Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

As a manufacturing leader, one of the most important things you can do is hire the right people. As I’ve been working through the recruiting process, I started to realize that it closely parallels the sales process. And if you excel as a salesperson, you’ll find it easier to recruit than you think. In this episode of MakingChips, we talk about recruitment in manufacturing. Because if you can't build the right team, you’re not MakingChips, and if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM! Segments [0:15] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [1:37] We’re building a recording space at ZENGERS [3:53] Manufacturing News: GM to Sink Over $900M Into 4 Plants [9:23] The parallels between LinkedIn Recruiter and Sales Navigator [13:27] The list-building and prospecting process is the same [14:14] Prospecting and recruiting are the same grind [17:43] You have to qualify prospects and recruits  [19:33] Prospecting and recruiting are both about building trust [21:20] Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription with code CHIPS25 [22:28] Both sales and recruiting require extensive negotiation Resources mentioned on this episode The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop GM to Sink Over $900M Into 4 Plants Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription with code CHIPS25 Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

This is a good time of year to start thinking about your sales pipeline and hunting for new business. Prospecting is one of the most important things you can do to grow your business—but it’s also something that everyone hates—even salespeople. So what is the concept of “Fanatical” prospecting? How do you bite the bullet and get started? We share some tips in this episode of MakingChips. Because if you’re not prospecting, you’re not growing, and if you’re not growing—you’re not MakingChips. BAM! – Nick Segments [0:20] Learn how Thomas™ can work for you [4:45] What’s happening in our businesses [5:42] Manufacturing News: Aerospace Industry Outlook [11:22] Why prospecting is an important piece of the sales puzzle [15:16] The concept of “Fanatical Prospecting” [18:32] Top performers utilize time blocking [23:37] How to start fanatically prospecting  [26:53] Balancing prepwork and numbers  [29:26] Why a recession is the best time to prospect Resources mentioned on this episode 2023 aerospace and defense industry outlook Fanatical Prospecting by Jeb Blount 5-Minute Selling by Alex Goldfayn EDA Data Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Are you conducting performance reviews in your business? Have you found a way to structure them to be useful? In this episode of MakingChips, Jason and I talk about how we structure our performance reviews, why we do them consistently, and why they matter. Your teams need to be performing at a high level. Why? If they’re not achieving their goals, they’re not MakingChips, and if they’re not MakingChips, we’re not making money! BAM! – Nick Segments [0:16] Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription with code CHIPS25 [2:33] Jason’s favorite manufacturing memory from 2022 [4:08] Announcing one of our guest hosts for 2023 [8:03] Manufacturing News: U.S. manufacturing needs federal funding [13:51] Implementing a self-review alongside performance reviews [20:10] The #1 thing I learned from our performance reviews [22:28] Making sure performance reviews are a good use of time [25:33] Why peer reviews can be a useful tool to gauge performance [28:23] Start implementing performance reviews in your business Resources mentioned on this episode Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription with code CHIPS25 Op-ed: U.S. manufacturing needs federal funding to protect national security, spur innovation boom Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

ChatGPT is a chatbot that is making waves in artificial intelligence. It’s not your typical chatbot that produces canned robotic answers. So in this episode of MakingChips, we put ChatGPT to the test. We asked the bot five questions about manufacturing and its answers will surprise you. Plus, we share how this AI can be useful to the manufacturing nation. Because if you're not taking advantage of technology, you’re not MakingChips, and if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM! – Jason Segments [0:20] Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription with code CHIPS25 [3:45] Why Mike Payne is excited about ChatGPT [7:27] MakingChips is alternating guest hosts to bring different perspectives [7:45] Manufacturing News: Statistics about chatbots [9:44] Learn more about ChatGPT, its functions, and its limitations [12:47] Question #1: How do I lead the manufacturing company of the future? [14:52] Question #2: What are the best technologies for automating a machine shop?  [16:50] Question #3: How can robots increase efficiency in a machine shop? [17:39] Question #4: How do you choose between a co-bot and a robot?  [19:56] Question #5: What is the #1 podcast for manufacturing leaders? [20:40] Our observations about the usefulness of ChatGPT for manufacturers Resources mentioned on this episode ChatGPT Key Chatbot Statistics You Should Follow in 2023 Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Are you looking for a way to give back to your local community? We started MakingChips as a way to serve the manufacturing nation with no strings attached. Mike Payne—the President of Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication—found a unique way to do just that. He and his team started fostering dogs last year as a way to give back to their community. How has it gone? How has it also benefited his team? We share his unique story—and why giving back is so important for manufacturing leaders to embrace—in this episode of MakingChips. Because if you’re not giving back, you’re not MakingChips, and if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM! – Jason Segments [0:17] Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription with code CHIPS25 [3:40] Manufacturing News: Bringing Manufacturing Closer to Home [7:36] Introducing today’s guest Mike Payne of Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication [9:42] Why Hill Manufacturing’s team is fostering hound dogs [13:58] How fostering hound dogs is benefitting Mike’s team [15:58] What happens when a foster dog isn’t a good fit?  [18:02] How dog fostering ties into serving the community [20:51] Balancing business objectives with being a good citizen Resources mentioned on this episode Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription with code CHIPS25 How Smaller Companies Can Bring Manufacturing Closer to Home What to Consider Before Buying or Selling a Manufacturing Business with Mike Payne Helpless Hounds Dog Rescue Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

