Manufacturing Happy Hour

Jeff Burnstein is the President of A3, the Association for Advancing Automation. For more than 35 years, he’s been advocating for the use of robotics, machine vision, and motion control across the industrial world. Now more than ever, it seems that many manufacturing leaders are hearing his mission loud and clear.In this episode, Jeff shares some background on how he initially became interested in automation, despite wanting to be a sports writer. He also explains how A3 helps to broaden the conversation and provide support to industries adjusting to automation. Jeff discusses how robots and automation aren’t the threat to the job market that people believe and why they’ll improve the quality and safety of jobs instead.He rounds off the interview by talking about A3’s events and why automation is still in the early innings for many industries.In this episode, find out:How someone with a major in English literature built a career in automationWhy the Association for Advancing Automation is helping to broaden the discussion around automationWhy automation is a good thing for the job marketHow manufacturing has grown in the USWhy we need to do more to educate and encourage the next generation of manufacturersThe big trends in manufacturing and automationWhy Automate.org hosts events in automation, robotics, and AIWhy automation is still in the early inningsEnjoying 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:“You don't change the education system overnight. But in an increasingly automated world, we have to have talent.”“There are a lot of reasons why manufacturing in the US with automation, or in Canada or Mexico, is a better plan than trying to chase low-cost labor around the world.”“People, when they think about robotics and automation, think because the first robot was installed in 1961, that this must all be a mature industry. No, not at all.”Links & mentions:Automate.org, the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), North America’s largest automation trade association.Autonomous Mobile Robots & Logistics Conference, A3’s conference held in October in TennesseeZig Zag Cafe, a hip craft cocktail bar in Seattle, WA with gourmet snacks, tucked away by a staircase near Pike Place MarketMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Rob Tiffany needs no introduction in the manufacturing world. His name might as well be synonymous with the Internet of Things, and right now, he’s a VP and IoT Intrapreneur at Ericsson.In this episode, we cover a lot of ground, from submarines and the Navy to IoT, intrapreneurship, and saving the world. We chat about how Rob first got started in the world of IoT and manufacturing after a career in the Navy working on submarines. Rob shares some insights into the early days of smartphone manufacturing, how ‘trains as a service’ became a thing in Europe, the roadblocks in IoT’s way, and much more.Tune in to learn more about the Internet of Things, where it’s heading in the future, and why we as manufacturers should stop over-complicating what it really means.In this episode, find out:What IoT is and why we overcomplicate itWhat Rob learned from being in the Navy and working on submarinesHow working on submarines provides so many transferable skills for manufacturingThe early days of IoT and building the early smartphonesHow ‘trains as a service’ became a real business propositionWhy Rob loves IoTThe challenges and roadblocks to IoTHow Ericsson encourage intrapreneurshipHow Rob is helping to “save the world” with the Moab FoundationEnjoying 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:“Security is neck and neck in first place on why IoT is not working out.”“I'd say most IoT systems look like just modern versions of the old stuff that people did a long time ago.”“Think about a submarine. It is a heavy piece of machinery. And guess what? Things break, and things have to get fixed. And so, you definitely learn a lot of great skills just from spending time there.” Links & mentions:Rob Tiffany Digital, website for the industry-leading technologist and thought leaderThe Moab Foundation, using connected intelligence to create a more sustainable worldThe Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail, by Clayton M. ChristensenEricsson, Swedish multinational networking and telecommunications companyFX McRory’s, a bar that used to be located in downtown Seattle by the football stadium that’s currently relocatingMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Mike Kinder is the Co-Founder & CEO of Veryable and has an exceptional track record in the industrial manufacturing and supply chain operations world. He's been building teams, solving complex problems, and driving growth within companies for over 20 years. Now, he's taking on what is one of the most complex problems in manufacturing: finding the right talent to fill roles in manufacturing environments where production demands are constantly changing.In this episode, we discuss where Veryable is now, where it’s heading, and how it expanded during the pandemic. Mike shares his opinion on why the pandemic exaggerated a growing problem and how Veryable is helping to solve it.Mike shares his tips for others looking to become an entrepreneur in manufacturing, why Operations is a vital yet overlooked area, and how to act more like a start-up. We round the interview off with some leadership tips inspired by Ron Swanson, and Mike shares what he believes the key to innovation in manufacturing is.In this episode, find out:How Veryable helps to solve the labor shortage problem in manufacturingHow the company managed to expand over the pandemicMike’s top tips for someone thinking of becoming an entrepreneur in the spaceThe trends and challenges facing manufacturingWhy you should play offense and act like a start-upLeadership lessons we can take from Ron SwansonWhy you need to succeed and fail on your own termsWhy the key to innovation is a strong 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:“You got to stay true to yourself, even if that means following your intuition.”“Succeed and fail on your own terms.”“The key to manufacturing innovation, in my opinion, and Veryable is based on this. It starts with establishing a vision.”Links & mentions:Veryable, an on-demand platform that helps to fix the labor shortage problem in manufacturingBilly Bob’s Texas, the world’s largest dance hall featuring country music, classic rock, and bull-riding, located in Ft. Worth, TX 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.

