Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are thrilled at what’s to come in the near future for the MakingChips Podcast. While Jim and Jason are busy implementing the final changes to the new MakingChips, we wanted to share with you one of our favorite episodes from the MakingChips Vault. On this episode we interview Stacey Bales, 2nd generation owner and President of Bales Metal Surface Solutions. Bales provides engineered coating and finishes to mold makers and OEMs. Stacey highlights the struggles that occurred in the family business after the untimely passing of her father, who was serving as acting president of the company. Without a succession plan in place, Stacy was forced to overcome several challenges while dealing with the grief of losing her father. Stacy shares her remarkable story and the hurdles she overcame while providing some advice on what you can do in the event that a similar tragedy happens in your company. Episode Outline: [00:01] - IMTS 2018 [02:36] - Introducing Stacey Bales [03:40] - Getting Respect [05:00] - Unexpected Passing [08:34] - Help Through the Transition [10:25] - Biggest Hurdles [13:13] - Transition with the Bank [14:13] - The MFG Meeting 2018 [15:18] - Family Business Advice [16:49] - Conclusion of Episode Links Mentioned in this Episode: IMTS 2018 - Register Today! TMA Illinois The MFG Meeting 2018 Stacey Bales | LinkedIn Bales Metal Surface Solutions We Want to Hear From YOU, The Metalworking Nation: • Jim@makingchips.com • Jason@makingchips.com • Ryan@makingchips.com Telephone: (312) 725-0245

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are thrilled at what’s to come in the near future for the MakingChips Podcast. While Jim and Jason are busy implementing the final changes to the new MakingChips, we wanted to share with you one of our favorite episodes from the MakingChips Vault. On this episode, we will be speaking with Patricia Miller, CEO of Matrix 4, a design and manufacturing house of plastic products based out of Woodstock, IL. Matrix 4 is 40 years old, yet operates with a start-up mentality thanks to Patricia’s progressive leadership. When we first interviewed Patricia Miller, she was a relative newbie in the business, however in the years following this interview, she has grown Matrix 4 to new heights, redefining the business model, strategy, and culture of the company. Patricia shares her 5 Points that helped drive the business into the success that it is today. 1) Get Connected 2) Understand Customers 3) Drive Innovation 4) Embrace Change 5) Give Hope Episode Outline: [00:01] - IMTS 2018: Register Now! [03:42] - Get Connected [05:21] - Connecting with the Manufacturing Community [08:10] - Understand Customers [12:14] - Meeting with Customers [14:21] - The MFG Meeting 2018 [15:31] - Drive Innovation [16:40] - Embrace Change [19:04] - Shaking Up the Status Quo [20:56] - Changing Culture [23:55] - Facing Roadblocks [27:30] - Next Stages Links Mentioned in this Episode: IMTS 2018 - Register Today! TMA Illinois The MFG Meeting 2018 Alan Beaulieu | Economist Patricia Miller | LinkedIn Matrix 4 We Want to Hear From YOU, The Metalworking Nation: • Jim@makingchips.com • Jason@makingchips.com • Ryan@makingchips.com Telephone: (312) 725-0245

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are thrilled at what’s to come in the near future for the MakingChips Podcast. While Jim and Jason are busy implementing the final changes to the new MakingChips, we wanted to share with you one of our favorite episodes from the MakingChips Vault. On this episode, we will be speaking with Brian Panek of Panek Precision, a leading precision machine shop, located outside of Chicago, IL. Brian takes us through the history of the shop and it’s longtime relationship with robot technology. We’ll hear about the “aha” moment that led to the implementation of their first robot, as Brian details the impact they have had on his business. Episode Outline: [00:01] - IMTS 2018 [03:01] - Welcome Brian Panek [05:50] - Panek Precision’s Story [07:20] - Their First Robot [09:45] - Keeping Up With Production [14:04] - Reintroducing Robot Technology [16:38] - Throughput and Quality [19:21] - Collaborative Robot Technology [20:14] - The MFG Meeting 2018 [21:37] - Naming Robots and Lead Time [23:40] - Vision for the Future [28:00] - Conclusion of Episode Links Mentioned in this Episode: IMTS 2018 - Register Today! Washington University in St. Louis TMA Illinois Panek Precision The MFG Meeting 2018 Jim Carroll - Futurist Brian Panek | LinkedIn We Want to Hear From YOU, The Metalworking Nation: • Jim@makingchips.com • Jason@makingchips.com • Ryan@makingchips.com Telephone: (312) 725-0245

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are excited to bring back Phil and David from Orbitform as we conclude our interview with a detailed discussion on Orbitform's continuous process improvements. We'll talk about the steps that your manufacturing business can take to start implementing continuous process improvements. In manufacturing news, we give our take on the newly passed tax reform bill and it's impact on manufacturing in the United States. We also share some exciting news about the future of MakingChips. Episode Outline:[00:01] - IMTS 2018 [04:37] - Manufacturing News [10:30] - Continuous Improvement Initiative [14:00] - The First Steps [17:32] - Bonus Incentive Plan [20:43] - Kill The Castings [25:27] - Hone Your Skills [26:34] - Driving the Profitability [30:48] - Automating The Process [33:49] - Looking at the Data [36:00] - Conclusion of Episode [38:43] - The MFG Meeting 2018 Links Mentioned in this Episode:IMTS 2018 - Register Today! Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) OrbitformEli (Eliyahu) Goldratt “The Goal”Phil Sponsler | LinkedIn David Shirkey | LinkedInCarr Machine and Tool | Case StudiesThe MFG Meeting 2018 We Want to Hear From YOU, The Metalworking Nation: • Jim@makingchips.com • Jason@makingchips.com • Ryan@makingchips.com Telephone: (312) 725-0245

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are excited to bring you part two of our interview with David Shirkey and Phil Sponsler of Orbitform. David and Phil walk us through their process of grading potential acquisitions. We'll also hear about their active involvement in The Assembly Trade Show and how they quantify their ROI. Later on, we learn about David's discovery of the MakingChips Podcast, as he explains the takeaways their business has received from the show. Episode Outline:[00:01] - IMTS 2018 [02:52] - The Trade Show [08:50] - Quantifying ROI [10:21] - Distinguishing Clients [13:50] - Looking at Acquisitions [16:46] - Grading Possible Acquisitions [20:25] - Hearing about MakingChips [25:03] - Michigan Manufacturer of the Year Links Mentioned in this Episode:IMTS 2018 - Register Today! Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII)OrbitformThe Assembly Show Workshop for Warriors Phil Sponsler | LinkedIn David Shirkey | LinkedIn We Want to Hear From YOU, The Metalworking Nation: • Jim@makingchips.com • Jason@makingchips.com • Ryan@makingchips.com Telephone: (312) 725-0245

Hello Metalworking Nation! On today’s episode, we welcome two very special guests from Orbitform to the MakingChips Podcast. We are pleased to welcome Phil Sponsler (President of Orbitform) and David Shirkey (Manager of Strategic Initiatives). Orbitform (Jackson, Michigan) manufacturers custom assembly machines and assembly systems to customers and industries around the world. Phil and David tell us the story of how Orbitform was started and how they got involved with the company. We'll hear some insights on Orbitform's remarkable success following the great recession and how they developed an internal CRM software system that created unprecedented efficiency in their business. In Manufacturing News, we continue to talk about the industry's growing optimism as U.S. Manufacturing accelerates to it's best year in over a decade. Episode Outline:[00:01] - IMTS 2018 [03:50] - Manufacturing News [04:43] - Anything New at ZENGERS? [07:06] - What’s New With Jim? [08:50] - Introducing David Shirkey [09:39] - Introducing Phil Sponsler [10:38] - The Story of Orbitform [11:38] - What Is Orbital Riveting [16:27] - Coming Out of the Recession [17:49] - Phil’s Initial Journey [19:14] - Marketing vs Sales Driven [20:41] - Driven Process [22:15] - Orbistix Mission [24:21] - What is a "Form Fix” [26:20] - Orbitform’s CRM Efficiency [31:43] - 98% Utilization Links Mentioned in this Episode: Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) Manufacturing NewsOrbitformBallistix Theory of ConstraintsDivision of Labor in Sales Sales Process EngineeringEli (Eliyahu) Goldratt “The Goal”Phil Sponsler | LinkedIn David Shirkey | LinkedIn We Want to Hear From YOU, The Metalworking Nation: • Jim@makingchips.com • Jason@makingchips.com • Ryan@makingchips.com Telephone: (312) 725-0245

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are coming to you from our studio at the DMDII in Goose Island, Illinois. On today’s episode, we continue to have a dialogue about what you can do to prepare your manufacturing business for the future. Jim and Jason talk about how future technologies will impact their respective businesses as they build on the framework we discussed on the last episode. In Manufacturing News, we discuss Apple's $1 Billion Advanced Manufacturing Fund and how the awards that Apple is doling out from it are really just prepayments in disguise. Episode Outline:[00:01] - IMTS 2018 [03:30] - Manufacturing News [08:07] - Whats New With Jim Carr? [09:28] - Whats New With Jason Zenger? [13:16] - You Can Re-evaluate [14:00] - Carr Machine’s Future Technology [17:13] - Tooling Technology [21:18] - Baby Steps [23:15] - Technologies Important to ZENGERS [25:45] - New Website [26:09] - Industry 4.0 [28:06] - Conclusion Links Mentioned in this Episode: Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) Manufacturing News We Want to Hear From YOU, The Metalworking Nation: • Jim@makingchips.com • Jason@makingchips.com • Ryan@makingchips.com Telephone: (312) 725-0245

Hello Metalworking Nation and Happy Holidays from Jim, Jason and Ryan at MakingChips! We are happy to be back in our DMDII studio where today we will be expanding upon some similar principles from our last episode. What does your future look like?  Do you have a short, medium, and long-term vision of where you see your company? Jason and Jim lay down the framework for achieving your future desire for your business. In Manufacturing News, we discuss the latest NAM Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey, which reflected unprecedented optimism in the sector. Episode Outline: [00:01] - IMTS 2018 [02:40] - Thank You DMDII [03:54] - The New MakingChips [04:57] - Manufacturing News [09:17] - Black Industrial and Safety Supply [10:57] - Carr Machine and Tool in 2018 [13:42] - What Does Your Future Look Like? [16:24] - Putting a Date On It [17:50] - The Rubber Hits The Road [21:24] - Reviewing the Medium Term Plan [23:42] - The Short Term Plan [23:07] - Challenges Across Industries [28:12] - An Opportunity for Improvement [32:12] - Quarter By Quarter [34:36] - Saying “No" [37:22] - SMARTER Goals Links Mentioned in this Episode: Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) Manufacturing NewsJim Collins - Good To Great We Want to Hear From YOU, The Metalworking Nation: • Jim@makingchips.com • Jason@makingchips.com • Ryan@makingchips.com Telephone: (312) 725-0245

Hello Metalworking Nation and Happy Thanksgiving from MakingChips! Where do you see your manufacturing business in the next five years? Do you have a vision of your company's future? On today's episode, Jim & Jason share 5 Questions that Manufacturing Leaders need to ask themselves right now. In manufacturing news, we talk about a groundbreaking new surgical procedure and how it relates to manufacturing. Jim and Jason also share their plans for Thanksgiving, and news related to their business and family. Episode Outline:[00:01] - IMTS 2018 - Register Today [02:44] - Thanksgiving [05:24] - Manufacturing News [08:55] - What’s New With Jim [11:04] - Mission and Vision Statement [15:56] - Vision of Your Future [19:58] - Technology Advancements [21:27] - Communicating to the Marketplace [22:56] - Lead, Manage, and Hold People Accountable [30:10] - Scaling your Business Links Mentioned in this Episode:IMTS 2018 - Register Today! TMA Illinois Manufacturing News Cruial Conversations We Want to Hear From YOU, The Metalworking Nation: • Jim@makingchips.com • Jason@makingchips.com • Ryan@makingchips.com Telephone: (312) 725-0245

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are thrilled to be back in the MakingChips studio! On today's episode we answer a listener's questions about the social media platform, LinkedIn. Jim and Jason both share their individual strategies for using the business platform -- notably for creating a conversation, strengthening their personal brand, and connecting with like minded individuals. They'll share their LinkedIn do's and don'ts, as well as their goals for optimizing the platform's full potential. In manufacturing news, we talk about how Boeing is seeking thousands of applicants for open manufacturing jobs.   Episode Outline:[00:01] - IMTS 2018 - Register Today [03:48] - Whats New with Jim? [05:28] - Whats New with Jason? [08:03] - Manufacturing News [12:27] - Answering a Listener’s Questions [14:50] - Daily Social Media Routine [18:10] - Starting a Conversation [21:30] - Requests to Connect [24:38] - Declining Requests [28:02] - We Want To Hear From You Links Mentioned in this Episode: IMTS 2018 Manufacturing News LinkedIn We Want to Hear From YOU, The Metalworking Nation: • Jim@makingchips.com • Jason@makingchips.com • Ryan@makingchips.com Telephone: (312) 725-0245