Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

The “Great Resignation” as it’s been called, has created a wide variety of circumstances that have impacted the American workforce. 55% of workers making under $30K/year say they will be looking for a new job soon. Has this impacted manufacturing? If so, what can we do as manufacturing leaders to mitigate the impact? This episode focuses on what leaders can and should be doing to build the kind of loyalty that will sustain their companies and provide a culture and experience for team members that is “sticky,” keeping them around for years to come.  BAM! Segments [1:20] The Great Resignation: How it impacts manufacturing [6:22] Ripples across the country from this Great Resignation [12:50] Employment news: 55% making under $30K/year expect to look for a new job [16:20] If you lose people on your team, how can it affect your business? [18:45] Why do people leave your company? Why do they stay? [22:06] Hiring process: ways to win candidates and be smart in your process [26:32] How you can improve your retention rate [32:10] Tech company trends and how it might spread Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Visit our Sponsor Xometry Eden Business Concepts (gave Jason the inspiration for this episode) Bob Dylan song “Hurricane” BOOK: Reforming Marriage by Douglas Wilson 55% of people expect to find a new job soon Apple TV show: Ted Lasso Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

There is a paradigm shift happening in the industry: many skilled machinists are retiring. As these long-term skilled machinists are leaving, they’re leaving with intellectual legacy knowledge that’s irreplaceable. Do procurement people sourcing machining parts know what the processes and procedures look like? Do they know the difference between a fabricated, turned, or machined, or five-axis part? What can we do as owners to mitigate the problem or offer solutions? We dive into the discussion in this episode of Making Chips! Segments [1:23] The challenges we face with retiring machinists [4:30] The definition of intellectual property [6:28] What is keeping us awake at night? [14:22] Boosting automation in manufacturing [18:18] A discussion of intellectual property  Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! What is Intellectual Property? Report Outlines Difficulty in Boosting Automation in Manufacturing The Future of Manufacturing is Automated Production Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Finding Solutions to the Supply Chain Chaos, #293 What is the root cause of the supply chain crisis? How can manufacturing businesses mitigate those risks and find realistic solutions that work in the short and long term? Tom Hilaris—the President & CEO of Ergoseal—joins us to share the three things they focus on: risk mitigation, communication, and culture. In this episode of Making Chips we offer real, practical solutions your business can implement to overcome the supply chain chaos. Because—after all—if you’re not making chips, you’re not making money! BAM! – Jason Segments [1:10] Material lead times and pricing [5:10] What’s happening at Carr Machine & Tool [7:07] Manufacturing news related to supply chain issues [14:39] Learn more about our guest—Tom Hilaris [17:16] Step #1: Risk Mitigation [19:46] Managing pricing with redundancy of sourcing [22:58] Step #2: Communicating with your customers is imperative  [29:12] Elmhurst University Supply Chain Masters Program [32:15] Step #3: A great culture improves outcomes Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Connect with Tom Hilaris on LinkedIn Clean Energy Faces its Own Supply Chain Crisis What Everyone Gets Wrong About the Never-Ending COVID-19 Supply Chain Crisis Growing your Manufacturing Business Through Acquisitions with Tom Hilaris Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

What is an employee stock ownership plan ESOP? How does it work? How can it transform the buy-in of your team and lead to revenue growth? Jeff Taylor—the President and CEO of Crafts Technology—implemented an ESOP. Listen to this episode to hear about the impact it had on his business—and figure out whether or not it’s right for yours. Employee buy-in can lead to profitability which can lead to Making Chips! BAM! – Jim Segments [4:49] What’s happening at ZENGERS and Carr Machine & Tool [8:20] Disclaimer about implementing an ESOP [10:54] Welcome Jeff Taylor to Making Chips! [12:13] What is an employee stock ownership plan ESOP? [13:45] How Jeff got into manufacturing [20:15] What is Craft’s technology? [21:49] Choosing to create an ESOP [30:00] Who should consider an ESOP? [35:05] Pensions, profit-sharing, and ESOPs [39:45] What kind of return does an ESOP get? [45:36] Are you handing over control to your team? Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Crafts Technology Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

What does your hiring process look like? Do you even have a hiring process in place? In this episode of Making Chips, we walk through what each of our processes look like and share some useful strategies that anyone can implement. A streamlined process leads to better hires which leads to Making Chips! BAM! – Jason! What are your tips and tricks for the hiring process? Let us know! Send an email to info@MakingChips.com!  Segments [0:30] Check out ProShop ERP for manufacturing software! [3:35] What’s happening in our lives and businesses [6:54] Manufacturing news: A discussion on composite materials [11:44] Shoutout to listeners who’ve left reviews! [14:26] Step #1: It’s all about the setup  [19:10] Step #2: The careers landing page [22:43] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry [24:31] Step #3: Screen your candidates  Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! 6 of the Most Exciting Trends In Composite Materials Today Join the ZENGERS Team! LinkedIn Recruiter Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

