Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

Are you communicating with your team effectively? Step up your communication skills this week as Jason Zenger shares 10 effective tips to improve your communication as a leader. Connect with us:www.MakingChips.com/contact The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe! Segments: Jason discusses "miscommunication" (1:02) Jim shares good news about Carr Machine & Tool. (5:28) The guys discuss this week's manufacturing news. (7:44) Tip #1: How to be self aware to understand your team better. (14:30) Tip #2: Why you should assume the best in others when you communicate. (15:47) Tip #3: Have a mutual best outcome in mind while communicating. (17:01) Tip #4: Be direct and forthcoming, but be empathetic. (19:02) Tip #5: Be open with your team: Share your thoughts and ideas with your team. (20:33) Tip #6: Understand people can handle bad news better than they can handle lack of communication. (21:30) Tip #7: Be specific with what you're asking for. (22:48) Tip #8: Seek to understand your team. (27:20) Tip #9: Over-communicate. (29:54) Tip #10: Learn how others like to receive communication. (31:14)

In this episode, MakingChips hosts, Jim Carr, Jason Zenger, and Nick Goellner interview MakingChips Agency Director Jessica Peterson about what it means to have brand standards for your manufacturing business and why having a logo doesn't translate to having a brand. Segments: The guys discuss this week's manufacturing news. (5:08) The guys introduce this week's topic of Brand standards with special guest, MakingChips Marketing Director Jessica Peterson (9:00) Jessica shares the importance of brand standards and where to start. (11:16) Jessica gives insight on what should be part of your brand standards: Brand Book, Style Guide, and Media Kit (13:32) Jessica shares some core elements your brand book should include. (15:48) Jessica explains what a Media Kit is. (20:17) Jason defines what a Favicon is and how to use it properly. (25:05) The guys discuss the importance of defining your brand standards if you want to be a company that scales. (27:08) Jessica shares how a small shop can start creating their brand book. (30:40) Email Jessica at Jessica@MakingChips.com

When it comes to managing a sales team, it's important not to confuse efforts with results. In this episode, co-host Nick Goellner draws on his experience as AME Sales & Marketing Director to discuss key sales results and metrics as they relate to manufacturing sales team management, customer service, and marketing efforts. Segments: Co-host Jim Carr discusses what is keeping him positive at work right now. (1:37) Nick gives a Boring Bar update, announcing staff changes and new employment opportunities. (2:37) Co-host Jason Zenger gives a business update and introduces the topic of journalistic integrity. (4:49) The guys discuss this week's manufacturing news regarding U.S. manufacturing hitting a 14-month high. (8:47) The guys introduce this week's topic of sales and the impact it has on manufacturing businesses and how sales are managed at each business Nick explains his four types of sales management: territory, account, opportunity, call; and defines sales force enablement and how it can improve a team. (16:32) Nick provides details on the types of sales meetings he uses, including the frequency, order of operations, and desired outcomes. (20:19) The guys discuss utilizing the CRM (22:20) Nick explains the difference between group vs one-on-one meetings at AME and provides details about performance criteria including: new business development, key account management, brand building. (29:33) Nick defines his expectations of what it means to be a brand builder and explains how he evaluates his sales team, including factors he uses to adjust compensation. (36:40) Mentioned on the Show: CRM Hubspot Salesforce Integration "U.S. manufacturing activity hits 14-month high"

Times are changing and as manufacturing leaders, we need to adjust with these times. "In business, if we don't change, we don't grow and we don't survive." - Robin Johnson, a change agent, with a passion for helping organizational leaders move their organizations from current to future state joins MakingChips to discuss how to become emotionally intelligent as a leader during these changing times. Segments: Jim and Jason discuss how they are changing and adapting with their businesses through a global pandemic. (1:42) Jason and Jim discuss manufacturing news about the H.R. 6690 Act (5:46) Guest Robin Johnson explains what emotional intelligence is. (13:41) Robin gives insight on how to use emotional intelligence as a manufacturing leader. Robin discusses the importance of having your employees feeling great about wanting to work for your business. (20:45) The 16 elements to emotional intelligence. (26:54) Robin and Jim discuss how to help nurture your employees to accept change. (28:18) The types of leaders you should look for to help grow your business. (34:35) Robin shares insight on how she got into change and development. Mentioned on the Show: Bring Entrepreneurial Advancements To Consumers Here In North America Act (H.R.6690) Leaders Don't Have to Be Lonely: Eliminate the Loneliness by Leading Like a Coach (Book)

In business and in life we all experience pain we can't control. Jim Carr reflects on the recent death of his parents and gives practical advice on how business leaders can prepare for personal loss and grief. Segments: Jason Zenger talks about the recent trend of companies coming back to ZENGER'S from large national integrators and discusses the value of high-level customer service. (3:20) Jason and Jim discuss manufacturing news about how the Reshoring Initiative aims to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. (5:15) Jim discusses multi-generational machine shops and the importance of mitigating a personal and professional plan for when a leader passes on. (13:30) Jason and Jim discuss the role of open communication in succession planning and the value of hiring of outside professionals to help. (18:10) Jim discusses the importance of creating a trust to avoid probate and insulate assets from creditors. (24:30) Jim answers Jason's questions about the most valuable lessons he learned from his father. (28:30) Jim discusses the evolution of leadership styles from his father's generation to now and explains how creating core values and adapting to modern business practices has helped him navigate succession and loss. (32:15) Mentioned on the Show: Don't Give Up on Bringing Manufacturing Back to the U.S. (article) Bellicose Rhetoric (definition)

Co-hosts Jim Carr, Nick Goellner and Jason Zenger talk about their past experiences with fear in business, including navigating recession, unemployment, and the current pandemic, then offer seven steps for leading through fear, along with personal applications and examples. Segments: Nick and Jim to talk about their most fearful time in business (1:30) Jim gives an update on Carr Machine Tool's new business (5:15) Jason introduces manufacturing news about Apple's manufacturing base (6:45) Jim, Nick and Jason talk about overcoming fear as business leaders and provide commentary on how taking certain steps have led to successful innovation, expansion and reinvention. (10:15) Jim, Nick, and Jason add their final thoughts and reflections. (27:40) Mentioned on the show: The Strategic Coach Podcast Killing Marketing: How Innovative Businesses Are Turning Marketing Cost Into Profit, by Richard Rose Related links: https://sports.yahoo.com/apple-looking-diversify-manufacturing-headphones-072853788.html

Guest Steve Schubert, Chief Operating Officer at Advanced Machine & Engineering Co., talks with co-hosts Jim Carr, Nick Goellner, and Jason Zenger about his rise from high school apprentice to a manufacturing industry leader and provides advice and perspective on recruiting and training the next generation of manufacturers. Segments: Jason provides a positive outlook on business-related changes prompted by COVID-19 (2:10) Nick introduces manufacturing news about a recent drop in Europe's automotive industry sales (4:05) Guest Steve Schubert explains how he first got involved in manufacturing (10:00) Steve discusses his experience with formal apprenticeship and gives some thoughts on alternative educational opportunities and what it will take to build future manufacturing leaders (21:00) Steve gives insight into recruitment and discusses specific sources for finding future employees (28:00) Jason and Jim discuss whether or not it is the company's responsibility to teach soft skills (33:00) Steve provides advice on how small companies can benefit from apprenticeship programs and gives final thoughts on the benefits of a career in manufacturing (36:00) Jim, Nick, and Jason provide final takeaways (42:00) Mentioned on the show: Rock River Valley Tooling and Machining Association German Precision Tool Industry Projects Decline in Consumption

When it comes to your cutting tools, how do you know when it's time to resharpen or recycle? This week on the MakingChips podcast, hosts Jim Carr, Jason Zenger, and Nick Goellner discuss when and why you should consider resharpening your cutting tools as well as the cost to resharpen versus cost of buying brand new.

It's tempting, in rapid response, to abandon procedures or suspend protocols in order to solve immediate crisis situations. This week's guest, Noah Goellner, lean manufacturing expert and COO of Hennig Inc., provides practical methods for incorporating your company's core values and internal processes to produce successful solutions, no matter the timeline or challenge.

MakingChips guest Jim Griffith, an employment attorney for HR Source, answers timely questions about individual state and federal marijuana laws, and provides manufacturing leaders with three action steps to help address management and human resources issues related to the use of legalized cannabis.