Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

If you are a manufacturing leader and you are not on LinkedIn, you don’t exist. - Jim Carr That’s how strongly Jim feels about the power of having a presence on LinkedIn. It’s not just for job-seekers, it’s for anyone who wants to engage in dialogue and exchange of information in a business niche. Manufacturing is one of those and you might be surprised at the amount of information flowing back and forth behind the scenes through the LinkedIn network. In this episode, Jim and Jason are going to walk you through 6 reasons you need to be on LinkedIn if you are (or want to be) a leader in the manufacturing industry. Some of these may seem like common sense, but others will surprise you. Don’t neglect the conversations that are already happening on LinkedIn. You never know when you’re going to have the opportunity to get involved in a conversation, provide an answer to a question from your area of expertise, and as a result become known as a leader in your niche of the industry. That puts you on the radar of more people which eventually translates into sales, consulting and speaking opportunities, and who knows what else. To top off the episode the guys are going to fill you in on 7 quick ways you can get started with LinkedIn (or get restarted) that will make it easy and smooth. You owe it to yourself and to your company to create a strong LinkedIn profile and get involved in the conversations going on within the manufacturing industry on LinkedIn. It’s free, it takes only a small amount of time, and can be leveraged to great value in your manufacturing business. Listen in on this episode of MakingChips to find out how you can ramp up your LinkedIn activity and benefit your business. . Here’s the outline of the conversation about Manufacturing news updates Why LinkedIn is a powerful tool for manufacturing leaders Relevancy matters - putting yourself on the radar of others in the industry Connect with business partners Building a digital “rolodex” Create a platform for “thought leadership” in the manufacturing industry Share what you do and create engagement with others in the industry Drive traffic, inquiries, and sales How to get started or restarted on LinkedIn (7 helpful tips) Links mentioned on this episode www.MakingChips.com - sign up for the Making Chips newsletter & podcast posts automatically (your information is never given to anyone else). You can leave a comment or add to the discussion on this episode by visiting http://www.MakingChips.com/23 Or call us at 312- 725-0245

If you don’t know how to calculate SFPM, you’re losing money! Every now and then we like to go to square one to discuss some fundamental issues surrounding the work done in the average machine shop. This episode is one of those episodes. Jim and Jason are talking SFPM - Surface Feet Per Minute in this episode. If you don’t understand what SFPM is, or if you don’t know how to calculate it, you need to listen in to this episode. Properly calculating SFPM is a fundamental machine shop skill that enables you to do a handful of very important things: You’re able to optimize the work-flow of your shop. You do that by maximizing the rate at which you are making chips. This results in more money being made per minute. It also saves tools, materials, and time. Every machinist, from novice to experienced must understand how to calculate Surface Feet Per Minute in order to do the very best job with every piece of material and with every tool. Without this knowledge they will wear out tools, destroy materials, and ultimately cost the company money, simply because of ignorance of this fundamental skill. In this episode of Making Chips Jim and Jason also give some examples of how they go about managing the issue of SFPM in their shops, including the kind of conversations they have with employees about SFPM, how they can tell if SFPM has not been calculated accurately, and how to do the actual math to determine a proper SFPM number for the material and tools being used. Yep, it’s basics. But the basics are important. So get ready to review (or learn for the first time) on this episode of Making Chips. Here’s the outline of the conversation about corporate snapshots Making Chips is going on the road the summer of 2015. Why surface feet per minute is important for every machinist to understand. How to find the SFPM for the materials and tools you are using. The problems that can happen if you don’t understand SFPM. How a misunderstanding of Surface Feet Per Minute can cost your company. Calculating RPM for the material you are using. How do you know if you’ve calculated SFPM accurately? How Jim manages his employees regarding Surface Feet Per Minute. The risks of SFPM mismatches. Using the RPM to to calculate the feed rate based on the tool being used. How IPR (inches per revolution) relates to SFPM. The optimization of your workflow through proper use of SFPM in your shop. Training entry level machinists to properly calculate Surface Feet Per Minute. Links mentioned on this episode www.MakingChips.com - sign up for the Making Chips newsletter & podcast posts automatically (your information is never given to anyone else). You can leave a comment or add to the discussion on this episode by visiting http://www.MakingChips.com/23 Or call us at 312- 725-0245 Tweets you can use to tell others about the benefits of vending systems If you’re not making chips, you’re not making money If your machinists don’t know how to calculate surface feet per minute, you’re losing money Why is surface feet per minute (SFPM) such an important calculation for your job shop? How to find SFPM (surface feet per minute) in your machine shop. How do you know if you’ve calculated SFPM (surface feet per minute) accurately?

