The bluEPrint by Executive Platforms - What’s New in Workforce Development and Training for Manufacturers — A Conversation with Andrew Knez of Covalent Networks

What’s New in Workforce Development and Training for Manufacturers — A Conversation with Andrew Knez of Covalent Networks

06/04/24 • 15 min

At the 2024 edition of the North American Manufacturing Excellence Summit series we sat down with Andrew Knez, the CEO of Covalent Networks, to talk about one of the most important issues facing manufacturers today. A number of industry trends have combined to make the tried, tested, and true ways of training a workforce ineffective in the modern business environment. Today’s workers need to be able to come up to speed much faster than ever before with fewer experienced people available to show them the ropes and impart institutional knowledge than ever before. Fortunately, a new generation of tools and technologies —including ones powered by AI— are coming online to bridge the gap and put information and instructions in the hands of new employees in a way they can understand and act upon. For everyone interested in how today’s and tomorrow’s workforce will learn new skills, capabilities, processes, and best practices, give this episode a listen!

Andrew Knez
CEO
Covalent Networks

Andrew Knez has several years of work experience in various roles and industries. Andrew is currently the CEO and Co-Founder of Covalent Networks, a company that specializes in workforce operations in complex manufacturing environments. Prior to this, Andrew worked as the Chief of Staff at NatureBox from 2013 to 2016. Andrew also served as an Associate at General Catalyst Partners from 2011 to 2013. Additionally, they worked in marketing at FanSnap for a brief period in 2010 and interned at the Boston Scholar Athlete Program in the same year. Andrew began their career as an Analyst at KAYAK in 2009.

Andrew Knez attended Williams College from 2007 to 2011, where they earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in History. Andrew then pursued further education at Harvard Business School from 2016 to 2018, obtaining a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree.
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Covalent Networks Inc.

Covalent’s enterprise SaaS platform enables technical training programs in complex industrial environments. It replaces all paper training and evaluation forms.

In doing so, it auto-generates real-time Workforce Intelligence for frontline leaders, including skill matrices and audit trails. Our clients further operationalize this data for coverage planning and process control. Our shared goal is to increase labor productivity and decrease the cost of poor quality (COPQ). Customers include Fortune 500 jet engine, automotive, and chemical manufacturers.

www.covalentnetworks.com.

Andrew Knez
CEO
Covalent Networks

Covalent’s enterprise SaaS platform enables technical training programs in complex industrial environments. It replaces all paper training and evaluation forms.

www.covalentnetworks.com.

Previous Episode

The Role CDMOs Play in the Future of Medicine — A Conversation with JR Humbert of INCOG BioPharma Services

At the 2024 edition of the Pharma Manufacturing World Summit held earlier this month in Boston, we spoke with JR Humbert, INCOG BioPharma Services’ VP Quality, about the crucial contributions CDMOs are making towards the future of medicine, both for large manufacturers and also for a whole range of new, small companies moving their Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products towards commercialization. What are the important issues pharmaceutical manufacturers need to be asking about and learning about as they choose how to partner with a third party to build up their capacity and capabilities? What does the working relationship need to look like from a quality perspective, from a compliance perspective, and from a day-to-day performance perspective? Where are Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations going as a growing facet of this industry, and how are the best of them trying to become customer-centric to help best serve patients? For all this and more, give this episode a listen!

JR Humbert is currently the VP, Quality at INCOG BioPharma Services, and created and implemented the quality system at INCOG, which in three years went from company creation through successful FDA inspection in 3 years.

JR has over 20 years of pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry experience in validation, quality, technology transfer, process engineering, and program management. Some of JR’s previous companies include Piramal Pharma Solutions, Roche/Genentech, Hospira, and Cook Pharmica.

JR has participated in multiple global health authority inspections and developed inspection responses. JR has an MBA from Indiana University, and a BA in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of Colorado-Boulder.

INCOG BioPharma Services Inc. has been designed and built from decades of experience with a clear purpose: to deliver better CDMO services in the injectable drug product space.

With our dedicated team, best-in-class processes, and state-of-the-art equipment, we deliver meaningful results and stand-out customer experiences. We are here to strive for the best—for our team and for our customers. We are in it with you from the moment we start work on your project. We go above and beyond to understand your requirements, meet your needs, and foster a truly collaborative partnership.
Founded in June 2020, INCOG BioPharma Services offers development and manufacturing services to both early phase and late phase biopharmaceutical companies. We are located on the northeast corner of Indianapolis in Fishers, IN.

www.incogbiopharma.com

Next Episode

Christopher Shryock — The Evolving Role of HR and CHROs

In the run-up to the most recent edition of the North American HR Executive Summit we interviewed Christopher Shryock —who was at the time the SVP and Chief People Officer of Sam’s Club— on some of the issues and trends Human Resources professionals are facing, and how the position of Chief Human Resources Officer is changing to better meet the needs of the people and organizations it serves. From how HR leaders guided their organizations through the pandemic, to the day-to-day and big picture effects of the New Normal of Work, to how Talent Attraction, Talent Development, and Talent Retention has become one of the most crucial factors determining long-term success, be sure to give this episode a listen for all this and more!

Christopher Shryock served as Sam’s Club’s Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer. In this role, he oversaw all aspects of human resources for Sam’s Club and was responsible for attracting, developing, rewarding, and retaining talent as well as building a diverse and inclusive organization.

Prior to Sam’s Club, Christopher spent nearly 14 years at PepsiCo in a variety of global HR leadership roles in Plano, Texas; Geneva, Switzerland; Moscow, Russia; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and New York. Most recently, he was senior vice president of human resources for the PepsiCo Foods North America sector’s Commercial organization where he led the HR agenda across the sales, marketing, and strategy and transformation organizations.

Christopher earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Xavier University (OH) and a Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Hofstra University.