The future isn't coming — it's already here.
I'm a blue-collar maintenance technician with 28 years in industrial automation. I started as an industrial controls electrician in '96, and today I troubleshoot PLCs, program robots, and fix CNC machines on a fast-paced automotive production floor.
But what I love most about my job isn't the machines. It's helping people.
I created The Wired Watchman to serve my fellow tradespeople — sharing tips, reviewing tools (software AND hardware), and teaching the things trade schools don't always cover.
But I have a deeper mission:
Empowering tradespeople to leverage artificial intelligence.
I believe AI is a gift. It simplifies the day-to-day frustrations and the long-term ones. It's like having your own private engineering team working alongside you at all times — whether you're troubleshooting a fault, making videos, or building custom tools.
We don't have to wait for someone else to change the future. We can do it ourselves. Today.
I'm a maker. When a tool doesn't exist or isn't available, I build it myself — software, hardware, or a mixture of both.
| Project | What It Does |
|---|---|
| NotebookLM-Industrial-Maintenance | How I cut troubleshooting time by 90% using AI — workflows for VFDs, PLCs, CNCs, robotics |
| pass-down | Desktop app that automates maintenance shift reports — built by a technician, for technicians |
| Steering-harness-tester | DIY continuity tester for automotive wiring harnesses using Raspberry Pi Pico W |
On the Production Floor:
- PLCs: Omron, Mitsubishi, Allen-Bradley
- Robotics: Fanuc, Denso, Yaskawa, Panasonic, Universal Robots
- Vision Systems: Keyence, Cognex, Omron
- CNC Machines: Mazak, Okuma, Fanuc controls, 15+ brands
Building Solutions:
- Raspberry Pi Pico / Arduino / ESP32
- Python, MicroPython, C++
- HTML/CSS/JavaScript for custom tools
- Local AI deployment (Ollama, RAG systems)
Not just technical skills — but the things that make you valuable:
- ⚡ Electrical safety and best practices
- 🛠️ Tool reviews (honest, real-world testing)
- 🤖 AI tools for industrial maintenance
- 🧠 How to treat people, the attitude you bring, humility that brightens your environment
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| 🌐 Website | thewiredwatchman.com |
| 📺 YouTube | @TheWiredWatchman |
| josephoverberg | |
| joseph@thewiredwatchman.com |
My goal isn't fame. It's not fortune.
I just want to make enough to keep doing this — to keep serving my fellow tradespeople. Nothing more. Nothing less.
I'm a servant. A teacher. A maker. Some might call that a factotum — a jack of all trades who gets things done.
That's who I am.
Work smarter every day — not harder.