Manufacturing Happy Hour

Welcome to our first ever “mega episode” here on Manufacturing Happy Hour, a 3-part interview with Nick Pinkston, one of the more fascinating people in the manufacturing world. If you're not already familiar with Nick, he’s has a great track record of leading hardware and manufacturing startups, while much of the rest of the world was preoccupied with the software side of the tech world. Currently, he’s the Founder and CEO of Volition, a marketplace dedicated specifically to industrial components.Part 1, today's episode, is backstory. Part 2 will really focus on Nick's perspective on manufacturing, hard tech startups, and the future of the industry. In Part 3, we'll hear about Nick's experience with his previous company Plethora and the realities of manufacturing startups.In this episode, we’ll hear about Nick’s background and what it was like growing up and being surrounded by manufacturing. Nick shares how he started his career in Pittsburgh while elaborating on his mission for accelerating innovation and the way manufacturing gets done. Finally, we’ll learn about his latest venture Volition.Make sure to visit ManufacturingHappyHour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Having employees with strong personal brands is a great asset for any business, manufacturing or otherwise.In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we talk to Daniel Murray, marketing ops leader and the founder of podcast and marketing community, Marketing Millennials.Daniel discusses his career so far, how he simplifies marketing for marketers and the benefits of building personal brands. He also provides unmissable tips on building lasting LinkedIn posting habits and what platforms he finds most engaging right now.This episode is simply a masterclass in marketing and it’s gold for any manufacturer! In this episode, find out:Daniel’s goals for Marketing MillennialsHow to leverage LinkedIn purposefullyWhy executives should build personal brandsReasons why employers should hire employees with strong personal brandsWhy social media is just one part of the trust-building puzzleThe importance of creating content consistentlyThe power of newsletters and podcastsWhat’s resonating on LinkedIn right nowWhy put your personal brand over your career at timesTop book recommendations from DanielEnjoying 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:"Consume a lot of content from your space. Understand what people are saying.”“One mistake people make is they’re not consistent enough on social media.”“You want people to trust you and the way you build trust is by sharing what you know.”Links & mentions:The Marketing Millennials, a community highlighting and uplifting today's marketing leaders and tomorrow's top stars. Zero BS. Just fun, unfiltered, industry insights with the game-changers behind some of the coolest companies from around the globe. Sign up here for the newsletter.Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, by Robert CialdiniJustin Welsh, Founder of The Saturday Solopreneur who’s building a portfolio of one-person businesses; follow him on LinkedIn for personal branding tipsTerry Black’s Barbecue, the best BBQ in Austin, TX, according to DanielFranklin Barbecue, a mainstay Austin, TX BBQ joint famous for their long lines. Line up at 9am on a weekday if you want to get it before it runs out. Your host Chris Luecke still thinks this is the best brisket he’s ever had (but he also hasn’t been to Terry Black’s yet).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.

Marketing, manufacturing, and remote work – we cover a lot of ground in this episode featuring Adar Hay, Co-Founder and CEO of Jiga.io. Jiga helps manufacturing companies centralize their supplier sourcing, and Adar explains how the idea for the company first came about. We hear how Jiga has a refreshingly modern approach to marketing and why Adar decided to start a podcast to learn more about potential users. Adar also explains the reasoning behind his remote-first team, and why for remote working to be effective, it needs to be rooted in the company culture. He also talks about the number one benefit of remote work – being able to hire anyone in world, not just those in your local area. In this episode, find out:Adar’s thoughts on underrated marketing strategies Why Jiga uses more human-focused marketing Why Adar started a podcast for JigaHow he measures content marketing successWhy he started JigaWhy manufacturers should treat suppliers like partners Why digital transformation doesn’t need to be complex The simple secrets of remote working success The biggest pro for remote work Enjoying 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:“People want to connect with people. Being honest, upfront, and talking about challenges is very important, as well as sharing things from a human perspective of me as the CEO.”“When you're building a product, especially something new, you always have to talk to your customers. You want to talk to people in your industry about their problems and about their needs.”“Remote teams are more of an attitude. It's not just about working remotely, it's cultural. You need to fully trust the people that you work with.”Links & mentions:Jiga.io, centralized automated manufacturing sourcingDesign to Product, a podcast hosting hardware manufacturing professionals, founders and engineers who talk about the stories behind their products 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.

