“We’re missing 300,000 welders in the US, and the average age is 57. There are more people retiring than entering the trade.”
In today’s episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Jeff Danley from Burns & McDonnell and we got to learn about how labor shortages are driving robotics adoption, why construction hates innovation, and the surprising truth about AI adoption across different generations… and many more!
Tune in to find out about:
✅ How robotic welders are 10x more efficient than humans
✅ Why construction companies are allergic to risk and how that kills innovation
✅ The three-circle framework for successful innovation programs
✅ How different generations use AI completely differently
Jeff shared incredible insights from his work helping Fortune 500 companies build innovation programs and his current role transforming a 15,000-person construction company. His perspective on moving from outside the industry into construction reveals fascinating barriers and opportunities most people never see.
Listen now on Spotify to discover how the construction industry is finally embracing technology and what it means for the future of building.
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Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:55 Introduction to Innovation in Construction
07:52 Challenges of Innovation in Construction
13:42 Assessing Robotics and ROI
20:01 Broader Perspectives on Innovation
26:00 Budgeting for Innovation
34:34 Rapid Prototyping and Innovation Teams
41:46 The Impact of New Graduates on Industry
49:40 Engaging with Startups and Innovation
57:18 Communication and Culture of Innovation
01:02:37 Opportunities for Growth in AI
