manufacturing is aware
of a new design, quality
can set up all their parts,
specs and control plans.
So we're utilizing that already.
And yes,
just very excited for continuous improvement.
That sounds really nice to have that level
of integration right out of the gate.
What else is coming with the next steps?
Yeah, so the next step is
we're currently working on,
we've purchased the automation and
orchestration module and we're working
on integrating that right now to
our torque drivers and some of
our other wire bonder and testing
equipment for the battery packs
so that we can get that quality
data directly from the tools and
equipment and make sure that
there is no operator error
in that data because it is very
important to us and we're all humann,
so you know if we don't automate
some of that's going to happen.
Wow.
So some really neat results to be achieved,
absolutely.
Coming up in the future,
you said you've already
have things in place to help
with certification,
so that's one box ticked,
but I'm so excited for you guys and
for the future places that you take
your technology as well as Plex
and Rockwell Automation tools supporting you.
So thanks
Beta Technologies, for being a really neat,
innovative leader.
We're so glad to be able to work with you.
Yes,
thanks very much.