Jeff Winter 1/29/26 Jeff Winter 1/29/26

When a Powerful Tool Starts to Look Like a Universal One

Power has a way of simplifying how we see the world. Once something feels capable enough, it quietly reshapes how problems are framed, discussed, and prioritized. What begins as momentum can end as misdirection if discernment doesn’t keep pace.

Jeff Winter 1/8/26 Jeff Winter 1/8/26

The Familiar Always Wins Unless You Make It Lose

Most transformations don’t fail loudly or dramatically; they lose a slow, quiet tug-of-war against the familiar, long after everyone thought the hard part was over.

Jeff Winter 12/29/25 Jeff Winter 12/29/25

The Hardest Part of AI Isn’t Intelligence. It’s Letting Go.

Most AI initiatives fail not because the technology isn’t smart enough, but because organizations never decide which decisions they’re willing to let go of.

Jeff Winter 12/27/25 Jeff Winter 12/27/25

Think Big. Start Small. Go Fast.

We love tidy slogans because they sound actionable and safe.
This article unpacks how a familiar transformation mantra was born, why it still shows up everywhere today, and where organizations consistently get tripped up when turning good intentions into real progress.

Jeff Winter 12/16/25 Jeff Winter 12/16/25

perma POWERTALK #05: What’s Next for Maintenance?

Episode 5 of perma POWERTALK with Fred Ritenauer

Jeff Winter 12/7/25 Jeff Winter 12/7/25

Stop Letting the Gods Decide: Why Data Driven Leadership Is Becoming Manufacturing’s Real Power

A Game of Thrones–inspired look at why modern manufacturers can’t compete by relying on instinct, hierarchy, or “the gods” to make decisions, and how data, AI, and real visibility finally give leaders the power to shape their own destiny.

Jeff Winter 12/2/25 Jeff Winter 12/2/25

Season 2: Episode 4: WEF Lighthouses — Lessons from the Leaders (Part 2)

Season 2 Host of CESMII’s Smart Manufacturing Podcast: Episode 5: WEF Lighthouses — Lessons from the Leaders (Part 2)

Jeff Winter 11/10/25 Jeff Winter 11/10/25

If Your Tech Disappeared Tomorrow, Would Anything Change?

Most companies call their efforts “digital transformation,” but if the operating model would function the same without the technology, then nothing transformative has happened, and this article explains why lasting change only occurs when the business itself evolves, not just the tools around it.

Jeff Winter 10/30/25 Jeff Winter 10/30/25

If Captain America Worked in Manufacturing

What if Captain America ran a factory instead of fighting villains? This piece reframes the “A” on his helmet as Automation, AI, and Analytics, and argues that modern manufacturing leadership is less about heroics and more about designing systems that let people do their best work.