In this episode of the Stay Sharp podcast, Juliann and Jonathan continue their digital product series with returning guest Oleg Shilovitsky, Co-Founder and CEO of OpenBOM. With over 25 years of experience in PLM and engineering software, Oleg unveils what truly sets OpenBOM apart—and why traditional PLM systems fail modern manufacturing organizations.

From the shift from single-company databases to interconnected digital networks, to how product data must support real-time collaboration across engineering, procurement, and manufacturing, Oleg explains how OpenBOM tackles an industry-wide pain point: sharing the right data with the right people at the right time.

He also introduces the concept of product memory—a foundational element for enabling AI and next-generation decision-making across engineering lifecycles.

Key Discussion Topics

• Why traditional PLM systems were built for single-company control, not interconnected supply chains
• The “Google Sheets paradigm” and why customers value OpenBOM’s ease of adoption
• How OpenBOM enables secure data sharing across multiple companies without compromising independence
• The technology driving it: graph-based data models, polyglot persistence, and cloud-native microservices
• Signals that a company is ready for OpenBOM: complex products, limited resources, and fast-paced innovation cultures
• Using OpenBOM to bridge engineering and procurement (and eradicate Excel chaos)
• Introducing Product Memory—the data layer that enables AI-driven design and lifecycle intelligence

Memorable Quote

“AI starts with the right data. If you can’t feed the AI with clean product memory, you’ll just get noisy answers. That’s why OpenBOM builds the data foundation first—everything else comes from that.”

— Oleg Shilovitsky

If this episode helped clarify what modern PLM tools must deliver—and how product data can become a strategic advantage—make sure to:

Follow the podcast so you don’t miss upcoming episodes in our digital product series. Leave a review sharing your biggest insight from today’s conversation

Send us your topic ideas at podcast@razorleaf.com

—We’d love to hear what you want us to dissect next.

Stay tuned and stay sharp.

Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks.
Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.
© 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

What will digital engineering and manufacturing really look like in 2026?

In this forward-looking episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott step back from day-to-day execution and examine the trends, technologies, and curveballs shaping the next phase of the industry.

From AI-driven data enrichment and digital twins moving beyond PLM, to ERP vendors entering new territory, humanoid robotics, additive manufacturing at scale, and even quantum computing, this conversation blends grounded experience with thoughtful speculation.

The result is a candid, wide-ranging discussion about what feels inevitable, what feels risky, and what may arrive faster than expected.

Key Topics & Takeaways

• Why AI’s real value may be cleaning up decades of messy engineering data
• How ERP vendors could become unlikely leaders in digital twin platforms
• The growing importance of semantic data and context, not just volume
• Why multi-modal AI inputs (speech, sketches, visuals) could change engineering workflows
• The return of additive manufacturing headlines through mass customization
• How vertically integrated digital manufacturing companies could disrupt today’s ecosystems
• What humanoid and collaborative robots mean for factory integration
• The unresolved risks of AI autonomy, liability, and regulation
• Why quantum computing remains a wild card worth watching

If you enjoyed this episode:

• Subscribe to Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering
• Leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast platform
• Share this episode with a colleague navigating digital transformation

Have a take on 2026 or want to join the conversation?

📩 Email: podcast@razorleaf.com

Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks.
Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.
© 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

As 2025 comes to a close, Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering takes a look back at a year of standout conversations, memorable insights, and practical lessons from across the digital engineering landscape.

In this special year-end episode, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott revisit powerful soundbites from guests who helped shape the show’s most meaningful discussions.

Spanning AI, digital thread and digital twin, model-based systems engineering (MBSE), PLM lessons learned, and emerging industry trends, this mashup captures the ideas that resonated most with listeners and continue to influence how organizations design, build, and manage products.

This episode runs a bit longer than the usual format, but it’s packed with clarity, perspective, and a few laughs along the way.

Episode 116 also marks a milestone moment for Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, celebrating over 100 episodes and a growing, engaged listener community.

Juliann and Jonathan extend heartfelt thanks to their guests, production team, and listeners for making 2025 such a meaningful year for the podcast.

Have ideas for future topics or guests? The team would love to hear from you.

📩 Send suggestions to: podcasts@razorleaf.com

🌐 Visit the new podcast hub: staysharpindigitalengineering.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review or sharing it with a colleague, and as always, thanks for listening.

Stay sharp.

Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks.
Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.
© 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.