As trade shows return, it may take a conference or 2 to get back into the swing of things. In this bonus episode, we're giving you 5 strategies for rocking a trade show, whether you're an attendee or an exhibitor. From making the right connections to generating quality leads, you'll walk away from this episode with 5 easy-to-implement tips for making your next conference a success.

Is it time to finally put the spotlight on manufacturing?Traditionally, manufacturing has been a world people outside the industry don’t hear much about. It’s not seen as a flashy industry. People aren’t making TV shows and Hollywood movies about it. Manufacturing has been a bit behind when it comes to marketing, social media, and industry influencers. But things are starting to change. Tony Gunn, General Manager at MTDCNC Global, is on a mission to tackle this. He aims to help manufacturing get the voice and platform that it deserves. In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Tony shares his best advice around promotion and some tips for getting ahead on LinkedIn. He explains why manufacturers need a way to show their authentic selves online. Tony also talks about the work he’s doing to help encourage schoolchildren to consider manufacturing as a career path. He believes this is essential to tackle the growing skills gap.  In this episode, find out:How Tony first came across manufacturingWhy Tony’s mission is to put the spotlight on manufacturing The top tips for social media and content creation in manufacturingWhy manufacturers struggle to show their authenticity onlineHow promoting manufacturing to kids can help close the skills gapEnjoying 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 are a company that's just getting into it and you want to brand yourself, go to Google, go to Instagram, put in the hashtag that you think is going to be the hashtag that you want for your company.”“We're not great at understanding how to utilize our voice on a global scale that gets echoed on places like social media, because many manufacturing and engineering, when it comes to the world of marketing is not like movies and TV shows and fashion and that industry.”“We're inspiring women to join us in a male-dominated industry.”Links & mentions:     MTDCNC, a successful one-of-a-kind marketing specialist covering multiple sectors of the engineering industry.The Gunn Show, MTD’s new podcast, hosted by Tony GunnMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Can data transform the product design world?That’s what Instrumental was created to do. Instrumental is a manufacturing optimization platform that uses data and AI to help companies improve their product lines. It cuts down on time spent diagnosing problems and faults and helps businesses ship out products faster.To tell us all about it, Instrumental’s inspiring CEO and Founder, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, joins this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour.In this episode, Anna takes us behind-the-scenes at Instrumental and details exactly how it works so well. She explains the benefits of using data and how she came up with the idea after working in product design teams at Apple. Anna also explains why she started the Women in STEM Mentorship Program and how Instrumental bagged a spot on the Inc 5000 list.In this episode, find out:How Instrumental uses product data to improve the manufacturing processAnna’s experience at Apple and what she learned thereHow school science fairs inspired and prepared her for being an entrepreneurHow AI can help manufacturers find product faultsHow Instrumental helps companies improve their product designWhy Anna started the Women in STEM Mentorship ProgramHow Instrumental ended up on the Inc 5000 listEnjoying 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:“We have customers that tell us it's like tripling the size of your engineering team to just have access to the data.”“What was kind of an interesting thing for me was just understanding that perfection is really difficult, and how hard it is to actually build something, millions of things, tens of thousands of things, it's so hard.”“One is the first step to many.”Links & mentions:Gelatio, a spot in downtown Palo Alto that has amazing gelato, served alfresco, European styleInstrumental, a manufacturing optimization platform that uses AI-powered proactive defect discovery to help companies improve their product linesWomen in STEM Mentorship Program, a program Anna started to help women studying in STEM to transition into industryMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Manufacturing Happy Hour is excited to welcome Dan Voit (Episode 1) back to the podcast!Dan is the CEO of Blentech, a Bay Area-based food technology company specializing in equipment, systems, and software for the safe, nutritious, and consistent preparation of food.Last time Dan was on the show, we talked about what it takes to create a strong culture within a manufacturing company. This time, we're taking a step further, discussing what this looks like when you move to a hybrid work model and how technology plays a part.In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we revisit Dan’s beliefs about company culture to see if anything has changed over the past couple of years. Dan shares how he and his company has weathered the storm through the pandemic and the challenges he’s overcome.He also explains why the hybrid working model suits Blentech best and why not all tasks are well suited to remote work.In this episode, find out:How things have changed for Dan and Blentech since the last time he was on the showWhy building great relationships is crucial for any businessWhy you need to be more deliberate in your communication with remote teamsHow Blentech approached remote work and opted for a hybrid modelWhy companies should trust their workersHow Salesforce has been a crucial tool during the pandemicHow Blentech managed to keep going through the pandemicWhy some tasks are better for remote work than othersEnjoying 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:“As you're working asynchronously remotely, you got to just trust that they're going to do it.”“Some work is best remote. Some work is inherently collaborative. Understand the difference. And I think that's a critical component to being successful.”“There are certain people that had to come in because their job needed to be done on-site. So from the beginning, we did have to maintain a hybrid model.”Links & mentions:Blentech, a food technology company that designs, builds, and starts up advanced cooking and mixing technologiesEpisode 1 of Manufacturing Happy Hour, featuring Blentech as Dan Voit discusses their company cultureThe Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg 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.

