Shifting Gears

Episode 3 features Ernie Edmonds, Sr. Managing Consultant of Cyber Physical Security Services at CMTC. Ernie explains what Zero Clear is, where it came from, and how it's structured. In addition, Ernie debunks the common misconception that data security is a “big company” problem and discusses warning signs that an attacker may have access to a company's data. Ernie concludes the conversation by offering suggestions for how SMMs can help secure their data as well as how they can better educate their employees to prevent attacks.

Episode 2 features Dr. Ron McFarland, Sr. Consultant of Cyber Physical Security Services at CMTC. Ron discusses what a third-party IT provider is, the services they typically provide, and why they tend to be prime targets for cyber attacks. Ron goes on to explain the ways SMMs can make sure they're hiring the right provider, red flags to look out for, and tips to ensure their IT provider is following best practices.

Episode 1 features Buzz Thomas, Managing Consultant of Cyber Physical Security Services at CMTC. Buzz explains what ransomware is, where it comes from, and who is most at risk of an attack. Buzz also explains the most common ways ransomware hackers gain access to SMMs' networks as well as tools available to SMMs to help them increase their level of security.

Season Ten of Shifting Gears deep-dives into cybersecurity topics: ransomware, third-party IT providers, and Zero Clear. Shifting Gears' host Gregg Profozich is joined by subject matter experts to explore each of this season's topics.

Episode 3 features NIST Baldrige Performance Excellence Program Manager Dr. Kelly Welsh and CMTC Quality Practice Lead Eliot Dratch. Kelly and Eliot explain what the “Job Quality Toolkit” is, its connection to the Baldrige Excellence Framework, and how it can help manufacturers attract and retain high-performing employees. Kelly and Eliot then detail the eight drivers of job quality that turn a routine occupation into a high-quality job where your employees feel respected, valued, and important.

Episode 2 features Pandora Ovanessian, Senior Technology Consultant at CMTC. Pandora explains what enterprise resource planning (ERP) is, how it works, and its evolution over the years. In addition, Pandora discusses common signs that point to an organization needing technology improvements and explores what a roadmap for digital transformation looks like.

Episode 1 features Jane Tierney, Founder and President of Purple Link. Jane covers the key elements of supply chain diversification and the role it plays in risk mitigation. In addition, Jane offers advice regarding supplier negotiations and discusses supply chain “red flags” to look out for.

Season Nine of Shifting Gears deep-dives into supply chain diversification, enterprise resource planning (ERP), and the key drivers of job quality. Shifting Gears' host Gregg Profozich is joined by subject matter experts to explore each of this season's topics.

Episode 3 features three executives from Mizuho OSI – Steve Lamb, Kevin Thorne, and Bill Bregar – as well as Denise Shields, Principal of the Shields Resource Group. Steve, Kevin, Bill, and Denise explain the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the MBNQA Framework. The group then discusses Mizuho's continuous improvement journey using the Baldrige Criteria – why they were interested in applying the Criteria, what the process looked like, and the value the Criteria has provided them. 

Episode 2 features Christopher Thornberg, Ph.D., Founding Partner at Beacon Economics LLC. Christopher discusses the current state of the economy and what he calls the “stimulus hangover.” In addition, Christopher covers key indicators of economic health, trends impacting the manufacturing sector, and what manufacturers should look out for in the future. 

Episode 1 features Dr. Jim Davis, Vice Provost of IT at UCLA's Office of Advanced Research Computing (OARC). Jim explains what artificial intelligence (AI) is, the process for how it works, and its value in the world of manufacturing. In addition, Jim offers recommendations for how SMMs can get started with AI as well as ensure long-term success with their AI projects.

Season Eight of Shifting Gears deep-dives into artificial intelligence in manufacturing, the current state of the economy, and continuous improvement through the MBNQA Framework. Shifting Gears' host Gregg Profozich is joined by subject matter experts to explore each of this season's topics.

Episode 3 features FIBR Food Safety Council Lead Trainer Bill Huntley. Bill discusses the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), its impact on small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs), and the steps SMMs can take to ensure their compliance.

Episode 2 features California Fashion Association President Ilse Metchek. Ilse discusses the current landscape of the apparel industry in California, the opportunities and challenges apparel manufacturers face, and the role technology has played in the industry. Ilse also covers regulatory and compliance changes, the impact of “fast” and “slow” fashion, and her predictions for the future of apparel in California.

Episode 1 features Aerospace & Defense Forum Co-Founder & Executive Director Dr. Ivan Rosenberg and Patriot Industrial Partners Managing Director Alex Krutz. Ivan and Alex discuss today's aerospace and defense ecosystem including current technology, trends, and cybersecurity considerations. Ivan and Alex also offer practical guidance to A&D organizations, covering topics such as strategic planning, company culture, and problem-solving.

