Manufacturing Happy Hour

When selecting talent for manufacturing roles, grades don’t matter nearly as much as hard work and talent. A's and B's are all very well, but a willingness to learn and the hunger to improve daily can’t be taught. Becoming a great engineer isn’t about knowing everything right out of the gate, it’s about figuring it out.

In this episode, we’re joined by Cody Myers, Jon Rauner, and Mick Yrkoski of Behlen Mfg. Co. Join us as we discuss Behlen’s approach to hiring, their relationship with the wider community in Columbus, Nebraska, and their “pay-it-forward” mentality.

Behlen’s approach to development, which includes tiered meetings, profit-sharing initiatives, and partnering with local colleges, has helped them continue to grow and progress since their inception almost ninety years ago.

In this episode, find out:

• Why metal-forming and manufacturing is still an art
• Behlen has a personal connection to the community and culture of Nebraska – they value their employees as names rather than numbers
• How, at Behlen, the focus is on balancing today's tasks with long-term success, valuing sustainable decisions over immediate profits
• Why Behlen values hard work and drive over great grades and talent
• Why a pay-it-forward mentality is vital for nurturing the next generation of talent, especially with apprenticeship programs and partnerships with local colleges
• The reason maintenance teams are the ‘rockstars’ of the manufacturing world
• Three-tiered meetings allow an organization to foster alignment across different levels of the company and enhance decision-making
• The overlooked importance of culture at manufacturing firms and why people are the key
• The different opportunities in manufacturing that people don't talk about or don't see – whether that’s opportunities in HR, IT, or accountancy

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “We still view metal as an art.” - Cody Myers
• “One of our global values is continuous learning.” - Cody Myers
• “I would take a technician anytime that has drive and aspires to be better over somebody that knows the answer and doesn’t have to do the research.” - Mick Yrkoski

Links & mentions:

• Behlen Manufacturing, a steel fabrication company
• Industrial Solutions Network, a network of manufacturing technology companies providing the collective information, technology, tools and services to manufacturing communities
• Central Community College, a multi-campus community college serving a 25-county area in central Nebraska

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

AI skepticism – much like AI itself – is here to stay, whether we like it or not. While getting buy-in can be difficult, and deploying it as a solution within a company is even harder, the key thing to remember is that AI, like any new tool, must address a pain point. The only way folks will be persuaded as to its use will be when it solves a problem that was previously thought unsolvable.

In this episode, we are joined by Adam Gluck, the CEO and Founder of Copia Automation. Join us as we explore the problems that AI is solving, why a customer-centric culture is so key to developing useful products, and the need for Silicon Valley to overlap with industries that have existed for over two hundred years.

The problem-first mindset is one that’s helped Copia evolve since July 2020 and navigate hype cycles in tech. What’s more, by keeping users front of mind, they can use AI as a “painkiller” rather than a “vitamin”. This means Copia create proactive, targeted solutions that deliver value where it matters most.

In this episode, find out:

• Adam shares his career path, including his work for Uber and his sociology undergraduate degree
• Why it is harder for graduates to get software engineering jobs
• How, in engineering, a self-taught approach can be less restrictive when learning new approaches or facing new problems
• Hiring smart people is often the most important step in solving hard problems
• Copia has evolved since July 2020, and the key to this has been their market understanding, adoption, activation, and backup and disaster recovery
• How DevOps AI for the software space has transformed the way software gets written
• Adam chose to move to New York from San Francisco because of the large number of seed rounds, proximity to venture capital and large amount of talent
• How the current enthusiasm for industrialization and manufacturing among venture capitalists and young companies will persist long-term

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “I want to build something people can use every single day as part of their standard workflow and that solves material problems for them.”
• “DevOps AI for the software space has transformed the way software gets written.”
• “Ultimately, you can try and solve things with processes organization, but you're going to actually solve problems with really smart people.”

Links & mentions:

• Copia Automation, bringing modern DevOps tooling to industrial automation, standardizing processes to drive quality, efficiency, and uptime at scale
• Reindustrialize, a summit exploring how technology will shape the future of the US industrial base
• American Dynamism, part of a16z, investing in founders and companies supporting the national interest: aerospace, defense, safety, education, and manufacturing
• Founders Fund, a San Francisco based venture capital firm organized by Peter Thiel and others, investing in companies building revolutionary technologies
• General Catalyst, a global investment and transformation company that partners with the world’s most ambitious entrepreneurs to drive resilience and applied AI
• Construct Capital, an early stage venture capital firm, investing in founders who are reimagining the foundational industries of our economy
• Dante NYC, legendary circa-1915 cafe serving small plates & cocktails in an updated historic setting in New York City’s West Village
• Lobby Bar at the Chelsea Hotel, high-end cocktail bar inside of NYC’s Chelsea Hotel offering seasonal cocktails, artfully prepared plates, and late-night hours

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

We’ve all been guilty of taking energy for granted at some point, from mindlessly flicking on light switches to filling up our cars on the way to work. We may grumble about the costs, but when was the last time you really thought about where it all comes from?

