Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

How do you create and cultivate a manufacturing leadership mindset? What can you do to recharge? How do you take care of yourself so you can take care of your team? How do you unify your team toward a shared goal? Special guests Eric Nekich 5th Axis® Workholding, Michael Gaunce with SCHUNK USA, and Kaleb Mertz with AME help me tackle these questions in this special round-table episode of MakingChips. Because if you aren’t leading your team well, they won’t be productively making chips, and they won’t be making money. BAM! – Nick Segments [1:36] Introducing our three guests [3:54] Our daily routines to recharge [12:59] How to set realistic expectations  [18:40] Thomasnet™ Industrial Digital Marketing Services [19:22] Embracing a change-oriented mindset [26:28] The skills gap is becoming a wide-ranging reality [32:45] How to unify teams toward a shared goal [42:38] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [43:16] How to connect with our guests Resources mentioned on this episode Eric Nekich with 5th Axis® Workholding  Michael Gaunce with SCHUNK USA Kaleb Mertz with AME Thomasnet™ Industrial Digital Marketing Services The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop The No Asshole Rule Ray J. Green Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

What is the most impactful factor that helps machine tool distributors sell tools? Is it the quality of the tools themselves? Is it the skill of the salesperson? Is it the service that the distributor can offer? Tony Harrod—General Manager at Methods Machine Tools, Inc.—believes that one of these things sets you apart: Service: But is the answer really that simple? If you aren’t providing quality service, will you be making fewer chips, and making less money? Find out in this episode of MakingChips!  Segments [2:53] Manufacturing News: February 2023 Orders Nearly 50% Above Average [6:20] Introducing the GM of Methods Machine Tool West: Tony Harrod [7:40] What sells machine tools? What is the most important factor?  [14:41] How they figure out what “doors to knock on” [17:25] What the machine tool industry needs to improve [18:29] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [19:10] Why machine tool and cutting tool distributors should partner  [26:56] Why Tony trains his customer on every machine they purchase [28:46] How the skills gap is impacting machine tool distributors Resources mentioned on this episode Connect with Tony Harrod on LinkedIn Methods Machine Tools February 2023 Orders Nearly 50% Above Average Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

In this special Bonus Chips episode of MakingChips, we’re guests on Chris Luecke’s podcast, Manufacturing Happy Hour. Of all the manufacturing podcasts, we both double down on leadership topics. So in this episode, we seek to tackle one question: What does it mean to be a manufacturing leader? Tune in to hear what it takes to lead. Because if you’re not leading your team, they won’t be making chips, and if they’re not making chips, you’re not making money. BAM! – Nick Segments [1:47] How we’d describe the MakingChips podcast [7:15] What listeners can expect from MakingChips [10:42] How you know it’s time to evolve [14:31] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [15:09] How creating content serves our businesses [20:43] What does it mean to be a manufacturing leader? Resources mentioned on this episode Manufacturing Happy Hour The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop Chris Luecke on LinkedIn Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

In 2018, the US Government set a standard for cybersecurity, so anyone in any industry that touched the US government had to meet the requirement—but it wasn’t happening. Now, CMMC is coming out and you will be audited. So what is CMMC? Does your shop need it? How can ProShop ERP help you accelerate the adoption of the different security standards? We cover it all in this episode of MakingChips. Because if you’re dealing with a security breach, you aren’t making chips, and if you aren’t making chips, you aren’t making money. BAM! – Paul Segments [0:14] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [2:49] Leadership Spotlight: David Hanna [8:18] Step #1 to secure your company  [11:32] Will AI impact cybersecurity?  [14:53] What is CMMC? [18:17] When do you have to have the CMMC?  [21:43] Can companies fake it ‘til they make it?  [24:39] Is high effort the answer?  [25:20] Who should get the CMMC [28:05] How ProShop can help you accelerate adoption [30:51] The potential cost of the certification  [33:15] How will CMMC work with different softwares/systems? Resources mentioned on this episode Paul Van Metre ProShop ERP ProShop SAFE™ The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)  David Hannah of G-Zero How to Delegate Yourself Out of a Job CMMC Certification Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

There is a widening disparity in the manufacturing industry: Insanely busy shops and shops that are barely treading water. In any business, there will always be companies that thrive and grow and those that don’t. But successful shops are doing something differently. In this episode of MakingChips, Kelsey Heikoop shares four things you can do differently to get more business and make more chips. Because if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM! – Paul Van Metre Segments [0:15] Industrial Buying Engine at Thomas™ [5:52] The Leader Spotlight: Hernan Ricaurte [8:36] The gap between the haves and have nots [11:33] Solution #1: Become a sales-driven organization [18:04] Solution #2: Consistent adoption of technology [26:16] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [30:44] Solution #3: Invest in quality certifications (ISO, ITAR, etc.) [39:05] Solution #4: Invest in cybersecurity  Resources mentioned on this episode Paul Van Metre Kelsey Heikoop Hernan Ricaurte Ricaurte Precision Thomasnet™ Industrial Digital Marketing Services The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

