Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

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.

Do you struggle to sleep at night? Do you lay in bed and think about work and show up in the morning exhausted? Guess what—sleepy leaders are NOT better leaders. I'm going to share why I think that and how manufacturing leaders can get higher-quality shut-eye in this episode of MakingChips. Because if you're not getting enough sleep, it's like being drunk on the job. And if you're drunk, you're certainly not MakingChips, and you're not making money. BAM! Segments [3:40] What's happening in our businesses [6:24] What's keeping you up at night? [8:05] Why sleep is important to your overall health [13:17] My tips to help you achieve better sleep [23:42] Jim's tips to help you sleep at night [29:16] Some tips that experts recommend Resources mentioned on this episode How drunk are you without sleep? CEOs: A Sleep Culture at Work Is a Competitive Advantage Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

I met Jamie and Lee Marzilli at ProShop ERP's happy hour event while we were at IMTS 2022. When I heard how they founded and grew a machine shop as a married couple, I knew we needed to have them as guests on MakingChips. So in this episode, Jamie and Lee share their background in machining and how they built Marzilli Machine from the ground up. Don't miss hearing about their grassroots success story! Segments [2:35] A husband and wife team on MakingChips! [5:31] The definition of teamwork (makes the dream work) [6:05] Recruiting and hiring in our businesses [9:12] The Hawkeye Community College visit [10:30] How rising inflation impacts manufacturing [14:37] Introducing Jamie and Lee Marzilli [16:37] How Jamie got started in manufacturing [24:01] Jamie's temporary stint selling cars [28:05] How Jamie and Lee started their shop [34:40] Navigating a business and a marriage [39:06] The vision for the future of Marzilli Machine Resources mentioned on this episode Michael Watkins and David Capkovitz from EBITDA Growth Systems (EGS) 5 Steps to Detoxify a Toxic Work Culture, According to New MIT Research Marzilli Machine Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Kelsey Heikoop and Paul Van Metre met in an entry-level engineering class. They hit it off right away—while simultaneously falling in love with machining. Once they graduated college, they started their own machine shop. How did that lead to founding ProShop ERP? They share the ProShop ERP origin story—full of overcoming challenges to reach success—in this episode of MakingChips! Segments [2:17] Our aha moments from IMTS [5:49] Manufacturing news: Uptick in production [7:12] Learn more about Kelsey Heikoop and Paul Van Metre [15:54] From growing a custom machine shop to creating an ERP [19:08] Selling the idea of ProShop ERP to a developer [25:44] What helped them overcome their struggles [30:44] Onboarding ProShop ERP with their first customer [34:37] The outstanding success of ProShop Resources mentioned on this episode Connect with Kelsey Heikoop on LinkedIn Connect with Paul Van Metre on LinkedIn Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube