# BONUS: Software-Defined Automation: The Future of Industrial Control (sponsored by Siemens)

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour-854319/bonus-software-defined-automation-the-future-of-industrial-control-sponsored-by-siemens.md
Podcast: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://stenobird.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour-854319)
Published: 2026-07-21T07:30:00+00:00
Episode link: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/cfdf2ad3-a221-448b-adb9-cb411f247fa4.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/manufacturing-happy-hour-854319/episodes/bonus-software-defined-automation-the-future-of-industrial-control-sponsored-by-siemens
Duration seconds: 1758

## Resource

Two worlds that have never previously spoken the same language are now building the same machine. This week Chris sits down with David Nichols, CEO, Co-Founder and Engineer at Loupe, an alum of the show making his return. We are also joined by Kristen Quasey, Architecture & Portfolio Sales Manager, and Jan Bajorat, Senior Director of Software-Defined Automation, both at Siemens, for this special bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, live from Automate 2026. Together they get into software-defined automation, what that looks like on the shop floor, and why it's picking up momentum right now. David shares the story behind SASE, the Society of Automation Software Engineers, and what it felt like building a community around an idea before most of the industry had caught on. Kristen and Jan bring the perspective of a company adapting to a new generation of engineers and a shifting global workforce. In this episode, find out: What David means when he compares software-defined automation to a "chocolate and peanut butter" combination. Why David describes SASE as starting from a place of desperation rather than strategy. How Kristen and Jan see a new generation of engineers changing what companies need from automation. How building the software of a machine before its mechanics has changed what David's team was able to deliver. How a distributed team can fix a production issue without setting foot on the plant floor. Why Jan believes software-defined automation is what makes industrial AI possible at scale. Why global workforce shortages are pushing manufacturers toward a software-defined approach. Why software-defined automation is not the same thing as software automation. Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from…

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## Transcript

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