We are melting our faces off with some hot sauces in this episode of MakingChips. Why? Because spices break down barriers. And as these hot sauces break down our mouths, you may just get some answers you weren't expecting about everything from mental health to making investments. So join us as we work our way through a Lethal Dose of The Hottest Sauce in the Universe and reach The End of this SpicyChips series. Because if we’re not learning from each other, we’re not MakingChips together, and we’re not making money. BAM! Now, excuse me while I go chug a gallon of milk… – Tony Segments [0:22] Check out the Oracle NetSuite ERP [3:27] What’s the chip on your shoulder? [7:14] What would you say to the world? [12:49] The End: How we take care of our mental health (milk time!) [18:55] Thomasnet™ Industrial Digital Marketing Services [21:17] Lethal dose: The best investment we’ve ever made [34:42] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [35:22] Why you should help your competitors Resources mentioned on this episode Batesville Tool & Die Mavens of Manufacturing Connect with Meaghan Ziemba on LinkedIn Connect with Tony Gunn on LinkedIn MTD CNC Thomasnet™ Industrial Digital Marketing Services The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop Oracle Netsuite Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

We’ve moved on to medium sauce and we are on FIRE. We’re in manufacturing, so the MakingChips podcast covers all things manufacturing. But we’re also human, and we value the importance of being transparent and talking about things like mental health.  So in this episode of MakingChips, we cover some of the most challenging things we’ve faced both personally and as manufacturing leaders. So as we work through Reaper & Garlic Hot Sauce to The Death Stalker Sauce, we’ll share our biggest struggles and greatest achievements. Because there will always be challenges to overcome to make chips, right?  – Tony Segments [1:35] The manufacturing leaders spotlight [8:02] The hardest career challenge Meaghan overcame [13:00] The biggest career challenge Tony overcame [15:09] Thomasnet™ Industrial Digital Marketing Services [15:50] The difficulty of letting someone go [23:45] Our favorite influencers in business [29:01] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [29:39] The entire world is listening: What do you say? Resources mentioned on this episode Mavens of Manufacturing Connect with Meaghan Ziemba on LinkedIn Connect with Tony Gunn on LinkedIn Connect with Andrew Crowe on LinkedIn Connect with Nicole Wolter on LinkedIn Connect with Dwain Dy4er on LinkedIn Ivor Andrew MTD CNC Thomasnet™ Industrial Digital Marketing Services The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

We’re tasting our way through 12 different types of hot sauce chosen by none other than me, Tony Gunn, the Global GM at MTDCNC.com. Meaghan Ziemba of Mavens of Manufacturing also joins us as we work our way through some chicken wings.  We’ll talk about our backgrounds, how we balance life and work, and mental health in manufacturing. Balance is important, and if you don’t have it, you won’t be MakingChips efficiently, and you won’t be making money. BAM! – Tony Segments [3:25] Where in the world is Tony Gunn? [9:03] How Meaghan and Tony got into manufacturing  [14:49] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop ERP [15:29] How Tony balances life and work [22:08] Mental health in manufacturing  [27:15] The Industrial Buying Engine from Thomas™  Resources mentioned on this episode Mavens of Manufacturing Connect with Meaghan Ziemba on LinkedIn Connect with Tony Gunn on LinkedIn MTD CNC Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription with code CHIPS25 The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Does Titan still run a shop? Does he believe in digital transformation on the shop floor? Why did Titan seek out jobs no one else wanted? In this special edition of MakingChips, Titan Gilroy answers burning listener questions while simultaneously sharing some spectacular advice for manufacturing leaders everywhere. We recorded a short and sweet episode so we could all get back to MakingChips, because if we aren’t MakingChips, we aren’t making money. BAM! Segments [0:20] Check out the Oracle NetSuite ERP [2:29] Does Titan still run a shop? [3:58] Does he have a team to alter posts? [4:27] Digital transformation on the shop floor [5:46] Good machinists comes down to leadership [9:20] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [10:00] Why Titan went after jobs no one else wanted [12:27] The future of US manufacturing  [13:38] The Industrial Buying Engine with Thomasnet™ Resources mentioned on this episode Oracle Netsuite Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription with code CHIPS25 The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Automation continues to be a popular and divisive topic in the manufacturing world. Automation is important for attracting and retaining young talent and growing your business. So we’ve been working hard to highlight the importance of automation—and where you can dive in—with our Lights Out series.  Chris Luecke—the host of Manufacturing Happy Hour—has a similar goal. We’re using our platforms to squash the rumors, lessen fears, and highlight how automation can and will benefit your business. Because if you’re not automating, you’re not making enough chips, and you’re missing out on money. BAM! Segments [0:20] The lean setup guide [2:26] When we embraced automation (and why) [4:03] Manufacturing News: NAM CEO Interview [7:33] Chris’s thoughts on our pre-show banter [10:38] How Chris got started in Manufacturing [19:53] Chris’s advice to sales management about new projects [22:38] Why automation has become a popular topic [26:07] Is the allure that automation has become more affordable?  [31:00] Automation 101: Where do you start? [34;21] Automation doesn’t take people’s jobs away [36:40] IT/OT convergence and why it’s important [43:25] Chris’s assessment of cybersecurity in automation  Resources mentioned on this episode NAM CEO talks on AI, banking, manufacturing, trade relationships, labor market The Manufacturing Happy Hour podcast Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube