In episode 29 of The Downtime, a weekly manufacturing podcast from WTWH Media, co-hosts Sarah Wynn and Sheri Kasprzak talk with Stacey Harimoto, senior engineer at Fanuc America. The trio discussed Harimoto’s advice for women in engineering, her work in warehousing and logistics robotics, challenges in item identification, and how artificial intelligence (AI)-driven systems are shaping the future of automation.
Early engineering inspiration and career path
Harimoto’s interest in engineering began in middle school with the FIRST LEGO League, and that early experience helped her realize that she could succeed in a traditionally male-dominated field.
“I had this one moment: I am a female in engineering, and I can do this. I can prove myself,” she said, reflecting on her high school experience.
She went on to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical and systems engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, followed by an MBA from Penn State University.
Cold call leads to Fanuc internship and full-time role
During an internship at L&L Products, Harimoto sought opportunities to gain more hands-on experience in robotics. “I cold-called Fanuc to see if they had any internship opportunities,” she said.
She went on to complete three summer internships at Fanuc and has been a full-time employee for more than five years. On advice for women considering engineering careers, she said, “Find your people. Find your space.”
Tote consolidation robot demonstration
At Fanuc, Harimoto serves as a lead engineer for warehousing and robotic applications, working with sales teams, integrators, and customers to create simulation-driven solutions. “I love the variety of work and the impact that I feel I have on the industry,” she said.
One of her key projects is creating robotic cells for tradeshows, including the tote consolidation cell, which debuted at ProMat in March 2025. The system pairs a compact M-10/12-14D robot with advanced 2D and 3D vision technology and radio frequency identification (RFID) scanning, all coordinated by the R-50iA controller. The cell identifies, sorts, and consolidates items efficiently, improving throughput, accuracy, and worker safety.
MORE COVERAGE | Fanuc flexes robotic muscle, showcases controller built for vision
“The purpose of tote consolidation is to bring all the products to the closest part of the warehouse,” she explained. “Anytime a product is ordered, someone has to get items from a bin, and if that person or the bin has to travel from the back of the warehouse, it’s extra time and cost.”
She also highlighted the complexity of robotic item handling: “It’s hard to pick all those specific items with one gripper.”
AI-driven vision shaping the future of robotics
Looking ahead, Harimoto said she sees AI-driven vision systems as the next big development in robotics, improving item identification, picking capabilities, and overall efficiency.
She explained that while humans can quickly locate objects in a bin, machine vision has a harder time picking the correct item when it’s buried or mixed with other objects. “If we have a bin of 10 different items, it’s very easy for us as humans to find an item like a water bottle,” she said. “Machine vision, not as much, yet.”
Listen to the full episode to hear more about Fanuc America’s innovations in robotics and Harimoto’s insights on tackling complex automation challenges.
Episode 29: Dancing with the Robots | Show notes & time stamps
00:17 – The co-hosts open the show
01:55 – Wynn shares Packaging OEM’s eBook on how smart conveyors are redefining material handling and packaging line performance, download here
02:32 – Wynn highlights the recent OEM profile she wrote on Morrison Container Handling Solutions
02:41 – Wynn talks about Packaging OEM’s story on Serpa’s new drop packer, which made its debut at Pack Expo Las Vegas
03:03 – Kasprzak highlights Plant Engineering’s can’t miss expert panel from Hitachi Global Air Power and Mitsubishi Electric Automation on variable frequency drives (VFDs) and variable speed drives (VSDs)
04:10 – The co-hosts introduce this week’s guest, Stacey Harimoto, senior engineer at Fanuc America
04:55 – Interview with Harimoto begins
05:22 – Harimoto details how she became interested in engineering and robotics in middle school
08:12 – Harimoto offers advice for women in engineering
09:12 – Harimoto recalls how she cold-called Fanuc to land an internship
11:17 – Conversation turns to her engineering interests
13:05 – Harimoto talks about the importance of mentorship
16:13 – Harimoto explains what her day-to-day looks like as a senior engineer at Fanuc
18:00 – Harimoto describes building robotic cells for trade shows, including her demonstration on tote consolidation. Click here to watch the demo
19:09 – The trio discusses the future of robotics in warehousing, artificial intelligence, and the impact of labor shortages
27:20 – Interview with Harimoto ends
27:38 – The co-hosts thank Harimoto and Fanuc for joining the podcast
27:56 – The co-hosts play the ‘Robot Rapid Fire’ game
31:40 – The co-hosts wrap up the show
About The Downtime podcast and co-hosts
The Downtime is a weekly manufacturing podcast from WTWH Media that features insights from its automation and controls publications. It’s co-hosted by Wynn, who serves as the senior editor (digital) for Packaging OEM, and Kasprzak, who is the executive editor for Plant Engineering, Control Engineering, and Consulting-Specifying Engineer.
The podcast is available each week on YouTube, SoundCloud, and Spotify.
Check out The Downtime’s recent episodes
Episode 24: Leadership lessons from an engineer in sustainable design
Episode 25: Inside WTWH Media’s “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” B2B content strategy
Episode 26: Unpacking Pack Expo, a journalist’s perspective
Episode 27: Conveying candy and material handling trends with Flex-Line Automation
Episode 28: How Fallas Automation engineers flexible end-of-line systems
