EECO Asks Why Podcast

What a ride Ashleigh Walters takes us on as she details the amazing journey she's been able to lead as President of Onex in Erie, PA.  When she took the reigns the company had lost its family centric values and she recognized that to succeed in the future change was needed. It was her approach to leading change that makes her a phenomenal leader.  The core of the change was establishing a culture that embraced the freedom to fail.  By empowering the team to think outside the box the tide started to make a shift in the right direction.

Ashleigh unpacks servant leadership and what that means to her. Her PB&J sandwich analogy is a great way to explain the concept and meeting people wherever they are is the key.  She embraces a coaching methodology and how that shift from traditional manufacturing management style is key to growth.  The days of command and control is over and by utilizing a coaching strategy she was able to make a significant shift in company culture which has led to amazing results.

This idea episode is chocked full of wisdom and insight that has a real world example backing it the entire way.  Onex is now employee owned and their culture is something manufacturers dream about.  As Ashleigh so eloquently likes to say, it's all about grit, determination, resilience and persistence but then remember to lead with grace which embraces empathy and compassion.  This is an extremely powerful and inspiring conversation that you do not want to miss. 

Guest: Ashleigh Walters - President of Onex

Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

Leading with Grit and Grace: A Journey in Organizational Culture Change

Mike Caccia has been serving industry for 35 years and it all started engraving legend plates at a panel shop. From there his journey took him to the world of manufacturing and then working for one of the largest electrical automation companies in the world.  Mike's advice to those wanting to pursue a career in industry is to never stop learning. Don't let the learning stop when you receive the diploma or certification.  He also speaks to the importance of mentors and how he's been able to pour into others in the pursuit of their personal best over the years.

Mike is a family man and lit up when he spoke about his new grandson Miles. Finally, Mike shares his Why and points out that his faith and family are most important in his life.  We tip our hat to this hero of industry and know you'll be inspired by his story. 

Guest: Mike Caccia - Industrial Territory Sales Engineer at Schneider Electric

Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

Imagine a world of manufacturing where business models such as Amazon and Uber collide.  That's exactly what is happening at Xometry and in this episode, Greg Paulsen explains how he's leading the way, connecting manufacturers with new opportunities with a unique approach. 

As manufacturing continues to grow different needs arise for engineered parts in both testing and development.  Knowing how to get those parts made can be a hurdle particularly when you are trying to align capabilities to a need. Xometry's solution engineers locate resources with the CNC, 3D printing, and additive manufacturing technologies to meet their customer's needs and get the parts manufactured to specification.

The resource for shops is extremely powerful as well.  Many shops are talented in their craft and keeping the pipeline full of potential projects can be a hurdle. This simplifies that process for them and is an efficient way of identifying what projects align well with their capabilities which ultimately will keep their people and machines working.

This is an exciting idea episode and Greg has a passion for the industry and helping shops all across the country grow in the future. 

Guest: Greg Paulsen - Director Of Application Engineering at Xometry

Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

Check out Xometry's 3D printing service and CNC machining service today.

Xometry website

Learning, teaching and helping others succeed is the passion that drives our hero Dan Carnovale.  He's had an amazing journey and shares with us how his path has landed where he leads Eaton's Power Systems Experience Center.  From a concept to actual reality Dan has seen it all and the PSEC is a bucket list item for many in engineering.  The experience will have you in awe and be careful as there may even be a thunderstorm inside with trees falling to simulate what happens during an outage.  That's the level of creativity and passion Dan has for teaching others and he's a true innovator in industry. 

Dan has worked closely with marketing during his time at Eaton and speaks to how that has impacted him as an engineer.  He's a phenomenal communicator and his willingness to try new avenues has created wonderful ways for others to learn about the exciting world of power.  He's creating new ways to reach the next generation and some of the video's he's been a part of should receive an academy award!

Dan opened up to what he enjoys when he's not at the PSEC.  He's an avid outdoorsman and loves spending time with his 5 kids.  He's even had the opportunity to have his daughter be part of several videos explaining cool power concepts.  Dan Carnovale is full of passion and has a gift of teaching others very complex topics in ways they can understand.  We are all blessed to have this hero serving the electrical industry to the level he is and again a trip to the PSEC in Pittsburg is a box everyone should check!

Guest: Dan Carnovale - Director, Eaton Experience Centers

Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

Resources:
Empires of Light
Pat McManus Books

Coming into a new industry can be intimidating especially if the terminology used is new.  Think about some of the acronyms you hear at businesses such as doctors or financial services.  The same gap exists for those new to industry and the world of power can be equally as confusing.  Jonathan Fuller does a great job of breaking down some of the most commonly used terms in power to give everyone a solid foundation of understanding. 

By focusing on the one-line Jonathan walks us through the different items that are generally found in industrial settings.  Knowing the difference in switchgear, switchboard and panelboard is an easy area that trips people up.  Have no fear as he points out how to take the fundamental understandings of drawings and correlate that to what you see in front of you.  If you've ever been tripped up by hearing someone say draw out breakers this is the episode for you. 

Jonathan covers terminology terms that maintenance use when discussing this type of equipment.  The world of power is exciting and Jonathan's passion for sharing his knowledge is helping many people grow in their own development.  Taking the time to understand the language of the industries you're in is important and helps create alignment and most importantly keeps everyone safe.

Guest: Jonathan Fuller - Automation & Power Product Manager at Electrical Equipment Company (EECO)

Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

A big thank you to all of the guests we have had this season. 