Season Seven of Shifting Gears deep-dives into a few of California's biggest manufacturing industries: aerospace & defense, apparel, and food. Shifting Gears' host Gregg Profozich is joined by subject matter experts to explore each of this season's topics.

Episode 3 features two CMTC Cyber Physical Security Services consultants: Ernie Edmonds and Buzz Thomas. Ernie and Buzz define NIST SP 800-171 and explain what it entails – its requirements, which companies need to follow its guidelines, and how an SMM can implement it.

Episode 2 features Beacon Economics Research Manager Taner Osman. Taner discusses the current state of California manufacturing, particularly in terms of employment and competitiveness. In addition, Taner covers the diversity of California's various regions and industries, supply chain challenges facing California SMMs, and key elements SMMs should consider including in their manufacturing strategies.

Episode 1 features Lakeview Consulting President Micki Vandeloo and San Diego, Orange, Imperial PTAC Regional Director Brett Housholder. Micki and Brett discuss the current state of manufacturing funding at the various federal, state, local, and private institution levels. In addition, they explain the qualifications for funding, how to write a proposal, and the “dos and don'ts” when submitting an application.

Season Six of Shifting Gears deep-dives into government funding opportunities for manufacturers, the current state of employment and competitiveness in California manufacturing, and NIST SP 800-171 requirements. Shifting Gears' host Gregg Profozich is joined by subject matter experts to explore each of this season's topics.

Episode 3 features California Council for Excellence (CEE) Vice Chair Dr. David Spong and Shields Resource Group Principal Denise Shields. David and Denise explain what the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is, what happens when a company receives the award, and the impact of the Baldrige process not only on quality and productivity but on company culture.

Episode 2 features two CMTC Cyber Physical Security Services consultants: Ernie Edmonds and Buzz Thomas. Ernie and Buzz cover ten best practices for improving cybersecurity, including small business system architecture, device hygiene, multi-factor authentication, and more. They also discuss the importance of people in establishing and maintaining strong cybersecurity.

Episode 1 features Engage Forward Consultant, Trainer, & Coach/Advocate Lisa Rawcliffe and CMTC Senior Manager of HR, Administration, & Recruitment Jeri Summer. Lisa and Jeri discuss the factors impacting SMMs in the current labor market, top tips to attracting and retaining talent, and the importance of workforce development.

Season Five of Shifting Gears deep-dives into talent recruitment & retention, cybersecurity best practices, and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Shifting Gears' host Gregg Profozich is joined by subject matter experts to explore each of this season's topics.

Episode 3 features Business Strategy & Family Business Advisor/Sales & Marketing expert Larry Kirsch as well as two professors from the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics at California State University, Northridge – Dr. Lois M. Shelton and Dr. Daniel Degravel. Larry, Lois, and Daniel discuss what strategic planning is, the advantages of having a strategic plan, and how strategic planning ties into budgeting. The group closes with concrete steps to begin the strategic planning process and how to measure progress after implementation.

Episode 2 features Supply Chain/Operations & Management Consultant Gary Steinberg. Gary discusses how the pandemic has affected global supply chains, how SMMs can evaluate supply chain risks, the benefits of supplier scouting, and how SMMs can get started with supply chain strategy.

Episode 1 features Spearhead TEI President Dr. Tony Lopez. Tony explains what ransomware is and how it works, the types of ransomware that exist and possible entry points, what happens when a company falls victim to a ransomware attack, and what practices SMMs should consider implementing to prevent attacks.

Season Four of Shifting Gears deep-dives into ransomware and recovery, supply chain resiliency, and budgeting and strategic planning. Shifting Gears' host Gregg Profozich is joined by subject matter experts to explore each of this season's topics.

Episode 4 features James Sly, President & CEO of the East County Economic Development Council; Pierre Coeurdeuil, Advising & Education Director for SFMade; and Ricardo Vasquez, Economic Policy Manager for the LA Mayor's Office. James, Pierre, and Ricardo discuss how their organizations first got involved with MFG Day, the eye-opening experiences they've had at local manufacturers' facilities during MFG Day, and the steps and benefits of hosting a MFG Day event.

Episode 3 features Dr. Richard M. Seugling, Manufacturing Engineering Section Leader at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL); Jay Dinsmore, Founder and CEO of Dinsmore Inc.; and Matt Sand, Co-Founder and President of 3DEO. Richard, Jay, and Matt define additive manufacturing and discuss how to determine if this technology is right for your company, what to consider before taking the additive journey, and what they see for the future of additive.

Episode 2 features Mario Persicone, Director of Operations at PNM Company and Owner of Pro Laser Graphics. Mario discusses the applications of robotics and automation and how they can boost productivity and make a workplace safer.

Episode 1 features Dr. Satyandra K. Gupta, Smith International Professor in the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department and Director of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing in the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California; and Craig Schlenoff, Group Leader of the Cognition and Collaboration Systems Group and Program Manager of the Robotic Systems for Smart Manufacturing Program in the Intelligent Systems Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). SK and Craig discuss the evolution of robotics technologies, the impact on the manufacturing industry, how to develop a roadmap for implementation, and their predictions for the future of robotics.

Season Three of Shifting Gears deep-dives into advanced manufacturing technologies: automation, robotics, and additive. The season concludes with a special episode in celebration of Manufacturing Day 2021. Shifting Gears' host Gregg Profozich is joined by subject matter experts to explore each of this season's four topics.

Episode 6 features Natalia Sephton, President & CEO of M&R Engineering; Sarah Myers, Founder & CEO of HMP - Hemp Made Products; and Lisa Anderson, Founder & President of LMA Consulting Group Inc. Natalia, Sarah, and Lisa discuss their experiences as women in manufacturing—how they got started, their professional accomplishments, and the current state of opportunities for women in the industry.

Episode 5 features Rob Lightner, Co-Founder of East Brother Beer Company; Linh Judin, Owner of Itsy Bitty; and Derric Haynie, Chief Ecommerce Technologist at Ecommercetech.io. Rob, Linh, and Derric discuss the recent boom in eCommerce, their individual journeys with it, and advice for leveraging one's online presence to sell better.

Episode 4 features Dr. Jim Davis, Vice Provost of IT at the Office of Advanced Research Computing at UCLA. Jim defines smart manufacturing, explains how it's evolved over the past two decades and provides some unique examples of how smart manufacturing is being used today.

Episode 3 features Christopher Thornberg, Ph.D., Founding Partner at Beacon Economics LLC. Christopher explains how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected different parts of the economy and offers his predictions about what the economy will look like as we return to “normalcy.”

Episode 2 features Hannah Going, Director of Marketing at Accel-RF Instruments Corporation, and Alex Meade, VP of Sales & Marketing at Beacons Point. Hannah and Alex discuss what inbound marketing is, the steps to getting started, ways to get company buy-in, and how to get the most value out of it.

Episode 1 features Matthew McKenney, President & CEO of the Institute for American Apprenticeships (IAA), and Mace Gjerman, the Technical Training Manager for Peterson Caterpillar. Matthew and Mace discuss the organizational impacts of starting an apprenticeship program as well as resources for those looking to adopt and the benefits of implementation.

Season Two of Shifting Gears deep-dives into apprenticeship programs, inbound marketing, the economic outlook in the wake of the pandemic, smart manufacturing, eCommerce, and women in manufacturing. Shifting Gears' host Gregg Profozich is joined by subject matter experts to explore each of this season's six topics.

Episode 6 features Harry Moser, Founder of the Reshoring Initiative, and focuses on reshoring. Harry discusses how companies are re-thinking their supply chain strategies in light of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in order to mitigate risks and position themselves so that they're ready for future challenges.

Episode 5 features Jose Anaya, Dean of the Community Advancement Division and Business Training Center at El Camino College; and, Tiffany Miller, Dean of Apprenticeships at West Los Angeles College. Together, they discuss the practical steps of setting up apprenticeship programs, enabling manufacturers to find, train, and keep highly-skilled workers.

Episode 4 features Mike Daniel, the Regional Director of the Orange County Inland Empire SBDC Network, and deep-dives into the ways manufacturers can get smarter about cash flow, risk, and receivables in 2021. In addition, Mike discusses some creative ways manufacturing companies have pivoted to optimize cash flow during the pandemic.

Episode 3 features Gary Fly, President of The Brooks Group, and covers the rise of virtual selling. Gary discusses the pandemic's effects on traditional sales techniques, and some tactical ways manufacturers can use this shifting environment to connect with prospects and customers on an even deeper level.

Episode 2 features Eliot Dratch, Senior Quality Consultant for CMTC, and focuses on workplace safety. What was once perceived as a mundane, fairly innocuous topic, is now perhaps one of the most critical aspects of your business. Eliot discusses how to create a safety culture to help mitigate workplace safety risks.

Episode 1 features three small and medium-sized California manufacturers who have had to pivot their businesses in significant ways in order to overcome the challenges presented by the pandemic. They discuss their experiences dealing with the health crisis as it evolved, how CMTC helped them through it, and their plans for 2021.

In the world of manufacturing, change is the only constant. How are small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) to keep up with new technologies, regulations, and other important shifts, let alone, leverage them to become leaders in their industries? Shifting Gears, a new podcast from CMTC features leaders from the modern world of manufacturing — from SMMs to consultants to industry experts. Each quarter, we go deep into topics pertinent to operating a manufacturing firm, and the industry as a whole.