Location:

Rockford, IL

Description:

Equip and Inspire

Language:

English


Episodes
Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

MFG News Special: Where are We at with the Reshoring Initiative? 410

5/31/2024
Where is the United States with reshoring initiatives? Do we still have huge vulnerabilities in our supply chain(s) that need to be addressed? If we continue to reshore manufacturing, will companies remain competitive? Reshoring impacts supply chains. Reshoring brings more jobs and opportunities to the US. These are all valid questions that are playing in […] The post MFG News Special: Where are We at with the Reshoring Initiative? 410 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:44:26

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Lights Out: A Samurai’s Journey to Automation, 409

5/24/2024
Can small shops begin to automate their processes? Where do they start with automation? In this episode of MakingChips, the CNC Samurai, Steve Courchane, returns to share his passion for automation. He lays out his 3M process and how it changes the way you view automation. Because if you’re not modeling, making, or measuring—you’re not […] The post Lights Out: A Samurai’s Journey to Automation, 409 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:46:24

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

How Can Manufacturing Leaders Measure Their Customer Relationships? 408

5/18/2024
Whether you’re a small business or a growing enterprise, you need to seek out new customers and build relationships with them while pushing them through your sales pipeline. The reality is that you have to make more sales to grow your business. You need a way to track and measure your progress with potential customers (and current […] The post How Can Manufacturing Leaders Measure Their Customer Relationships? 408 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:33:56

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

MakingSparks: Why Numbers are Important for Your Manufacturing Business | Mike Payne Part 2, 407

5/10/2024
You need to know the “numbers” in your business. Every business owner needs to know that they’re making enough to pay their employees, make and deliver their products, and grow the business. That’s just good business. Non-financial metrics are important, too. A successful business has to focus on quality, safety, customer service, on-time delivery, retention, and even […] The post MakingSparks: Why Numbers are Important for Your Manufacturing Business | Mike Payne Part 2, 407 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:41:03

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

MakingSparks: Oklahoma Meets Indiana – A Manufacturing Chat with Mike Payne Part 1, 406

5/3/2024
Mike Payne has spent the last 20+ years deeply entrenched in the M&A process with dozens of companies throughout Oklahoma. Early in his career, he realized he loved the world of manufacturing. He also learned that he enjoyed operating a business. He was just waiting for the right opportunity to unfold. Then it happened: Six years […] The post MakingSparks: Oklahoma Meets Indiana – A Manufacturing Chat with Mike Payne Part 1, 406 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:37:40

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Should You Use a Recruiter to Find Your Next Manufacturing Leader? 405

4/26/2024
Are you the type of manufacturing leader who prefers to do everything yourself? You learn and innovate as you go, right? We’ve learned from experience: There is an art and a science to recruiting. I’ve muddled through using LinkedIn Recruiter to make some hires. And while it’s a great tool, it can only do so […] The post Should You Use a Recruiter to Find Your Next Manufacturing Leader? 405 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:46:33

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

The Journey from Scan to CAD to Part at Hill Manufacturing, 404

4/19/2024
My shop has been restoring a 1959 Ford F10. When we decided to recreate a digital dash for the truck, we decided to ask the LinkedIn world for help. That’s when I met Ira Laughy with rapid3D. Rapid3D exists to solve complex measurement challenges to empower confident decision-making. We scanned the space and current dash […] The post The Journey from Scan to CAD to Part at Hill Manufacturing, 404 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:33:36

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Are You Putting Too Much Trust in Your Supply Chain? 403

4/12/2024
How important is building relationships and trust with your vendors? When you do have established relationships, are you placing too much trust in them? How do you balance being business savvy and trusting? Mark McCormack is known for saying “All things being equal, people will do business with a friend; all things being unequal, people […] The post Are You Putting Too Much Trust in Your Supply Chain? 403 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:38:40

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

How Businesses Can Collaborate with Technical Education, 402

4/2/2024
What are the benefits of working closely with a local career & technical education center? You can have a huge impact on the local community, education system, and businesses. If you partner with a local technical center, it could have a far-reaching impact—and it just might help you recruit the next generation. Nix Partners with […] The post How Businesses Can Collaborate with Technical Education, 402 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:37:18

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

SZN1: Should Women Entrepreneurs Choose the Manufacturing Industry? 401

3/29/2024
POV: You’re a woman with an entrepreneurial edge. You want to start a business. Why not consider the manufacturing industry? There are only 6,431 women-owned manufacturing businesses in the United States (representing just 2% of all manufacturing companies). 20% of them are minority-owned. This industry needs a woman’s perspective and expertise. So what does it […] The post SZN1: Should Women Entrepreneurs Choose the Manufacturing Industry? 401 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:40:16

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Lights Out: How to Prioritize Flexibility when You Invest in Automation, 400

3/22/2024
POV: You’ve decided to start the process of implementing automation in your machine shop—but it isn’t as easy as flipping a switch. It’s a process that consists of failing forward and learning from every mistake. Tom Schroeder—the Executive Vice President at PBC Linear—joins us in this episode of Lights Out to share how to prioritize […] The post Lights Out: How to Prioritize Flexibility when You Invest in Automation, 400 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:36:08

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Do We Need More Manufacturing Entrepreneurs? 399

3/12/2024
There are around 17,000 contract manufacturing job shops in the US. That sounds pretty great, right? The truth is that growth is down 16% since 2008. Now, more than ever, we need new entrepreneurs in the manufacturing industry. Matthew Nix, Paul Van Metre, Drew Crowe, and Mike Payne join me in this roundtable discussion to talk […] The post Do We Need More Manufacturing Entrepreneurs? 399 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:43:55

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

MakingSparks: Staying Connected through Your Front Line Leaders Part 2, 398

3/5/2024
How can leadership remain connected to what’s happening on the shop floor? At Nix, we’ve found a creative way to bridge a gap that many businesses experience. We’ve implemented a program that allows our front line to address problems and propose solutions so that their everyday real-world problems are being fixed. Dakota Hunt and Jack […] The post MakingSparks: Staying Connected through Your Front Line Leaders Part 2, 398 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:29:55

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

MakingSparks: Growing Shop Floor Front Line Leaders Part 1, 397

2/27/2024
How do we recruit more young talent to fabrication? How do we navigate rapid growth balanced with training and development? How do we help develop young talent into our future leaders? These are just a few questions we wrestle with in this episode of MakingSparks with special guests Dakota Hunt and Jack Henry Hagan. The post MakingSparks: Growing Shop Floor Front Line Leaders Part 1, 397 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:27:05

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

MakingSparks: Manufacturing Precision and Processes with BWXT GM Nate Foote, 396

2/20/2024
BWXT Mount Vernon produces components for naval nuclear reactors, used in submarines and aircraft carriers. Their sprawling facility is home to CNC machine tools and sophisticated welding and heat-treating equipment. In this episode of MakingSparks, General Manager Nate Foote shares more about their commitment to processes, their recruiting practices, and why the work they do […] The post MakingSparks: Manufacturing Precision and Processes with BWXT GM Nate Foote, 396 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:38:14

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

MakingSparks: How Technology Drives Innovation on the Other Side of Metalworking Nation, 395

2/13/2024
What are the pros and cons of plasma cutters vs. water jets vs. lasers? How does cutting with nitrogen differ from cutting with oxygen? How is technology driving innovation in fabrication? R.J. Reed and Brendon DiVincenzo join us in this episode of MakingSparks to cover all things lasers and fabrication. Because if you’re not MakingSparks […] The post MakingSparks: How Technology Drives Innovation on the Other Side of Metalworking Nation, 395 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:44:01

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

An Important Update on Jason Zenger and the Leadership Lessons We Learned from It, 394

2/6/2024
On December 7th, 2023, Jason had a heart attack, the type well-known as the “widow-maker.” Miraculously, Jason survived. Then he survived a heart transplant. January 19th, 2024, he went home. Jason beat the odds. In this episode of MakingChips, we’ll share Jason’s miraculous story. We’ll also share some of the lessons we’ve learned throughout the last […] The post An Important Update on Jason Zenger and the Leadership Lessons We Learned from It, 394 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:36:21

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

MakingSparks: Expanding and Transitioning a Family Business in Manufacturing with Joe Patterson, 393

1/30/2024
Every family business that’s growing and expanding runs into some challenges. From navigating tough conversations with family to determining a centralized versus decentralized model, there are numerous things to consider. Joe Patterson’s family business overcame the challenges that came their way and expanded globally. However, they had lofty goals for the business and ultimately needed […] The post MakingSparks: Expanding and Transitioning a Family Business in Manufacturing with Joe Patterson, 393 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:44:49

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

MakingSparks: Embracing the Family Aspect of Business with Tad Dickel Part 2, 392

1/23/2024
communication with your family? How do you foster open communication in difficult conversations? Running a family business is full of unique challenges—and successes—that many other businesses don’t have to think about. But navigating those challenges doesn’t have to be difficult. Tad Dickel returns in this episode of MakingSparks to cover it all. – Matthew Nix […] The post MakingSparks: Embracing the Family Aspect of Business with Tad Dickel Part 2, 392 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:34:58

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

MakingSparks: Navigating a Family Business in Manufacturing with Tad Dickel Part 1, 391

1/16/2024
Nix Companies is a fifth-generation family business in an industry that’s predominantly privately held and family-owned. Family-owned businesses are the fabric of our economy. Today’s guest on MakingSparks, Tad Dickel, is a Leadership & Strategy Consultant with a special interest in family-owned businesses. He helps them with everything from governance to succession planning. Tad shares […] The post MakingSparks: Navigating a Family Business in Manufacturing with Tad Dickel Part 1, 391 first appeared on MakingChips Podcast.

Duration:00:30:14