We’ve not covered medical device manufacturing on the show, so we thought this would be a great time to delve into it.In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we talk to Natalia Mendez, VP Head of Manufacturing Medical Devices at Philips. Natalia has lots of great insights into her industry and provides expert advice for both those in the medical space and manufacturers in general.Natalia explains the importance of meeting customers’ needs and dispels myths and misunderstandings about the industry. Plus, she explains why manufacturers should use data to solve and prevent future customer problems.There’s so much to unpack, so this is a must-listen for any Manufacturing Happy Hour fan!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:How Natalia got started in medical device manufacturingWhat makes medical device manufacturing uniqueWhy it’s important for manufacturers to keep evidence of what they’ve doneMisconceptions about Natalia’s spaceWhy you should involve end-to-end experts in manufacturingHow to improve your resilience and performanceHow to meet customers’ needsThe importance of being ready to put the product in the users’ handsWhether medical device manufacturing differs around the worldAbout the importance of understanding markets and regional agenciesEnjoying 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:“If you don't involve end-to-end experts when you are thinking about a new product, something will break in the chain.”“Never forget that, in order for a customer or a patient to use the product, you have to put that product physically in their hands in a timely manner.”“There are some countries that will not allow products that are manufactured in a specific place. So, you have to have that in mind when you set up your manufacturing footprint.”Links & mentions:Manufacturing Strategies Summit - packed with key industry speakers discussing a range of topics from developing and rolling out a robust R&D strategy, to streamlining business and operational processes: https://www.manufacturing-summit.com/?utm_source=show+notes&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=manufacturing+happy+hourPhilips – a focused leader in health technology. Their purpose is to improve people’s health and well-being through meaningful innovation: https://www.philips.com/a-w/about.html   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.

There’s a good chance you already have a tool from the Stanley Black & Decker family in your toolkit. They’re household names, quality, reliable tools, and we wanted to hear more about the manufacturing process behind them. Antonio Hill, Head of Manufacturing Digital Solutions, Global Supply Chain at Stanley Black & Decker, joins Manufacturing Happy Hour to talk about his career, the challenges of managing supply chains, the impact of Industry 4.0, and what lean manufacturing means to him. We hear how Antonio made the jump from HR to manufacturing (bringing some important skills with him) and how he’s grown in his career since. We hear some top advice on starting with a lean process, building a “culture of lean,” and managing supply chain issues now and in the future. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, so you won’t want to miss it!In this episode, find out:How Antonio made the jump from HR to manufacturingWhat lean manufacturing is How Industry 4.0 affects Antonio’s workWhy data is the key to building more efficient processes Why you need a “culture of lean” in manufacturing Why you need to know your facility inside-outThe challenges of managing supply chains (especially in a pandemic)The coolest thing about working at Stanley Black & Decker Enjoying 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:“No one can predict the future, so in order for us not to go and try to hire Nostradamus, let's go ahead and create processes where we're getting the right information in order to make the best decision for our organization.”“We're always trying to improve the marginal cost and reduce costs to improve our business. We want our business to be the best.”“I think that a lot of times people get laser-focused on what they're on and not necessarily take the holistic approach.”Links & mentions:AMS Summit, learn from manufacturing leaders about the most impactful trends in manufacturing – from workforce development to lean & OpEx – talking place October 11-12 in Houston, TX Stanley Black & Decker, manufacturer of iconic tools from household names such as BLACK+DECKER, DEWALT, CRAFTSMAN, STANLEY, and moreMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

“A platform for communities to invest in their best and brightest” …that’s how this week’s guest describes the company he works for. Sounds great, right?We invited Cole Shearer, Vice President – Skills Accelerator at gener8tor, to join Manufacturing Happy Hour this week. In this episode, he outlines his career to date, what he does at gener8tor, and provides some top tips for startup founders.Cole explains the struggles of the talent shortage in the cybersecurity space and breaks down how the gener8tor program helps job seekers find work. We hear a little about how gener8tor has evolved since Cole joined the team, and he also describes what his ideal organization to work with would look like. In this episode, find out:All about Cole’s early careerWhy startup founders should take risksHow gener8tor helps jobseekers into workHow gener8tor’s skills accelerator program worksWhy gener8tor teamed up on a Microsoft initiativeHow gener8tor has changed in recent years Why there’s a growing need for cybersecurity talentEnjoying 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:“If someone wants to make a change in their career and they have the aptitude and willingness to go through a program, they’re probably fit for ours.”“There are hundreds of thousands of open cybersecurity roles right now across the country. And the amount of actual potential talent to fill those positions is very limited.”“Our cybersecurity program is set up as a 10-week program that will be able to support participants and make sure that they're able to take the next stage of their career.”Links & mentions:gener8tor, an accelerator platform that offers over 75 programs such as startup and skills accelerators, fellowships and conferences to startup founders, corporations and job seekers.Bar 18, IndianapolisMake 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 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.