Podcasts about making chips

How does a successful business owner rebuild his life after waking up from a 10-day coma to discover he's lost his fingers, toes, and needs a new heart?In this powerful episode of Life in Transition, host Art Blanchford sits down with Jason Zenger, who shares his extraordinary journey of survival and transformation following a devastating widowmaker heart attack in December 2023. Despite being health-conscious and physically active, Jason's life changed dramatically when he suffered cardiac arrest, leading to a heart transplant and the loss of parts of his fingers and toes due to necrosis. Through his story, Jason reveals how his experience reshaped his perspective on leadership, family, and faith.As Jason navigates his ongoing recovery, he discusses the profound impact on his role as a business owner, husband, and father of three young boys. Our conversation delves into themes of acceptance, resilience, and finding new purpose, particularly through his transition from active company president to a more advisory role. This episode highlights the transformative power of community support, especially in his new home in Tennessee, and how his near-death experience deepened his faith and appreciation for life's simple gifts. Through music, faith, and family, Jason demonstrates how crisis can become a catalyst for meaningful personal growth.About Our Guest:Jason Zenger is a dynamic entrepreneur, podcast host, and business leader based in Tennessee. As the owner of Zenger's Industrial Supply and co-owner with his wife of Black Industrial Safety Supply, he brings decades of manufacturing industry expertise to his work. Since 2014, he has hosted the Making Chips podcast, pioneering manufacturing industry content in the podcasting space. A dedicated family man and person of faith, Jason experienced a life-altering widowmaker heart attack in 2023, which has led him to refocus his energy on family, faith, and helping others through sharing his story of survival and transformation.Connect with Jason:Jason Zenger LinkedInMaking Chips PodcastZengersAbout The Show: The Life in Transition, hosted by Art Blanchford focuses on making the most of the changes we're given every week. Art has been through hundreds of transitions in his life. Many have been difficult, but all have led to a depth and richness he could never have imagined. On the podcast Art explores how to create more love and joy in life, no matter what transitions we go through. Art is married to his lifelong partner, a proud father of three and a long-time adventurer and global business executive. He is the founder and leader of the Midlife Transition Mastery Community. Learn more about the MLTM Community here: www.lifeintransition.online.In This Episode: (00:00) The Widowmaker Attack: Initial Crisis(01:26) Major Transition: Life Before the Heart Attack(03:14) The Night Everything Changed(05:41) Fighting for Life: Medical Interventions(11:04) ICU Delirium: Dreams and Reality(16:22) Midlife Transition Mastery Ad(17:21) One Year Later: Loss and Gratitude(21:18) Learning to Accept New Limitations(26:06) Processing Trauma and Emotions(31:14) Music as a Healing Force(39:00) Transition Mastery Coaching Ad(40:00) Finding Purpose Through Suffering(44:20) Business Transition Plans: Zengers President to Owner(53:50) The Power of Community in Tennessee(57:06) Personal Growth Through Crisis(1:01:47) Closing Thoughts and Contact InformationSend us your comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!Resources:Email Art BlanchfordLife in Transition WebsiteLife in Transition on IGLife in Transition on FBJoin Our Community: art-blanchford.mykajabi.com/mid-life-transition-mastery-communityMy new book "PURPOSEFUL LIVING" is out now. Order it now: https://a.co/d/cJKOpo6Explore our website https://lifeintransitionpodcast.com/ for more in-depth information and resources, and to download the 8-step guide to mastering mid-life transitions.The views and opinions expressed on the “Life In Transition” podcast are solely those of the author and guests and should not be attributed to any other individual or entity. This podcast is an independent production of Life In Transition Podcast, and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2025.

How can we make sure our chips work reliably for decades without having decades to test them? In this episode, we dive deep into the topic of silicon carbide (SiC) reliability testing with our expert guest Paul Salmen.  Be sure to check out the training Paul mentions to learn more about gate oxide reliability for CoolSiC™ devices.

Machines that build machines. It's a curious paradox. Whenever you consider something that builds itself, physically, it could conjure thoughts of an infinity loop or an M.C. Escher painting. The never-ending loop of technology. The extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machine, a marvel of modern engineering, etches patterns onto silicon wafers with unparalleled precision, giving birth to the microchips that power our world. A machine so advanced, so intricate, that it holds the power to create the very building blocks of our digital age. It gives birth to the state of the art in semiconductors. Indeed, the future pulled forward to today. As we marvel at the bleeding edge of technology, we often overlook the humble components that make it all possible. Inside every EUV lithography machine, a symphony of legacy technologies plays out, from power management diodes to analog circuits. These unsung heroes, though less glamorous than their cutting-edge counterparts, are the backbone of innovation. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has witnessed the fragility of global semiconductor supply chains. Black swan events have exposed the dangers of over-reliance on a single source, leading to shortages that ripple across industries. It is a stark reminder that the latest and greatest cannot exist without the tried and true. [pause] As we navigate this era of rapid technological advancement, let us not forget the importance of balance. The yin and yang of old and new, of leading and lagging-edge, are forever intertwined in the dance of progress. The lead guitar and vocals may provide the memorable moments in your favorite songs, but have you ever heard a song without the drums? Modern architecture can inspire and awe, but ever tried to build a house without a concrete foundation?  Trips to the zoo to visit the tigers provide moments of wonder; what would happen if the protective glass was removed? Remember that next time you marvel at the latest gadget or gizmo. Take a moment to appreciate the unassuming components that make it all possible. For in the grand scheme of innovation, every piece of the puzzle matters, no matter how small, outdated, or seemingly invisible.   How does Microchip Technology provide the critical components for producing Microchip Technology?   Links from the episode:     Guests:  Leon Gross

In this episode, we delve into the latest developments in AI chip technology, including Apple's rumored M4 chip and the efforts of Google and Meta in chip manufacturing. Join us as we discuss the implications of these advancements for the AI industry and beyond. Get on the AI Box Waitlist: ⁠⁠https://AIBox.ai/⁠⁠ AI Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/739308654562189 Conor's AI Newsletter: https://www.ai-mindset.ai/ Podcast Studio Network: https://PodcastStudio.com/

#makeinindia #narendramodi #dholerasmartcity Arun Mampazhy has a BTech from IITM and MS from University of Maryland in semiconductor fabrication and over a decade of industry experience. His dreams of seeing a commercial fab takeoff in India has changed from black and white to colour over two decades. He can be reached via email nanoarun@gmail.com or @nano_arun on X. Views expressed are personal.

AI is increasingly important to national security, and governments are paying more attention to the companies that make the chips behind AI. Dozens of partnerships between governments relating to chips have been created since 2021. WSJ reporter Asa Fitch joins host Alex Ossola to talk about whether the new closeness between chip makers and governments is good for business, and what it means for AI in the long run. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we're going to give you a snippet into a South Korean startup that could rival Nvidia in the race to provide high-end AI-chips.  But not without some context about the AI chip prediction landscape. Currently, Nvidia dominates the AI computing market with analysts predicting a market share of between 80 and 95%. It provides graphics processors known as GPUs for users to run AI applications due to its computing power.  Now here's the thing – GPUs were initially made for 3D gaming and are not optimised for specific AI functions. So that means it can be costly and less efficient to train and run AI models using Nvidia's GPU.  This also opens up an opportunity for industry players to manufacture chips that cater to the boom in AI, and perhaps for a specific use case. Take for example, a chip made specifically for the use of AI in the finance industry.  And that's exactly what our guest for today, Rebellions Inc is relying on to get a slice of the AI-pie.  But what opportunities lie ahead of the firm? Also, what are some expansion plans for the firm, which is backed by KT and Singapore's Temasek Pavilion Capital? On Under the Radar, Drive Time's finance presenter Chua Tian Tian sat down with Kyeong-Jae Lee, Business Development Lead, Rebellions Incorporated for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawmakers in Washington recently struck a bipartisan deal to subsidize the domestic manufacturing of advanced semiconductors, or chips, most of which are now made in Asia. Will it work? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Thursday we're coming to you from the annual NAMAD membership meeting in Miami, FL where a change in leadership was announced last night. We're also talking about the continued struggle of self-driving tech, as well as the new weight requirement for roads given the rise in EVs, and a massive semiconductor plant coming to Syracuse, NY. NAMAD President Damon Lester stepped down and assumed the role as Vice Chair of the Board. After a 1 year executive search process, Hugene Fields will be stepping up. Self Driving cars still stalling out in go to market strategyOne of the hardest things to figure out is something called “unprotected left turns,” or left turns when navigating oncoming traffic.A McKinsey & Co. report states the industry has currently invested over $100bn in R&D for self-driving technology.“You'd be hard-pressed to find another industry that's invested so many dollars in R&D and that has delivered so little,” Anthony Levandowski says in an interview. “Forget about profits—what's the combined revenue of all the robo-taxi, robo-truck, robo-whatever companies? Is it a million dollars? Maybe. I think it's more like zero.”Transportation companies say that EV vehicles are too heavy for roads“[C]ars and trucks climbed from an average of 3,200 pounds (1,451 kilos) to 4,200 pounds over the last four decades, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.”Currently, less than 1% of vehicles on US roads are EVs, but with aggressive sales targets, it will be harder for transporters to meet highway weight requirements.“‘The truth is we will not be able to move as many electric vehicles under the current weight limit. That could mean more trucks on the road, delays in orders and increased costs,' said Sarah Amico, executive chairman of Jack Cooper, among the largest car haulers in North America.”Transporters are asking for an additional 10% weight limit, giving them the ability to carry the same number of vehicles, if they are all EVsSemiconductor chips coming to Syracuse (Half of ASOTU team just cheered)Largest private investment in NY history, up to 100B to build a mega complex in Syracuse's northern suburbsMicron would build up to four separate semiconductor fabrication plants in phases at the 1,300-acre site off Route 31, Micron President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra told syracuse.comIt will be the 8th largest site in the US. The US accounts for less than 12% of global chip productionGet the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/Read our most recent email at: https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-emailShare your positive dealer stories: https://www.asotu.com/positivityASOTU Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/automotivestateoftheunion 

As our team begins to grow at Carr Machine & Tool, I believe it's time to hire for a middle management position. But what is middle management? What does a middle management role consist of? Will implementing this role truly solve our problems? Jason helps me talk through the challenges I'm facing in this episode of Making Chips! Any tips, tricks, or ideas to help me through this? Reach out at Jim@MakingChips.com. I'd love to hear from you!  Segments [2:00] Does my shop need middle management? [4:46] What's happening in our worlds [7:33] BIG NEWS: Meet us at IMTS 2022! [8:36] Manufacturing is a high-tech frontier [15:48] What does a middle management role consist of? [18:54] How to determine if you need middle management roles [24:49] The core problem we're trying to solve [30:45] What is the biggest role of a middle manager? Resources mentioned on this episode What Has Led to the Manufacturing Labor Shortage? Why Middle Management is So Exhausting and What to Do about it International Manufacturing Technology Show 2022 ProShop ERP Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Being from Idaho I can tell you Idaho is not JUST potatoes but meet Ladd + Zoey Wahlen from Aberdeen, Idaho where they do farm potatoes and became the only Idaho company to product idaho potato chips!Celebrate with us their one year anniversary of their chip company. Today we dive into the ins and outs of taking a product produced on their land and transitioning it into a product.The Wahlen family feels it is important to be transparent with the regenerative farming process and ingredients used so you can FEEL good about eating potato chips!Follow their journey and support agriculture on their social media of @ouridahoroots + @rootschips grab a favorite chip flavor at https://rootschips.com/

Is the labor shortage accelerating automation? Why is there a perception that automation is both risky and complex? How do you lead your elders with authority yet humility? To dovetail—or not to dovetail? These are the questions that we hash out with Michael Gaunce, the VP of Sales for Tooling and Workholding at SCHUNK. We take a deep look into the technical side of workholding and automation in this episode of Making Chips. Now is the time to embrace automation. Because if you're not making chips efficiently, you're not making money! Segments [2:55] What's happening in our lives [5:23] 2022 Labor and Employment Outlook for Manufacturers [9:09] Learn more about Michael Gaunce [12:47] Is the labor shortage accelerating automation?  [15:20] The perception that automation is risky or complex [19:10] Two ways to do automation machine-tending [27:42] A conversation on workholding [32:55] To dovetail or not to dovetail? [39:01] Leading your elders with authority and humility Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss 2022 Labor and Employment Outlook for Manufacturers Connect with Michael Gaunce on LinkedIn Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Your people are the most important part of your business. If they're not, they should be. When you hire someone, it's always with the hope that they'll become a long-term part of the family, right? So you need to cultivate a workplace culture they want to stay and thrive in. So in this episode of Making Chips, we'll share nine simple tactics that you can implement immediately to transform your company culture.  Segments [5:01] Your culture is the muscle below the muscle [7:56] The good things happening in our lives  [13:30] Tactic #1: Fight for individuals that you care about [14:52] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry [16:48] Tactic #2: Get to know your employees [21:58] Tactic #3: Cultivate and promote friendships [23:38] Tactic #4: Don't overly focus on profit and achievement [27:30] Tactic #5: Reward your people for success [29:06] Tactic #6: Believe in your mission and align everyone to that [30:33] Tactic #7: Be humble and treat everyone as equals [32:10] Tactic #8: Inspire your people to be better [33:44] Tactic #9: Be approachable in any circumstance Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! New Sales Simplified By Mike Weinberg Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Brady Report - Wednesday January 12, 2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Brady Report - Wednesday January 12, 2022