It’s official: Jim Carr is leaving MakingChips. He’s stepping back to take more time to focus on Carr Machine & Tool. Jim has been an integral part of the success of MakingChips. So in this episode, I’ll share six things I’ve learned from Jim that are impactful in both business and  life. We’ll sure miss our banter, but we’ll keep MakingChips, because if we aren’t MakingChips, we aren’t making money. BAM! – Nick Segments [1:58] A MakingChips farewell to Jim Carr [4:58] Manufacturing news: Automotive manufacturing shifting south [7:14] Lesson #1: If you need time to think about something, take it [11:04] Lesson #2: If you’re gonna do something, do it with top quality [13:09] Lesson #3: Always provide a first-class experience  [15:24] Lesson #4: Dare to be different than other leaders [16:45] Lesson #5: Relationships fuel growth (the community is everything)  [19:04] Lesson #6: You can’t work hard without playing hard [20:54] The new direction MakingChips is going to take Resources mentioned on this episode Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription with code CHIPS25 Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

In this special episode of MakingChips, we are taking my journey with MakingChips full circle by recording a follow-up episode to our very first episode, “Social Media in Manufacturing,” which aired in December 2014. This episode will cover why we still care about social media in manufacturing and what platforms you should leverage. Because if you aren’t leveraging social media, then you aren’t MakingChips. And if you aren’t MakingChips, then you aren’t making money. BAM! — Jim Segments [5:32] Why am I leaving MakingChips? [8:14] Do we need social media marketing? [9:46] What’s new at AME/Hennig and ZENGERS [13:56] Why should business owners care about social media? [15:42] The three different platforms that are relevant to business [18:45] Why a company page is important on LinkedIn [25:12] Building connections with a personal LinkedIn page [30:31] Don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed with “the rules” [34:10] My final words of wisdom and some big thank-you’s Resources mentioned on this episode Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription with code CHIPS25 Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Have you read the book, “Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win” by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin? The book talks about the mindset of Navy SEALs and how the techniques they employ in and out of combat can be embraced by leadership. So in this episode of MakingChips, we break down some of the facets of extreme leadership and share how they’re applicable to the manufacturing nation. Because if you’re not taking extreme ownership of your business, you’re not making chips. And if you’re not making chips, you’re not making money. BAM! – Nick Segments [3:02] What the end of the year looks like for ZENGERS and Black [5:33] How Carr Machine & Tool is growing organically [8:40] Manufacturing News: Manufacturing Survey Report [15:59] Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win [17:22] Why do military officers make amazing business leaders? [19:04] The gist of Jocko Willink’s TEDx Talk [20:41] What do you do when you take extreme ownership? [24:17] What should you instill in your culture?  [27:40] What are your “laws of combat?” [31:18] Leading up and down the chain of command [33:55] How to avoid micromanagement  [35:32] The dichotomy of leadership  [37:03] Jason’s five takeaways for a small machine shop Resources mentioned on this episode LBMC Manufacturing Survey Report ProShop ERP Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win Jocko Willink’s TEDx Talk Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

When do you ask customers to pay their invoices? How do you ask your customers to pay their invoice(s)? Collecting on a debt that’s owed is an art and a science. You have to be careful so you don’t lose a customer. In this episode of MakingChips, we cover a recent frustrating situation I dealt with that should have been handled differently—because they just might lose me as a customer. Don’t miss this episode to hear the whole story! – Jim Segments [3:06] What’s happening at ZENGERS and Carr Machine & Tool [7:12] Using discretion in your collection tactics [9:10] Manufacturing news: Indiana leads nation on manufacturing job growth [15:37] The reason why we’re talking about collection tactics [23:58] How we evaluate our collection tactics [26:51] Who is handling accounts receivable?  Resources mentioned on this episode Indiana is leading the nation on manufacturing job growth Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

In this podcast, guests Mike Allison and Ryan Howard discuss strategies for finding and retaining top talent in manufacturing. They also explore the importance of prioritizing employee strengths, meeting customer demands through processes, and achieving high-output results. The speakers share insights on motivation, performance, and gamification in the workplace, as well as tracking performance metrics and putting ideas into action in manufacturing.