We look forward to all the episodes that are going to come in season 5, but we can't forget about the incredible stories that we have listened to before. Season 4 was packed with so many awesome guests discussing ideas and topics that really make an impact. Everything from technical devices and applications, marketing, building relationships, and the accomplishments of the guests. 

Our team at EECO is proud to continue this podcast and spotlight even more heroes that keep our industry going. 

Mike Cromheecke has quite a story and opens up about his amazing journey through industry.  He began his career at Rockwell and had the opportunity to travel the world supporting some of the most technical problems in industry.  Mike had several great opportunities at Rockwell before he founded Steamchain.io  As the CEO he is constantly searching for ways to create value for the clients he serves.  He loves focusing on helping others achieve their desired results and creating clarity between everyone involved.

Mike does a great job of describing manufacturing and completely debunks the idea that it's a dirty industry.  He lives in high-tech and advanced world of automation and can speak with authority on how bright the future truly is.  To him engineering is the greatest profession and he's advocating that it gets the recognition it deserves. 

Mike enjoys doing construction projects outside of work at his home.  He's also a new dad and is loving every minute he gets with his son, Albert.  Mike's learning guitar as well and is trying to add that skillset to his list of talents.  As you hear Mike talk about his journey you'll quickly pick up on his passion.  He's a phenomenal leader and is hands down an amazing hero of industry! 

Guest: Mike Cromheecke, Co-Founder and CEO of SteamChain.io

Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Editor: Andi Thrower

Steamchain.io Website

If you ever get the chance to start up a variable frequency drive (VFD) it could be intimidating.  They are complex devices and with high voltage and current comes risk if you aren't familiar with the technology. Chase Boehlke does a great job explaining what you should know if you are ever in this position.  He breaks down how to start this process and why verifying wiring is critical to success.  From power to control to grounding all bases should be covered before applying power. 

Having the right equipment is key to any job and Chase explains the must have items that anyone needs to get through the startup.  From there he explains the basic parameters that must be known to begin the process of commissioning and reviews the process tuning that can be an area that trips people up.  Chase also covers what steps should be taken whenever a motor has to be changed out that is on a VFD.  Re-tuning the drive to the new motor is critical and ensures the system is set up for maximum efficiency and reliability. 

Chase also covers common faults that may be seen by those working with VFD's and what to do when they occur.  Faults are opportunities to learn and he sheds tons of light on areas to consider when walking through the troubleshooting.  This episode is full of practical advice that can help anyone advance in their core skillset around VFD technology. 

Guest: Chase Boehlke - Motion Controls Specialist at Siemens

Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Audio/Video Editor: Andi Thrower

Resource:
What to consider with a VFD startup - EECO Inspire Blog 

Find your passion and make it your purpose! That's Tim Wilborne's advice to those that want to make an impact in the world.  In this hero conversation Tim walks us through his amazing journey from working in his dads machine shop to now owning one of the most successful UL 508A shops in the country. Tim is quick to point out that his path wasn't always easy.  When he and his wife Amber decided to start TW Controls they both walked away from their steady jobs and went all in on their dream.  That's a bold step to take and even more bold since Amber was 7 months pregnant with their first child.  That in itself shows the passion they have for industry. 

Many people know Tim from his work on YouTube and social media.  He focuses on teaching others about automation related topics and has grown their following to over 26K on YouTube alone.  He is intentional about creating consistent, top-notch content and hence the following grows daily.  While this isn't tied to a direct revenue stream he has such a heart for helping others he keeps this a priority and listens to viewer feedback for new ideas.

Tim also shares about his family and how he's challenged his kids with a project to teach them life skills during the pandemic.  That project - restoring a 1947 Plymouth on their own.  For a 12 and 14 year old this is the type of project that will make a huge impact on them as individuals and at the end they'll have a cool finished product to be proud of.

Simply put Tim Wilborne has a passion for life and is helping people find their own passions through the material he is creating.  Both he and Amber have amazing hearts and they both are heroes of industry.  This conversation was fun, exciting and no doubt will bless those that listen to his advice and choose to make their own path! 

Guest: Tim Wilborne - Industrial Sorcerer at TW Controls

Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Audio/Video Editor: Andi Thrower

Resources:

• http://www.plctalk.net/qanda/forumdisplay.php?f=2
• https://www.reddit.com/r/PLC/
• twcontrols.com
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_YccYdH0DBFp2ah0QuJ1lQ
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/twcontrols/

Is your industrial network reliable? Have you considered how it may be affecting your bottom line?  Do you know where to start looking to identify risk areas?  These are very common situations for many manufacturers and in this episode K Sorsenginh walks us through items to consider within the industrial network to improve performance, enhance reliability and consistently move process critical data.  K breaks down the different components that exist in an industrial network and items to consider for improvements.  There are small items that he points out which make a huge impact such as ensure the communication cabling is being routed properly.

K explains the differences in media and breaks down Cat 5, Cat6 and even Cat 7.  Switches and hubs are explained as well and for those in industrial settings going to Best Buy is not the right choice.  All of the items working in concert with each other affect the network performance.  If latency, speed or data loss is affecting your process the first step is evaluating the network from the beginning. 

Finally, K covers fundamental areas of security and explains how a network assessment can be a great way to understand the current layout and potential areas of risk.  This episode is packed full of wisdom and insight that will help anyone wanting to learn more about industrial networks.

Guest: K. Sorsenginh - Solution Architect at Electrical Equipment Company (EECO)

Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Audio/Video Editor: Andi Thrower

Resources:
What to Consider with Industrial Networks - EECO Inspire Blog
Industrial Networks 101 - EECO Inspire Blog
Quick Guide to Network Media - EECO Inspire Blog