Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) is back! This is the first time that IMTS has been forced to go on hiatus since World War II. It's taking place September 12–17 at McCormick Place in Chicago and will consist of 1.2 million square feet of exhibition space. In this episode of MakingChips, Peter Eelman—the Chief Experience Officer at AMT—joins us to share what's happening at IMTS, how to book your hotel stay, how Chicago is safer than ever, and even shares what to do to enjoy your stay. Even better, we will be in the Grand Concourse Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Come by and say hi! Segments [2:50] Why Chicago is a safe and fun city to host IMTS [5:41] Learn about our special guest Peter Eelman [10:39] Book your hotel directly through IMTS [15:31] This years main stage is stellar [16:37] The Emerging Technology Center [20:11] The Additive Manufacturing Pavilion [21:35] Set up a my show planner account [23:48] Sign up for drawings every Thursday! [26:23] Some logistics about navigating Chicago [28:33] Things to enjoy while in Chicago [29:41] Learn about the IMTS Smartsource Student Summit [31:07] Find Me, Find Us, and Find It at IMTS! Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Book Your Hotel for IMTS 2022! Register before August 12th to take advantage of $50 tickets McCormick Place Convention Center IMTS Show Planner Smartforce Student Summit Connect with Peter Eelman Chicago Architecture Tour Ingersoll Machine Tools ProShop ERP Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

We've all gone into plants that smell awful because they're dealing with coolant problems. But that smell is a symptom of other, bigger problems. If you have a smelly shop, foggy and dirty windows, and gunk on your tables, you've got a coolant problem that's creating an unhealthy environment for your team. Learn how to identify coolant problems and how to solve them in this episode of MakingChips! Segments [7:45] What's happening in our lives [9:27] Manufacturing News: Peloton abandons building manufacturing plant [11:09] How coolant problems impact your team [13:35] How coolant problems impact your equipment [16:21] Solution #1: Preventative maintenance [20:54] Solution #2: Wash your hands [22:50] Solution #3: Wear nitrile gloves [23:37] Solution #4: Use mist collectors [24:30] Solution #5: Use high-quality water [24:53] Solution #6: Proper filtration systems [29:19] Solution #7: Choose the right coolant [32:49] Leave us a review on your favorite platform! Resources mentioned on this episode IMTS 2022! O'Keeffe's Working Hands Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

The key to being a good salesman is to add value wherever you can for your customers. I want to be able to talk with ZENGER's customers about integrating their tooling management with their ERP system and why it can help them. That's why, in this episode of MakingChips, Paul Van Metre comes back to share how tooling management works using ProShop ERP. Because if you're not properly managing your tools, you're losing money (and definitely not making chips). – Jason! Segments [3:24] What's happening in our lives [7:14] Manufacturing News: Amogy Powers a Tractor Using Ammonia [10:34] Why is tooling management important? [15:31] Process stability and setup reduction [20:16] Differences between high-production and project-based shops [22:22] Walking through the tooling management inventory system [26:41] A success story from Faircloth Machine Shop [37:58] Be more scientific with your tooling management system Resources mentioned on this episode ProShop ERP Tooling Management Webinar Thomas™ IMTS 2022 Amogy Demonstrates First Ammonia-Powered, Zero-Emissions Tractor Faircloth Machine Shop Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Whether you rely on inbound marketing, outbound marketing, or a combination of both, sourcing new customers can be a hassle. But it's how you grow your business, so you can't give up. Thomas™, a Xometry company, is America's #1 industrial sourcing platform and marketing powerhouse. It could also be your #1 driver of new customers. Thomas™ President Shawn Fitzgerald shares how in this episode of MakingChips. Because if you're not gaining new customers, you're not making chips, and if you're not making chips—you're not making money! BAM! – Nick Segments [2:54] The exciting things happening in ours lives [5:13] Learn all about what's happening at IMTS [6:27] Manufacturing News: Reverse Logistics Booms [9:25] Shawn Fitzgerald's origin story [14:53] Learn more about the evolution of Thomas [17:42] How Thomas works for buyers and suppliers [27:50] Inbound, outbound, and account-based marketing [?:??] A discussion about what's most-sourced [35:09] Thomas is a single-source platform to get everything you need [37:41] How Thomas and Xometry transformed someone's business [39:10] What's happening next at Thomas and Xometry? Resources mentioned on this episode Don't miss IMTS 2022! Thomas Reverse Logistics Booms as Americans Return 17% of All Retail Purchases Connect with Shawn Fitzgerald on LinkedIn Wonder Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Why is a skills gap analysis helpful? How can it make your company more efficient? What does the process look like? In this episode of MakingChips, we define a seven-step process you can use to help you run a skills gap analysis on your manufacturing business. Special guest Crystal Van Vleet shares how she's brought the process to life in her role with Advanced Machine & Engineering (and at MakingChips). The bottom line is, if you don't have skills, you're not making chips, and if you're not making chips, you're not making money! — Nick Segments [2:06] Why a skills gap analysis can help your business [4:56] Manufacturing News: Skills Gap Analysis for the Future of Work [12:43] Learn all about our guest Crystal Van Vleet [17:59] Step #1: Make a plan for the skills gap analysis [22:09] Step #2: Define your organization's future goals [24:58] Why Crystal got her CMTSE certification [26:47] Step #3: Catch up on the future of work trends [28:04] Step #4: Determine key skills needed for the future [30:18] Step #5: Measure your current skills [33:16] Crystal's experience with self-assessment tools [35:03] Step #6: Find out where the gaps are [39:23] Step #7: Put a plan into action Resources mentioned on this episode Skills Gap Analysis for the Future of Work Connect with Crystal Van Vleet on LinkedIn Don't miss IMTS 2022! ProShop ERP Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

What can you do to double the value of your manufacturing company and increase your likelihood of selling it exponentially? In this episode of MakingChips, Michael Watkins and David Capkovitz from EBITDA Growth Systems (EGS) share how they can help you increase your profitability and Paul Van Metre from ProShop ERP shares how he partners with EGS to bring value to his clients. They are all passionate about improving business performance in manufacturing companies and impacting lives. Don't miss this episode packed with actionable insight. Segments [4:38] What's happening in our businesses [6:45] Manufacturing News: Industrial manufacturing deals outlook [9:30] Learn all about EBITDA Growth Systems' mission [16:02] How Paul is connected to EBITDA Growth Systems (EGS) [19:17] How EBITDA Growth Systems (EGS) can help your business [27:29] Does EGS focus on internal systems or external marketing? [29:25] How they meet their brand promise with businesses that realize success [34:00] The #1 thing that Michael and David focus on to drive more revenue [35:09] The investment that's required to drive change in your company [38:04] The synergy between ProShop ERP and EBITDA Growth Systems Resources mentioned on this episode IMTS 2022 ProShop ERP Xometry Supplies Flex Industrial manufacturing: Deals 2022 midyear outlook The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization EBITDA Growth Systems The E-Myth Revisited The World is Flat Scaling to Exit by Michael Watkins Connect with David Capkovitz Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Many manufacturers are facing a common struggle: Their team members are retiring. Even worse, they're struggling to replace them. Matt Carr—the President of Storch Products Co—found an ingenious way to solve the skills gap at his company by attracting talent from a local technical college. How? He shares a strategy that any manufacturing leader can adapt in this episode of MakingChips. After all, you need talent on your team to make chips! Segments [2:45] The definitions of reshoring and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) [5:14] Reshoring Initiative® IH2021 Data Report [8:00] Learn about Matt Carr—the President of Storch Products Co [17:20] The advantages of a magnetic chip conveyor [20:20] How Matt solved the skills gap at his company [26:45] How Matt has attracted talent from a local school [29:45] Matt's experience implementing EOS at Storch [35:46] Why scaling back and niching down solves problems [40:40] What the class looks like Resources mentioned on this episode ProShop ERP Video Library Reshoring Initiative® IH2021 Data Report Don't miss IMTS 2022 Shop thousands of raw materials at Xometry Traction by Gina Wickman Entrepreneurial Operating System Connect with Matt Carr on LinkedIn Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

AS9100 is a standardized quality management system for the aerospace industry. If a manufacturer wants to work in this field, they have to be AS9100 certified. The credentialing process is difficult to achieve quickly. Integrating it into your quality management system (QMS) can be even more time-consuming. In this episode of MakingChips, special guest John Jones shares how he used ProShop to speed up and complete the implementation in just 4 months. Listen to this episode for his strategies! Segments [2:52] What is the AS9100 credential? [6:29] Manufacturing news: Solar panels [9:41] What's happening in our lives [11:11] Learn all about John Jones [17:29] Implementing AS9100 into ProShop [25:04] John's experience being audited [31:44] Learn about ProShop's Flying Start Package Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Check out the IMTS 2022 Investor Forum Biden invokes Defense Production Act to boost solar panel manufacturing Find buyers and suppliers at Thomas Become a supplier with Xometry ProShop Flying Start Package Paul Van Metre Clinkenbeard John Jones on LinkedIn Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Do you struggle with any pet peeves? We've compiled a list of three sales and marketing tactics that people utilize that drive us crazy: misusing lead capture forms, cold calls, and spammy LinkedIn connections. But instead of just complaining about these things, we're going to share what anyone in sales or marketing should do instead. There's a right way—and most definitely a wrong way—to do it. Find out which side you're landing on in this episode of MakingChips! – Nick If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone you know! If you know someone who struggles with spammy sales tactics, it might be a nice way to nudge them in the right direction. Segments [3:18] Bring a nanny on your vacation [4:15] The good things happening in our lives [5:57] Manufacturing news: Recession Unlikely in 2022 [14:30] Things that drive us crazy (other than Jason) [17:30] Pet Peeve #1: Misusing lead capture forms [21:40] Pet Peeve #2: The dreaded cold call [25:15] Pet Peeve #3: Spammy LinkedIn connections Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Don't miss IMTS 2022! ProShop ERP Recession Unlikely in 2022 The Remedy by Pascal Dennis Claim Your Company at https://www.thomasnet.com/claim Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Gino Wickman and Jim Collins popularized the term, "Right people, right seat" in reference to getting the right employees in leadership positions. But what if we take that terminology and apply it to customers? How do you decide what type of customer is the right fit for your manufacturing business? What type of customer will be the most profitable for your business? Those are the questions that we dissect in this episode of MakingChips. Don't miss it! Any great tips I can use to find THE right customers for Carr Machine & Tool? Email me at Jim@MakingChips.com. Segments [6:28] The definition of "right people, right seat" [7:22] What's happening in our lives right now [10:35] Business News: Dow falls for sixth straight day [15:43] How do you decide who the right customer is? [16:52] Step #1: Focus on solving problems [20:10] Step #2: Focus on sales not vanity metrics [23:15] Step #3: Get the word out about your business [26:14] Step #4: Improve your customer retention [28:14] Step #5: Track your analytics [32:14] How we filter our customers at Carr [36:07] What work is the most profitable? [39:02] Study your customer's behaviors Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Dow Falls for a Sixth Straight Day After Another Wild Session Gaining Customer Traction: 5 Steps to Customer Growth Traction by Gino Wickman Good to Great by Jim Collins Don't miss IMTS 2022! ProShop ERP Learn about Xometry's Flex program Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube