303: Made in Iowa: Ag Equipment, Butter Braids, and Women in Manufacturing (WiM)

There's a lot more coming out of Iowa than corn.

Chris heads to Des Moines for a live conversation with four guests who each know Iowa manufacturing a little differently.

Dominique Hain and Cami Schaefer share how Women in Manufacturing Iowa grew to over 900 members in three years. Denny Williams and Denise Hill take it from there, discussing automation, hiring, and just how deep Iowa's farm roots run through its factories.

The conversation also uncovers some of the products many people may not know are made in Iowa, including Winnebago RVs.

In this episode, find out:

• What makes a state better known for agriculture become one of the country's stronger manufacturing bases
• How Iowa's farming communities are shaping who gets hired at companies like Weiler
• Which surprising products are actually made in Iowa, from butter braids to basketball hoops
• Why so many Iowa manufacturers trace back to a farmer solving a problem for himself, then his neighbors
• How Co-Line is using robots and cobots to boost throughput without cutting its workforce
• Why finding qualified operators is harder than finding corn in rural Iowa

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Tweetable Quotes:

• "I love Des Moines because it's almost like a well-kept secret of Iowa, or of the US." - Cami Schaefer, Executive Operations Assistant at BrownWinick
• "We launched our chapter only three years ago, and we're already over 900 members strong, which is absolutely incredible." - Dominique Hain, Industry Account Manager at Rockwell Automation
• "With that strong work ethic and farming background, we like to hire young farm kids who know how to work on equipment. They're not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty." - Denise Hill, Senior Human Resources Manager at Weiler

Links & mentions:

• Dominique Hain - Industry Account Manager at Rockwell Automation
• Denny Williams - Sales/Estimating at Co-Line Manufacturing
• Denise Hill - Senior Human Resources Manager at Weiler
• Cami Schaefer - Executive Operations Assistant at BrownWinick
• Fathom Digital Manufacturing, offering more than 25 advanced manufacturing technologies under one roof, from CNC machining to injection molding.
• PTC's Industrial Newsletter, a quick hit of clarity on how design, manufacturing, and service data can work together for manufacturing leaders looking to modernize.

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.