The High Cost of Low Quality with Júlio Leite | Connected Shopfloor Podcast

In this episode, Marco Tschan sits down with Júlio Leite, Operations Manager at WEDRONE, a company that is redefining the intersection of tradition and innovation. Established in 2020 as an R&D powerhouse, WEDRONE made waves in 2022 by acquiring a legacy firm with 70 years of aluminum die-casting expertise.

Julio brings a fascinating "full-circle" perspective to the table: from starting his career as a machine operator in his father’s shop and teaching informatics, to holding leadership roles at global giants like Lear Corporation, Coindu, and Molaflex.

We dive deep into the WEDRONE story and how a modern R&D-focused company is breathing new digital life into 70 years of die-casting know-how while navigating the high-stakes "gold standard" pressure of supplying Porsche, VW, and Bentley, where non-quality costs are measured in tens of thousands of Euros per minute. Julio shares the reality of their digital transformation, moving from paper and fax to 60+ IoT devices and computer vision on the path toward AI-driven root cause analysis. We also explore the human factor of manufacturing, discussing why Julio spends his day on the shop floor instead of behind a desk and how he uses "Birthday Coffee" meetings to build a culture of trust.

Whether you're interested in the technicalities of one-piece flow in aluminum machining or the leadership philosophy of a man who values white wine as much as industrial efficiency, this episode is packed with veteran insights.