Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

What is FabTech? Why should anyone in welding, fabrication, metal forming, or finishing attend FabTech? They not only hold seminars and have booths and exhibitors to visit. You won't only learn about trends in technology and meet with potential suppliers. Most importantly, you'll be able to network. In this episode of MakingSparks recorded live at FabTech 2023, we interview a couple of people we met at FabTech whose careers were positively impacted because they showed up. Don't miss it. – Matthew Nix Segments [1:16] Why you should go to FabTech [2:35] Netsuite by Oracle [4:06] Networking opportunities at FabTech [6:13] Casey's dad joke [7:04] FabTech will help rejuvenate you [11:38] What stood out at FabTech 2023 [13:38] Palo Alto Networks Industrial OT Security [16:27] Spark of Knowledge: Use a CRM [17:49] Stephanie Hoffman with the AWS [22:39] Learn more about Weld.com [27:32] Check out Thomas™ services Resources mentioned on this episode FabTech Netsuite by Oracle Palo Alto Networks Industrial OT Security Stepanie Hoffman on LinkedIn and Instagram Chris Ewing on LinkedIn Metal Shop Masters Weld.com Weld.com on YouTube Check out Thomas™ services Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Recruiting in manufacturing can be difficult. Many students are taught the traditional "Graduate high school and go to college for four years" mentality. While there's nothing wrong with taking that route, how do we capture the attention of young talent? How do we make them see the career trajectory available in welding or fabrication? Lindsey Nix and Angela Kirlin share some actionable tactics and strategies in this episode of MakingSparks! – Matthew Nix Segments [1:13] Lindsey's dad joke [2:35] Create a Thomas™ profile [5:02] The internship programs at Nix Companies [9:53] Palo Alto Networks Industrial OT Security [12:21] How Nix is investing in recruiting [15:57] The benefits of video marketing [19:54] Palo Alto Networks Industrial OT Security [23:13] Spark of Knowledge: Try candidate tryouts [24:16] Leverage social media for recruiting [31:22] Now trending: work/life balance [34:23] Show children different career options [36:34] Register for IMTS 2024 [37:42] Be authentic and consistent Resources mentioned on this episode Matthew Nix on LinkedIn Lindsey Nix on LinkedIn Angela Kirlin on LinkedIn Casey Voelker on LinkedIn ProFab Alliance Thomas™ Programs Palo Alto Networks Industrial OT Security Join the AMT Community IMTS 2024 Exhibitor Workshop Married to Each Other and the Business with Matthew Nix Part 1, 369 Married to Each Other and the Business Part 2 with Lindsey Nix, 370 Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Most mom-and-pop shops don't have to worry about recruiting, hiring, and retaining talent until they decide they want to grow. When you find yourself needing to recruit and hire talent, where do you start? Start with your core values. Your company needs core values and a clear mission and vision to hire the right people, build the right culture, and retain your team long-term. Lindsey Nix and Angela Kirlin weigh in on what it takes to recruit top talent in this episode of MakingSparks. Segments [1:10] Introducing Lindsey Nix and Angela Kirlin [2:30] Casey's dad joke of the day [4:02] Hiring and recruiting in the beginning [6:37] Sign up for a Thomas™ program! [9:38] How Angela learned the culture [12:18] Spark of Knowledge: Core Values [13:38] Angela's role encompasses retention [15:35] Recruiting women in fabrication [18:15] Palo Alto Networks Industrial OT Security [17:23] The importance of core values [28:23] Join the AMT community Resources mentioned on this episode Matthew Nix on LinkedIn Lindsey Nix on LinkedIn Angela Kirlin on LinkedIn ProFab Alliance Thomas™ Programs Palo Alto Networks Industrial OT Security Join the AMT Community Married to Each Other and the Business with Matthew Nix Part 1, 369 Married to Each Other and the Business Part 2 with Lindsey Nix, 370 Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

MakingSparks has officially arrived! Matthew Nix and I, Casey Voelker, are here to speak to the welding and fabrication industry. And just like MakingChips, we want to equip and inspire while attracting the next generation. Everyone will have some takeaways from MakingSparks. In this episode, Matthew shares more about Nix Companies and their explosive growth over the last 20 years. We'll also cover what you can expect from MakingSparks, who should listen, and give you a sneak peek at our next episode. – Casey Segments [3:24] Learn more about Matthew Nix and Nix Companies [5:33] Recruiting and talent retention in fabrication [7:27] Spark of Knowledge: Branding and marketing [9:25] Growing the company to 100x revenue [10:21] Who should listen to the MakingSparks podcast? [13:50] Learn more about IMTS+ [15:13] What should we talk about? [16:25] What's happening in our next episode? Resources mentioned on this episode Casey Voelker on LinkedIn Matthew Nix on LinkedIn Can You Scale Rapidly After 100 Years of Slow Growth? 308 Married to Each Other and the Business with Matthew Nix Part 1, 369 Married to Each Other and the Business Part 2 with Lindsey Nix, 370 ProgressiveFabricator.com IMTS+ Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Are you in welding or fabrication? Are you a long-time listener of MakingChips who's just been waiting for content that speaks directly to you? The wait is over. In this episode of MakingChips, Casey Voelker and Matthew Nix join us to introduce a brand new addition to the MakingChips lineup: MakingSparks. Casey and Matthew will be hosting the show that will bring even more industry voices to the mic. Tune in to this episode to learn exactly what to expect from this new podcast! Because if you're not MakingSparks, you're not making money. BAM! — Jason Segments [2:24] Why we created the MakingSparks podcast [6:19] What's going to be different about MakingSparks? [7:16] Spark of Knowledge: Strategic planning [10:23] Free KPI checklist from Netsuite by Oracle [14:46] The evolution of Nix Companies [18:44] What we want your takeaway to be [20:36] IMTS 2024: Sept 9th-14th in Chicago [21:57] Who will MakingSparks speak to? Resources mentioned on this episode Netsuite by Oracle: FREE KPI checklist IMTS 2024: Sept 9th-14th in Chicago Casey Voelker on LinkedIn Matthew Nix on LinkedIn Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

