In this episode of Irregardless, Shep sits down with Jim Vinoski, President of Cosgrove Content and Consulting, host and founder of the Manufacturing Talks podcast and web show, and a longtime Forbes contributor focused on the manufacturing space. After decades spent working across the industry, Jim has turned his attention to consulting and writing, sharing insights on the future of manufacturing, the trends he’s seeing, and the challenges that need addressing.

Their conversation covers why it’s so important for the United States to stay at the top when it comes to manufacturing, and how slipping from that position is directly tied to the growing skilled trades worker shortage. Jim explains what it will really take to mobilize and close that gap, why this issue goes beyond economics and into national security territory, and what his “magic wand fix” would be if he could change one thing in the industry today. The two also get personal, swapping thoughts on parenting in today’s tech-heavy world and the impact of growing up with constant access to screens.

This is a wide-ranging and eye-opening episode with someone who brings decades of experience and a refreshingly honest take on what the manufacturing industry really needs.