There is a paradigm shift happening in the industry: many skilled machinists are retiring. As these long-term skilled machinists are leaving, they're leaving with intellectual legacy knowledge that's irreplaceable. Do procurement people sourcing machining parts know what the processes and procedures look like? Do they know the difference between a fabricated, turned, or machined, or five-axis part? What can we do as owners to mitigate the problem or offer solutions? We dive into the discussion in this episode of Making Chips! Segments [1:23] The challenges we face with retiring machinists [4:30] The definition of intellectual property [6:28] What is keeping us awake at night? [14:22] Boosting automation in manufacturing [18:18] A discussion of intellectual property  Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! What is Intellectual Property? Report Outlines Difficulty in Boosting Automation in Manufacturing The Future of Manufacturing is Automated Production Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Finding Solutions to the Supply Chain Chaos, #293 What is the root cause of the supply chain crisis? How can manufacturing businesses mitigate those risks and find realistic solutions that work in the short and long term? Tom Hilaris—the President & CEO of Ergoseal—joins us to share the three things they focus on: risk mitigation, communication, and culture. In this episode of Making Chips we offer real, practical solutions your business can implement to overcome the supply chain chaos. Because—after all—if you're not making chips, you're not making money! BAM! – Jason Segments [1:10] Material lead times and pricing [5:10] What's happening at Carr Machine & Tool [7:07] Manufacturing news related to supply chain issues [14:39] Learn more about our guest—Tom Hilaris [17:16] Step #1: Risk Mitigation [19:46] Managing pricing with redundancy of sourcing [22:58] Step #2: Communicating with your customers is imperative  [29:12] Elmhurst University Supply Chain Masters Program [32:15] Step #3: A great culture improves outcomes Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Connect with Tom Hilaris on LinkedIn Clean Energy Faces its Own Supply Chain Crisis What Everyone Gets Wrong About the Never-Ending COVID-19 Supply Chain Crisis Growing your Manufacturing Business Through Acquisitions with Tom Hilaris Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

What is an employee stock ownership plan ESOP? How does it work? How can it transform the buy-in of your team and lead to revenue growth? Jeff Taylor—the President and CEO of Crafts Technology—implemented an ESOP. Listen to this episode to hear about the impact it had on his business—and figure out whether or not it's right for yours. Employee buy-in can lead to profitability which can lead to Making Chips! BAM! – Jim Segments [4:49] What's happening at ZENGERS and Carr Machine & Tool [8:20] Disclaimer about implementing an ESOP [10:54] Welcome Jeff Taylor to Making Chips! [12:13] What is an employee stock ownership plan ESOP? [13:45] How Jeff got into manufacturing [20:15] What is Craft's technology? [21:49] Choosing to create an ESOP [30:00] Who should consider an ESOP? [35:05] Pensions, profit-sharing, and ESOPs [39:45] What kind of return does an ESOP get? [45:36] Are you handing over control to your team? Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Crafts Technology Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

What does your hiring process look like? Do you even have a hiring process in place? In this episode of Making Chips, we walk through what each of our processes look like and share some useful strategies that anyone can implement. A streamlined process leads to better hires which leads to Making Chips! BAM! – Jason! What are your tips and tricks for the hiring process? Let us know! Send an email to info@MakingChips.com!  Segments [0:30] Check out ProShop ERP for manufacturing software! [3:35] What's happening in our lives and businesses [6:54] Manufacturing news: A discussion on composite materials [11:44] Shoutout to listeners who've left reviews! [14:26] Step #1: It's all about the setup  [19:10] Step #2: The careers landing page [22:43] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry [24:31] Step #3: Screen your candidates  Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! 6 of the Most Exciting Trends In Composite Materials Today Join the ZENGERS Team! LinkedIn Recruiter Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

What factors should you consider when forecasting? What questions do you need to ask to determine your next steps? Who gets to make those decisions? We walk you through some common questions to ask yourself—and your company—about your business. We'll also cover Miles and Snow's Typology of Defender, Prospector, Analyzer, and Reactor to see how your type impacts your decision-making process. Learn a great process to forecast and set goals in this episode of Making Chips! Now is the time to look ahead! BAM! – Nick If you have a great methodology for forecasting, let us know! Shoot us an email at info@MakingChips.com!  Segments [0:32] Check out ProShop ERP for manufacturing software! [3:16] How future proof is your business? [5:25] What we're happy about right now [9:34] Discovering the Keys to U.S. Manufacturing Recovery [14:23] What factors should you consider when forecasting? [17:47] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry [21:39] The Miles and Snow's Typology of Defender, Prospector, Analyzer, and Reactor [24:56] Who makes the forecast in your company?  Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Discovering the Keys to U.S. Manufacturing Recovery Miles and Snow's Typology of Defender, Prospector, Analyzer, and Reactor BOOK: Humanocrisy Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Nick jokes that I have a recession obsession—and it's true. Recessions are painful. I want to make the experience less painful when a recession comes around again. So in this down-to-earth episode of Making Chips, I'll share the common causes of most recessions and 8 tips you can use to prepare yourself—and your business—for a recession. Preparedness is key to helping your business survive and thrive. Because after all, if you're not making chips, you're not making money. BAM! – Jim Segments [0:43] Check out ProShop ERP for manufacturing software! [2:53] Shoutout to everyone involved with the research project with Xometry  [5:11] The reasons why Carr Machine & Tool is thriving [9:38] Manufacturing News: Hertz bought 100,000 Teslas [12:18] What's new in Jason and Nick's worlds [14:43] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry [15:53] Be smart with the buying decisions that you make [21:55] Learn about the common causes of recessions [24:39] 8 tIps to prepare yourself for a recession [28:28] Learn about Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! How to Prepare for a Recession: 8 Tips You Can Start Now Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

In this episode of Making Chips, we dive back into the conversation with Titan Gilroy. This time, we talk about how Titan's TV show, “American Built,” came to life. We also talk about how he almost gave up the TV show to do something he was passionate about—helping prisoners transform their lives and learn to become full-fledged machinists. This passion project eventually led to the creation of the Titans of CNC Academy, where you can learn everything from the fundamentals of machining to creating aerospace parts—all completely free. Don't miss this episode with THE Titan of the industry. BAM! Segments [1:55] Why schools and colleges don't have sufficient manufacturing training [7:35] How Titan's TV show, “American Built” came to fruition [13:31] How Titan took inmates and helped them become full-fledged machinists [19:34] Why Titan uses the phrase “uniquely abled” instead of disabled  [32:48] Learn more about Titans of CNC Academy  Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Titans of CNC Academy Check out Titan's Youtube Channel: MakerSpace77 Follow Titan on LinkedIn Follow Titan's organization on Twitter: @TitanGilroy Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

According to a recent article in Reuters, “The ISM said its index of national factory activity inched up to 59.9 last month from a reading of 59.5 in July. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in manufacturing, which accounts for 11.9% of the U.S. economy.” Manufacturing is on the rise, yet every industry is struggling with an impaired supply chain. Will things get better anytime soon? How can manufacturing businesses manage shortages in the meantime? We share some thoughts in this episode of Making Chips!  Segments [0:40] Check out ProShop ERP for manufacturing software! [4:15] A discussion about supply chain issues [6:57] What do we like right now? [11:30] U.S. manufacturing activity rises; shortages linger [14:08] The disruption that comes with reshoring [17:00] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry [19:40] How shortages are impacting industries [26:14] Learn about Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems [26:57] Will the supply chain get better anytime soon? [29:01] Tips to mitigate the pain of supply chain disruptions The Great Supply Chain Disruption Manufacturing is becoming increasingly busy but supply chain woes linger. It's the #1 thing on our minds right now. Most machine shops are at or near capacity. But we're having trouble getting aluminum, brass, steel, and finished goods. Even getting containers to ship the goods is a struggle. This phenomenon is being dubbed “The Great Supply Chain Disruption.”  Whenever you're making a systemic change, it's going to cause disruption. No matter how much planning you put into something, disruption happens. This should have been expected.  The disruption that comes with reshoring Reshoring is more relevant than ever. And this isn't a new topic to our show. What is driving the reshoring initiative? COVID. Everything that was coming from overseas halted or decreased. Ships weren't coming through the Panama Canal. Ships weren't being unloaded because the workforce was at home.  When China started rethinking its business environment and they started to incorporate more free-market tendencies, they wanted to become an export economy. They didn't have the technology to export high-end goods so they started on the low end. But now they're catching up. Now, China is focused on export as well as making branded goods for their economy.  People spent their time in quarantine buying low-cost things that are sourced from Amazon—from exercise equipment to kitchen mixers. They're buying computers, TVs, headphones, etc. Many things that are sourced from China.  Will the supply chain get better anytime soon? Lead time and prices are going to increase. Everyone is dealing with it right now. We can't be the link that absorbs all the cost increases. The federal government knew that the influx of money into the economy plus the supply chain issues were going to lead to increased prices. This is going to lead to inflation. Inflation does slow growth. But everyone is saying that interest rates will be holding steady ingo 2022. We think the supply chain issues will continue into 2022 but it's currently a game of wait and see. So what can manufacturers do in the meantime to mitigate the problems that come with supply chain issues? We share a few tips in this episode you don't want to miss. Check it out!  BAM! – Jim Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Camino Island by John Grisham U.S. manufacturing activity rises; shortages linger Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Do your employees feel like they're a means to an end? I think a lot of team members don't realize—or believe—that we care about them. Some feel that when you hold them accountable to hit their numbers that data is all you care about. But that isn't always the case.  At the end of the day, we're all business leaders who need an efficient working environment. So where do we find a balance between data, accountability, and caring for our team members? How do we drive profitability without driving our employees away? Listen to this episode of Making Chips for the full discussion! Segments [0:40] Check out ProShop ERP for more information on manufacturing software! [3:24] Hold your employees to metrics they can control [7:33] Manufacturing News: A Generation of American Men Give Up on College [16:55] Learn about Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems [17:39] Avoid measuring data that is not helpful to the employee [37:33] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry Hold your employees to metrics they can control I've seen a trend where everything is about data. Everyone wants to harvest data. But can you take it a step too far? Can there be an imbalance in the data? On a recent episode of Russell Brand's podcast, he talked about how Amazon's delivery people have an app they have to use. The app tracks every move they make and everything they do when they deliver packages. But it appears that Amazon is tracking metrics that are outside of the control of the employee and using those metrics to evaluate them.  We believe when you hold people accountable with metrics it should be something that's within their control. But Amazon has taken it so far that people are being fired when they don't meet the metrics of the algorithm Amazon has in place for delivery drivers.  When Russell Brand described this, he pointed out that Amazon was treating their employees like zombies living in an algorithm—disposable cattle.  The data doesn't always show the full picture Nick had a conversation with leaders at AME and Hennig about compensation for their salespeople. Commissions are results-based compensation and the result is why you work. But there are other activities salespeople do that add value. They do activities to achieve an objective to create a result. So his company talked about activity-based objectives they could compensate their salespeople for. They decided compensation should be a mix.  Salespeople are driven by increasing their compensation. So they tend to focus on what would compensate them the most. But if your company wants them to focus on other activities not directly tied to making a sale, you might have to compensate them. You have to match the compensation with the desired behavior.  Situations when data-tracking is necessary I just took off the month of August and ZENGERS had a record month of sales while I was gone. I'm not trying to micromanage my team. They have an overall objective—sales and profitability. My goal is to train them on the right things to do to achieve that goal. I'm not saying they need to make a certain amount of calls a day or track every detail. I give them an overall mission to achieve but I don't track their every movement. I feel like asking your team to track everything they do is the kiss of death. But is that true for every business?  For Jim, due to Carr Machine & Tools AS9100 certification, they are mandated to document all of the results from their machining process. He runs a data-driven and oriented business where he has to measure, record, validate, time-track against jobs, and more.  And of course, each individual on my team has those types of quality measurements that they have to hit. We record data that contributes to useful management of your team. But I don't want my team to record data that's pointless. Nick's brother always says that any data that you record and isn't used to make an improvement is wasted money. Wasted information is wasted action.  The bottom line is that everyone needs to take a step back and think about this. Are the right activities being tracked? Are you gathering useful data, or just wasting time? You need to collect the right data that helps you drive profitability for your company. Listen to the whole episode for the full conversation.  BAM! – Jason Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! A Generation of American Men Give Up on College Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