Natalie Birdwell has had an exciting career across the industrial world in both the public and private sectors. After starting her career as a sales engineer, she went on to get an MBA from UNC, worked with the North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, and is now the COO of a cutting-edge industrial IoT, analytics, and optimization company called ndustrial.In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we look behind the curtain at what it’s like to work in the public sector and the challenges that come with it.As someone who’s had experience in private and public sector companies, small startups, and bigger corporations, she has a wealth of knowledge and advice to share.Natalie discusses her career, advice for others looking to make a career switch, and how ndustrial ticks all the boxes for what she wants in a role.In this episode, find out:What the early days of Natalie’s career looked like and why she got an MBAWhy success is a team sportWhy she moved into the public sector and learned more about working with the governmentThe challenges of working in the public sectorHow the role at ndustrial aligned with Natalie’s valuesNatalie’s advice for those jumping from big businesses to small startupsWhat she learned from her experiences in multiple different business typesEnjoying 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:“Our mission was to really truly serve on behalf of the folks that live in North Carolina, and so keeping that as our main focus always brought us back to the center of truth.”“When I came to ndustrial.IO, I came back to the root of how I've always been passionate about helping businesses grow.”“If you've always been in a large company, there's a lot of resources at your fingertips. And so if you don't have an appreciation for how those resources and things are developed, or at least an interest in that, it can be a little bit of a rude awakening.”Links & mentions:ndustrial, a company that delivers an open industrial analytics and optimization platform that enables factories to digitally transform for a sustained competitive advantageLynnwood Brewing Concern, brewing quality, award-winning craft beer in Raleigh, NCModecai Beverage Co., Raleigh's first combined brewery, taproom & bottle shopThe Raleigh Beer Garden, serving the world’s largest selection of draft beers available in a single restaurantMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Çağlayan Arkan is the Vice President of Manufacturing & Supply Chain at Microsoft. This week, he’s here to share how digital transformation impacts so many aspects of manufacturing as well as our daily lives.In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Çağlayan covers a lot of ground. From talking about digital transformation in the industry to the skills gap, automation, and sustainability, Çağlayan demonstrates just how important digital transformation is across the board.Çağlayan shares some fantastic tips for those interested in manufacturing and urges people to consider it as a lucrative career path. He also shares some insights into the future of manufacturing and how automation will affect our ability to be sustainable and take action on climate change.In this episode, find out:How manufacturing has adapted (or been slow to adapt) to digital transformationHow adopting technology should influence company cultureWhy the skills gap is only getting biggerWhy manufacturing is open to allHow digital transformation can aid in sustainability goalsÇağlayan’s top tips for manufacturing professionals 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:“It starts with awareness, informing policy, and then operationally again acting on data.”“Regardless of age, gender, geography and culture, and even language, you can be valuable, you can be productive, and you can be part of supply chains and manufacturing companies or operations.”“The only thing that you cannot afford to do is not take action or wait.”Links & mentions:The Economist Intelligence Unit Study, commissioned by Microsoft4 things manufacturers should prioritize as they prepare for what’s next, an article by ÇağlayanMicrosoft Cloud for Manufacturing, digitally enabling workforces with smarter, secure solutionsCantinetta, an Italian restaurant in Bellevue, Washington with a fantastic wine list 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.

The Milwaukee Bucks’ run to win the 2021 NBA Championship was nothing short of remarkable. So what do business leaders, marketers, and the Bucks have in common? Find out in this week's special edition of Manufacturing Happy Hour.Last Friday, we sat down with Richie Burke - Founder of GoGeddit Marketing & Media and life-long Bucks fan - to riff about the incredible turnaround the Bucks organization has made over the latter half of the past decade and the selfless displays of leadership we saw in the NBA Finals. From holistic branding to humility to our favorite moments of the playoffs, this episode was a ton of fun to record and should have plenty of takeaways for manufacturing leaders and beyond.