Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

In this episode, we interview Ray Zaganto, who created a new concept called “The Hardware Store” for reaching his customers by being innovative, thinking outside the box and finding the Alpha Engineer. Your "first place" is your home.  Your ”second place" is the workplace.  The “third place” is another location that connects you into a community and facilitates creative interaction. A lot of companies do not have the resources to outfit a standalone location and create a third place, but as Ray said: “Make Your Shop a Destination.” In our Manufacturing News segment, we discuss an episode of the TV show, “The Good Wife” in relation to an episode about 3D printing. About MakingChips MakingChips is a weekly podcast that will equip leaders in the metalworking manufacturing industry with valuable content to utilize in their career and business. What makes MakingChips unique is the fact that we are in the trenches getting dirty, leading, managing, designing, solving problems and pushing productivity.  MakingChips is here for us to report back from the factory floor to tell you what worked and what didn’t work…we tell you the mistakes we made and what we are excited to try.  We want to understand your problems and leverage this community to find a solution. Our goal is to equip manufacturing leaders and for those leaders to influence others in the manufacturing industry. From Jim: I'm the owner of CARR Machine & Tool, Inc., a 2nd generation high precision CNC machine shop utilizing 3 and 4 axis CNC Machining Centers. I’ve been at this a long time and know machining like the back of my hand. Our company specialty is short to medium run jobs where we consistently hold tolerances of ± .0005 utilizing state-of-the-art tooling - which I get from Jason! From Jason: I'm the president of ZENGERS, a 3rd generation industrial supply company. I direct our team of metalworking specialists to decrease costs and increase productivity of our metalworking customers by applying the best tooling for the job and utilizing tool crib management technology.

In this episode, we interview Michael Magliano, an industrial real estate broker from Cushman & Wakefield, about strategies for buying, selling and leasing industrial real estate. In our Manufacturing News segment, we discuss an article that asks the question: “What Do Manufacturing Workers Want From Their Employer.”

In this episode, we interview Ray Ziganto, President of Bi-Link, a global manufacturing company about his take-aways from the Crain’s Manufacturing Summit. • How does a manufacturing company stay on the leading edge? • How do you re-think manufacturing education? • Start with small steps. Cary Wood, President, Chief Executive Officer, Board Member of Sparton, talks about how to train and relate to the new workforce generation and why his turnover is so low. Dr. David Boulay, President of the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC), discusses how public-private partnerships like IMEC support small and midsize manufacturing companies.  For more information on organizations like this, search for US Department of Commerce Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). Dave Szczupak, Executive Vice President of Whirlpool, discusses the importance of local manufacturing companies to their supply chain and workforce development for the new generation.  Dave also tells us about the FIRST Robotics Competition for the youngest future generation of manufacturing. Jim Schultz, Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, discusses the importance of manufacturing to state commerce and how he is collaborating with his peers in other states. MakingChips.com/BiLink

What are the 3 most important actions that manufacturers can take now to improve their utilization of CAM software?  In this episode, we interview Matt Sump with ShopWare, one the top resellers of MasterCAM Software.  Jim answers the question: If you put 10 machinist in a shop and gave them a piece of material and a print, how many different ways will they produce that part? We discuss: • Latest trends in CAM software • How tool paths are calculated • Radial chip thinning • Most efficient amount of material removal • Surface feet per minute • Spindle speed • Utilizing a tooling database in CAM software • Machine utilization • Dynamic Machining versus High Speed Machining • Improving machining hydraulic manifolds using CAM software • Utilizing Dynamic Tool Paths • Automating existing processes with macros • Going beyond the basics by automating ! We briefly talk about the history of how MakingChips was started. !! In our Manufacturing News segment, we discuss an article declaring that US manufacturing is going extinct.  I’m going to state it here: if you remove manufacturing from the US Economy, the United States will lose 30% of its GDP. ShopWare http://www.shopwareinc.com Matt Sump www.linkedin.com/in/mattsump/en

In this episode, Jim and I discuss how you can receive grant money to expand your manufacturing business.  We specifically discuss the Federal TAAF Grant that Jim was awarded, the process that he went through, the reimbursed expenses and how he coupled two programs together. Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms  MakingChips.com/TAAF In our Manufacturing News segment, we discuss an article in the LA Times that states manufacturing is slower to grow in California than any other state in the USA.  The main factor for slow growth in California is the cost of doing business in the state. We have 2 questions for you: 1. Have you been successful receiving grant money?  If so, please share your story in the comments for this episode. 2. Would you like us to share more information associated with grant money, so you can take advantage of this under-utilized resource?

Roberts Swiss, a 60 year old manufacturer of Precision Swiss Machined Parts. Fernando gives actionable advise to others who are not born into privilege and do not have a lot of resources, but desire to seek advancement starting from the ground floor. Fernando attributes his career success to: • Taking advantage of learning from every possible resource - including the people who stood in his way • Tackling large projects • Questioning the WHY behind business processes • Working hard and doing the right thing • Being the conduit of change • Realizing challenges as opportunities for growth • Bringing a culture of excellence • Grace In our Manufacturing News segment, we discuss an article that stated US Stocks started the year mixed because manufacturing growth stalled in December, which proves that manufacturing makes a huge difference to the US economy. #ManufacturingMatters

When should the owners of a business start succession planning? NOW! In our Manufacturing News segment, we discuss an article stating that slow manufacturing growth doesn’t matter to the economy.

Should you implement Robotics into your company? In this episode we interview Brian Panek from Panek Precision about robotics. We discuss the basics of robotics, how it has changed his manufacturing and the culture of his company. PanekPrecision.com LinkedIn.com/in/brianpanek Universal Robots In our Manufacturing News segment, we discuss that MakingChips has been featured on iTunes New & Noteworthy, which is a huge accomplishment. We would like to thank our listeners for their feedback and support.

Who is in your network? In this episode we discuss the power of networking and how to properly cultivate relationships in your industry. Join MakingChips at the 3rd Annual Crain’s Midwest Manufacturers Summit. Crain’s Manufacturing Summit 1. Networking is a long term process 2. Should you stalk them on LinkedIn? 3. When you think that it is time for the hard sell…wait. 4. Ask for an introduction. 5. Stay within a particular circle. 6. Don't forget follow up, but don’t hard sell. 7. Offer free advise. 8. Look for commonality. 9. Collect business cards. 10. Connect on LinkedIn. 11. Give before you expect to receive. In our Manufacturing News segment, we discuss Forbes 30 under 30 in Manufacturing. In our Metalworking Tools segment, we discuss Lenox Circtech Precision Circular Saw Blades. More manufacturing companies are replacing band saw applications with with machines that use cermet tipped circular saw blades.

What is the right method for getting paid for your work? This is a subject that both Jim and I were reluctant to talk about; however, our goal is to bring the Metalworking Nation together as a community to talk about topics that people are afraid to bring up. What are your typical terms? Do you offer payment via credit card? Should you require a credit card for initial orders? Do you have a defined credit terms policy? If you are agreeing to an OEM contract that stipulates 90-120 day terms, are you considering the financing rate and including that in the price that you charge for the product or service? “Somebody has to pay it!” What is our approach to collecting? When do “put on the heat”? Do you use collection agencies? In our Manufacturing News segment, we discuss Workshops for Warriors, a non-profit that transitions veterans into civilian jobs with a focus on manufacturing training. In our Metalworking Tools segment, we discuss Z-Cut, a line of USA Made standard and highperformance end mills, drills and taps.