A corporate snapshot that has nothing to do with a camera! Shop owners know what they do because they do it every day. But how do you communicate your areas of specialty and expertise in a concise, powerful way so that your prospective clients are able to get it right off? That’s what a corporate snapshot is for. In this episode of Making Chips, Jim and Jason invite 3 guests into the study who specialize in helping businesses create their very own corporate snapshot. Their guests are Jule Poulos (a previous guest from episode 19 of Making Chips), Ray Ziganto (another previous guest - episode 18 of Making Chips), and Jon Baklund (yet another previous guest - Making Chips episode 21). Here’s a brief summary of 4 important questions that a corporate snapshot should answer: What we do as a company Who we are as a company Who we serve as a company Why we do what we do better When you’re able to clearly and accurately define and express those 4 key issues about your company you unlock the power to do a couple of very powerful things… You’re equipping your employees to become “sales people” through a clear vision of what you do as a company. You’re able to more quickly identify your target clients and engage them in relevant conversations about their needs. You’re better able to serve your clients through knowing exactly what your services can do to meet their needs. This episode of Making Chips is full of practical, powerful advice about why you need your own corporate snapshot and how you can develop one. Listen in to the conversation to get started on your own corporate snapshot! Here’s the outline of the conversation about corporate snapshots Introduction of the guests on this episode: Julie, Ray, and Jim. Metalworking tools. The number one tool in your toolbox - a corporate snapshot. The objective of a corporate snapshot. How a corporate snapshot is the “home” for your elevator pitch. 4 crucial components of a corporate snapshot - What we do - Who we are - Who we serve - Why we do it better. Defining each of those 4 points in order to determine your marketing approach and target your message. How a corporate snapshot empowers your employees to serve the customer. Links mentioned on this episode www.MakingChips.com - sign up for the Making Chips newsletter http://www.bi-link.com Tweets you can use to tell others about the benefits of vending systems The number one tool in your toolbox is a corporate snapshot. Find out more on this episode. A corporate snapshot empowers your employees to serve the customer. Do you know the 4 crucial components of a corporate snapshot? What is a corporate snapshot and why do you need one? On this episode of Making Chips Briefly and powerfully tell the who, what, why of your company with a corporate snapshot

Today Jason and Jim are coming to you from Chicago, the “Windy City!” They are there because they’re chatting with Jon Baklund, a veteran tool and die maker who started in the manufacturing industry when he was 19. His father still works in the shop daily, and his wife works in the business as well - so it’s a true “family” business. His business, Baklund R & D is heavily involved in #d printing, which is a very intriguing new aspect of the manufacturing industry. 3D printing is a newer technology that is truly going to be a game-changer in the manufacturing industry. It’s one of those things that old-school folks may feel an urge to resist but our advice is to jump on board the train because it’s going to be moving out! Jon Baklund has one 3D printer in his shop, an environmentally controlled device that allows him to make virtually any shape part with any interior shape imaginable. He says you have to “think from the inside-out” when it comes to 3D printing, and we agree. 3D printing machines on the scale Jon uses are pretty pricey - his machine cost his company right around $160,000.00. But he says it’s well worth it. The specialty niche it has enabled him to carve out for himself has been a huge benefit to the company and when others begin to get on board the “3D printing train” he will be one of the veterans in the space. We wrap up this episode with two “off topic” pieces that should give you some great value. Jon’s approach to the internet and social media activity from a business perspective (he’s great at it, so take some notes) How Jon and his wife are able to work together day in and day out without problems. Listen in… you’ll enjoy this episode of Making Chips! Here’s the outline of the episode Introduction of Jon Baklund. Manufacturing news - The U.S.A. is the “hotspot” for Aerospace manufacturing. A 3D printing overview - from the perspective of an end-user (Jon) How Jon is adding additional services to his company’s 3D printing The cost of materials used in a 3D printing machine - it’s comparatively inexpensive! Typical tolerance levels in 3D printing and how Jon is getting better tolerances through some custom modifications. Thinking from the inside-out in 3D printing. How Jon determines billing for 3D printing jobs. What kind of oversight does a 3D printer require? The importance of an environmentally controlled 3D printer. What is the cost of a good 3D printing machine? Jon’s approach to the internet and social media for business. How Jon and his wife are able to work together day after day in the business. Jim’s summary of his take-aways from this episode. Links mentioned on this episode www.MakingChips.com - sign up for the Making Chips newsletter Jon’s website - www.jonbaklund.com The work-holding device Jon has developed - www.jonbaklund.com/baklund-workholding-llc/ Tweets you can use to tell others about the benefits of vending systems The U.S.A. is the “hotspot” for Aerospace manufacturing. Find out more in today’s news segment You have to “think from the inside-out” when it comes to 3D printing Did you know you can add additional services to 3D printing to maximize profit? How 3D printing is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry: this episode of Making Chips 3D printing is the train of the future for manufacturing. Will you get on board? SOCIAL MEDIA BLURBS 3D printing machines on the scale Jon uses are pretty pricey - his machine cost his company right around $160,000.00. But he says it’s well worth it. The specialty niche it has enabled him to carve out for himself has been a huge benefit to the company and when others begin to get on board the “3D printing train” he will be one of the veterans in the space. Listen to this episode of Making Chips to hear Jon’s story. 3D printing is a newer technology that is truly going to be a game-changer in the manufacturing industry. It’s one of those things that old-school folks may feel an urge to resist but our advice is to jump on board the train because it’s going to be moving out! Jon Baklund has one 3D printer in his shop, an environmentally controlled device that allows him to make virtually any shape part with any interior shape imaginable. He says you have to “think from the inside-out” when it comes to 3D printing, and we agree. Hear Jon’s story on this episode of Making Chips.

This is a hot topic edition where Jim is asking Jason about vending systems for the machine shop. You may have the impression that vending machines are just for the huge companies that crank out bazillions of widgets every day. But is that true? You’re going to find out that and a ton more about machine shop vending systems in this episode of Making Chips. There are many misconceptions about vending systems and much resistance to the idea that a small shop could actually benefit from using them, but Jason Zenger knows better. He’s been able to place systems in a variety of settings, from small to large shops and has seen the benefit in even the smallest settings. The reason for that is simple: The cost for vending systems has dropped as the technology has increased, making the power of vending systems more affordable for the little guy. Vending systems also enable you to keep track of tool and supply usage, which in turn tells you which employees are using what items so that you can make more informed adjustments to your systems or procedures as needed. Just imagine the savings of ensuring that every part is being used to its fullest capacity! The major objectives of implementing a vending system in your shop: Reduction in Spending Increased Productivity Increased Profitability If it doesn’t make sense to you how those benefits come from installing and using a vending system in your shop, you need to listen in as Jason shares his experience as a representative for some vending system companies. What the guys have to say about vending systems in this episode... Major objectives of having a vending system in your shop - 3 powerful reasons. The history of modern vending systems for the machine shop. Aren’t vending systems geared more for huge manufacturers? How to use vending systems in a small machine shop. The sizes of vending machines and how to fit them into your shop. Partnering with someone to help you manage the vending system so it doesn’t take over your schedule. What types of supplies and tools can work with a vending system? The process of bringing on a vending system and the importance of your vending partner. Best practice software issues relating to your machine shop vending system. The increasing popularity of vending systems. 3 ways small companies can benefit from vending systems. Listener questions Jim and Jason are also happy to highlight questions from listeners on this episode. You can ask your question for this section of the podcast by call 1-312-725-0245 and leave your message on the recording. Here’s today’s questions: How important is it for a manufacturing company to have a clean, updated, and functional website? What are buyers looking for when searching for a new supplier? Links mentioned on this episode www.MakingChips.com - sign up for the Making Chips newsletter Something to look forward to… Making Chips is going on the road! Stay tuned for more details. Tweets you can use to tell others about the benefits of vending systems Machine shop vending systems for the little guys… it’s not only possible, it’s a reality. You don’t have to be a huge shop to afford and benefit from vending systems. Find out more in this episode. Track your supplies and tools more effectively, and keep more profit on the bottom line. Vending systems can reduce spending, increase productivity, and increase profit, even in small machine shops. Your machine shop can function more smoothly and profitably by using a vending system. Find out how in this episode.

In this episode, we interview Julie Poulos about the brand image of your manufacturing company and why strategy is most important. Being "the best kept secret" should NOT be your goal. Julie tells us why starting with a new website or a new logo is NOT the right first step. Marketing Steps: 1. Competitive Analysis 2. Interviews 3. Online Analytics 4. Influencer Identification (Defining Your Buyer Types) 5. Develop the Plan Jim and I want you to be equipped when you are having a discussion with a firm to help you with marketing or your e-Strategy. In our Manufacturing News segment, we discuss multiple articles that cite a slow down in business for the beginning of 2015. 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. Subscribe and Follow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakingChipsPodcast Twitter: http://twitter.com/Making_Chips Instagram: http://instagram.com/MakingChips Website: http://MakingChips.com

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