Manufacturing Happy Hour

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.

Meaghan Ziemba is THE Maven of Manufacturing! As a writer by trade, she developed an early passion for storytelling and is now empowering women to change the world through manufacturing via her podcast Mavens of Manufacturing.In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Meaghan discusses the role of good storytelling in the manufacturing industry and why many leaders overlook it. She shares the story behind starting her podcast and how she overcame her fears and did it anyway. Meaghan explores the problem of the gender gap in manufacturing and the reasons behind it. She believes that a lack of awareness of manufacturing and its different career paths is a huge barrier to a diverse workforce.  In this episode, find out:How Meaghan’s background in writing and storytelling led her to where she is nowWhy Meaghan launched the Mavens of Manufacturing podcastThe crucial lesson Meaghan learned when she was nervous about starting a podcastWhy boosting interest and diversity in manufacturing begins with school kidsWhy diversity isn’t just fair, it’s beneficial to everyoneWhat lessons Meaghan learned from being a parent Meaghan’s tips for industry leaders who want to boost diversityEnjoying 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:“Good storytelling is what gets people to have conversations and to exchange information with each other. It also helps build those trusting relationships that are so important for companies.”“LinkedIn is the greatest hub for manufacturers out there. Because everyone is on it right now.”“You really have to be authentic and transparent and really mesh well with who your customer base is.”Links & mentions:Mavens of Manufacturing, Meaghan Ziemba’s live video series that celebrates women in manufacturing, from the shop floor to the c-suiteCrucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes are High, by Kerry PattersonCity Museum, a museum whose exhibits consist largely of repurposed architectural and industrial objects, housed in the former International Shoe building in the Washington Avenue Loft District of St. Louis, MO…in other words, it’s basically the world’s largest adult playground The Gunn Show, MTDCNC’s manufacturing industry podcast hosted by Tony GunnPig Minds Brewing, a craft brewery in Machesney Park, IL specializing in vegan takes on traditional pub foodMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

You’ve seen the viral videos of Spot, Boston Dynamics’ famous robotic dog, dancing to your favorite tunes, but did you know that this canine-inspired mobile robot has tons of practical applications in manufacturing too? Michael Perry, VP of Business Development at Boston Dynamics, shares how Spot is helping manufacturers optimize their processes and improve their safety standards in this week’s interview.In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Michael shares some insights into his background and how he came to work with robots. He explains how and why Spot was created and what more mobile robots in the industry could mean for safety, processes, and efficiency. He also gives us a window into where he thinks the future of mobile robots is heading.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:The potential use cases for mobile robotsThe benefits of using mobile robots in manufacturing and other industriesWhy a great product is key to a great businessHow Boston Dynamics created Spot the robot dancing dogHow robots can improve safety and processesWhat the future of mobile robots will look likeEnjoying 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:“With Boston Dynamics, we've gone abroad much faster than a typical start-up would because we see a lot of the value that the international ecosystem of customers and partners are able to provide to the technology.”“The area that's coming next for the robot is this notion of mobile manipulation. And so, where the robots not just sensing the world, but sensing the world and physically interacting with it.”“I think that it’s going to be a game-changer for the technology.”Links & mentions:Boston Dynamics, a robotics design company born out of MIT that also has application expertise in manufacturing, including case studies at Ford, Merck, and many othersMight Squirrel Brewing Co., a Waltham, MA brewery complete with food trucks and a climbing wallMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

After some recent cyber attacks on various verticals within the manufacturing world, Cybersecurity is on the mind of manufacturers everywhere. This week, we're diving back in the archives to bring you 3 of the best lessons we've ever received surrounding cybersecurity. We'll be tapping into 3 past guests to hear their practical approaches for getting started on a robust cybersecurity program while protecting against some of the latest threats like ransomware.If you enjoy this episode, please consider sending a link for this episode to your CISO or other security leaders within your companies or professional networks. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.