The U.S. labor market is still struggling despite record numbers of job openings. Businesses aren't able to hire as quickly as they need to. What's the holdup? Is there a lack of candidates in the market? Are people choosing not to return to work? In this episode of Making Chips we dissect what's happening—and a few things you can do about it.  Segments [0:18] Check out ProShop ERP for manufacturing software! [2:30] What's happening in the Making Chips world [8:43] Manufacturing news: The U.S. Labor Market [19:41] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry [20:36] What I'm learning through the hiring process [35:35] How to recruit high caliber candidates [41:34] Learn about Amper Technologies monitoring systems The U.S. Labor Market Isn't Adding Up—And This Is Why According to Andrew Hunter's research, we're seeing a high level of job openings but low levels of hiring. Millions of Americans are quitting and many aren't re-entering the labor market. It's claimed that the labor market is healthy, but the numbers don't add up. Why?  Subdued Employment: 8.7 million Americans remain unemployed. Before the pandemic, 5.7 million Americans were unemployed.  Record Job Openings: The number of job opportunities is high and rising, reaching 10.1 million at the end of June with 590,000 more openings than the month before.  Low Hiring: Hiring isn't keeping pace with job growth. June saw 6.7 million hires, but that's 3.4 million short of the number needed to fill open roles. High Quits: Referred to as the “great resignation,” 3.9 million people quit their job in June. It's partly the response to job opportunities. Workers are confident in their ability to find better jobs.  The incentive to stay home and not work will decrease as the double unemployment payments are pulled back. The economy is recovering but worker confidence isn't returning at the same pace. Autumn 2021 may bring the correction needed to balance the market. The outlook is optimistic. But until things turn around, what do manufacturers do? Find creative solutions to your problem A client of Jason's had a key person in their shop that was doing some things that he deemed worthy of firing. But Jason's client couldn't afford to lose—and be forced to replace—this person. So he took a risk and sat him down for a conversation. He gave him the option to fix the problem or he'd be fired. This person turned his life around completely. This may not be an option for everyone, nor will it work in every scenario, but it was a creative way for this business owner to solve a problem.  Two ways to hire for difficult positions Recruiting for regional sales positions has been a huge focus of mine recently as we are restructuring our sales. But I don't want to hire the first warm body. Everyone has heard “Hire slow, fire fast,” right? But if your machinist quits, you can't hire slow because it causes production problems.  So what am I doing right now? Finding a way to work with a candidate before we commit to hiring them full-time. If there's a way to test the relationship, do it. Making Chips is a podcast and marketing agency. We brought someone on as a contractor to try out on a trial basis before we commit to hiring him full-time. It's great for both parties to make an educated decision about each other. You can even put it in writing so it's transparent and fully agreed on.  What else can you do to hire for a difficult-to-fill position? Use LinkedIn's recruiting tool. The price is steep—approximately $30,000—but you're given access to highly qualified candidates interested in a new position. LinkedIn will even train you how to use it. The opportunity to do it yourself is available for larger companies who can make that number work.  Listen to the whole episode to learn more about how the hiring process has gone for me and get some in-depth details on my two strategies.  BAM! – Nick Shameless plug: If you are interested, we're all hiring! Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! The U.S. Labor Market Isn't Adding Up And This Is Why Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

I wanted to differentiate myself among other machine shops in the area with the new Carr Machine & Tool location. The shop floor is where we make our money. I took extra steps in the process to create a new image for my shop. I wanted to present it in a way that was sophisticated, high-tech, polished, and professional—while remaining efficient.  That's where IMEC came in. I reached out to them for some technical collaboration to help design an efficient shop floor. I worked with both Dean Harms and Tim Maurer and it was an amazing experience. So in this episode of Making Chips, I'm sharing what the collaboration and design process looked like with IMEC. Segments [0:24] Check out ProShop ERP for more information on manufacturing software! [2:46] Why I chose the new Carr Machine & Tool location [4:17] What's happening at ZENGERS? [6:19] Why investing in your business is important  [10:32] President Biden Announces Support for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework [12:55] The process of designing a new facility with IMEC  [15:10] What IMEC (the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center) is all about [19:16] Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems [19:59] How the infrastructure bill will be distributed to MEPs [25:43] My experience working with IMEC to design my shop floor [36:50] Other types of shops IMEC works with [38:55] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry What IMEC (the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center) is all about Dean Harms is a Regional Manager with IMEC. It's his mission to help others any way he can on a daily basis and have fun along the way. Sounds like us, right?  IMEC is part of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network. It's connected to the US Department of Commerce through the NIST organization. IMEC launched in the 1990s and is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. There are 51 MEPs (one in every state + Puerto Rico). Their overall mission is to provide solutions and improvements to small and medium-sized manufacturing companies to help them navigate the changing landscape, drive profitability, sustain growth, and become globally competitive.  IMEC is a non-profit that is both privately and publicly funded. They are a channel that brings tax dollars back into the state of Illinois by specifically serving manufacturing businesses. Dean Harms makes sure the money is applied where it's needed most.  My experience working with IMEC Dean cold-called me after I was on a live Facebook interview. I mentioned I was about to move my shop, so he reached out. He knew that there was probably something IMEC could do to help with the move. I heard that they could help design my shop floor and I really wanted a high-end polished shop. Dean introduced me to Tim Maurer and said he would be the perfect guy to collaborate with to design my shop floor. Tim has decades of experience not only with IMEC but also with Caterpillar. After I met Tim, I knew I was dealing with someone who was competent and knew what a manufacturing floor should look like.  The shop floor design process Tim's design process was thorough, starting with the vision for our future and ending with the execution of the move. We started by setting objectives: Where did we want to be? What type of work would we be doing? What new technologies will be utilized on the shop floor?  We did a physical walk of both of the properties. He took physical measurements of the new building, all of our tools, and made sure the room was big enough for a CMM. After he did the physical layout, we met again to go over the flow of the room and nail down the workflow. We placed the machinery and equipment in the prime areas of the floor to maximize the square footage.  He established power needs, air drops, water needs, an eyewash station, etc. He developed the CAD and we talked about future automation and made sure they'd be room around the machines. He delivered the final layout to us in a CAD model. The best part? On moving day we had a roadmap to mark where everything went. We knew where every single thing would go.  The design process was an investment in our future productivity. I would never have completed this process as well as Tim did. I highly recommend working with IMEC through a big move to create a more efficient shop floor. Don't be afraid to delegate design to the experts.  BAM! – Jim Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Connect with Jason on LinkedIn Why Investing in Your Business is Important President Biden Announces Support for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework Connect with Dean Harms with IMEC Connect with Tim Maurere with IMEC Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Everyone is familiar with the concept of networking. But how many people actually implement it to grow themselves and their businesses? In this episode of Making Chips, Jim, Jason, and I dive into how networking has impacted our businesses in unexpected ways. To hear the good, bad, and the ugly—give it a listen! Segments [0:18] Check out ProShop ERP for more information on manufacturing software! [3:04] Learn what's happening at ZENGERS [3:51] Nick welcomed a baby boy to his family on June 27th! [4:54] Boeing Slows Dreamliner Production After New Manufacturing Issue [9:17] Can Networking Change Your Manufacturing Business? [12:41] How networking has changed Jim's business [16:10] Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems [16:54] The Making Chips Network of Manufacturing Leaders [20:59] Should increasing sales be the objective of networking? [24:41] A working relationship built on mutual interests [26:15] Ad-hoc networking: Keep your ears to the ground  [28:58] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry [30:09] Networking is like growing a 401k Networking is what brings us together today I think it's important to point out that networking is why all of us are here. It's why we all know each other and host a podcast together. But where did this partnership start?  Jim was spending money at ZENGERS and was a great customer for them. So Jason loosely knew who he was. Why did Jim purchase from ZENGERS in the first place? One of his friends—a production manager at a shop—recommended ZENGERS. One would've thought that's how their relationship started. But it wasn't.  Jason and Jim were both asked independently to be on an AM radio show at 6 am on a Saturday (the time slot when you know only serious entrepreneurs and business owners would be awake and listening). Jason was talking about creating a vision for your company and Jim talked about social media marketing for manufacturers. They were both impressed by each other, their business acumen, and how well acquainted they were with the industry. They realized they'd make a great combination and the podcast was developed from there.  The question is—without networking, would they have gotten the opportunity to speak on the same radio show? How networking has changed Jim's business Jim had a strategic vision for networking for his business. He became a member of the Technology and Manufacturing Association (TMA) who had recently hired a marketing manager to help machine shops with their marketing. Jim got on the phone with him and they got along. He became instrumental in helping Jim develop networking within the association.  Jim was asked to join a young leaders group where he was able to meet like-minded people. He knew if he committed his time to networking and building relationships within the community, that he would grow in some capacity. He didn't know where it would take him but that he'd walk away from networking events learning more.  If you go to a networking event and leave feeling like you learned nothing, you're doing something wrong. You're either in the wrong place—or not asking the right questions.  Jim also joined the Greater O'Hare Association and the Valley Association. He met great people in all of them. Networking is a great way to listen to other people and learn from their experiences.  The Making Chips Network of Manufacturing Leaders Some of our Making Chips sponsors have been a great way for us to realize connections across the industry. Amper can help you better understand your shop and help you solve problems on your shop floor. Nick, our guest on a previous episode, also works with Amper. It was a game-changer for him. Nick had emailed me a year or so ago and I hadn't followed up with him. Luckily, Jim met him again at a networking event and we all got back in touch. Another sponsor, Xometry, asked us to be part of a focus group consisting of manufacturing leaders. This shows that Xometry cares about their network. How often do companies hire a credible third party to dig into discovery? How often do they dig into their segments to find out what they care about and need? They got a third party to investigate and find out what's happening. They wanted to re-engineer their value proposition to serve their customers better.  In the Xometry focus group, we heard that four of the individuals were all ProShop ERP users—and had heard about them through the Making Chips Podcast. These leaders all loved ProShop. It certainly gave us more structure for our processes. You'll become more efficient, productive, detail-oriented, data-driven, and results-oriented.  They heard about ProShop because Jason and Jim had the courage to create a podcast just for the manufacturing industry. I joined them because I'm just as passionate about the space and I know that this show delivers valuable content. People tend to think networking has to be about growing your business and making connections to make sales. Why is that the wrong mindset to have? What mindset should you embrace instead? Learn more by listening to the whole episode! BAM! – Nick Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Boeing Slows Dreamliner Production After New Manufacturing Issue Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems Greater O'Hare Association Michael Gaunce YG-1 5th Axis Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Part of being a machine shop owner—and a business owner in general—is that every day there's a new challenge to navigate. A machine might break down. Perhaps someone who has been a team member for decades quits. Your factory could burn to the ground. Or your Dad—the owner and manager of the shop—gets sick with cancer. That's how Nick Sainati was thrust into becoming the GM of Belden Universal. In this episode, he shares his journey. It will resonate with some of us, fascinate most of us, and impress all of us. Don't miss this inspiring family story! Segments [0:26] Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems [6:24] Dealing with supply chain issues caused by COVID [8:09] Fun facts about family-owned businesses [14:07] Create a Formal Business Succession Plan in 7 Steps [16:52] Today's guest: Nick Sainati, GM at Belden Universal  [24:00] Check out ProShop ERP for more information on manufacturing software! [27:42] When everything changed: How Nick took over his Dad's machine shop [40:10] Managing a machine shop through COVID [44:35] What the future looks like for Belden Universal [46:32] How Nick's experiences have prepared him for the future [48:42] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry The history of Belden Universal Belden Universal is an AS9100 manufacturer of precision universal joints and drive shafts. They started in 1970 as Belden Tools, founded by Nick's grandfather and his brothers on Belden Avenue in Chicago. They used to buy tools from ZENGERS, which was just down the street!  Instead of going into the family business, Nick ended up in San Francisco in investment banking. He spent two years at an eCommerce startup and eventually moved back to Chicago. After both he and his wife got an MBA, they moved to Seattle for her job. After running a wine business, Nick transitioned into Starbucks Corporate in brand management. He helped launch the Starbucks evening program that tied-in with wine. He transitioned to a strategy team after that. He learned about culture, managing people, and running complex projects.  How Nick took over his Dad's machine shop Two months after Nick's first daughter was born, his parents came to visit them in Seattle. They told Nick that his Dad had a rare form of Leukemia. He needed to take time off of work for treatment. They were going to have to sell the business unless Nick or his sister could come back and run it. Nick was shocked. His parents were healthy active people who were never sick.  After processing the news and discussing it with his wife, Nick decided to move back to Chicago to take over Belden Universal, an AS9100 manufacturer of precision universal joints and drive shafts. Four months later, he was in Chicago running a machine shop—and he knew nothing about manufacturing. Nick bought a large book about manufacturing that was for a college-level manufacturing class and dug into back episodes of Making Chips, which helped him get immersed in the language of machining.  Navigating challenges while learning the ropes When Nick took over in 2018, the machine shop had just moved into a new facility, doubling the size of their manufacturing floor. They had a tenured team and people to help get Nick up to speed. But he was also their boss—and couldn't do most of their jobs.  Soon after taking over, Belden lost their biggest customer—which was one of the reasons they had moved into the bigger space. They immediately lost what would have been ¼ of their business. Nick knew it would be his first challenge. But then his sales manager of 19 years quit three months in. Instead of panicking, he took stock of the situation and helped define where they wanted to go in the future. They hired an internal candidate for the sales management position. She blossomed as a leader and got their team back on track. They worked hand-in-hand on the culture so people were excited to come to work every day. In an era like today where every shop is competing for employees, the culture matters. A shop can't survive with a negative culture. 18 months later, after continuous incidents with the production manager (who had been there 29 years), Nick decided it was time to part ways. They let him go. But this man had been involved in every part of the business. The benefit of letting him go was that Nick was forced to get more involved in floor operations. He began to work closely with his engineers on improvement projects and personnel issues. He got to know the people on the factory floor. He stepped up and earned respect from his team. How did Nick manage the machine shop through COVID? What does the future hold for Belden Universal? Listen to the whole episode to hear more of his unique story.  How Nick's experiences have prepared him for the future What did Nick learn? The most important thing is that problems can look very daunting in the moment—especially multi-faceted problems. But the most important thing is to take a break, formulate a plan, understand what the desired end outcome is, and start chipping away at it. Family businesses have long timelines where things don't have to be solved overnight. They can make progress every day, month, and year towards that vision. Eventually they will find success. A problem now may seem like a bump in the road over the arc of your career.  — BAM! Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Create a Formal Business Succession Plan in 7 Steps Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems Check out ProShop ERP for more information on manufacturing software! Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry Book: Humanocracy by Gary Hamel and Michelle Zanini Learn more about Nick Sainati Belden Universal Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

In this episode of Making Chips, Jim and I chat with Paul Van Metre—the Co-Founder of ProShop ERP—about the process of selling his machine shop. We dissect the process, including how to understand the valuation of your company and how to make your shop more attractive to potential buyers. If you're considering selling in the next few years, this episode is full of actionable tactics and strategies that will help you succeed.  BAM! - Jason Zenger Segments [0:07] Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems [3:10] How to sell your machine shop [5:11] Ozark Technical Community College offering a two-week manufacturing bootcamp [7:49] Jim shares what's new at Carr Machine [8:42] Paul Van Metre's experience selling his machine shop [13:42] Is this a big change in the manufacturing industry? [15:27] Why would a strategic buyer pay more?  [16:40] Understanding the process of valuation  [17:35] Check out ProShop ERP for more information on manufacturing software! [26:10] The experiences of Paul's customers buying shops [28:12] How to make your company more attractive for buyers [30:53] How buyers can make sure they're getting a fair valuation Now is a great time to sell—or buy—a machine shop  I bought ZENGERS from my Dad in 2019, right before the pandemic hit. learned that there's a lot involved in buying/selling a machine shop. Not only that, but it takes multiple years to get to the point to learn how to run a shop by yourself. Running any business that employs a team of people takes a lot of work.  A lot of people are looking to retire and sell their machine shops. The youngest people of the Baby Boomer generation will be 65 by 2030. And of the 18,000 machine shops in America, the majority are owned by Baby Boomers. The vast majority will have some type of transition of ownership in the next 10–15 years.  Jim is getting calls from M&A companies all the time about buying his shop. He isn't even close to ready to sell. I'm on the buy side, and I think this is a great time to buy a machine shop. Whether you want to merge, participate in a roll-up, etc. now is the time. Even if you're not ready for several years, you need to start planning. The experiences of Paul's customers buying shops Paul notes that owning a business is one of the most significant financial decisions anyone can make in their lifetime. These shops are the baby of their owners. They've poured 10, 20, 30, 40+ years into them. Leaving that behind and passing it on to the next generation is a difficult and taxing process. Some shops may close their doors and sell off their machinery.  A client of Paul's, Mike, was deeply involved in the M&A and private equity space. He was trying to sell a shop where the owner wasn't interested in making her business attractive for sale. They couldn't sell the shop for years. So Mike decided to buy the shop himself. He knew it was a good business at the core and got it for a great deal. He also recently acquired another machine shop. Paul worked with a small shop in Colorado—Focused on Machining—who was in banking before moving into manufacturing. He looked at 4–5 shops before landing on this one. Because he was in banking he understood the financial side and has done an incredible job growing the business. Paul's experience selling his machine shop Pro CNC was founded in 1997 when Paul was just 23—straight out of college. When they sold in 2014, they were a mature company with 17 years of experience under their belt (Paul shares his story in episode #98 of Making Chips). In hindsight, Paul had been preparing the company for sale for many years. They started hiring people to replace the three partners so they weren't working in the business every day. They then hired an M&A company to take them to market (the whole process took around a year).  Sadly, Paul points out that 80% of businesses that get listed for sale never sell. Many businesses end up selling off their assets. Those people are likely making only a fraction of what their company could be worth. So how do you set your business up for success? What can you do now to make it more attractive to future buyers? Listen to the whole episode to learn the process! Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Ozark Technical Community College offering a two-week manufacturing bootcamp Paul Van Metre's Story: Episode #98 of Making Chips Check out ProShop ERP for more information on manufacturing software! Modern Machine Shop magazine Focused on Machining The E Myth: Why Most Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Pandemic-induced supply disruptions and competition from China put more pressure on US companies to manufacture semiconductors at home.

Pandemic-induced supply disruptions and competition from China put more pressure on US companies to manufacture semiconductors at home.

In This Episode…Another year and another attempt to censor speech. I don’t think or businesses don’t care that hate speech is not a clearly defined term. It’s used as a weapon and we should all reject it. Plus, talking about Nvidia updates, GPU supply woes, OBS, Cyberpunk 2077, and more!Show Notes●      [00:44] Cyberpunk 2077 gets a new update                ●      [02:17] Days Gone gets a release date on PC ●      [03:32] Outriders looks even better with DLSS                         ●      [04:39] Nvidia Experience supports optimizing settings for creative software        ●      [06:10] Epic and Nvidia have a new Unreal Engine 4 tech demo●      [06:55] Native DLSS comes to Unity●      [08:26] RTX Voice comes to OBS 26●      [10:37] GPU supply with still be slim in 2021●      [13:00] Blizzard’s Arcade Collection adds two games●      [14:39] Ghostrunner adds paid and free DLC●      [16:15] Listen, COD is toxic to everyone ●      [20:42] Intel stick to making chips People, Games, and Companies, We Mentioned in the Show●      Nvidia ●      Cyberpunk 2077●      Outriders●      Unreal Engine●      Unity●      OBS●      Blizzard●      Twitch●      Intel ●      You can become a member and join monthly AMAs on Supercast!Thank You for Tuning in! Join us every Friday for a new episode! Review our Podcast!Merch●      Check out the latest merch from Digital Coffee!Contact Us!●      If you want to get involved, leave us a comment!●      Visit us and give us a ‘like’ on our Facebook page!●      Follow us on Twitter.●      Follow us on Instagram.●      Join our Discord!●      Email at bdeister@digitalcoffee.tv Thanks for listening! Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/digital-coffee. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What does it mean to leave a legacy of love?  Jason Zenger opens up about his leadership style, and how he commits to it and stays grounded.   00:40 – 1 year of Mindfulness Manufacturing   01:54 – Jason Zenger; President of Zenger’s and ‘Making Chips’ podcast host   03:00 – A transparent business model based on relationships   03:53 – Every great story comes from a history of struggles   04:23 – A Legacy: I want my team to know that I lead them like I loved them   05:40 – How am I going to show up for work today   06:14 – Where’s the risk? What’s the cost?   09:27 – Responsiveness and lack thereof   10:30 – Displayed by the best of the best on our team: DO-BE-GO-LIFE   12:38 – Accountability to making the tough calls   14:26 – Groom it or Hire it?   16:46 – Your actions and behaviors supersede your words when it comes to loving others   19:17 – A commitment to establishing your mindset and staying grounded   22:27 – Rebounding from setback   25:40 – What it takes to swallow that humble pill   30:00 – Learning through uncomfortable times   32:21 – Closure   Contact information for Jason Zenger: linkedin.com/in/jasonzenger zengers.com  (Company Website) MakingChips.com  (Blog)  

Try describing a mechanical thing with a blog post. It's not easy. It's not the right format. But try taking a 3-D model, making it photorealistic, and then doing animations of how it works. Now, you're on to something. So when you think about content marketing, do you think blogs, social media, and podcasts? Or do you think, "What's going to help my audience?" On this episode of The Manufacturing Executive Show, Nick Goellner, sales and marketing leader for Advanced Machine & Engineering and managing director of Making Chips, talked about content marketing in the industrial sector. Here's what we discussed with Nick: The role content marketing should play inside a manufacturing organization Why content is your job even if you are not a marketer (it's all about the function of content) The reason you shouldn't be scared your competitors will rip off your content The books Nick's reading this summer To ensure that you never miss an episode of The Manufacturing Show, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, or here. 

What’s the one question to ask before making any investment decision? As leaders in the industry we are dedicated to growth, yet with quality manufacturing relying so heavily on process, it often seems safer to keep doing things the way we always have. In today’s episode of MakingChips, Jason Zenger talks mergers, acquisitions, and good ways to grow with Mike Payne, President of Hill Manufacturing and Fabrication, who spent the first half of his career buying, managing, and selling dozens of companies across multiple industries before successfully acquiring a machine shop of his own.   Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube Subscribe to Making Chips on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify

A team of leaders who are not united will never reach their potential.  On today’s episode of MakingChips, the guys discuss the importance of team health after Jason Zenger shares an exercise he does with his leadership team at ZENGERS.  This exercise brings healthy conflict to the forefront of their end-of-year planning meetings. The process improves company culture and brings teams closer together by affirming what each member admires about each other and what they would like to see improved.   Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube Subscribe to Making Chips on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify

Quality management in the manufacturing industry should be high on your list of priorities. Carr Machine & Tool is going through the auditing process with ProShop ERP to prepare for the AS9100 certification they’d like to obtain. In this episode of MakingChips, the guys will talk with Paul Van Metre and Michael Collins about ProShop ERP, AS9100, and everything you need to know to prepare for getting your shop certified.  Paul is the president of ProShop USA, and founder of Adion Systems, which develops ProShop, a web-based and paperless ERP, MES, QMS system specifically designed for elite companies in the metalworking industry. They partner with shops that seek to be elite and deliver cutting edge quality. Michael is an implementation specialist at ProShop USA, who trains clients on how to effectively use and implement ProShop in their shops. In addition, Michael provides QMS consulting in the areas of compliance, documentation, auditing and achieving management system certification such as AS 9100. Michael is also an ASQ certified quality auditor.  Connect with us:www.MakingChips.com/contact ProShop takes quality management to a whole new level ProShop describes itself as a Digital Manufacturing Ecosystem (DME) that combines quality management system (QMS), enterprise resource planning (ERP), Computerized Maintenance Management System, and manufacturing execution system (MES) all in one.  Not only is ProShop ERP an all-encompassing system you need for your manufacturing business, but they are also completely paperless. The system takes you into the 21st century and helps you manage everything in one system.  This episode IS a shameless plug for ProShop because we 100% believe everyone needs to integrate it into their business—and we aren’t afraid to say it.  What you need to do to get AS9100 certified AS9100 is the international Quality Management System standard for the Aviation, Space and Defense (AS&D) industry (Rev D (2016) is the most recent version). If you want to work with the AS&D you must get your shop certified.  So what does the AS9100 certification process look like? According to Michael, you simply start with a gap assessment. He’ll come in and ask questions, look at records and evaluate where your business is currently at as far as conforming to the AS9100 requirements.  The gap assessment will help you narrow down where you need to focus and implement changes to become compliant with your quality management. According to Michael: “The whole idea of quality is continuous improvement”.  It won’t be achieved in a day, but you can take ongoing steps. There is always something to be improved upon. Be sure to listen as Michael goes into detail.  How does ProShop ERP simplify the auditing process?  All of the records that Michael needs to audit can be found within ProShop. There is no navigating through different programs or—heaven forbid—paper files. He can follow the audit trail from one thing to the next in one seamless platform.  ProShop cuts down the time it takes to do an audit to a third.  Jim points out that as a business owner, this is a weight off your shoulders. There are so many other areas where your time is better spent and if you’re decreasing the time spent on an audit bt 66% it decreases anxiety. It also allows you to get back to what you need to do much faster. Doing things paperless will become the new standard. An auditor can’t tell you that you have to use binders. Even if they aren’t familiar with ProShop, you can walk them through where to find any and all of the info they need.  ProShop raises the bar when it comes to excellence in quality ProShop integrated quality management into their system to benefit you. Here are just a few of the functionalities and updates they make that raise the bar:  They help you integrate updates into your system as revisions are made to the standard. They are always updating their ‘Flying Start’ package to reflect regulation updates. The integrate a vendor rating system so you can track the quality of the vendors that you work with. It always you to rank vendors on quality, communication, on-time delivery, and more.  ProShop offers different options to help make sure your system is secure and follows ITAR regulations (on-site server or AWS GovCloud).  We rely on ProShop ERP to automate our systems and help us go above and beyond expectations with the quality we deliver.  Listen to the whole episode for valuable information on quality management, ProShop ERP, ASQ9100 certification and much more.  Here’s The Good Stuff! What’s new at Carr Machine & Tool and Zenger’s & Black Manufacturing News: Automated Metrology by Quality Magazine Michael Collins and Paul Van Metre join Jason and Jim How Michael got started in the manufacturing industry What you need to do to get AS 9100 certified Having ProShop ERP cuts audits down to ⅓ of the time People Recognize that ProShop ERP is an efficient QMS system A conversation about the ProShop vendor rating system Is ProShop ERP a secure system? Tools & Takeaways ProShop ERP Automated Metrology by Quality Magazine American Society for Quality Amazon GovCloud ISO 9001:2015 This Week’s Superstar Guests Michael Collins on LinkedIn Paul Van Metre on LinkedIn ProShop ERP on Facebook ProShop ERP on Twitter Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube Subscribe to Making Chips on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify

Is it possible to recession-proof a business? With all the chatter in the economic world about the potential of a recession, how do you mitigate your losses? Are their things that you can do up-front that would help you survive a recession? Jim and Jason discuss the ‘dirty word’ in the industry and some steps you can consider implementing before—or when—a recession hits.  Connect with us:www.MakingChips.com/contact Why are so many NOT worried about a recession?  Many young people in the industry who dove into the workforce after 2008 don’t understand what it means to be in a recession. They haven’t lived through one. Those who remember what it felt like hate to talk or think about it. Jim points out that despite the emotion surrounding the word, it needs to be brought back into the vocabulary. Just because you avoid something doesn’t mean it won’t still happen. Jason and Jim emphasize that if you are educated and prepared a recession won’t impact you as much as it could. So what do you do? If a recession IS coming, what do you do? Jim notes that every recession he’s lived through “looks and feels a little bit different than the one before.'' The unfortunate reality is that we don’t know when a recession will come, how bad it will be, or how long it will last. When Jason’s Dad, Steve, led his business through a recession—he stopped taking a paycheck for a chunk of time. If you’re a business owner, you will have to take some hits. It’s inevitable. Jason’s dad knew he had to protect his business and employees, so he stopped paying himself to get them through the economic downturn. One way to mitigate the harshness of this reality in your own life is to build up a nest-egg. Create a savings account in case of a recession that can see you, your family, and your business through to the other side.  Labor is the #1 biggest cost in the manufacturing industry If cutting your pay isn’t enough to mitigate the financial losses, you have to address the elephant in the room: you might have to let someone go. It’s not easy to do, but sometimes it has to be done. It comes with the territory of being a business owner. It may come down to, “Who can we afford to lose?”.  Sometimes, there is a clear path. Steve Zenger had to ‘trim the fat’ in the last recession and fire a few people who were under-performing or unwilling to help them make it through the recession. If you’re not at the point where you need to make some layoffs, a tip to save some money is to reduce overtime. If you can’t afford to pay your team, you certainly can’t afford to pay time-and-a-half.  Reduce your overhead costs and develop sales skills Jason currently pays rent on three different locations for his business. He questions if a recession hits, could he consolidate locations to reduce overhead? Another option the guys point out is relocating the business somewhere with lower rent.  During the last recession, Jason’s Dad took him out for lunch, and point-blank asked: “What are you going to do about this?”. Jason wasn’t going to sit back and cry. Instead, he developed a passion for sales. If business wasn’t finding him, he was going to do everything possible to bring it in.  A recession is difficult to talk about, but Jim and Jason agree it’s stuff you need to know. A business owner must do everything they can to prepare. To hear the rest of their suggestions regarding surviving a recession, listen to the whole episode of MakingChips! Here’s The Good Stuff! Recession is a dirty word in the industry The potential of the electric vehicle Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe to the Boring Bar Newsletter! America’s largest truck engine manufacturer is laying off 2,000 people Mitigating the risks that come with a recession When it comes down to reducing your labor force Jim and Jason discuss ways to lower your overhead costs Don’t get used to a lifestyle of expensive living Consider outsourcing work that isn’t profitable Tools & Takeaways Xometry Trucking Companies Going out of Business Cummins Diesel Announced Layoffs of 2,000 employees Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube Subscribe to Making Chips on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify

Today’s guest on the MakingChips podcast is passionate about job creation in the manufacturing industry. Today’s youth are being pushed towards college degree—while racking up debt—which has led to $1.6 trillion in student loan debt in the country. It is staggering. Unfortunately, many students spend the majority of their working life paying off that debt.  Jon Klinepeter left a career as a Pastor to start Forrest Bradshaw Industries and the Better Good Group. His goal is to offer underprivileged youth a shot in an industry that is screaming for more labor. To hear more about his heart and mission in manufacturing, listen to the whole episode of MakingChips now! Connect with us:www.MakingChips.com/contact Jon’s journey from Ministry to Machining Jon Klinepeter spent 22 years as a Pastor in Chicago (and Minneapolis, MN). He had a passion and love for the people he worked with. He was an advocate in his community. His faith has always been very important to him—but he didn’t love the church organizational structure. So he completed an MBA in Strategy and Innovation. Then, he bought a 38-year-old CNC Machining company from a Polish Immigrant.  But why machining? Jon’s grandfather was his hero growing up, and had spent his life as a machinist. According to Jon, what drew him in was “The intellect being expressed through your hands rather than through an education system that rewards a certain type of thinking”. He wanted to build a business with that thought in mind. A passion for job creation Jon’s passion is job creation, and he knows the manufacturing industry is constantly growing. Not only is it growing, but being a CNC machinist is the highest paying career you can have without a college degree. Jon wanted to take that knowledge and start creating generational opportunities for underprivileged youth. Nothing brings him greater joy than seeing the look of hope on someone’s face when they’ve been offered a job they never thought remotely possible. The purpose of Forrest Bradshaw is to inspire hope for a better future through living wage job opportunities in precision metal manufacturing. 100,000 jobs for at-risk youth is possible With his purpose and vision for Forrest Bradshaw, he launched an initiative to create 100,000 jobs for at-risk youth across the country. He wanted to inspire hope for a better future through living wage job opportunities in precision metal manufacturing. He’s watched thousands of kids walking into job fairs scared and hopeless, but leaving full of hope.  What is being offered is more than just a job, but a future.  Many kids don’t have the right guidance or mentors available to them. Those of us fortunate enough to have parents that were available had a safety net. Parents are ongoing mentors throughout our lives—but many underprivileged youths don’t get that. Providing jobs gives them hope for the next generation.  A business owner must lead with Integrity With his core vision in mind, Jon knew he had to build a business with his values at the center of everything he did. The foundational value he chose to build Forrest Bradshaw on was integrity. At times, practicing integrity can seem counter-cultural. Jon reminisced about getting some machinery fixed: The company giving him a quote for the job (that the insurance was going to cover) asked him what cut that he wanted from the quote.  With his team waiting to see what his response would be, he responded “Just whatever it costs, bill us for that”. Your integrity will cost you something. That would’ve been easy money in his pocket. Instead, he chose to honor his core values and lead with integrity.  To hear the rest of Jon’s mission, vision, core values, and advice for leaders in manufacturing, listen to the whole episode!  Here’s The Good Stuff! What would Jim do if he wasn’t at Carr Machine & Tool? What’s happening at Carr Machine & Tool  What’s new at Zenger & Black Subscribe to the Boring Bar Newsletter! Manufacturing News: Mike Rowe weighs in on student debt Why Jon Klinepeter left ministry for machining The purpose of Forrest Bradshaw Industries The core values Jon embraces in his business Jon’s advice for aspiring manufacturing leaders We chat with Mark at Xometry about ITAR compliant vs. registered Tools & Takeaways Lack of shop classes is why we’re $1.6T in student debt: Mike Rowe Technology and Manufacturing Association (TMA) International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) Registration Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFAR) Connect with Mark Gallagher This Week’s Superstar Guest Forrest Bradshaw Industries Jon’s LinkedIn Better Good Group Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube Subscribe to Making Chips on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify

Employee onboarding can be stressful and it’s hard to know what you should or shouldn’t be doing. What do you tell a new hire on day one? Do you start the process before their first day? When do you do performance reviews? The list of questions goes on! Today, Jim and Jason are going to walk you through the Carr Machine & Tool onboarding experience.  Connect with us:www.MakingChips.com/contact Hiring Millennials: A new era of employee onboarding? The overarching number of people applying to machinist jobs are millennials. For those of us in a different generation, do we need to change the way we onboard? According to Jungohr, there are some tips to make the process more successful.  Get on-board with preboarding: You can send the employee handbook and have them fill out the necessary paperwork before day one. Begin relationship-building: One fun way? Have them listen to the MakingChips Podcast! Clearly communicate: Communication is key to a successful onboarding process (this, of course, applies to every generation) Establish a sense of purpose: Millennials want to feel as if they are contributing to the greater good of the company and the world. Foster an environment where they know they are! Many of these points apply to every generation, but it’s been found to be especially impactful to Millennials. Let us know what YOU think! How to gauge if the potential hire is the best fit At Carr Machine & Tool, Jim has several ways to see if a potential hire is a fit for their culture. If he has a good feeling about a candidate, he will bring them into his weekly production meeting to see how they interact with the team. He also enjoys walking a candidate through the shop to see how they interact and engage with people. This could be labeled as “pre-boarding”—he’s involving the potential hire in his company culture before officially hiring.  If they’re not interested in engaging and don’t make an effort, you can end the process before it’s even started. It may seem time-consuming on the front-end but can save a lot of pain and problems throughout the next 30, 60, or 90 days. Make performance reviews meaningful  On a new hire’s first day, Jim lays out what the process looks like, and schedules a 30-day performance review. The first 30 days is a sort of trial period to see how they acclimate. There is no goal-setting or anything that would place pressure on the candidate. You want them to spend time shadowing (and there’s a lot of hand-holding) and learning new processes.  Jim makes sure to ask 6 different questions in the first performance review. He wants to let them know if they are on-par with expectations and see how they think they’re doing. Jim will even let them know if they are performing below expectations. The goal isn’t to be critical, but to let them know that you are going to take an active role in their success.  When should you do a compensation review? Listen to find out! Regular performance reviews are a proven process for success Within the first year an employee is hired, Jim does performance reviews at 30 days, 90 days, 6 months, and at the one-year mark. These reviews are based on goals they’ve set, improvements that were recommended, and so forth. If the employee has proven themselves exceptional, they reward the employee with a pay increase.  It allows the employee to learn new skills and be goal-driven.  The goal is to help your team members feel more connected and that they have a safe environment to grow in—you want to help them reach the next level of expertise. When you schedule reviews in a formulaic manner, it’s a structured way for both you and the employee to constantly move forward.  To hear some mistakes to avoid, be sure to listen to the rest of the episode! Here’s The Good Stuff! What’s new at Zenger! Subscribe to our newsletter: text CHIPS to 38470 4 Proven Ways to Successfully Onboard Millennial Employees The onboarding process at Carr Machine & Tool Check out Xometry’s helpful design guides! A proven process that works for Carr Mistakes to avoid making during reviews Tools & Takeaways Xometry’s Design Guide Jungohr’s Millennial Onboarding Article Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube Subscribe to Making Chips on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify

This re-release of one of our most popular episodes includes never released bonus content about development, retention strategies, compensation techniques and much more. Our returning guest, Jess Giudici, packs a punch with her on-point advice and skillful mastery of employee development. If you’re ready to grow and retain a team of motivated and fulfilled employees, don’t miss this special episode! Connect with us: www.MakingChips.com/contact Create development paths that aren’t leadership specific Human Resources (HR) is a faction of every company and the roles within HR can vary. On one hand, they must be focused on protecting the business. But new-school HR is about recruitment, development, training, and retention. As an employer, it is your job to make sure that the employees you’ve recruited feel understood and fulfilled in their role.  One means of doing that is crafting different development paths that allow team members to grow—that aren’t necessarily leadership. Not everyone wants to climb the career ladder with the end goal of being in leadership. How can you help individuals grow in their roles, take on more responsibility, or become more technically proficient?  To hear some of the questions that Jess recommends asking to gauge what an employee desires for their career path, keep listening! The conversation about compensation  Jess recommends having “touch-point” conversations with employees throughout the year where you gauge their engagement level and offer support. Sometimes, they may feel content with the role that they’re playing and aren’t looking to take on increased responsibility. Jess points out that this is great if they’re consistently achieving what is expected of them. But the guys ask—what if they want more money with no added responsibility? Jess takes the challenging question head-on, recommending that you be ready and equipped to answer. She points out that it’s okay to implement salary caps for positions and clearly define up-front that you understand the desire for a raise, but they are at the high end of the payscale for their position. If they would like more compensation you can start the conversation but be sure they’re aware that includes increasing responsibilities.  Jason, Jim, and Jess continue to talk about fair market value, offers from competition, and employee engagement. Don’t miss it! You need to implement two separate reviews Many businesses tend to do an “annual review” to assess employee performance and converse about the “expected” raise. Jess believes these conversations need to be split up. The annual review should only be about performance. It should be tying up loose ends regarding the conversations you’ve had throughout the year. Center the review around development and engagement. Be sure the employee knows that compensation is not part of this conversation, and they will be more engaged and open.  Compensation needs to be addressed separately, even perhaps as the employee is exceeding what is expected of them. Often, there is an expectation that an employee will get a “cost-of-living” raise, but this isn’t always the case. Your team needs to know that if they are exhibiting behaviors that detract from their productivity and performance, they may not get the expected raise. Jess points out that the team members should know that their performance has been lacking—it shouldn’t come as a surprise—and that you will work with them to further develop. Perhaps they’ll see that raise at a later date as they improve.  The guys open up a tough conversation about some of their pet peeves about expected yearly raises. Be sure to listen! Understanding employee turnover and developing retention strategies In most cases, Jim and Jason aren’t surprised when an employee announces they’re leaving, but sometimes it comes as a surprise. If an employee decides to leave unexpectedly, it’s important to know why. Were they engaged? Did they receive sufficient training? Did their pay scale not match the market? All of these questions can be incorporated into an exit interview. It allows you to reflect on your processes and making changes where necessary.  But how do you avoid employee turnover? Jess advocates for giving your employees a voice. When someone is employed in a culture where they feel validated and understood, they are likely to feel fulfilled in their role. You can cultivate a culture that gives everyone a voice while aligning with your core values. Hold round-table discussions, ask for feedback or have employees complete surveys—then be prepared to implement changes. This helps your team feel heard and respected. Jess, Jason, and Jim talk in detail about developing a culture of engagement in this episode. If you’re ready to create a company culture where no one wants to leave, this is the episode for you!  Here’s The Good Stuff! Uniting your team under the goal to constantly improve.  Manufacturing news: Millennials’ Skeptical About Manufacturing Careers Jess Giudici is back with the Metal Working Nation! Fostering a love of personal and company growth through HR development.  Understanding the individual: what drives your employees? What if someone doesn’t want to climb the career ladder? Balancing formal and informal development conversations.  Separating performance and pay reviews.  Understanding why people leave and why people stay.  Creating and cultivating a great company culture.  Bonus content: Compensation techniques with Jess Giudici.  Automated quoting process with Greg Paulson of Xometry Keeping file sharing ITAR compliant  Tools & Takeaways Millennials Skeptical About Manufacturing Careers Halogen Software Smalley ProShop ERP This Week’s Superstar Guest: Jess Giudici Jess Giudici  Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube Subscribe to Making Chips on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify

Is social media marketing for manufacturers really worth the effort? How should you market your brand in general? It may be hard to figure out where you fit in the social media world and what content to put out. In this episode of Making Chips, Jim and Jason talk about why social media marketing can make a positive impact on your business. Their answers aren’t what you expect! Connect with us:www.MakingChips.com/contact Prioritize Self-Care above your business Jim and Jason had a scary Halloween—but not for the reason you'd expect. They were preparing to record a couple of episodes for the podcast. Instead, Jim was rushed to the ER with a case of Gastritis. Among other factors, severe stress is one of the things that contributed to his illness. Running multiple businesses and caring for unhealthy parents took a toll on him. The moral of the story? Know what’s going on with your body, and take care of yourself. As a business owner, you have an obligation to care for your company. However, it is impossible to do so if you aren’t healthy. Proper self-care should be the entrepreneur’s #1 priority. Jim is already active and watches his diet, but wasn’t limiting his stress. It was a wake-up call for him and he hopes that it’s a wake-up call for listeners as well.  Social Media marketing to promote company culture A listener pointed out that he doesn’t believe a machine shop must do any social media marketing. He doesn’t buy it. He believes that it’s a total waste of time for an industrial company. After all, what aerospace engineer goes on Facebook to look for a manufacturer? While Jim and Jason point out and understand that social media isn’t for everyone, there are some important reasons to utilize Social media.  Firstly, you’re not creating posts on Facebook to attract buyers. You are doing it to promote your company culture. You can promote new talent or offer a behind the scenes take of what your company does. Social media allows a business to share their values with the world. It is THE most effective way to do so—and costs you nothing but time.  Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn—where do you begin? As much as you may not want to give credence to the importance of the social space, they point out that people build careers in social media. Instagram influencers make thousands of dollars promoting services or products in posts. Instagram is a great model for the manufacturing space because it allows you to share visuals in a meaningful way. You can share photos of parts, people in your business, or of projects you’re working on. Or perhaps a short video of work in progress or a how-to piece. Whatever it is, it allows you to build an authentic connection with your audience. If you’re providing valuable information, social media marketing for your brand can certainly be worth the time and effort. LinkedIn can also be a useful tool to attract new talent. A new hire came across some of the content Jim had shared on LinkedIn. He saw that Jim was hiring a C & C Machinist, and messaged him about the opportunity. He already knew—based on their social media presence—that the company would be a good fit. And he was! Marketing isn’t a waste of time when done properly Marketing doesn’t necessarily reap immediate rewards as far as attracting new clients. However, the immediate reward is how it impacts your company. As you build a website or define a marketing strategy, you are defining how you want your business presented to the world. What are your values? What are your specialties? What is the #1 thing you want the general public to know about your company?  As you’re building a vision for your brand it helps lay out the vision for how you operate your business. You differentiate yourself in the industry by being different, and marketing helps you portray what makes you special. If you stand out and exploit what makes your business different, you attract the type of customers that are the right fit. They emphasize the importance of finding a good marketing agency to guide you through the process. It can make a world of difference.  Here’s The Good Stuff! Manufacturing leaders need to prioritize self care SIA latest news Social media marketing for manufacturers What can Instagram do for you? Is marketing a waste of time? Find a good marketing agency! What Upcoming episodes will look like A conversation with Peter Goguen of Xometry Tools & Takeaways ProShop ERP StoryBrand Marketing Xometry Titan Gilroy Zenger’s Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube Subscribe to Making Chips on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify

Making the decision to employ veterans may seem like a shot in the dark, but it could actually be the best hiring decision you will ever make as a manufacturing leader. Military veterans not only have the tangible leadership skills you need to grow and succeed in your business, but they also bring a rich set of attributes and experiences to the table. Making the transition from military life to a new, civilian career can be intimidating, however! Helping veterans thrive in their post-military chapters is what brought Andrea Biwer (Executive Director of the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce) and Marne Deithorn (Director of Human Resources at the Des Plaines Rivers Casino) together to form the Veteran Boot Camp.  Connect with us:www.MakingChips.com/contact The “Aha moment” that created the Veterans Back to Work Boot Camp Andrea knew there was a shortage in the manufacturing workforce, but she didn’t see it as an opportunity for veterans until she watched her son and his friends come back from their service in the marines and have trouble finding work. Joining with Marne (a veteran herself!) at the Rivers Casino, the two women helped lead the charge in founding the Veterans Back to Work Boot Camp. The ten-week program is built to help and empower veterans who have given so much to our country and to fill job opportunities within various industries - including manufacturing!  A ten-week itinerary of life-changing self-discovery Over 250 veterans have applied to the boot camp since it began. 20 were chosen out of 85 applications for this past year’s program. While there are no set criteria for being accepted, Andrea and Marne explain that they painstakingly go through each application, looking for those they believe will most benefit from the experience and be committed to the learning opportunity. Those that aren’t accepted are still given access to the job fair put on by the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce.  Mentors come alongside the veterans, sharing their own mistakes and experiences. Topics such as Who are You?, Persona, and Introversion vs. Extroversion are covered, as well as interviewing skills and resume building. Marne explains that in the military, everyone is told exactly what to do - all the time. Veterans are used to a life where they are told what to wear, where to move, and what they should do in their job. Suddenly living in a world without constant direction can be daunting. The Boot Camp endeavors to help veterans find themselves again after identifying themselves as “the military” for so long.  Employ veterans for their strengths and tangible leadership experience Andrea and Marne share that the veterans who leave the program are filled with newfound confidence and strength in their personal capabilities. The practical experiences they gain from the program, such as participation in networking events and community service projects, help give them a sense of purpose outside of the military. One of the greatest strengths of veterans is their desire for purpose - to give to something bigger than themselves. Veterans have so much to offer, and their military training and experiences have proven them to be men and women of integrity, loyalty, character, and principle. They know how to lead under pressure and how to build up those around them to greater achievements. They know how to make decisions. When you employ veterans, you aren’t just utilizing their skill-set, you are investing in the future.  Don’t stereotype - we all have things we struggle with  Unfortunately, there are many misconceived misgivings surrounding employing veterans. Firstly, veterans aren’t just line employees. Because of their military experience, they are ready for leadership positions at the get-go. While they may need to learn the details of a specific job, they already have the tangible leadership skills needed to succeed (know yourself, know your troops, and know your mission).  Secondly, not every veteran has PTSD. Andrea and Marne warn against placing veterans inside a box of mental disorders. “That negative stigma is absolutely ridiculous,” they say. Everyone has something they struggle with, and not only military members have PTSD. If you find that one of your employed veterans has some type of disorder, help them find the encouragement and aid they need.  Thirdly, not all homeless veterans have a debilitating habit that brought them to that condition. Again, everyone has struggles. Veterans are human too, and they deserve a chance. To learn more about the ways you can help give back to military veterans while also growing your business, listen to the episode!  Here’s The Good Stuff! Veterans know how to make decisions! The inspired beginnings of the Veterans Back to Work Boot Camp.  The three-fold mission of the Boot Camp.  How do veterans benefit from a mentorship-based program?  Overcoming obstacles on the road to self-discovery.  Training built to inspire and create the future.  Practical experiences make for a well-rounded education.  Unexpected reasons you should employ veterans.  How the manufacturing community can help make a difference.  Overcoming the negative stigmas surrounding employing veterans.  Tools & Takeaways Fifteen Benefits of Hiring Military Veterans Xometry ProShop ERP Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe to The Boring Bar This Week’s Superstar Guests Andrea on LinkedIn Marne on LinkedIn Veterans Back to Work Boot Camp Boot Camp Videos Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube Subscribe to Making Chips on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify

Training to achieve top credentials has long been a goal of many in the Metal Working Nation, but what about training for performance? Montez King, Executive Director of NIMS, unpacks the power of training machinists to perform at their ultimate best. How do you measure performance? Listen to the episode to find out!  Montez grew up on the rough side of the tracks in Baltimore - eager to pursue something bigger than himself when he grew up. Encouraged by a high school instructor to pursue machining, Montez found himself learning the tricks of the trade in his high school machine shop. Over the years in various manufacturing jobs, Montez endeavored to find solutions to the issues he found riddling the manufacturing industry - namely, the habit of companies to reward their employees for hoarding their expertise. As he climbed the industry ladder, Montez encouraged a paradigm shift towards a community rich in growth, teaching, and learning.  Connect with us:www.MakingChips.com/contact Redefining the values: training for performance instead of credentials When Montez became the executive director at NIMS, he laid out a new mission for the organization - to train from the end. Manufacturers are always learning. Technology continues to grow at a rate that demands elite performance and an insatiable desire to learn. Montez explains that simply having a list of credentials doesn’t cut it anymore in an industry where performance equals compensation. Employers are coming up against unique problems every day that require quick and expert solutions. Performance has become the new measuring stick.  NIMS helps companies train for performance with specific goals and standards in mind. When measuring performance, they determine whether or not an individual can operate within the responsibilities of their job description while drawing upon the competencies associated with that job. The training isn’t just for the sake of training. It’s training with a specific performance goal in mind.  Empowering the standards while building the performance  Manufacturing leaders know that they can’t wander aimlessly when trying to improve their teams. There needs to be a goal - a standard of achievement. NIMS takes this need for standards and applies it to their performance measurement, creating training methods that enable the trainee to meet the performance goals of the employer. Trainees leave with the ability to make an analysis of the task at hand and to apply their expertise based upon their best judgment of the tools, time, and needs within their environment.  Montez makes it clear that standards should not be held above performance. The answer to the employer’s needs is the competent and consistent performance of the trained individual. Credentials are awarded to individuals who complete the training and meet the performance standards so that the trainee is recognized for their hard work, while also meeting the needs of the employer. It’s a win-win for everyone involved. It’s a three-way stop in the NIMS stakeholder environment  In order to make the performance training at NIMS a true win-win, Montez has helped create a stakeholder environment in his company’s training methods. Using the image of three bars, each one stands for a stakeholder in the training: the employer, the trainer, and the trainee. Everyone is reaching for the same goal, and each one is held accountable for their part in the deal. Validation is achieved when the trainee can draw upon the competencies they have learned and can successfully apply them to the environment that their employer has defined for them. The employer is responsible for establishing the standards, the trainer is responsible for creating a training method that builds performance and skill, and the trainee is responsible for mastering the craft and competence in applying knowledge to real-life situations. All three bars have to measure up. When one falls short - they all fall short.  NIMS is building an exciting opportunity for manufacturing teams at IMTS 2020 To Montez, performance measurement is preventative maintenance! In order to push the Metal Working Nation to the next level, NIMS will be hosting a one-of-a-kind challenge at the IMTS 2020 trade show. The goal will be to measure the performance of a team, since teamwork is such a vital part of the manufacturing industry. This PM will require multiple skill-sets to come together to design, create, and produce a task that will then be voted upon by the IMTS crowd. In accordance with the NIMS training methodology, the competition will include standards, inspections, and requirements modeled after real-life challenges. What’s the reward? You’ll have to find out at IMTS 2020!  Here’s The Good Stuff! From Baltimore to NIMs - Montez’s manufacturing story.  The detrimental trend of hoarding knowledge.  Changing the culture and mission of NIMS.  Measuring performance instead of credentials.  Creating a win-win training method for employer and employee. The magic of entanglement in training.  The importance of having standards and reliable methods.  It’s the employer’s job to define the desired performance standard.  NIMS is offering an exciting opportunity at IMTS 2020! Tools & Takeaways IMTS 2020 Rockford Rescue Mission Offers New Manufacturing Training Program Xometry ProShop ERP Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe to The Boring Bar This Week’s Superstar Guest: Montez King Montez on LinkedIn Biographical video on Montez’s journey to NIMS NIMS Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube Subscribe to Making Chips on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify

Content marketing provides an opportunity to expand your business and to offer something of value to the manufacturing community around the world. Chris Fox, the creative director at MakingChips, shares why every manufacturing leader should be investing in the development of a strong and value-driven content marketing strategy. It’s all about building your online presence as a company and growing your audience.  Connect with us:www.MakingChips.com/contact Provide content marketing with value to those that need your expertise Content marketing has grown from only a couple of usable platforms to several powerful mediums for sharing what your business offers - from products to educational knowledge. Blogging, social media, and YouTube are all avenues for content marketing. The goal is to establish the presence of your business and brand, while also meeting the needs of the Metal Working Nation. Chris explains that learning and teaching are things that every machinist and manufacturing leader can benefit from. Every manufacturing business has expertise and wisdom to share with the manufacturing community. Don’t be afraid to begin documenting the story of your company as you create, make mistakes, and overcome obstacles. Your knowledge can easily become rich building material for content marketing!  Create authentic content that offers a valuable return on investment Your audience craves and needs original, authentic content to help them accomplish their work at their very best. Being natural in your content marketing is vital. People easily see through facades and glossy content. Be honest and provide real solutions to real problems through your content marketing. If you want your audience to invest their time in watching your videos, reading your blog, or re-tweeting your twitter post, then you need to provide a valuable ROI.  Chris encourages listeners to put aside the notion of proprietary secrets. The goal is to grow as a manufacturing community - while also building your reputation as a brand. Value-driven content marketing can help establish your reputation as a trustworthy source for knowledge and product.  Vlogging helps establish credibility with your audience  Vlogging is blogging in a video format - most often through YouTube. The true value in a blog comes from the individuals in your business. Content marketing doesn’t have to be formal or impressively polished. Being real is vital, and showcasing the talent and knowledge of individual team members can help establish credibility with your audience.  Chris explains how to navigate the nuances of vlogging as a manufacturing company. Being honest with the titles of your videos is key. If your title claims to answer a question, make sure that the video actually answers it. Google is now smart enough to read the transcript of your video and match it with the title. If those two factors don’t match up, Google is less likely to promote your video.  The length of your videos should be tailored to the needs of your audience. If it takes an hour to demonstrate the solution to a real problem, then your video should be an hour long. If it only takes three minutes, then only create three minutes. Lots of ads and fluff in your videos will turn your audience away and detract from your credibility. Above all, be honest and be concise.  Equip and inspire your audience - and your team The value in content marketing is derived from the desire to give without thought of receiving anything in return. Take the time to understand what your customers, partners, and team members need. Know what platforms they use and what types of mediums they are most likely to engage with. While you may not be able to kick off a content marketing strategy that utilizes YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Facebook all at once, you can certainly start with one. Don’t have expensive camera equipment to film? Use your phone! Bring in the team and refer to their feedback when developing material. Companies aren’t people, but they are made up of people. Make sure that you are providing excellent content by ensuring that you are not only promoting your brand but also equipping and inspiring.  Here’s The Good Stuff! Why Jim and Jason see MakingChips as a way to pour back into the Metal Working Nation.  Introducing Chris Fox: Creative Director at MakingChips Is all marketing content marketing? The valuable knowledge that manufacturers have to share.  Tracking your marketing performance through content marketing platforms.  People want value - not excess material.  Knowing what platform is best for your company’s needs. Building credibility through vlogging.  How important is the title of your vlog video? Showcasing the people in your business - not just your products.  Gaging the appropriate length for your video.  Learning how to tag your videos.  Tools & Takeaways What Is Content Marketing? MakingChips on YouTube Xometry ProShop ERP Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe to The Boring Bar This Week’s Superstar Guest: Chris Fox Creative Director at MakingChips Chris on LinkedIn Chris on Twitter Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube Subscribe to Making Chips on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify

Choosing a new career path or education route can be intimidating, but a manufacturing career may just provide the perfect solution! Sarah Wierman shares her inspiring story and helpful insights into joining the manufacturing industry and how being willing to learn and ask questions can open up new and exciting opportunities. Be sure to listen to the episode for a unique look into changing career paths and learning the ropes of manufacturing from a beginner’s perspective.  Connect with us:www.MakingChips.com/contact From deaf studies to a manufacturing career: Sarah’s story of embracing change  Working on obtaining her bachelor’s degree in deaf studies, Sarah tried a job in sign language and teaching but found that she hated it. She decided to take a break from her education and took a job in sales at Raptor Workholding on the recommendation of a friend. Little did she know that she would soon fall in love with the manufacturing industry and find her new passion and calling.  The initial appeal in a sales job was the travel opportunities. Sarah soon discovered that manufacturing was more than producing and delivering products. It was creativity and masterful workmanship created to meet an incredibly wide spectrum of needs - from replacing knees to providing building supplies. Inspired, Sarah took it upon herself to learn as much as she could about the industry and asked questions of everyone she met. “I never stopped talking to people,” she shares. Vendor shows and visiting other shops to sell live tooling afforded her plenty of opportunities to deepen her knowledge of machining.  Don’t confuse lack of experience with the inability to take action When Sarah first began her job as a sales rep at Raptor, she didn’t even know what a CNC machine was. After a year of intense learning and diving into the new world of manufacturing, she realized that she wanted to stay in the industry long-term. Her eagerness to learn opened new doors, and she took a job as the regional manager at MD Tooling. “Your lack of experience in the industry doesn’t make you ignorant,” she says. “It makes you eager.” If you find that you truly want to be a part of the manufacturing industry, then you need to be willing to take on the responsibility of learning - and learning well. Listen to the episode to learn more about why Sarah fell in love with machining and why she decided to pursue a manufacturing career. Sarah’s positive experience as a woman in the manufacturing industry  Even though there are many women in the manufacturing industry, it still isn’t common. Sarah shares her experiences entering into and growing in an industry that is still considered a man’s world. “It is what you make of it,” she says. Even though some of the people she worked with initially found her presence odd, there was never any hostility or opposition. Once her fellow workers discovered that Sarah was willing to learn and put her best foot forward in every job and customer encounter, they embraced her unique perspectives and place within the team.  Sarah shares that while it can be intimidating entering a workforce made up almost entirely of men as a young woman, the important thing to focus on is the experience that you are offering customers and your teammates. View obstacles as challenges and find ways to overcome them. It’s about being collaborative and willing to find the solution and solve the problems that arise. Everyone has something unique to offer, and being confident in one’s perspective - while also acting and speaking in humility - will take you farther than you ever thought possible.  Use unique avenues to learn something new Learning about a new career opportunity can be daunting. Sarah shares some tips for exploring the manufacturing industry as a new career. Mentors can be invaluable in helping you navigate how to get started, who to talk to, and how to put your best foot forward. Investing in relationships should be a key component of your entire career, but especially when starting out. You will always need others to help you and provide a place for you to seek advice. Never stop asking questions and making room for edifying voices in your life.  Social media isn’t just a business marketing tool. It can be a learning tool for exploring new career paths as well! Sarah explains how she began an Instagram page for Raptor Workholding and soon discovered other manufacturing-related pages from which she learned an invaluable amount of insight and skill. Don’t be intimidated by having to learn a new industry. Put yourself out there. Use social media to learn more about the culture and the skills required. Ask questions and make it fun! Manufacturing isn’t just about the products. It’s about the people, meeting the needs of those across the nation and the world, and creating something beautiful out of ordinary hunks of metal.  Here’s The Good Stuff! A massive career change led Sarah to discover her true passion.  The importance of taking responsibility for your own education.  Live tooling allows machinists to take their tooling to the next level.  Appreciating the creative side of manufacturing.  Being a woman in the manufacturing industry.  Recognizing that everyone has a unique perspective.  The importance of mentors in launching your career.  Using social media as a marketing and learning tool.  Being brave enough to step out and ask questions. Tools & Takeaways ProShop ERP Xometry NIMS, Festo Didactic to develop Industry 4.0 skills standards The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! This Week’s Superstar Guest: Sarah Wierman Sarah on LinkedIn Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube Subscribe to Making Chips on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify

HAAS Automation is leading the way in how-to manufacturing videos as an education tool for manufacturing leaders around the globe - as well as a content marketing tool to demonstrate how to use the newest HAAS equipment. Guest speakers Mark Terryberry, Bryan O’Fallon, and Scott Gasich share their video-making and content marketing expertise in this fascinating episode of MakingChips! Want to learn what makes a great how-to video and how sharing your knowledge can help boost your business? Listen to the episode to find out!  Connect with us:www.MakingChips.com/contact Trading manuals for how-to manufacturing videos After a couple of hit how-to YouTube videos demonstrating how to solve simple manufacturing issues, the HAAS Automation marketing team realized that there was no place for manufacturers to go to learn how to do new things or fix things outside of paper manuals. Jumping on the “video craze” bandwagon, they set out to fill the void of immediately available machining instruction by offering quality how-to and product video content.  Quickly finding that people prefer short, to-the-point videos, the HAAS team created short video series on different topics. They now average 4-5 videos per week with several series from “Tip of the Day” to “Don’t Fear 5-Axis” and the “Machine Tool Coolant Series.” Manufacturers today need quickly available and accurate demonstrations to help them master their art and easily find solutions. YouTube offers the medium that HAAS needs to accomplish its goal of meeting the needs of the manufacturing community while also marketing their latest products.  Overcoming roadblocks with authenticity  It can be overwhelming when trying to decide how much production value to put into video content creation. How polished do you make how-to manufacturing videos? Mark, Bryon, and Scott all share the need to be authentic with your audience. Just because you make a video doesn’t mean that people will watch it. Know who you are as a company and know who your customers and potential viewers are. What do they need and want to learn?  How-to manufacturing videos are a way to build trust with current and potential customers. If you are providing real solutions to real problems, then you will earn the trust of your viewers. Mark, Bryon, and Scott encourage listeners to use real-life machinists in their video production. The authentic empathy that machinists will have with viewer issues will come through in the videos and provide an added layer of reality and authenticity.  Using the needs of viewers as inspiration  Listening to your viewers is key! While the manufacturing community may still be pretty old-school, everyone consumes online material, and everyone is looking for answers through mediums such as YouTube. Be sure to read the comments people are leaving in your channel. Provide a phone number and email address so that viewers and customers have a way of reaching out with questions. Use your own company’s mistakes as opportunities for creating new content that demonstrates how to solve the problems you come up against.  Making the shift from traditional marketing to content marketing  Scott says that with digital marketing, you have to jump right in and get at it. While print marketing may still claim a slice of your resources, put most of your resources in digital marketing. With $3,000 of Facebook marketing, you can reach a million people. With $3,000 invested in print marketing, you may reach a few thousand. Invest in what works. Don’t know where to start? “Follow your gut,” says Scott. Think about how you would want the material presented to you. “Bet on yourself,” he says. Don’t go spend a fortune on production value right away. Use your phone and some good lighting tools and go from there. Build a script or storyboard to help guide the way. Speaking with passion and truth will win the trust of your viewers and help you build your business.  Here’s The Good Stuff! MakingChips receives rave reviews on iTunes! The shift from traditional marketing to video content marketing.  HAAS Automation as an early adopter of the video craze. Creating a needed learning space for manufacturers.  Overcoming the roadblocks of creating new video content.  Gleaning material from viewer feedback.  Why content marketing is the most effective way to reach your audience.  The behind-the-scenes of shooting a YouTube video.  Operator Certification through video training series.  Augmented reality may be the future of content marketing.  Tools & Takeaways Los Angeles is Largest Manufacturing Center in U.S., Government Says ProShop ERP Xometry This Week’s Superstar Guests Mark on LinkedIn Bryan on LinkedIn Scott on LinkedIn HAAS Automation HAAS YouTube Channel Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube Subscribe to Making Chips on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify  

How can the Metal Working Nation close the manufacturing skills gap? As the manufacturing industry continues to grow with the demand for fast and excellent production, it is imperative that the proper skills be found, fostered, and taught. Even with the desirable technological sophistication of the modern manufacturing world, young talent isn’t being found quickly enough to fill the gap left by the retirement of the Baby Boomer generation.  Jim and Jason brainstorm with guest speakers Hernan Ricaurte (Owner of Ricaurte Precision), Brian Grigson (General Manager of Axxis Corporation), and Brain Pendarvis (Owner of Pendarvis Manufacturing) about how manufacturing leaders can take action to influence the next generation of machinists. Be sure to listen to the entire episode to catch the best insights into the real and persisting problem of the manufacturing skills gap!  Connect with us:www.MakingChips.com/contact Putting a finger on the pulse of the manufacturing skills gap Ricaurte, Grigson, and Pendarvis all agree that the skills gap is certainly a major issue of the modern manufacturing world. The “great wave” is here; the older are retiring and the younger aren’t qualified or aren’t interested. Pendarvis shares the struggle of finding talent skilled in the newest manufacturing technology. Leaders know that you can’t just stick anyone on your CNC machines. While the skills gap is a real and present problem, it doesn’t have to remain that way.  Changing the perception of manufacturing is the first step. Most high schoolers don’t even know that trade school for CNC machining or similar work is an option. Many still think that they have to go to college to have a meaningful career. Manufacturing, however, offers so much at such little training cost. Building bridges with your community is the first step to closing the skills gap. Give presentations at the local middle and high schools, invite schools to tour your facilities and show them that what they need - and want - in a career can be found in manufacturing. “It’s not always money that people want,” says Grigson. A clean environment, security, incentives, and evident room for company growth are all attributes that can help your business attract young talent.  Effective training is grounded in effective culture  Who are you as a company? What is your niche? While there is a skills issue, it is important to only hire the skills that you need. What is your company culture? The culture that you want to foster within your business begins with you as the leader. One challenge created by the skills gap is finding someone who is not only talented but also a good fit within your company. Having more experienced employees shadow and oversee the work of new hires or interns provides the opportunity for not only the skills - but for the culture - to be taught.  Ricaurte shares the lessons he learned from studying the manufacturing culture of Japanese machinists. Fostering a culture of accountability and excellence if key. Attention to detail, respect for one another, and the willingness to learn are all necessary to an effective workplace Training the younger generation within that culture will help produce the future talent that you need. Don’t forget to listen to the rest of the episode for more insight into fostering effective culture! What makes a great modern machinist?  It actually depends on the work and skill-set required! With the advancement of technology, the skill sets needed by manufacturers grows more diverse. While not everyone will be adept in all areas of machining, they always need to be willing to learn and grow. Curiosity is a sign of a great future machinist. While genuine curiosity, humility, excellent work ethic, and personal drive are all hard to detect in an interview, they should be attributes that you are striving to discover.  Running an apprenticeship or internship program at your shop is also a highly effective way to discover and nurture new talent. Involve high schoolers in your company’s growth and demonstrate to them the future possibilities within manufacturing. Hiring part-time can also be a good tactic to see if you and your new employee are a good long-term fit.  Finding and providing opportunity in unlikely places Your local high school isn’t the only place to find potential future talent to invest in. Underprivileged communities are gold when it comes to finding young people with the passion and drive to try something unconventional - such as attending trade school to learn CNC machining. There are bright, curious minds everywhere! Many kids don’t know that manufacturing is even an option among today’s career paths. Manufacturing leaders need to begin investing in and inspiring the talent and ability of young people.  Yes, the manufacturing skills gap is a problem, but it’s not insurmountable. Listen to the full episode to learn more about how you can make a difference in inspiring the next generation of manufacturers!  Here’s The Good Stuff! Preparing for the retirement of the Baby Boomer generation.  Do the challenges created by the skills gap affect all parts of the country equally?  The tie between the skills gap and advancing technology.  Knowing your niche gives you vision in knowing what talent to pursue.  The challenges surrounding changing the old perception of manufacturing.  Different strategies for finding the right fit.  What you should be looking for in a potential hire.  What you value may differ with each job opening.  Creative inspiration for the next generation of manufacturers.  Tools & Takeaways 2018 Skills Gap Report NTMA Training Centers ProShop ERP Xometry The Boring Bar newsletter: Text CHIPS to 38470 This Week’s Superstar Guests Hernan Ricaurte on LinkedIn Ricaurte Precision Brian Pendarvis on LinkedIn Pendarvis Manufacturing Brian Grigson on LinkedIn Axxis Corporation Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube Subscribe to Making Chips on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify

Being a manufacturing leader is difficult, especially if you are a manufacturing entrepreneur! With so many possible opportunities and pitfalls, it can be hard to know how to navigate the small-business world of an entrepreneur. Guest speaker, John Saunders, shares his insight and experience as a leading manufacturing entrepreneur and the ways he has successfully set his business apart and thrived through slow growth.  Founder and owner of Saunders Machine Works, John is a serial entrepreneur with his hands in multiple jobs, including running the NYC CNC YouTube channel and overseeing the training and manufacturing sides of his small business. His YouTube channel has become a medium to influence, inspire, and encourage aspiring and seasoned machinists in their careers.  Connect with us:www.MakingChips.com/contact Defining the “why” helps drive the business forward Although he attended college to learn entrepreneurship, John found that his key takeaways came from practical experience in selling and machining. Originally wanting to create a business in order to provide a specific product, he quickly realized that creating an excellent product isn’t the same as creating an excellent business. In order to generate a successful business, you have to know the “why” behind the work and the products created.  Entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart. John advises that if you are having doubts as to whether or not you really want to work for yourself and jump into the world of paperwork, legality issues, building, training, hiring, producing, and customer service, then you may want to work for someone else for a couple of years. Study how your boss leads and drives their business forward - and then go try it for yourself.  John’s business - Saunders Machine Works - grew out of his love for CNC machining and sharing its workhorse capability with viewers on YouTube via his NYC CNC channel. Continuing with the YouTube channel, he wanted a business that could also train individuals in machining and sell manufacturing tools and products. The three-part business has kept up steady - yet slow growth - just as John wants it.  Knowing when to jump at an opportunity and when to say NO Keeping a focus on who you are and why you do what you do helps you to navigate the way forward. Instead of chasing every glittering opportunity, consider whether or not it will help fulfill the goals of your business or help create a better experience for your customers. What you are selling isn’t just the object in the box - it’s the atmosphere, relationship, and experience that you are offering your customers.  For John, this means finding the best ways to share the modern world of manufacturing with others. His YouTube channel provides a place for machinists of all experience levels to ask questions, easily view videos that demonstrate solutions to popular machining problems, and be a part of the manufacturing community. The training classes that Saunders Machine Works offers provide practical experience in a variety of machining skills and open the door to both young and old to explore manufacturing as a hobby or career. John’s business also values offering internship and apprenticeship-modeled jobs to those who need practical experience through their product manufacturing side of Saunders Machine Works.  The goal in sorting through opportunities is to make continuous improvements in your processes - to make them as efficient and streamlined as possible - all without wasting resources. Bootstrapping is the ability of your business to leverage your equity for the greatest return on investment. Money and time are ever manufacturing entrepreneur’s most limited resources. In some phases of your business, you may find that you are lower in one of those resources than another. If you have the opportunity to grow in your knowledge and skills as a master of your trade, take them! Don’t be wasteful. Invest with results.  John’s take on managing growth as a manufacturing entrepreneur “Growth eats cash for breakfast,” John warns. We are trained to think that any growth opportunity is a good opportunity, but it’s wiser and more profitable to consider each one through the lens of your “why.” With such a large following, John often gets calls offering partnerships with other businesses. Due to a poor partnership experience in his early entrepreneurial days, John has decided to never partner with another business. The true 50/50 partnership is rare and often difficult to maintain. That doesn’t mean you should never try it, but know where you want your business to go and maintain integrity with those goals through your growth tactics. Be sure to listen to the entire episode for more insight into making the best growth decisions possible. Creating content that reflects your company’s values and meets your customers’ needs It can be easy for entrepreneurs to become overwhelmed by all the marketing and advertising mediums available. John stresses the importance of only utilizing what you need, what you can afford, and what will speak most authentically to your potential customers. John aligns his content creation with his goal to help others help themselves in their manufacturing stories. Be honest about what you are portraying through social media. Authenticity is a huge factor; make it a point to share the stories that surround the challenges that your business has faced and the solutions that you found. Make note of what you are personally drawn to on social media and study why you like it. At the end of the day, it’s not about you. It’s about your current and potential customers and the quality of what you are offering them.  Here’s The Good Stuff! Fostering a positive atmosphere among a multigenerational workforce.  Guest speaker, John Saunders - owner of Saunders Machine Works. The product isn’t always the business.  Knowing how to market yourselves requires a knowledge of who you are as a business.  YouTube, training, and machining. What you sell isn’t just the product in the box - it’s the experience you offer. Hands-on experience provides the best education.  John’s love of CNC machining and sharing what modern manufacturing looks like. The apprenticeship model of training provides key experiences. Why John says “no” to partnership opportunities.  “Growth eats cash for breakfast” - knowing the goal in your growth.  Using bootstrapping to reduce wasted resources and to grow where you are at.  Good content creation is about knowing your goals and customers.  The role of small businesses in the future of manufacturing.  “If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not making money.”  Tools & Takeaways How To Create a Thriving Workplace Culture podcast episode Small Business, Big Potential The E-Myth Revisited How To Win Friends & Influence People ProShop ERP Xometry This Week’s Superstar Guest: John Saunders John on LinkedIn Saunders Machine Works NYC CNC NYC CNC YouTube Channel Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube Subscribe to Making Chips on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify

With college skyrocketing in price every year, machining trade schools offer an affordable and promising solution to those looking for a meaningful - and even lucrative - career path. Kurt Preisendanz is the Director of Training at the NTMA Training Centers in Southern California. Passionate about sharing the opportunities that machining has to offer the next generation, Kurt explains the challenges that trade schools face and ways that manufacturing leaders can help lead the charge in alternative higher education. Lee Norton is a board member of the California Manufacturing Workforce Foundation, a 501c3 charity that uses their donations to provide tuition and funding to currently enrolled students who are pursuing technical careers. Be sure to listen to this inspiring and insightful episode to learn more about the amazing option of machining trade schools and how you can make a difference.  Connect with us:www.MakingChips.com/contact Overcoming the misperception that trade schools aren’t good enough  Kurt shares the struggles that he faces when representing the NTMA Training Centers at job fairs and high schools. Many parents and teachers push their children towards universities and traditional college paths because they believe those are the best options available. Trade schools are often looked down upon as not good enough for promising students or as a legitimate gateway into a successful career. Kurt explains that this is mostly an American view, as Europe has long viewed learning and mastering a trade as a proper way to begin a career and life as an adult.  Lee shares that while his children are attending university, they have a clear goal in mind. The problem isn’t that the traditional college route is wrong - it’s that it is often wasted and is perceived as the only path to success. That simply isn’t the case. Both Lee and Kurt believe that low trade school attendance and acceptance has to do with the fact that people simply don’t understand the value of what is being taught. The manufacturing world, especially, is still viewed as the dirty factory work that we all want to avoid and escape. Manufacturing, however, has become one of the most modernized and technological industries in the world. The robotics, engineering, building, and software developed and utilized within the manufacturing industry is extremely cutting-edge. The challenge is to overcome the misperceptions surrounding trade schools and machining and to effectively share the opportunity of a machining certification.  Machining trade schools offer modern, effective, and exciting opportunities  Forget the old days of dirty shop floors and being “doomed” to dangerous factory work. The modern world of machining and manufacturing is filled with incredible technology. Kurt explains that while students in machining trade schools are required to learn all the basics of machining, they are exposed to the many specializations that are available, including robotics, CNC machining, inspection, Master CAM, and CMM. Every one of NTMA’s students learns turning and milling and the fundamentals of machining so that they understand how everything is made. The program can be completed in as little as seven months, with daily hands-on instruction. Students graduate with a certification and are guided and encouraged in their job-finding journey. Many leave with job offers and the promise of an exciting and lucrative future.  Enabling and inspiring the next generation of manufacturing leaders to take action  Both Kurt and Lee believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel concerning the skills gap in the manufacturing industry. Many are beginning to understand and view a machining career as a valid and exciting opportunity. Kurt ensures that his presentations at job fairs and high schools accurately depict the advanced technological atmosphere that is machining. He shares the diverse culture of the manufacturing world as well. It’s not just men, but women as well, who are finding meaningful work in an industry where their talents are valued. Both young and old are finding new purpose and life in manufacturing. Lee knows that the manufacturing industry is all about giving back. Many who are in the industry grew up in it and have been a part of the Metal Working Nation for generations. Lee and Kurt believe that investing in the next generation of machinists is vital to the health of the industry. Being able to provide scholarships to currently enrolled students in technical fields of study is a huge part of keeping the manufacturing future strong. Be sure to listen to the whole episode for ideas on how you - as a manufacturing leader - can get involved!  Guiding students’ expectations towards a stable and meaningful future Kurt explains that many of the students who go to the NTMA training centers are excited about the opportunities ahead. Kurt makes sure, however, that they understand the level of hard work required. No, they aren’t going to make 100k in their first couple of years as machinists, but what they do have to look forward to is a lifelong career built on engaging and purposeful work. They can grow as fast as they want in the industry - there’s no limit to what they can learn and accomplish. They are investing in a career that can offer them a sense of pride in their labor and skillset, opportunities in aerospace and government - all while supplying them with a stable career that will enhance their marriage and family life. It takes work. But what an incredible opportunity!  Here’s The Good Stuff! The college price-tag keeps climbing. NTMA Training Centers provide an alternative education route.  The California Manufacturing Workforce Foundation enables students to achieve their goals. Why do parents and teachers continue to look down on trade schools?  Machining trade schools help close the manufacturing skills gap.  Technological advancements in manufacturing are enticing incentives.  The diverse and rich culture of the manufacturing industry.  Machining trade schools offer a promising and lucrative future.  Tools & Takeaways Price of College Increasing Almost 8 Times Faster Than Wages Xometry Design Guides The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe!  This Week’s Superstar Guests: Kurt Preisendanz & Lee Norton Kurt on LinkedIn Lee on LinkedIn NTMA Training Center California Manufacturing Workforce Foundation Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube Subscribe to Making Chips on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify