Electronics Sourcing Expert on AI, Robotics & Industry 4.0

Join us for an insightful conversation with Jon Barrett, Managing Editor at Electronic Sourcing, as he shares his 40 years of experience in the electronics industry. Discover how artificial intelligence, robotics, and Industry 4.0 are revolutionizing manufacturing and supply chain management in ways we never imagined possible.

In this episode of the CTRL+Listen Podcast, Jon reveals fascinating trends reshaping the electronics sector, from AI-powered circuit design tools that can create prototypes from simple descriptions to autonomous maintenance robots wandering factory floors.

Learn about the circular economy's impact on manufacturing, the rise of product-as-a-service business models, and how digital twins are transforming industrial processes. Whether you're in electronics procurement, manufacturing, or just curious about the future of industry, this conversation offers valuable insights into where technology is heading.

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Key Highlights

• AI is revolutionizing the electronics industry, enabling faster design cycles, predictive maintenance, and highly efficient product development through digital twins and large language models.

• Electrification and digitization are the leading industrial trends, transforming traditional mechanical systems into smart, data-driven, energy-efficient solutions across sectors from chainsaws to factories.

• The circular economy is becoming standard practice, with major manufacturers refurbishing, reselling, and recycling products to reduce carbon footprints and operational costs.

• Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is maturing rapidly, now supporting high-precision production with metals and polymers, aiding both prototyping and full-scale manufacturing.

• Subscription-based business models like Product as a Service (PaaS) and Robot as a Service (RaaS) are gaining traction, especially in industrial settings where performance, not ownership, is the priority.

• Sensor technology and IoT are driving smarter maintenance, allowing autonomous systems like AI-equipped robots to monitor and diagnose machinery in real time.

• Engineering job demand will remain strong despite AI advances, as new technologies are more likely to fill gaps in talent and expand the scope of skilled engineering work rather than replace it.

Transcript

James: Hi, everyone. Welcome to the Control+Listen Podcast, brought to you by Octopart. Today, I have a special guest, Jon Barrett, Managing Editor at Electronic Sourcing. Thank you for coming on the show.

Jon: Thank you very much for inviting me. Happy to be here.

James: Anytime. For those unfamiliar with Electronic Sourcing, could you run us through what it is, and a bit about your background?

Jon: My academic qualifications are in industrial design, which I studied in the 1980s. After that, I worked in robotics and automation, specializing in factory automation systems. As a byproduct of that, I started writing. For about 40 years, I’ve been the editor of various engineering magazines. Currently, I edit Electronic Sourcing for the UK, North America, and Europe.

Electronic Sourcing is a magazine for the electronic component procurement sector. It serves people who buy electronic components and services for manufacturing finished products in industries like aerospace, automotive, and consumer electronics. I’ve been in this role for 20 years. This is the 20th anniversary.

James: Let’s dig into trends you’ve seen recently in the supply chain and procurement space.

Jon: There’s a difference between trends and events. Events are unplanned. But in terms of trends, the biggest change I see is the rate of technical advancement. Since January, I’ve noticed a sharp increase in devices integrating artificial intelligence, at the edge in IoT platforms, and in data centers. I visited a data center on Friday to see how AI is changing their design.

Industrial trends include humanoid robots. There's a lot of venture capital going into that. Timelines vary, some say two to three years, others say ten or fifteen. But I see a rush in that direction. The other big driver is electrification. Governments worldwide are pushing net-zero commitments. That’s driving adoption of electrical control systems in traditionally mechanical sectors.

Chainsaws are a good example. They used to be petrol-powered. Now they’re powered by lithium-ion batteries with electronic controls. Entire industries are making that switch. Electrification, AI, and increased product intelligence are the major trends.

James: With a chainsaw, for example—now that it’s electrified, are those systems providing analytics?

Jon: Absolutely. AI allows learning through machine learning. Another trend is digitization and digital twinning. Anyone building a control system is trying to gather operational data and simulate behavior with digital twins. They test designs virtually before building, then compare live performance with expectations and refine accordingly.

Machine design and building automation are also evolving. Buildings learn how to function based on occupancy, heating, cooling, air conditioning, all adapted to real use. Everything is learning. Electrification and digitization go hand-in-hand. IoT sensor networks are driving a surge in sensor tech. I’ve seen many new sensor technologies emerge to meet these data collection needs.

