Manufacturing Happy Hour

We haven’t covered imaging and vision much on Manufacturing Happy Hour, so we thought it was time that changed.This week, we are talking to Greg Hollows, Vice President, Product Strategy at Edmund Optics, who discusses his various roles at Edmund Optics, where he has worked for over two decades. He also looks at the ways imaging has changed since he got started and provides some unmissable advice on succeeding in the industry.Greg gives us so much food for thought in this episode. It’s one you don’t want to miss!Make sure to visit ManufacturingHappyHour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty. In this episode, find out:What an optics company doesAbout Greg’s career from the startWhy Greg pursued imaging as a careerWhat imaging was like when Greg got startedThe role imaging plays in automation todayWhat applications and industries are primed for vision solutionsIf it can work for both small and large companiesHow Greg makes career decisionsGreg’s most challenging work situationsTop tips from Greg on succeeding in imaging and visionEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“What we do here at Edmund is changing the world.”“Imaging is just like a portfolio when you’re doing investment. You have risky things, you have stable things.”“You need to be connected to the industry. You need to understand the customer’s applications and you need to understand where things are going.”Links & mentions:Jackson Hole – a mountain resort overlooking the Grand Teton National Park in Teton County, WyomingEdmund Optics – a global manufacturer and supplier of optics, imaging and photonics technology based in Barrington, NJMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of robots and what they can bring to the manufacturing world here on Manufacturing Happy Hour.So, we invited fellow robot enthusiast Nate Brazelle, VP of Sales and Marketing at KUKA, onto the show to share his predictions on robots in the future of the industry, where they fit in now, and why they could be the answer to the labor shortage.Nate explains how he first took a step into the world of robotics and shares the challenges and realities of working with cobots. We hear about the different areas cobots excel in and how they can work alongside human workers. Nate also lets us in on KUKA’s future plans for industrial robots and how its operating system aims to make deploying robots even easier.In this episode, find out:How Nate first got into roboticsThe top challenges in roboticsThe rise of cobots in manufacturingHow cobots can help with additive manufacturingWhy cobots could fill in the gaps of the talent shortageWhy you should let your team make mistakesHow to get comfortable with new techFuture plans for KUKAEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“Skilled labor is still going away, and we can't find it. So we're thinking of applications like welding, which is great skilled labor, but it's just going away.”"I think the real big benefit of 3D printing is the value and benefit of the cobots and 3D printers in ARM tooling and the grippers. I think that's a really big value.”“I think in the next couple of years, if we focus and look at the areas where we simply can't find the skilled labor, that's going to be where the markets continue to grow.”Links & mentions:KUKA, global robot and automation solutions company offering tailor-made solutions for your industryBuddy Guy’s Legends, a classic blues club with up-and-coming and famous acts plus New Orleans-style pub grub, located in Chicago, IL 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.

If you already thought that the 5-day work week was one day too long, then this episode will rock your boat. This week, we’re chatting with Joe Sanok, author of Thursday is the New Friday, and he offers a practical breakdown of how the 4-day work week would fit into a manufacturing setting.Before we dive into all that, Joe tells us about his professional background and then offers a brief but detailed history of the 5-day work week (and a bit about the concept of time). We also hear a step-by-step breakdown of how to slow down in order to speed things up and ultimately get more done in four days as opposed to five.Joe leaves us with a whole lot to mull over as far as productivity is concerned. So this is definitely one of those episodes you’re going to want to tune in to.In this episode, find out:What Joe’s book, “Thursday is the New Friday” is aboutJoe’s relationship with the manufacturing industry growing upThe motivation behind Joe’s career choicesWhen Joe really started questioning the 5-day work weekThe history of the 5-day work weekHow people often react to the notion of the 4-day work weekThe first step to slowing down (to ultimately speeding up)How manufacturers can adjust to the 4-day work weekHow to test the 4-day work weekSurprising things Joe learned while writing his bookEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“The pandemic was the final linchpin in the 40-hour work week.”“You need to first gain clarity through slowing down so when you eventually speed up, you’re doing the right things instead of putting out fires.”“A lot of the realizations people get from slowing down are more personal than business-related.”Links & mentions:Thursday is the New Friday, by Joe SanokPractice of the Practice podcast, innovative ideas to start, grow, and scale a private practiceJoeSanok.comWorkshop Brewing, right on the water in Traverse City, MIMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full listof resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

The worlds of robotics and automation have been picking up speed for some time now. But the pandemic has only fast-tracked the need for the next generation of talent to wield these tools. Organizations such as Illuminate STEM are leading the way for young blood to gain knowledge and fly the flag for robotics for decades to come.Terrence Southern, Founder, CEO & Executive Director at Illuminate STEM, joins this episode to explain how he taught budding robotics workers, how he started his company, and more. Plus, Terrence outlines his predictions for the future of robotics and automation. He explains that, however excited younger generations are about robotics, the eagerness to get involved in the industry still has a long way to go.In this episode, find out:How Terrence got started in roboticsHow he teaches students and helped a student who now works for one of world’s largest companiesHow Illuminate STEM first got startedWhy Terrence aims to make robotics a more viable career choice How the pandemic sped up our reliance on automationWhat Terrence thinks about the future of ‘cobots’Why, despite excitement around robotics, people don’t want to work in the industryThe negative associations people have with roboticsTerrence’s predictions for the future of roboticsEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“I see ‘cobots’ becoming more accessible and more widely used.”“There’s so much to look forward to in the robotics industry.”“I hate to say it, but the pandemic was the perfect storm to open the floodgates for automation.”Links & mentions:Northland Roller Rink, Detroit’s largest, oldest, world-renowned skating rinkMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

It’s not every day you get to record a podcast episode in Berlin, so when Florian Pestoni told me he’d be in Berlin at the same time as me, we had to meet up to record an interview.In this special live episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we step out of the studio and into the beer garden to discuss what chronic care for robots looks like. Florian is the Co-Founder & CEO of InOrbit, a Silicon Valley-based startup that helps companies managing fleets of robots streamline their robotic operations. Florian shares his motivation behind his shift from software engineering to robotics, before diving into a discussion about #RobOps and examples of how InOrbit offers chronic care for robotic fleets.Altogether, it’s an informative and - dare we say - unconventional episode packed with insights about the future of robotics, the startup scenes in Berlin, Silicon Valley, and beyond, and yes, the quirks of recording live podcast episodes in less-than-ideal conditions.

We're taking a break this week for summer vacation! Sort of. Actually, we have a bonus episode for you that's all about a summer vacation-esque topic: Industrial Tourism.Until this week, I thought "industrial tourism" was a term I made up, but it turns out it's actually a well-documented practice. From brewery tours to visiting upcycled, decommissioned factories, industrial tourism actually covers a lot of ground.In this episode, I share 3 examples of my own industrial tourism experiences from my recent travels. From Copenhagen to Pennsylvania, there are industrial sites with plenty of good reason to visit them far and wide.

Brennen Dugger is the President & Founder of Blue Collar Automation, specializing in industrial automation, controls integration, and robotics. Brennen and I recently met at A3's Automate conference when the robot at his booth served me a beer. Obviously, he was perfect for Manufacturing Happy Hour!In this episode, Brennen explains the motivation behind his move from the factory floor to the office of a company founder. He also shares the reason why collaborative robots are practically front and center of operations at his company and why they play a huge role in the future of the workforce.He brings things full circle by sharing some vital advice he received from James Dean, the Owner of Appalachian Automation, LLC, right before he started his company.Make sure to visit ManufacturingHappyHour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.In this episode, find out:Why Brennen picked engineering as a career pathWhy Blue Collar Automation was createdThe inspiration behind the name Blue Collar AutomationWhy collaborative robots are front and center at Blue Collar AutomationSome of the common applications in collaborative roboticsBrennen’s take on what’s next in the robotics spaceThe most helpful piece of advice Brennen has received since he started his companyBrennen shares some resources that have helped him in his careerEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedbackfrom Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“Collaborative robots have got really poor representation, but that depends because as soon as you put something dangerous on the end of a tool, it's no longer collaborative.”“There's enough work out there for everybody, and if you just try hard and put out good work, the work will come to you.”“I feel like it's riskier to not take risk than it is to stay in your safe, little bubble.”Links & mentions:Blue Collar Automation, an industrial controlscompany specializing in collaborative and industrial robotics, located in Memphis, TNSuperior Integration Solutions (Hayden Automation), specializing in mechanical work, located in St. Joseph, MI and run by Timothy HaydenMFCEO Project Podcast, hosted by entrepreneur Andy Frisella Wiseacre Brewing Co., evidently one of the best breweries in the country according to multiple guests on this podcast, located in Memphis, TNMake sure to connect with all of the industry all-stars that Brennen gave a shoutout to, including Timothy Hayden, James Dean, Ali G, Nikki Gonzales, and Rylan PyciakMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

We’ve just hit our milestone episode! The big 100, so it makes perfect sense to mark the occasion with a special episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour. While Manufacturing Happy Hour has been around for over 5 years, over the course of 75+ videos and over 130 episodes, we’re choosing to label this one Episode 100 (even if it is closer to 200 episodes at this point).In this episode, we’ll recount 10 of the most memorable moments from the past 5 years, but they might not be the moments you expect. From live events to a few surprise moments, get ready for a beer-fueled Top 10 list that should get you excited for the next 100 episodes to come.Hear everything from hilarious beer-related moments to some of the great connections that Chris has made along the way. He also takes us back to the show’s early days and sheds a little light on how far he’s come alongside his community.Chris ties things up by giving some insight behind why he created Manufacturing Happy Hour in the first place and why he intends to stick to that with future episodes. Here’s to another 100 episodes, cheers! In this episode:Chris’ shoutout to the Manufacturing Happy Hour industry communityHow Chris created the showChris talks about what he particularly appreciates from the show’s early days A few funny moments featured on the showThe moment Chris realized the show’s reach went well beyond the Bay AreaThe realities of filming at live eventsHow the show transitioned from Rockwell Automation-centric video series to a podcastChris talks about the inspiration behind his first virtual Happy HourHow Manufacturing Happy Hour has helped Chris make new connectionsEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“I love that I’ve been able to make connections on the show, but what I love more is the connections my listeners end up making.”“It’s been great seeing the power of a platform that had once been a humble Bay Area video show expand its reach in areas I didn’t necessarily have a huge community in.”“One major thing I’ve learned since I started recording live interviews and shows is that not everything goes according to plan, and you’ve got to roll with the punches.”Links & mentions:Pandemic episodePubcast Worldwide, Chris’ other podcast, focused on beer and beverages around the worldHaymarket Brewing, and the location of the 2019 Automation Fair Pre-PartyMake Sure to Connect with all of These Manufacturing LeadersSteve Parkhill, Rockwell AutomationVinod Anandarajah, Kanavu AutomationMichael “Sully” Sullivan, Miller Resource GroupDanny Gonzales, IndustrialSageThomas Schaefer, SoftingDan Voit, BlentechTim Shope, Endress & HauserDave Griffith, The Manufacturing HubBeth Parkinson, Rockwell AutomationRyan Wasmund, PCC Structurals, IncJake Hall, The Manufacturing MillennialAaron Prather, FedExJeff Burnstein, A3 Association for Advancing AutomationAlex Shikany, A3 Association for Advancing AutomationFirdaus Pohowalla, Cascadia CapitalMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode.Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

If you’re in the manufacturing industry or just an avid social media user, then you’ve probably come across Loupe and some of the amazing feats they’ve been pulling off. Loupe is a Portland, Oregon-based jack-of-all-trades automation outfit that’s responsible for some amazing unboxing videos and viral videos of their robotic dog Spot from Boston Dynamics. They are definitely a group that’s dialed into the art of social media for manufacturing.With a mission as unique as revolutionizing the automation industry, and a desire to bring out-of-the-box thinking into the field, David Nichols, CEO and Co-Founder of Loupe, joins this episode to tell us a few things about the “economics of creativity.” We hear Loupe’s origin story and how changing the name from Automation Resources Group to Loupe did wonders for their brand. David also takes us behind the scenes to where some of the magic happens ─ Loupe’s robot showroom, and explains why creativity, and not just operational thinking, belongs in the automation industry. In this episode, find out:The mission of David’s websiteWhat Loupe doesHow David got into robotics and engineering How Loupe startedWhy they changed their name from Automation Resources Group to LoupeHow the brand name Loupe has benefited the companyWho Loupe builds robots forWhat the economics of creativity entailsWhy most companies don’t adopt the economics of creativity approachWhy creativity should be part of the automation industryDavid’s insights into Loupe’s social media strategy and unconventional projectsEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“There should be clarity surrounding what a brand is about.”“You learn a whole lot by simply doing and experimenting.”“Sometimes when you do new things, it’s a hit and miss but other times it ends up unlocking tremendous value.”Links & mentions:Loupe, a Portland Oregon based jack of all trades automation outfitLardo, a sandwich shop that worships at the altar of bovine & swineMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Recently, we had an opportunity to attend an extremely unique manufacturing event in Columbus, NE. Columbus is a small, rural town and it's the exact type of spot where manufacturing events should be taking place.Communities like this across the Great Plains, the Midwest, and the United States in general, are where manufacturing and manufacturing jobs can change people's lives.This event was called Manufacturing Nebraska's Future, and it was all about showcasing the trends, opportunities, and technologies in manufacturing to leaders in the Nebraska manufacturing scene as well as to the community. Everyone from students to folks that work at the local manufacturing companies was present.In this special live episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we chat with two leaders from the state of Nebraska: Scott Volk, COO of MetalQuest Unlimited, and Mike Johnson, COO at the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry. We covered a lot of ground in this conversation, including the role of the Chamber of Commerce and how to change the perception that Nebraska offers more than just agriculture. It’s a manufacturing powerhouse as well.In this episode, find out:What it was like for Mike to move from brewing to the Chamber of CommerceHow Scott combines his work at Metal Quest and the Chamber of CommerceWhy Nebraska is more than an agricultural stateWhat the Chamber of Commerce does for manufacturingThe nuances of the workforce shortage in manufacturingWhy the manufacturing industry needs some better PRHow other players can contribute to the manufacturing ecosystemWhat other states can learn from the progress made in NebraskaTips for picking the right beerEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedbackfrom Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“The Chamber of Commerce is the engine to get things done, that’s just the simplest way of putting it.” - Scott Volk“What's happening in manufacturing now, and what's going to happen in manufacturing in the next ten years is a quick way to a comfortable life for anyone who's willing to work in the industry.” - Michael Johnson“There's strength in numbers, and the more you can coordinate, the more you're going to get done.” - Scott VolkLinks & mentions:Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry, a steadfast advocate for free enterprise, a competitive business climate, and state-wide economic growth through education, leadership development and government activism within the state of NebraskaMetalQuest Unlimited, manufacturer of precision machined component parts and assemblies in Hebron, NEMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full listof resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.