What factors should you consider when forecasting? What questions do you need to ask to determine your next steps? Who gets to make those decisions? We walk you through some common questions to ask yourself—and your company—about your business. We’ll also cover Miles and Snow's Typology of Defender, Prospector, Analyzer, and Reactor to see how your type impacts your decision-making process. Learn a great process to forecast and set goals in this episode of Making Chips! Now is the time to look ahead! BAM! – Nick If you have a great methodology for forecasting, let us know! Shoot us an email at info@MakingChips.com!  Segments [0:32] Check out ProShop ERP for manufacturing software! [3:16] How future proof is your business? [5:25] What we’re happy about right now [9:34] Discovering the Keys to U.S. Manufacturing Recovery [14:23] What factors should you consider when forecasting? [17:47] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry [21:39] The Miles and Snow's Typology of Defender, Prospector, Analyzer, and Reactor [24:56] Who makes the forecast in your company?  Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Discovering the Keys to U.S. Manufacturing Recovery Miles and Snow's Typology of Defender, Prospector, Analyzer, and Reactor BOOK: Humanocrisy Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Nick jokes that I have a recession obsession—and it’s true. Recessions are painful. I want to make the experience less painful when a recession comes around again. So in this down-to-earth episode of Making Chips, I’ll share the common causes of most recessions and 8 tips you can use to prepare yourself—and your business—for a recession. Preparedness is key to helping your business survive and thrive. Because after all, if you’re not making chips, you’re not making money. BAM! – Jim Segments [0:43] Check out ProShop ERP for manufacturing software! [2:53] Shoutout to everyone involved with the research project with Xometry  [5:11] The reasons why Carr Machine & Tool is thriving [9:38] Manufacturing News: Hertz bought 100,000 Teslas [12:18] What’s new in Jason and Nick’s worlds [14:43] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry [15:53] Be smart with the buying decisions that you make [21:55] Learn about the common causes of recessions [24:39] 8 tIps to prepare yourself for a recession [28:28] Learn about Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! How to Prepare for a Recession: 8 Tips You Can Start Now Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

In round three with Titan Gilroy, we talk about why Titan decided to move his entire business from California to Texas. Was it a smooth transition? Was he able to retain his entire team? Titan also shares more of the “why” behind his business and his passion for serving his audience. Titan continues to go above and beyond the expected as he grows his academy. Listen to learn more. BAM! Segments [0:52] Why Titan moved his business to Texas [11:28] Solving people’s problems = success [18:28] Understand your audience + tell your story [26:50] Titan’s transition from regret to changing lives [29:34] Where did Titan’s “Boom!” come from Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

In this episode of Making Chips, we dive back into the conversation with Titan Gilroy. This time, we talk about how Titan’s TV show, “American Built,” came to life. We also talk about how he almost gave up the TV show to do something he was passionate about—helping prisoners transform their lives and learn to become full-fledged machinists. This passion project eventually led to the creation of the Titans of CNC Academy, where you can learn everything from the fundamentals of machining to creating aerospace parts—all completely free. Don’t miss this episode with THE Titan of the industry. BAM! Segments [1:55] Why schools and colleges don’t have sufficient manufacturing training [7:35] How Titan’s TV show, “American Built” came to fruition [13:31] How Titan took inmates and helped them become full-fledged machinists [19:34] Why Titan uses the phrase “uniquely abled” instead of disabled  [32:48] Learn more about Titans of CNC Academy  Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Titans of CNC Academy Check out Titan’s Youtube Channel: MakerSpace77 Follow Titan on LinkedIn Follow Titan’s organization on Twitter: @TitanGilroy Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

This episode takes you (and us) to Texas to speak with Titan Gilroy. He calls himself an advocate for advanced manufacturing, and that’s a huge understatement. He runs two academies that teach what it takes to be a success in manufacturing. His personal stroy demonstrates that becoming a success in the industry — individually or as an organization — doesn’t happen overnight or without a significant amount of struggle. We skip the banter and back and forth typical of our episodes because we are so excited to bring you this conversation with Titan. So, without further delay, click the play button and hear what Titan’s got to share. BAM!   Segments [1:50] Titan Gilroy’s start in CNC machining came through a great deal of hardship [6:30] Moving to California and finding his first opportunity in a shop [10:15] Stepping into his first role in a machine shop and making the most of it [18:10] Moving into a troubleshooter role for large companies, then starting his own shop [22:15] The beginning of Titan Engineering in early 2005 [31:15] Raising the bar to eliminate variance and manufacture art for customers [40:35] The 2008-2009 recession hit hard — everything stopped & 15 people had to be let go [46:53] Lessons learned during the economic downturn were exactly what he needed  Resources mentioned on this episode Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! https://titansofcnc.com - Find out about Titan’s training courses Follow Titan on LinkedIn Follow Titan’s organization on Twitter: @TitanGilroy Wall Street Journal article, “A Tale of a Young Boxer’s Redemption” Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube