The Pico MES booth will feature live demonstrations of our factory-connected MES platform, showing how manufacturers can gain immediate visibility and control over their shop floor with minimal IT overhead.
ProMat Q&A with Pico MES
Q&A with Ryan Kuhlenbeck, CEO and Co-Founder | Pico MES
Tell us about your company.
Pico MES is a software company enabling digital transformation for all factories, regardless of size or industry. Our solution digitizes manual assembly processes and integrates with various factory tools to capture data, providing full visibility into the supply chain. This allows us to deliver actionable insights that drive continuous improvement. We've helped numerous factories transition from paper-based systems to more efficient, data-driven operations, improving product quality across sectors like battery manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace. Pico MES is designed by end users, for end users, ensuring our solutions are practical and impactful.
Your company will be exhibiting at ProMat, what is it that makes this an important event for your company?
ProMat is one of the premier events for supply chain professionals, making it an ideal platform for Pico MES to showcase how our digital work instructions and real-time traceability solutions help factories modernize their operations. The show attracts key decision-makers looking for technologies that drive efficiency and reduce downtime—precisely where Pico MES excels. It’s also a great opportunity to connect with industry leaders, potential partners, and the media to highlight the growing need for scalable MES solutions in the evolving supply chain landscape.
What makes your booth a must-visit for ProMat attendees?
The Pico MES booth will feature live demonstrations of our factory-connected MES platform, showing how manufacturers can gain immediate visibility and control over their shop floor with minimal IT overhead. Unlike traditional, complex MES solutions, Pico MES is built for all, making digital transformation accessible without disruption. Attendees will see firsthand how our plug-and-play approach drives real results by improving traceability, reducing errors, and empowering frontline workers—all while integrating seamlessly with existing equipment and tools. Plus, we’ll be sharing real-world success stories from manufacturers who have unlocked new levels of efficiency with Pico MES.
ProMat has many educational sessions, forums, & demos. Is your company involved in any of them this year?
Pico MES will lead a talk on Monday, March 17th at 1 pm titled “Bridging the Gap Between Suppliers and OEMs: How Data Insights Can Foster Trust and Operational Excellence.” We’ve also applied for the startup pitch contest, and the shortlist will be announced later this month. We’re looking forward to it!
When you get a chance to walk the exhibit hall floor yourself, what is it you will be most interested to see? Any educational sessions, pavilions, etc., you plan on attending?
Our team will be most interested in checking out the latest innovations in automation and robotics—especially solutions that help manufacturers streamline operations and boost efficiency. We’re also excited to attend sessions on emerging supply chain trends and technology, particularly those that explore how digital transformation is reshaping the industry and driving smarter, more responsive operations. Plus, we’ll be looking to explore new developments in logistics and fulfillment tech, as it directly ties into how we help factories improve visibility and drive continuous improvement across their supply chains.
By attending these sessions and exploring new technologies, we’re looking to gather insights on how we can continue helping manufacturers drive greater efficiency and adaptability through digital transformation.
Material Handling is undertaking rapid advancements, be it automation, robotics, and, of course, AI. How are your company's services and products utilizing AI now to improve the business?
We focus on equipping suppliers with real-time data visibility and seamless integration across the production floor. Manufacturers need to have a solid digital foundation before adopting tools like AI. It’s unlikely to be an easy transition for a supplier who has operated on manual methods for years to adopt AI-powered workflows. There are, however, manufacturers that already have digital infrastructure and are ready to embrace AI. For those customers, we integrate with a number of AI-powered tools and devices for anomaly detection. Overview AI is one of them; their vision system will automatically flag never-seen-before defects and has the full computing power of a PC in the form factor of a smart camera.
While not all manufacturers are ready for AI, we ensure our platform can support these advanced technologies as our customers evolve.
Give us your thoughts on what the future holds for robotics and material handling.
Large manufacturers may have the budgets and resources to implement robotics and automation, but smaller suppliers are looking for solutions that are simple, affordable, and can deliver tangible results quickly—without requiring massive investments or years of implementation.
We believe that the supply chain is hungry for real-time data visibility, and that appetite will only grow. Manufacturers need a way to track every part, process, and movement to ensure efficiency and compliance. That’s where solutions like Pico MES come in—bridging the digital divide by providing plug-and-play digital work instructions and traceability.
Ryan Kuhlenbeck is the CEO and co-founder of Pico MES. His career spans a wide range of automotive manufacturing, including General Motors, Tesla, and Alta Motors. He has experienced firsthand the real-world issues that the digital divide creates and has created a company dedicated to helping all factories be more efficient and profitable.
The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of ManufacturingTomorrow
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