Joel Onyshuk is the Vice President of Sales at Formic, a company that helps manufacturing leaders address labor and operational challenges through robots-as-a-service for end-of-line automation. Under Joel’s leadership, Formic has worked with thousands of manufacturers to deliver rapid automation solutions that drive operational savings, such as 20% reductions in OPEX costs and dramatic productivity improvements. Joel is also a podcast host and content creator, known for his relational approach to leadership and insights on innovation, growth, and building strong business cultures.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- [02:35] Joel Onyshuk highlights how robots as a service democratize manufacturing automation
- [03:38] Why capital constraints no longer limit automation opportunities
- [06:03] The secret sauce: software’s real impact on robotics
- [07:29] How remote updates fix robots instantly across multiple plants
- [16:48] Why company culture trumps all in leadership
- [17:43] AI strategies for supercharging productivity and decision making
In this episode…
As manufacturing demands intensify, automation is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity. Yet automation still feels out of reach for many. What if the biggest barrier isn’t the technology itself, but the way we think about adopting it?
According to Joel Onyshuk, a seasoned manufacturing sales leader with extensive experience in high-growth environments, the answer lies in removing friction from the process entirely. He explains that automation works best when it’s treated like a service, not a massive capital gamble, allowing teams to point to a problem and have it solved without disruption. That shift doesn’t just accelerate adoption, it changes how manufacturers compete, adapt, and stay resilient in a fast-moving industry.
In this episode of In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results, Lisa Kilrea is joined by Joel Onyshuk, Vice President of Sales at Formic, to discuss making automation accessible and effective for modern manufacturers. They explore how robots-as-a-service lowers barriers to automation, why software is becoming just as critical as hardware, and how automation helps address labor and productivity challenges.
Resources mentioned in this episode
- Lisa Kilrea on LinkedIn
- WSI eResults
- Joel Onyshuk on LinkedIn
- Formic
- “Building Resilience, Fostering Talent, and Humanizing Progress in Business With Pam Cumpata” on In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results
- “Driving Business Growth Through Inclusion and Purpose With Dan LaTurno” on In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results
- Redzone
Quotable Moments
- “Our goal is to make automation as easy as possible for these organizations.”
- “We allow them to tackle those things without having to touch capital at all.”
- “The reality is, there’s many ways that the manufacturing industry in the country can die.”
- “You’ll find out one day that you have more horsepower than you did before.”
- “Your number one job is to create a strong team culture.”
Action Steps
- Reevaluate how you approach automation investments: Treating automation as an operational expense can reduce risk and accelerate adoption.
- Prioritize speed over perfection in decision-making: Acting quickly enables manufacturers to test, learn, and adapt before competitors pull ahead.
- Leverage automation to stabilize labor-dependent processes: Reducing reliance on hard-to-fill roles improves consistency, throughput, and cost control.
- Invest in software-enabled automation solutions: Strong software capabilities allow systems to improve over time without disrupting operations.
- Build a culture that supports experimentation and change: Encouraging teams to fail fast and iterate helps organizations evolve in a rapidly shifting industry.
Sponsor for this episode…
This episode is sponsored by WSI EResults Manufacturing Marketing — revolutionizing digital marketing for the manufacturing industry.
At WSI EResults, we help B2B manufacturers, OEMs, and industrial distributors elevate their digital presence through AI-powered, data-driven strategies designed to generate targeted, impactful leads.
From AI-powered SEO and content marketing to tailored campaigns built for the unique challenges of the manufacturing sector, WSI EResults delivers the tools and expertise to help your business stand out, grow, and thrive.
Learn more at wsi-manufacturing-marketing.com. Your blueprint for smarter, more effective manufacturing marketing.