I’m looking into a case study on the Boston Dynamics dog-shaped robot, possibly Spot, now being outfitted with sensors to monitor UV, infrared, vibration, temperature, noise. They're used in factories to identify abnormalities and alert predictive maintenance systems.

James: That’s a shift to preventative thinking.

Jon: Exactly. I used to work in factories running 24/7, food, pharma. Unplanned maintenance causes chaos. If a bearing starts showing early signs of wear, being able to plan its replacement avoids disaster. That’s where I see the biggest opportunity for autonomous robots and sensor arrays, especially in hazardous environments like petrochemical plants.

James: We had someone on the show working on robots for high-pressure window cleaning. Same principle, remove humans from risky tasks.

Jon: My background is in robotics and automation, and I’ve always believed the best applications are those involving speed, precision, or danger. Industrial processes can be corrosive, high-pressure, or toxic. Using robots there just makes sense. I love seeing that in action.

James: Would you say your dream as an engineer is coming true?

Jon: Yes. AI is the real shift. Depending on your perspective, it’s either terrifying or exciting. I’ve studied machine learning for years and use AI in many ways. I’ve seen AI generate circuit block diagrams from a simple description, suggest compatible component families, generate BOMs, and start CAD layouts. I can even run product lifecycle and carbon footprint assessments from just an idea.

That used to take weeks. Now, it takes minutes. My dream is to imagine a product, have it built with additive manufacturing and low-volume PCB production, and get a working prototype delivered days later. At today’s rate of change, that could be possible in 5 to 10 years, maybe sooner.

I can do all the pieces already. They just need integration. AI agents will do that. I also use AI in coding, using tools like Replit. It’s transformative. There’s concern about AI replacing jobs, but I’ve never heard anyone say we have too many engineers. Maybe AI helps fill that gap.

James: Absolutely.

Jon: I’ve been collecting AI-related press releases since January, biggest folder I’ve ever had. The investment is huge. Some projects will fail, but others will be acquired for their data. Companies are deciding whether to train in-house AI models or use OpenAI-style platforms. Nvidia’s Spark AI hardware is helping small companies train models privately on proprietary data. Lots of paths forward.

James: Let’s pivot to manufacturing trends. We discussed the circular economy. What’s happening there?

Jon: Sustainability is becoming a core part of design and manufacturing. Regulations are pushing companies to collect data for net-zero goals. Time Magazine’s most sustainable companies list includes many engineering firms. Schneider Electric was number one.

The circular economy is logical, materials for next-gen products already exist in current ones. Companies are reclaiming materials, refurbishing products, and reselling with full warranties. It’s profitable and lowers carbon footprint. Transit and automotive sectors are leading the way. Instead of landfill, products come back for reprocessing. Even gearboxes are being reused in new HGVs.

It changes distribution, too. Manufacturing may be centralized, but refurbishment and maintenance are local. That requires different engineering skills, faster part distribution, and long-term part availability. Additive manufacturing will play a big role, keeping CAD files for remanufacturing. Software support is also critical. Devices need firmware updates across longer lifecycles.

James: You mentioned additive manufacturing. Could you explain it?

Jon: Sure. Additive manufacturing is what most people call 3D printing. It builds parts by adding material, not cutting it away. My printer uses polymers, but metal printing is now advanced. AI-driven structural optimization can produce organic shapes, impossible to machine, but easy to 3D print.

These components are now common in robotics and automation. Prototypes and factory-grade parts are being made using hybrid materials, including carbon fiber reinforced metals. Venture capital has driven this forward. I use my 3D printer every week, often for spares and repairs. I also volunteer at a repair café. We 3D print parts for older devices.

James: That’s really cool.

Jon: Yeah, it’s fun.

James: Last topic. We talked earlier about the shift to subscription-based models, product as a service.

Jon: Right, PaaS, or Product as a Service. If a manufacturer retains ownership of the product, they’re incentivized to make it reliable, efficient, and long-lasting. Aircraft engines are a good example, “power by the hour” models. Electric motor companies are doing similar things. You buy torque, power, and runtime at an agreed efficiency.

Robot as a service is emerging too. Many companies want automation but can’t risk a large upfront investment. With RaaS, they pay for the robot’s output, not the hardware. It de-risks adoption and ensures performance.

James: Has that been widely accepted?

Jon: In industrial settings, yes. In consumer markets, maybe less so. But in manufacturing, companies care more about results than ownership. Time will tell how broadly it scales.

James: We're out of time. It’s been a fascinating conversation. Jon, thank you for coming on the show.