Manufacturers in the Life Sciences sector are increasingly challenged by the advancement of advanced therapies and personalized medicines, as well as the rapidly advancing technology landscape.

Emerson’s Jordan Johnson and Rachel Wright join me to discuss these challenges and the role of Emerson and its “Life Savers,” who work closely with them to address and overcome these challenges.

Give the podcast a listen, and visit the DeltaV YouTube channel and the DeltaV Systems and Software for Life Sciences section on Emerson.com for more on the technologies and solutions that drive improved operational performance.

Jim: Hi, everyone, and welcome back to another episode of the “Emerson Automation Experts” podcast. I’m Jim Cahill. And today, we’re diving into a topic that’s close to our hearts, how innovation in Life Sciences is helping deliver life-saving treatments faster and more efficiently.

The Life Sciences space is moving fast. Think advanced therapies, personalized medicine, and breakthroughs that have the potential to totally change lives. At Emerson, we’re proud to be part of that momentum. With our deep roots in technology and manufacturing, we’re helping Life Sciences companies bring these treatments to patients more quickly, safely, and reliably.

And here’s the thing, we’re not doing it alone. We’re building a team of what we like to call Life Savers, people who are passionate about pushing boundaries, solving tough problems, and making a real difference in the world. Our goal? To be a catalyst for a healthier, more vibrant future for everyone.

Joining me today to talk about how we’re making that vision a reality are two of those Life Savers, Rachel Wright and Jordan Johnson, both experts in life science innovation here at Emerson. Rachel, Jordan, great to have you with us. Thanks for joining us.

Jordan: Thanks for having us.

Rachel: Yeah, thanks so much.

Jim: Well, let’s go ahead and just dive into things. Let’s start with the heart of today’s topic. When we’re talking about a Life Saver in the industry, what does that really mean to you, Jordan?

Jordan: Honestly, for me, it really comes down to the impact that we make. In Life Sciences, even the smallest improvements, like saving a few days off production or making things a bit more consistent, can really make a huge ripple effect. It could mean someone getting life-saving treatments that much sooner. And when you’re the one waiting for that therapy, every single day matters.

Rachel: Exactly. It’s not just about chasing efficiency for the sake of it. We’re focused on making a real difference. DeltaV for Life Sciences was designed with that urgency in mind. It’s all about helping our customers get life-changing therapies to patients faster and doing it with the quality and reliability that those patients absolutely deserve.

Jim: Yeah, that’s a great point. So, Rachel, let’s talk about DeltaV for Life Sciences. What makes it different from other automation platforms?

Rachel: I’m glad you asked. DeltaV for Life Sciences isn’t just another automation system. It’s built specifically for this industry. It covers everything from automation and execution to real-time scheduling and enterprise recipe management. And it’s designed to move with your processes, not against them, supporting you every step of the way from early discovery all the way through to delivery.

Jordan: So, I would agree. The best part is that it’s all grounded in real-world experience. So, we spent a lot of time working closely with our Life Sciences teams, really listening to what they’re dealing with and what they need. And that insight has helped us build a platform that’s not just technically solid, but also actually helps them move forward their bigger picture goals.

Jim: Yeah, I think that experience and applying that into the technology and working closely with these companies all these years has really focused that in. So, Jordan, let’s bring it back to the human side. How does this technology translate into real-world impact for patients?

Jordan: You know, it really hits home when you think about people behind the process. For patients and their family, every single day matters, like I said. So, when we have a company speed up something like a batch release or make a tech transfer smoother, we’re not just improving that company’s workflow, we’re actually helping someone to get that treatment that they’ve been waiting for. And that’s what keeps us going. That’s what motivates us. And that’s the why behind everything we do.

Rachel: And we’re not just thinking about what’s happening today. We’re looking ahead. We’re building a digital roadmap for the future with things like AI-powered biomanufacturing, smarter data integration, and systems that connect across the entire enterprise. To put it simply, we want to help life-saving therapies get to people faster, more safely, and with greater reliability.

Jim: Yeah. And with technology changing faster than ever and AI coming on like a freight train, it’s important to work that in, especially with the applied knowledge to overcome the challenges that the manufacturers and the Life Sciences sector face. It sounds like Emerson’s mission is tightly aligned with your customer’s purpose.

Rachel: It really is, Jim. At Emerson, we’re not just here to support our customers. We’re right there with them, step for step. This is a shared journey, and we’re working together to bring that vision of faster, safer, more accessible therapies to life. And as we go, we’re constantly listening, taking in feedback, learning what’s happening on the ground, and we’re using that to shape and improve our solutions. It’s about staying connected and evolving together to meet the real needs of people who are counting on us.

Jordan: One of the big ways that we stay aligned with our customers is by focusing on what really drives value in Life Sciences. So, we’re talking about things like speeding up the pipeline, enabling more flexible manufacturing, maintaining operational integrity, supporting those real-time releases, and driving sustainable operations. And to unlock all that, easier integration of critical technologies across the development pipeline is key. That’s exactly what DeltaV for Life Sciences is built to do. It’s not just about delivering technology, it’s about making real, meaningful progress together.

Jim: Oh, that’s a real good point, Jordan. So, I guess before we wrap up, what’s one key message you’d like our listeners to take away?

Rachel: DeltaV for Life Sciences isn’t just a platform. It’s a true partnership. We’re here to help teams move faster, work smarter, and stay focused on what truly matters, which is getting those life-saving treatments to the people who need them. It’s all about purpose-driven progress.

Jim: Yeah. And I know being a partner is important because all the Life Sciences manufacturers are figuring out how to move up their digital maturity model because of the complexity of what they’re making, and just the changing technology, and having to deal with all that. So, that partnership aspect is really important. And it’s important to us to advance the technology. So, we’re making sure we’re hitting the mark with what they need. I guess, Rachel, just to wrap things up, where can our listeners go to learn more?

Rachel: Sure. If you’re curious to learn more, you can actually check out the DeltaV Automation Platform YouTube channel. You can find stories from patients like Chris White sharing his real-world experience. And you can also hear from other people on our team of lifesavers about what being a lifesaver means to them personally. It’s a really cool way to see the impact behind the innovation that we do.

Jim: And I think that’s so cool that we have a big team of Life Savers at Emerson that’s, you know, just such a purpose-driven mission. It’s just a fantastic thing, and I know keeps everybody energized. So, I want to thank you both, Rachel and Jordan, for joining me today on the podcast and sharing your expertise with our listeners.

Jordan: Yeah, we’re honored to be here.

Rachel: Happy to join. Yeah, this was a great time. Thank you so much for having us.

Jim: You bet. It’s been fun.

-End of transcript-