Welcome — I’m Jonathan Richtarsic, founder of The Innovation Threshold and a lifelong student of problem-solving, operational excellence, and transformative innovation. With over 20 years of experience in manufacturing and engineering, my work has spanned 50+ consumer packaged goods (CPG) facilities, as well as woodworking shops, engine builders, paint lines, and more — helping teams unlock efficiency, reduce waste, and embrace the full potential of Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

At the heart of this platform is one mission: lowering the innovation threshold — making advanced technologies and improvement strategies more accessible and actionable for teams working in real-world manufacturing environments.

A Passion Rooted in Family, Faith, and Curiosity

My passion for innovation started early — not in a lab or factory, but in the fields and garages of my childhood. My father and I would fix up old tractors and vehicles together, and I quickly saw the gap between mechanical simplicity and the growing complexity of modern electronics. “That car’s got a brain I can’t talk to,” he’d grumble. I saw an opportunity. Solve the problem, AND learn something new along the way. I also realized that I would never be able to best my father on knowledge about classic cars. However, I could on technology and at that just might mean we could expand the fleet!

Meanwhile, my mother taught me something equally important: the value of balance and discipline. When I wanted to take on more chores — like raising extra livestock — she’d remind me that responsibility without purpose can lead to burnout. She encouraged me to learn deeply, but live intentionally, and that mindset still guides me today. One of the inspirations that came from her lesson was that a person can accelerate into burnout if they are not trying to be the most efficient person as possible. I started searching for better ways of doing the same task, some small things such as mechanical automation while doing chores. You know you can feed and have more animals if it only takes you a few minutes each day to give them what they need.

These early lessons taught me that innovation isn’t just about what you can do — it’s about solving the right problems, in the right way, for the right reasons. That LEARNING how to be more EFFICIENT is the key to so many things.

What You’ll Find on This Site

Over the years, I’ve helped organizations of all sizes:

• Improve throughput while lowering operating costs

• Navigate the complexity of IT/OT convergence

• Reduce the seven types of waste using lean principles

• Build digital roadmaps that support practical, scalable IIoT deployments

• Train and develop high-performing technical teams

This site is where I share the tools, stories, and frameworks that I’ve used and refined in the field. Whether you’re leading a factory transformation or just starting your journey into smart manufacturing, my goal is to help you take meaningful steps forward.

Thanks for stopping by — I hope you’ll stay connected, explore the tools available here, and reach out if our paths align.

Let’s lower the threshold together.