You've found your acquisition target. They've committed to selling you the business. Now the real work begins. It's time for due diligence. Where does due diligence start? What factors should you consider? How do you build a checklist? Jason, Nick, Adam Schmitt, and I tackle due diligence in this episode of MakingChips. Because if you're not doing due diligence, you may miss important factors that will impact your ability to make chips. And if you're not MakingChips, you're not making money. BAM! – Matthew Nix Segments [0:57] Where does due diligence start? [6:43] Don't be afraid to walk away [9:33] Will leaders and employees stay? [11:01] Take a deep dive into processes [12:26] Asset purchase vs. stock purchase [15:45] Don't stop asking questions [18:46] How to develop your own checklist Resources mentioned on this episode FabTech Adam Schmitt Matthew Nix ProFab Alliance Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

How do you increase your capacity, make more chips, and bring on new clients without buying a new machine or pitching yourself to a single end user? Buying a company. Acquisitions are a large part of how we've all built our companies. But how do you start acquiring companies? Why would you want to? In this episode of MakingChips, Adam Schmitt—the Managing Partner of ProFab Alliance—joins Jason, Nick, and I (Matthew Nix) to dive into the starting point of acquisitions. Because if you're not making acquisitions, you're not MakingChips, and if you're not MakingChips, you're not making money. BAM! – Matthew Nix Segments [3:43] Manufacturing News: Trade School Programs [9:39] Why should you make acquisitions? [16:04] How should you look for acquisitions? [23:35] Buyout conversations gone wrong [26:39] Why you need to pay attention to due diligence Resources mentioned on this episode FabTech Adam Schmitt ProFab Alliance Trade School Programs Thrive Amid Overall College Enrollment Decline Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Once you've implemented lean manufacturing, how do you sustain a lean culture? How do you motivate your team to focus on continuous improvement? How do you inspire them to keep reaching and passing their goals? In this episode of MakingChips—part 2 of a live panel discussion at TSMA with special guests Doug Bawel, Femi D-Etti, and Jake Ward—we dive into what it takes to maintain a lean culture. It can be so easy to fall back into old patterns but it's important to stay the course. Because if you can't sustain a lean culture, you won't be MakingChips efficiently, and if you're not MakingChips, you're not making money. BAM! – Jason Segments [0:52] Leading measures for lean manufacturing [5:34] Balancing day-to-day with improvement projects [11:46] Learn more about NetSuite by Oracle [13:17] How to sustain a lean culture [17:40] Their biggest wins in the lean process [24:58] Some final thoughts on lean manufacturing Resources mentioned on this episode Tri-State Manufacturers Alliance (TSMA) Doug Bawel: President/CEO of Jasper Engines & Transmissions Femi D-Etti: Vice-President & General Manager of AstraZeneca Jake Ward: Vice President of Manufacturing of Anchor Industries Learn more about NetSuite by Oracle The Basics of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan Should Your Shop be an ESOP? #292 The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

What is your definition of lean manufacturing? One definition of lean is "Maximizing the flow of value through your business to your customer." We all want our business to be customer-centric, right? It's a given that we all want to reduce waste and improve efficiency. But how do you do that? On this episode of MakingChips, we recorded a live panel discussion at TSMA with special guests Doug Bawel, Femi D-Etti, and Jake Ward. Each of them shares how they're finding unique ways to build a lean culture through strategic leadership. Because if you're not implementing a lean culture, you're not MakingChips efficiently, and if you're not MakingChips, you're not making money. BAM! – Nick Segments [2:50] What does lean manufacturing mean? [7:09] Introducing Doug Bawel, Femi D-Etti, and Jake Ward [14:50] The most important factor when introducing lean into your culture [22:33] How to use gamification to move your teams toward a goal Resources mentioned on this episode Tri-State Manufacturers Alliance (TSMA) Doug Bawel: President/CEO of Jasper Engines & Transmissions Femi D-Etti: Vice-President & General Manager of AstraZeneca Jake Ward: Vice President of Manufacturing of Anchor Industries The Basics of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan Should Your Shop be an ESOP? #292 The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

What is going on with the economy? We're all feeling a slowdown in the manufacturing industry. So what gives? What happens in the economy can be directly impacted by politics. It can be impacted by war. It can be impacted by interest rates and the rising costs of consumer goods. Nicole Wolter—the President and CEO of HM Manufacturing—joins us again to dissect what we see happening with the economy and what you can do to start marking more chips. Because if you aren't MakingChips, you aren't making money. BAM! – Jason Segments [0:15] Netsuite by Oracle [4:04] Nicole's experience representing manufacturing at the white house [9:25] Lessons from manufacturing leaders: How AI will help manufacturing [15:23] What is the manufacturing economy like right now? [18:27] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [26:05] Why are we in our current economic position? [31:01] What should you do when the economy is down? Resources mentioned on this episode Nicole Wolters on LinkedIn Oracle Netsuite: FREE CFO's Ultimate KPI Checklist What is Industry 4.0? The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube