Manufacturing Happy Hour
280 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 96 ratingsWelcome to Manufacturing Happy Hour, the podcast where we get real about the latest trends and technologies impacting modern manufacturers.
Hosted by industry veteran Chris Luecke, each week, we interview makers, founders, and other manufacturing leaders that are at the top of their game and give you the tools, tactics, and strategies you need to take your career and your business to the next level. We go beyond the buzzwords and dissect real-life applications and success stories so that you can tackle your biggest manufacturing challenges and turn them into profitable opportunities.
Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
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Episodes
186: How Bringing Clean Water to Africa Led to Digitizing the Electronics Industry with Andrew Scheuermann, Co-Founder and CEO of Arch Systems
May 21, 2024 09:00 - 56 minutes - 51.2 MBAs new technologies emerge, so do new solutions and new possibilities. The electronics manufacturing world is going through a digital revolution right now, and companies like Arch Systems are at the pinnacle of it. We welcomed Andrew Scheuermann, Co-Founder and CEO of Arch Systems, to the show to hear about the brilliant backstory behind the company. Before Arch Systems became a thing, Andrew and his Co-Founder were on a mission to solve the problem of broken wells in a number of African ...
185: Connectors, Engineering Leadership, and Growth Strategies with HARTING Americas' Casey Spitz and Cory Jenkins
May 14, 2024 09:00 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MBImagine a world without connectors… If we didn’t have connectors, technology and products would simply be cool ideas without that all-important functionality we need. In this episode, we speak to two of HARTING Americas’ team about the importance of connectors in manufacturing and engineering processes. Casey Spitz, the Vice President of Development and Innovation, and Cory Jenkins, Senior Director of Business Development, weigh in on why connectors should be a part of design processes fro...
184: How to Win the War on Talent by Becoming a Veteran-Ready Organization Featuring Kathy Lowrey Gallowitz, LtCol, USAF, Retired
May 07, 2024 09:00 - 47 minutes - 64.7 MBThe difficulties manufacturers face when it comes to finding and retaining top talent is something we often discuss on this podcast, so it’s great to welcome a guest who has an excellent solution. In this episode, we speak with Retired Lieutenant Colonel (USAF), Kathy Lowrey Gallowitz. Kathy shares her story with us about how she got into the military and eventually the industrial space. She explains what it means to be a veteran champion if you’re hoping to recruit veterans to your manufac...
183: A Case Study in the Adoption of Robotics Featuring Rob Goldiez (CEO of Hirebotics) and Justin Montes (CEO of DeAngelo Marine Exhaust)
April 30, 2024 09:00 - 49 minutes - 68.2 MBWhat are some of the results of integrating cobots into your production processes and how do you help your employees push past any initial apprehension they feel to fully embrace the benefits? In this special case study-style episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we welcome Rob Goldiez, CEO of Hirebotics, a company that makes welding cobots for welders, and Justin Montes, CEO of DeAngelo Marine Exhaust, onto the show to talk about the intersection of automation, technology, and human crafts...
182: Robotics and Automation in Additive Manufacturing with Liz Stortstrom, 3D Printing Product Manager at HP
April 23, 2024 09:00 - 43 minutes - 60.4 MBAdditive manufacturing isn’t exactly a new kid on the block, but are manufacturers using it as much as they could? And are we using it in the right way by teaming it up with automation? According to Liz Stortstrom, 3D Printing Product Manager at HP, manufacturers are starting to lean into using additive manufacturing with automation – but we could do more to fully realize its potential! In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Liz gives us a quick overview of her varied career – from e...
181: Leadership and Ethics in the Adoption of Robotics with Ryan Gariepy, CTO of Clearpath Robotics & OTTO Motors
April 16, 2024 09:00 - 48 minutes - 66.1 MBNow, who doesn’t love a good chat about robots? In this episode, we speak with Ryan Gariepy, the CTO of Clearpath Robotics & OTTO Motors, about the future of robotics and how leadership can effectively integrate autonomous equipment and robots into existing operations. We hear about Ryan’s career in robotics, from his early days to building his two companies, which were recently acquired by Rockwell Automation. Ryan explains how companies, big or small, can start working with robots in dif...
180: Made in Missouri, Live from the 2024 Midwest Manufacturers Trade Show & Conference
April 09, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 92.5 MBThis episode is all about ‘Made in Missouri’ and was recorded live at the 2024 Midwest Manufacturers Trade Show & Conference. It’s a special episode for host Chris Luecke, because not only did he grow up in Missouri, but also because he is a big fan of the Missouri Association of Manufacturers, which is a group that’s constantly advocating for manufacturing and building a great community of manufacturers in their area. This episode is a compilation of three different interviews with three ...
179: The Power of Personal Branding and Building Trust With Your Ideal Customers Featuring Nikki Gonzales
April 02, 2024 09:00 - 59 minutes - 82.3 MBDoes personal branding have a place in the manufacturing space? It might be something you associate more with marketing or creative industries, but this week’s guest has seen her personal branding efforts open doors to new and exciting opportunities. Nikki Gonzales, the Head of Partnerships at Quotebeam and Co-Host of the Automation Ladies podcast (amongst many other projects) joins this episode to talk about personal branding and the importance of trust. Trust is a key theme in this episo...
178: Innovation, Allyship, and Empowering Women in STEM, Live from 3M Global Headquarters in St. Paul, MN
March 26, 2024 09:00 - 51 minutes - 47 MBInnovation is 3M’s bread and butter. As a leading science-based technology company, we wanted to hear more about the stories from people who make all that innovation happen. This episode was recorded at 3M’s headquarters in St. Paul Minnesota, where we spoke with three brilliant women from 3M about innovation in STEM, how 3M encourages new ideas and projects and diversity in STEM. Joining this episode are Jayshree Seth, Corporate Scientist, Brittany Moren, Robotic Application Engineer, and...
177: Strengthening Your Engineering Team through Co-Ops and Employee Ownership with Marcease Warren
March 19, 2024 09:00 - 33 minutes - 31 MBWell, this episode is certainly a trip down memory lane! Host Chris Luecke is joined by former college classmate Marcease Warren, the VP of Manufacturing at Sentry Equipment. Chris and Marcease catch up on what’s changed since they were pulling all-nighters trying to finish projects at Marquette’s College of Engineering. In this episode, we hear about the trick to scaling a manufacturing department, leading a team of engineers, and the importance of a good company culture where everyone...
176: Discussing Logistics, Automated Forklifts, and Craft Beer with Nick Malewicki, Big Joe Forklifts
March 12, 2024 09:00 - 46 minutes - 63.7 MBWhat’s new in the forklift and logistics industry? According to Nick Malewicki, the General Manager of the Autonomous Vehicle Division at Big Joe Forklifts, we’re seeing smart forklifts, more automation, and better safety features in equipment. Nick joins Manufacturing Happy Hour to talk about his role and career and shares some insights into his own passion for solving problems, which has been a major theme throughout his career. We hear how Big Joe Forklifts provides safer ways of man...
175: The Evolution of Industrial Marketing, Live from the 2024 Industrial Marketing Summit
March 05, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 91.8 MBWelcome to this special episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, recorded live at the 2024 Industrial Marketing Summit in Austin Texas, where we chat with five awesome industrial marketers about the evolution of industrial marketing. The episode is divided into three parts and you’ll hear why an industrial marketing event is so important at the beginning of 2024, what a rebrand can really mean to an industrial company and how you can effectively market something that is a small part of a bigg...
174: The Economy, Labor Market, and M&A Landscape: Paying Attention to What Really Matters with Alex Chausovsky
February 27, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 88 MBGet ready for a masterclass of an episode with Alex Chausovsky, the Director of Analytics and Consulting at Bundy Group. Alex gives us detailed breakdowns of the top things you need to know about the current economic climate, the labor market, and the M&A world. We hear about his varied career story and the key lessons he’s picked up from his time in market research and investment banking. He gives his advice for those running businesses, hiring talent, selling businesses, and making dec...
173: Leveraging Robotics in an Unstructured World with Dexterity's Michael Patrick Perry
February 20, 2024 09:00 - 50 minutes - 68.7 MBRobotics and automation have transformed the manufacturing world, logistics, supply chains, and warehouses over the past few years. Thanks to the democratization of these tools, more companies are utilizing the kind of AI-powered robots that Dexterity specializes in. Michael Patrick Perry, Dexterity’s VP of Marketing, returns to the show for a third time to explore the transformational changes in robotics. We chat about how Dexterity solves common challenges in warehouses plus how the com...
172: How To Stay Focused on Your Mission and Deliver Robotic Solutions at Scale with Rapid Robotics CEO & Co-Founder Jordan Kretchmer
February 13, 2024 09:00 - 38 minutes - 53 MBFrom energy to supply chain, manufacturing represents the lifeblood of pretty much everything that makes our society run. It also contributes 14% of the GDP of the US, making it a space that needs to grow aggressively and an attractive prospect for our guest on this episode, Rapid Robotics CEO & Co-Founder Jordan Kretchmer. Jordan explains how and why he made the transition from a highly successful career in MarTech to robotics and what this new focus means to him personally. He also provid...
171: AI and the "Art of the Possible" with Gregory Powers, VP of Cool Stuff at Gray Solutions
February 06, 2024 09:00 - 43 minutes - 59.1 MBAI has been a key part of modern manufacturing for a few years now, and it’s here to stay. But we wouldn’t have it without people like our guest on this episode, who’s not afraid to try new things and take bold leaps into the unknown. With quite possibly the coolest job title ever, Gregory Powers, the VP of Cool Stuff at Gray Solutions, gives us some backstory on how he got that title and what his role involves. His philosophy leans into the “art of what’s possible,” and this curiosity has...
170: Marketing, Machine Shops, and Leadership with Jim Carr, CEO of CARR Machine & Tool
January 30, 2024 09:00 - 54 minutes - 74.1 MBMarketing, manufacturing, and life advice are the key themes in this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour. Jim Carr, CEO of CARR Machine & Tool, joins the podcast to impart his words of wisdom as a manufacturing trailblazer. We hear about his early days of bartending and marketing and the surprisingly transferable lessons he now applies to manufacturing. One of Jim’s take-home points in this episode is the importance of getting out of your comfort zone, which is something he practices regu...
169: How to Apply “The Hospitality Mentality” to Manufacturing
January 23, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 95.5 MBHospitality and the manufacturing industry couldn’t be further apart, right? But it turns out there are some universal lessons when it comes to delivering a great customer experience that apply no matter what industry you’re in. Whether you’re dealing with guests, customers, clients, or visitors, the “hospitality mentality” is key to success – says returning guest Josh Liebman, guest experience expert, podcast co-host of AttractionPros, and author of The Hospitality Mentality. Josh joined ...
168: Shifting Your Mindset on the Human Potential of AI with Concurrency CTO Nathan Lasnoski
January 16, 2024 09:00 - 53 minutes - 73.8 MBWhen leveraged correctly, AI can enhance human creativity and allow businesses to connect disparate systems and make informed decisions. So, what choices can manufacturing businesses take to ensure they’re using AI the right way? We all know some aspects of our jobs can feel robotic, so Concurrency Chief Technology Officer, Nathan Lasnoski, suggests leaving the manual tasks to AI so you can focus on creativity. On this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, he shares how AI can be used to ...
167: How HEINEKEN and SwipeGuide Are Putting Frontline Workers at the Center of the Connected Brewery, Featuring Joris Stolk and Willemijn Schneyder
January 09, 2024 09:00 - 50 minutes - 69.3 MBFor manufacturing to succeed in 2024 and beyond, it’s crucial we empower our frontline workers. But how can technology and data enhance their work experiences, capitalize on their strengths and build a positive culture? We’re delighted to be joined by not one, but two guests in this episode. Joris Stolk, Plant Manager at Lagunitas Brewing Company, and Willemijn Schneyder, CEO and founder of SwipeGuide, join Manufacturing Happy Hour to explore the importance of the frontline worker and how ...
166: How Canvus Turns Wind Turbines into Functional Art with Brian Donahue
January 02, 2024 09:00 - 49 minutes - 68.3 MBMost successful manufacturing processes start with some sort of roadmap, designed to outline goals and what you need to reach them. But how do you create a roadmap for an all-new, one-of-a-kind project? Brian Donahue, VP of Corporate Affairs at Canvus, says his roadmap creation consisted of commitment and creativity, not to mention a hard-working procurement team. Brian joins Manufacturing Happy Hour to share the incredible story of Canvus and how they repurpose disused wind turbine bla...
165: Unlocking the Full Potential of Frontline Operations, Lean Manufacturing, and Industry 4.0 with Natan Linder, Co-Founder & CEO of Tulip
December 26, 2023 09:00 - 47 minutes - 65.2 MBFrontline operations platforms help manufacturing teams upgrade their processes. So what’s the story behind the world’s leading frontline ops platform and how do they simplify workflows for the manufacturers of today and tomorrow? You may have heard the phrase ‘a good engineer is a lazy engineer’. It’s certainly an exaggeration, but what is true is that manufacturers are always looking for shortcuts. That’s why Natan Linder took a step back from his previous venture to focus on building Tu...
164: How to Cut Turnover in Half by Leveraging Data and Empowering Frontline Leaders with Mike White, Founder & President of Secchi
December 19, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 94.7 MBPerformance management is critical to keep your manufacturing processes running smoothly. So, as the capabilities of technology continue to advance, how can leaders leverage tech and data to build strong, meaningful employee relationships and cut their turnovers in half? This feels like a classic episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, and joining the show is Mike White, Founder and President of Secchi. Secchi is a platform providing clarity for HR professionals and helping them make data-dri...
163: The Evolving Role of Industrial Distribution in a Manufacturing Ecosystem with E&H Electric Supply's Nate Bucklew
December 12, 2023 09:00 - 40 minutes - 54.9 MBIndustrial distribution is so much more than just shipping boxes. It’s an essential part of the manufacturing process and, without it, customers would never see the products they need. But how has industrial distribution evolved? What does it mean to be a distributor today? And what does the distributor of the future look like? We can’t believe we’ve never dived into industrial distribution on Manufacturing Happy Hour, but better late than never! Here to shed some light is Nate Bucklew, ...
BONUS: Exploring the Characteristics of Smart Manufacturing Leaders, Live from the 2023 Smart Manufacturing Experience
December 05, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 66.6 MBThere’s no doubt that Smart Manufacturing has a plethora of benefits for manufacturing organizations. It can help speed up your processes, improve your product quality and reduce your costs. But effective Smart Manufacturing adoption lies with the leader. That’s why host Chris Luecke asked seven industry leaders for their Smart Manufacturing tips and tricks on our latest bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, recorded at the Smart Manufacturing Experience at SOUTHTEC. They discuss how ...
BONUS: Defining the Smart Manufacturing Mindset, Live from the Smart Manufacturing Experience (Powered by CESMII)
November 28, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 70 MBSmart Manufacturing goes way beyond being just a buzzword. It’s a movement and mindset taking the industry by storm. But what does it really mean, what are the key benefits and how can manufacturing leaders get started today? Manufacturing Happy Hour host Chris Luecke asked industry experts these questions live at the Smart Manufacturing Experience at SOUTHTEC. In this special bonus episode, seven manufacturing leaders shared their own definitions of Smart Manufacturing, the secrets behind ...
162: How Data and Automation are Shaping the Future of the Bourbon Industry with Opus Integration Co-Founders Don Ault and Scott Feldmeier
November 21, 2023 09:00 - 39 minutes - 54.2 MBLouisville is the recognized bourbon capital of the United States, evolving alongside shifts in technology and culture. But how can the bourbon industry adapt in this age of data and automation? Don Ault, CEO, and Scott Feldmeier, Senior Automation Engineer and COO of Opus Integration, join Manufacturing Happy Hour to discuss the rich history of manufacturing in Kentucky and how Louisville came to be a hub for bourbon production. They explain what part Opus Integration plays as the industr...
161: Do Your Values Align with Your Company's Culture? An interview with Jim Mayer, Host of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast
November 14, 2023 09:00 - 46 minutes - 64.2 MBIn every manufacturing organization, company culture is key to success. But what does company culture really mean? And how can manufacturing leaders ensure the culture in their organization is the best it can be? Jim Mayer, founder of TCO Strategies and host of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, joins Manufacturing Happy Hour to share his thoughts. He provides a super-simple definition of company culture, describing it as the alignment of values between employees and the organization. In...
160: Buying a Manufacturing Company and Reimagining Upskilling with Bill Berrien, CEO of Pindel Global Precision
November 07, 2023 09:00 - 46 minutes - 64.2 MBWhat can a former Navy SEAL teach us about upskilling and manufacturing business acquisition? It turns out, a whole lot! Bill Berrien, CEO of Pindel Global Precision, joins episode 160 of Manufacturing Happy Hour, to share his thoughts on upskilling your team and his journey from the Navy to manufacturing business leader. We hear why he chose to acquire Pindel and how he was lucky enough for the seller to stay on board to help ease the leadership transition. We explore the importance of...
159: How Career & Technical Education (CTE) is Impacting Smart Manufacturing with Kent Powell of Amatrol
October 31, 2023 09:00 - 45 minutes - 62.6 MBWhether it’s on the job or in a traditional academic setting, education is essential to building a strong manufacturing function. But this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour homes in on one specific aspect of learning – career and technical education (CTE) – and explores how it’s helping teams make better decisions and better products. Amatrol’s career and technical training solutions are used in all 50 U.S. states and in 50+ countries, so we invited Kent Powell, their VP of Sales and ...
158: Letting Curiosity Lead and Finding Your Identity with Gray Solutions CEO Walker Mattox
October 24, 2023 09:00 - 47 minutes - 65.9 MBCuriosity is at the heart of this guest’s leadership style, and it manifests in the projects he is involved in. But what does it mean to “let curiosity lead”? And how can manufacturing leaders take this advice on board? Joining this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour is Walker Mattox, CEO of Gray Solutions, one of the top 20 largest full-service systems integrators in the U.S. He shares why curiosity shapes how he manages his team and explains why leadership is a journey, not a destina...
157: Building Your Business to Sell with Bob Goldsmith, Founder & President of Northern Edge Advisors
October 17, 2023 10:00 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBOur guest this week is Robert Goldsmith, the Founder and President of Northern Edge Advisors, a boutique investment bank offering M&A expertise and advising for owners of private businesses. As the US experiences a manufacturing renaissance and the next generation starts to enter the manufacturing workforce, buying and selling manufacturing companies is an in vogue topic. In this episode, Bob discusses what what it means to "build to sell" your business. He covers what makes a business attr...
156: "Clash of the Grinders: Student Edition" and the Future of Skilled Trades, presented by 3M
October 12, 2023 22:00 - 59 minutes - 54.9 MBToday, we're exploring the future of skilled trades and we're doing this largely by speaking to the next generation of skilled tradespeople and the folks that our training and enabling them. From students to instructors, this episode includes a series of 5 interviews with folks that are part of 3M's upcoming series Clash of the Grinders: Student Edition, a high-stakes grinding and welding competition that pits soon-to-be pros against each other to find the most talented up-and-comers in the ...
BONUS: Your Host Went to Oktoberfest, So Here Are Some Mindset and Productivity Tips
October 03, 2023 10:00 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MBHere's an oldie but a goodie! While Chris was on holiday in Munich for this year's Oktoberfest, that was no excuse not to give you an episode this week. We're diving back in the archives for this episode with Craig Francisco where he shares some of his best mindset, productivity, and podcasting tips from one of his old podcasts: 8 Keys of Sales Excellence. Enjoy the throwback!
155: Down to Earth Digital Transformation Advice with Vatsal Shah
September 26, 2023 09:00 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MBSpending time on the plant floor gives you direct communication with your customers. But what’s the best way to gather their feedback and bring it to market quickly? In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we are joined by Vatsal Shah, Founder and CEO of Litmus, a unified platform for industrial IoT. Vatsal provides down-to-earth digital transformation advice, tips on how to bring customer feedback to life and insights into how companies can contextualize their data. Plus, he shares...
154: How Women are Thriving in the Manufacturing Workforce with Allison Grealis, President & Founder of Women in Manufacturing
September 19, 2023 09:00 - 36 minutes - 49.8 MBWomen have been advancing in the manufacturing workforce for some time, but what actions can leaders in the industry take to continue that trend? In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we are joined by Allison Grealis, President and Founder of Women in Manufacturing (WIM), a 20,000+ member global trade association that is committed to supporting, promoting and inspiring women who choose to enter the industry. Allison discusses what motivated her to launch WIM, how the organization ...
153: Inspiring Champions in Advanced Manufacturing with Terry Iverson
September 12, 2023 09:00 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBWhy don’t more young people want to get into manufacturing? This week’s Manufacturing Happy Hour guest, Terry Iverson, President & CEO of Iverson & Company, is the author of two fantastic books on the subject. His latest one, Inspiring Champions in Advanced Manufacturing, aims to encourage both students and their parents to give manufacturing a shot. We had a great in-person conversation at The Vanguard in Milwaukee to talk about his mission to elevate manufacturing as a career path and ...
152: What the U.S. Navy Can Teach You About Industry 4.0 with Marty Groover
September 05, 2023 09:00 - 34 minutes - 47.4 MBIn the Navy, every minute of every day is measured and that measurement is called Speed of Advance. In layman’s terms, it means, “I've got a plan and where am I at in that plan?” But how does that relate to manufacturing? In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we’re joined by Marty Groover, operational technology expert, partner at C5MI and the author of Speed of Advance. He talks about his background in the US Navy and how that experience helped him make a smooth transition into th...
151: Building AI and Automation into Technical College Curriculums with Richard Barnhouse, President of WCTC (Waukesha County Technical College)
August 29, 2023 09:00 - 51 minutes - 70.7 MBThere’s no escaping AI and automation! But what’s the best way to integrate them into technical college curriculums and provide the next generation of manufacturing professionals with the education they need? Who better to answer that question than Richard Barnhouse, President of Waukesha County Technical College? Richard joins this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour to share his insights, why he believes Wisconsin is the hub of higher ed transformation and why he strives to provide hig...
150: When Will We Actually Close the Skills Gap? Featuring Ann Wyatt
August 22, 2023 09:00 - 48 minutes - 66.1 MBManufacturing professionals have been talking about the skills gap for a long time now – but when will it finally close? While we don’t have a crystal ball on Manufacturing Happy Hour, we have a guest who comes close. Ann Wyatt, President and Agency Owner of Ann Wyatt Recruiting joins the show to share some great insights, advice, and predictions for the future of the industry. Ann’s a long-time listener of the show and has been part of the Manufacturing Happy Hour community for a while n...
149: Thriving with AI: Artificial Intelligence Strategies for Manufacturers with Jeff Winter
August 15, 2023 09:00 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBArtificial intelligence is THE hot topic at the moment – no matter what industry you’re in. For manufacturers, it could be a game-changer if you have a great strategy. But how do you get started with AI? Well, you’re in luck with this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour with Jeff Winter, Sr. Director of Industry Strategy & Manufacturing. Jeff breaks down some of the best strategies to thrive with AI. We cover everything from the differences between different AI types to the best use cas...
148: Why Your Manufacturing Business Should Be Boring with Marc Bowers, Executive Director of St. Louis Makes
August 08, 2023 09:00 - 52 minutes - 48.5 MBWe know what you’re thinking…this episode title is against everything we stand for! But hear us out… “Manufacturing should be boring” may sound like the antithesis of this podcast but, as you listen, you’ll understand what this guest means. On this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we are joined by St. Louis Makes Executive Director, Marc Bowers. St. Louis Makes is a non-profit helping emerging and mid-sized regional manufacturers drive sales expansion through product innovation and n...
147: What “Tether Golf” Can Teach You about Supply Chain with Co-founders Jesse Darley and Randy Koplin
August 01, 2023 09:00 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBWhat do golf, beer caps, and face masks have in common? It turns out this week’s guests on Manufacturing Happy Hour! Tether Golf Co-Founders Jesse Darley and Randy Koplin join the show to talk about their innovative new golf-inspired game and what it takes to get a product like that to market. Both Jesse and Randy are no strangers to product businesses, having launched products from beer cap maps to COVID-19 face mask accessories. This time, they turned their attention to design Tether ...
146: The Workforce Slugfest: A Live Panel on Training Programs, Immigration Policy, and Attracting the Next Generation
July 25, 2023 09:00 - 29 minutes - 27 MBYou just can’t find the people these days, right? Anyone in the manufacturing, engineering, or construction industries knows that the top challenge right now is finding talent. There’s a shortage of willing and able workers in the U.S. – and immigration policies make it difficult to bring in talent from overseas. In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we head to Washington D.C. for a special live panel discussion from the Celebration of Construction on the National Mall. Marsia ...
145: How to Break Through the Noise and Build Trust with Storytelling in Manufacturing with James Soto
July 18, 2023 09:00 - 43 minutes - 40.3 MBMore and more voices are being heard as the manufacturing community grows online. And while this can only be a good thing, it does make it tougher for individuals to be heard above the noise. In this episode, we welcomed James Soto, CEO of Industrial Strength Marketing, to talk about his tactics for getting his message across and building trust in the community. James explains why storytelling is so important, how different types of “noise” can hold manufacturers back, and why you need ...
144: The Experience Mindset: Creating an Amazing Customer Experience through a Great Employee Experience
July 11, 2023 09:00 - 47 minutes - 64.6 MBWhat does it mean to have an experience mindset? Tiffani Bova, keynote speaker, author and Growth and Innovation Evangelist at Salesforce, joins Manufacturing Happy Hour to explain how manufacturing leaders can prioritize employee experience while still keeping customer experience front of mind, using research found for her book The Experience Mindset. When Chris saw Tiffani speak on the topic at a KUKA Robotics event, he couldn’t wait to get her on the show! In this episode, Tiffani sha...
Live from Washington DC, A Celebration of Construction on the National Mall
July 04, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBThis just might be our biggest episodes ever. Today's episode is a recap of the 2023 Celebration of Construction Equipment on the Nation Mall, hosted by AEM, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. You'll hear from a ton of folks from the big names in equipment manufacturing as we discuss topics impacting the construction industry and beyond. In fact, seeing as how this is a manufacturing-centric podcast, you'll likely find that there are many parallels there are between construction and...
143: How to Identify and Speak to Your Ideal Customer with Emily Joann Wilkins, Founder of Marketing Metal
June 27, 2023 09:00 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBThis is a branding, marketing, and sales focused episode…but everyone needs to hear this! Our guest this week is Emily Wilkins, Founder & President of Marketing Metal, a company focused on helping radical job shops make big profits by creating a killer brand and building out a stupid simple marketing machine. Given this very loud mission statement, there's no better person than Emily to cover the strategies outlined today. In this episode, Emily shares the importance of focusing on a nic...
142: How to Accelerate Smart Manufacturing Adoption in the US with John Dyck, CEO of CESMII
June 20, 2023 09:00 - 52 minutes - 48.4 MBJohn Dyck, CEO of CESMII, is making his long-awaited debut on Manufacturing Happy Hour. CESMII is a non-profit institute in the United States dedicated to smart manufacturing. Simply put, they’re democratizing the tools and technologies needed to bring smarter manufacturing operations to life. Smart manufacturing operations result in reduced costs, less complexity, and quicker time-to-value. All of these things make companies and the US manufacturing industry as a whole more competitive ...
141: Additive Manufacturing and Creating Workplaces Where People Thrive with Lisa D. Block, CRO of Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies
June 13, 2023 09:00 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MBAdditive manufacturing won’t solve your problems, but as our guest explains, it can make life easier. We’re back to our traditional format at Manufacturing Happy Hour and, on this episode, we are joined by Lisa D. Block, Chief Revenue Officer at Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies. Lisa explains her path into the industry, shares her experiences and busts some myths around additive manufacturing. Plus, she shares how we can create workspaces where people thrive, with tips on personal de...