The availability of energy is something that affects us all, and leaders in the industry are calling for a re-envisioned future. In this episode, we sit down with Michelle Jordan from TECHMAR, Gakuo Ndonga of WD Bearings, and Meaghan Ziemba, host of Mavens of Manufacturing. Recorded live at the Empowering Pumps & Industry Conference, we dive into what it truly means to re-envision energy for the future.

Key themes from our conversation include challenging traditional ways of thinking, spreading awareness, and the importance of collaboration. The secret to innovation in energy isn’t just about new tech (although that’s important), it’s also about bringing fresh voices into the conversation. But as we see across manufacturing, it’s not always easy to sell younger generations on a future career in energy. So we look at what industry leaders can do to communicate and spark excitement to keep energy ticking.

In this episode, find out:

• What does it mean to re-envision energy? Meaghan, Michelle, and Gakuo all share their perspectives and career stories
• Why we need to avoid taking energy for granted and remember that it’s a valuable, scarce resource
• How maintenance and reliability are handled in the energy industry
• How leaders can talk to their customers about re-envisioning operations
• Changes in the workforce and how this can drive innovation for energy
• Gakuo shares a story of a tour he took in an experimental mine that had a classroom in it
• How industry leaders can communicate with others about the energy industry to drive excitement and awareness
• The trick to getting more comfortable sharing your stories to tell others about your career
• Advice for businesses on communicating with educators and young people and why a new approach is needed for a new generation
• Why it’s so important to find your passion and communicate that well
• How focusing on relatable everyday items can help you to communicate the value of working in energy
• Why continuous learning is key and the importance of approaching everything from a student perspective

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “We have to treat energy as a very valuable resource that's not always there. And the way we do that is by bringing people together. People have to be excited to be in this industry to keep energy going.” – Gakuo Ndonga
• "We all have to be advocates for this industry... If you have a really cool story, or if you know of a really cool story, share that with everyone." – Meaghan Ziemba
• "Looking forward to the future, the direction we are headed, the infrastructure that is being built, clean energy, renewable energy, carbon capture—those things are our future." – Michelle Jordan

Links & mentions:

• Mavens of Manufacturing, a live video series that celebrates women in manufacturing
• WD Bearings, manufacturers of high-quality bearings that specializes in tech, manufacturing, and research
• TECHMAR, epoxy grout manufacturers that specializes in protecting equipment from vibrations
• Empowering Pumps & Industry Conference, a conference that connects industry leaders and insights on workforce development, leadership and innovation

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Manufacturing is a key industry that can revitalize communities, but what about in more rural locations? How do smaller communities compete with the big cities for talent, innovation, investment and growth? We head to Northeast Nebraska for this episode to speak with Angie Stenger, the Executive Director of Northeast Nebraska Growing Together – an initiative to transform the regional economy and population growth.

From scholarship programs to a new innovation hub and the creation of a vibrant downtown scene, Norfolk is redefining what it means to live and work in a rural community. Angie shares insights on their unique "Growing Together Scholarship," which partners with Wayne State College to offer students not just education, but also housing and a full year of internship experience with local businesses. This not only provides valuable skills to students but also allows companies to "test drive" potential employees.

But it's not all work and no play in Norfolk. The city has invested in quality-of-life improvements that rival big city amenities, including a Whitewater Park for river surfing, an amphitheater for festivals, and a thriving arts scene. The goal? To make Northeast Nebraska a magnet for young professionals and families.

In this episode, find out:

• Angie shares some backstory on the resurgence of downtown Norfolk
• The purpose of Northeast Nebraska Growing Together and how it’s helping to “repopulate Northeast Nebraska”
• How the local community is investing in facilities including attractions, art, and local facilities to attract families
• Angie explains how their partnership with Wayne State College enabled them to build a great scholarship program
• Why Northeast Nebraska is leading the way with its Growing Together initiative
• What to expect from Northeast Nebraska’s upcoming innovation hub
• How Angie’s organization works closely with local businesses and manufacturers to find out what they need from talent
• Angie explains what manufacturing and bedrock companies mean to the region and shares examples of innovative tech and companies leading the way
• Raising awareness and interest in manufacturing as a career path through the Growing Together initiative
• How Growing Together is measuring success in both the short and long-term
• Angie’s advice to other regions that might want to adopt a similar model of collaboration

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “We're in the middle of the country. This is Nebraska. And we know that if one town succeeds, all the towns around succeed. And so we want to make sure that we're raising all the tides for everyone in the state, but we're starting here in Northeast Nebraska.”
• “I think in Nebraska, we figure out how to make the things we need and then when the rest of the world sees it, we just figure out how to make it for everybody else.”
• “If we can show that, "hey, this is an okay place to live," hopefully they'll stay.”

Links & mentions:

• Growing Together Northeast Nebraska, an Aksarben workforce initiative; this plan outlines the proactive transformation of Northeast Nebraska’s regional economy and population growth. At its essence, the plan pairs entrepreneurs with investment capital and students to redesign a workforce that can compete in a knowledge-based economy.
• The Aksarben Foundation, proudly recognizing individuals and families with strong Nebraska values since 1895, and helping develop the leaders of tomorrow through education, scholarships, career training, community grants, and increasing access to opportunities in Nebraska
• Angie’s evening bar crawl across downtown Norfolk, NE includes Bar A for appetizers, Fifth Street Tavern for cocktails, and the Green Light Great Night for live music
• District Table and Tap, once the historic Elkhorn Hotel, this 100-year-old building has been restored to house a restaurant with a great beer selection in Norfolk, NE
• Divots Brewery Taproom, beer handcrafted in small batches using American-grown, Midwestern barley and northwestern hops with a taproom location in downtown Norfolk, NE

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Have you ever stopped to think about what goes into getting your favorite Kwik Trip products onto your table?

In this episode, we explore the impressive vertical integration model that Kwik Trip uses, a strategy that allows them to maintain almost complete control over their supply chain. Paul Blank, Director of Operations, and Scott Schiebel, Automation Manager, share insights on how this approach not only enhances quality and food safety but also helps the company navigate supply chain challenges that have become all too common in recent years.

Kwik Trip’s commitment to vertical integration means they handle everything from manufacturing to distribution in-house. With five major food production facilities and their own trucking operations, they can ensure that products like milk and baked goods are delivered fresh to stores—sometimes in less than 24 hours! The episode highlights the crucial role of automation in streamlining these processes, including ingredients prep and order fulfillment.

You’ll also hear how Kwik Trip prioritizes its workforce despite the big focus on automation. Paul and Scott emphasize that automation is not about replacing jobs but enhancing operations to meet rising demand.

In this episode, find out:

• Paul and Scott give us a quick overview of what Kwik Trip is
• Why Kwik Trip uses a vertical integration model and its impact on logistics and supply chain issues
• How using automation makes vertical integration a powerful strategy
• An overview of some of the more recent facilities set up at Kwik Trip and how they’ve improved operations
• Why Kwik Trip is a great example of a company using digital transformation to refine production and distribution
• How the team at Kwik Trip makes decisions on production types such as batch and continuous processes
• How automation has impacted the people behind the process and why it doesn’t mean that anyone loses a job
• Why predictive maintenance is essential for keeping plants running smoothly
• How operations leaders collaborate within Kwik Trip
• How Kwik Trip decides what to produce in-house vs. outsource to other manufacturers
• The process behind building the right tech for each production line and why everything starts with food safety
• How Kwik Trip’s food innovation team maintains great quality and tests out new ideas for feasibility
• How the company collaborates and seeks out vendors and OEMs to work with
• Tips for any manufacturers considering the vertical integration model
• Kwik Trip’s approach to training, hiring and retaining great talent
• Some stats on the impressive numbers of products that come off the Kwik Trip production lines

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “We make it. We ship it. We sell it. This allows us to control pricing that's best for our guest. It also allows us to manage quality and food safety.” – Paul Blank
• "Our maintenance staff has a CMMS program, and they are diligent about PMs and staying on top of the equipment in terms of the routine needs. And that pays dividends long term since there's less unexpected downtime." – Scott Schiebel
• "Automation really is part of our growth pattern. There isn't a project that we take on without evaluating whether or not automation fits or how it may fit. It doesn't mean we automate everything, but where we do, Kwik Trip grows as a whole." – Paul Blank

Links & mentions:

• Kwik Trip, a popular chain of convenience stores located throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

We talk a lot about the skills gap on this podcast, but this episode paints an optimistic picture of what the manufacturing world can achieve when we come together. Partnerships between industry and education are so important because without the right education and exposure to manufacturing, the skills gap could continue to grow.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Josh Gamer, Dean of the Integrated Technology Division at Western Technical College, and Kris Gengler, Education Foundation Manager at Ashley Furniture, to talk through the important intersection between education and manufacturing.

Ashley Furniture and Western Technical College have an amazing partnership and work closely together to find ways to educate, inspire, and prepare the next generation of manufacturers. We cover a lot in this episode – from why Western Wisconsin is such a manufacturing hub to the upcoming Wanek Center of Innovation at Western Technical College and what it will mean for manufacturing businesses and students.

Kris and Josh share their predictions on the industry, talk about apprenticeships, and the type of skills and technology that future manufacturers will get to learn at places like Western Technical College. 

In this episode, find out:

• What makes manufacturing in Western Wisconsin so special and important to the region
• The types of manufacturing that Western Wisconsin specializes in and how the area manages to attract and retain talent  
• What Western Technical College’s Wanek Center of Innovation will mean for manufacturers and why it’s been a group effort between education and industry
• What Ashley Furntiure and local education institutions learned from a group trip to Germany to visit manufacturers and trade shows
• Why you need to be willing to look outside your immediate bubble and learn from others
• Josh lists some of the different ways students and manufacturers will benefit from the new Center
• Why we need to talk to younger kids about manufacturing to plant the seed early
• How Western Technical College’s apprenticeship programs have evolved
• Josh does some podcast shoutouts to organizations he’s partnered with

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “If you want to understand how you're truly doing, you have to open your eyes and be willing to look outside. Go to a different state. Consider another country. Visit other manufacturers, other educational institutions because if you don't do that, you do run the risk of falling behind.” – Dr. Josh Gamer
• “Manufacturing here in Western Wisconsin, you have people who are very hardworking, very smart, and they have a drive to succeed and they continue to want to learn, to expand, and to find a better way.” – Kris Gengler
• “When those businesses are successful, it's keeping the money within an area. And that's really what manufacturing does for an area. And when it does that, it, it enhances everything. It enhances healthcare, it enhances distribution, it enhances education. It just creates a whole lot of good for an area.” – Kris Gengler 

Links & mentions:

• Western Technical College, leading institution in Western Wisconsin, Western Technical College prepares students for hands-on careers with a focus on technology and manufacturing
• Ashley Furniture, one of the world’s largest furniture makers, Ashley Furniture combines innovation with craftsmanship to create products for homes everywhere
• Ronald and Joyce Wanek Foundation, this foundation, created by the Wanek family, supports STEM education and community growth through impactful initiatives
• La Crosse Bierhaus, a cozy spot in La Crosse serving authentic German beers and food in a fun, Bavarian-inspired atmosphere

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Are you leveraging all the resources in the local manufacturing community? Connecting with local, state, and federal support can open doors to growth and collaboration.

Recorded live at CBT Company's More Than MFG Expo, this episode dives into programs like AMIP, TechCred, JobsOhio, and Women in Manufacturing (WIM), spotlighting resources for funding, recruitment, training, and more.

In this episode, find out:

• Will on AMIP’s proactive support for the manufacturing community
• AMIP’s advice for collaboration-driven success
• Benefits of connecting with other companies, educators, and organizations
• Fabian on JobsOhio’s role in building manufacturing careers
• How JobsOhio has improved funding processes
• Why Fabian prefers "return on engagement" over "investment"
• Government-backed incentives for solar power investments
• Allison on Women in Manufacturing’s mission to connect women with employers
• REDI Cincinnati’s role in linking manufacturers to resources
• CBT Company’s support in leveraging resources
• Elise’s call for manufacturers to collaborate locally
• Why Cincinnati’s manufacturing community is so strong

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Links & mentions:

• CBT Company, representing hundreds of the best-known brands in the industry for automation, electrical, mechanical power transmission, and custom belting products
• AMIP, southwestern Ohio’s Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnerships is a registered nonprofit focused on workforce
• TechCred Ohio, helping Ohioans learn new skills and helps employers build a stronger workforce with the skills needed in tech
• Good Jobs Challenge, supporting regional workforce training systems to place workers in good jobs
• JobsOhio, since its establishment in 2011, they have boosted innovation, driven job creation, and increased new capital investment in Ohio
• Women in Manufacturing, a national association dedicated to supporting, promoting and inspiring women in all manufacturing roles
• REDI Cincinnati, connecting businesses in Greater Cincinnati with the data, partners, and resources needed to make the best decision for your company
• Third Eye Brewing, a Cincinnati-based award-winning brewery that believes in lots of experimentation, also serving as the location for many of this week’s interviews; other favorite breweries in Cincinnati: Wandering Monster, Fifty West, Rhinegeist, and the massive Zinzinnati Oktoberfest celebration

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Did you know your last meal might have been picked and packed by a robot? With a gaping hole in the labor market in food manufacturing, it seems inevitable. But while food manufacturers are crying out for more staff, some companies like Chef Robotics are offering a solution that’ll leave them hungry for more.

Rajat Bhageria, Founder & CEO of Chef Robotics, joins this episode to talk about how his company uses robotics and AI to fill in the gap in the labor market, while also offering high-mix manufacturing abilities to customers in food manufacturing.

Starting out in stealth mode, Chef Robotics has steadily perfected its product in collaboration with customers and real-world feedback. We hear about the strategy behind the company’s aims to scale in the assembly stage of manufacturing rather than branching out into the restaurant space.

In this episode, find out:

• What Rajat learned from his previous tech company about using AI
• An origin story to Chef Robotics and why Rajat chose to focus on the pain points in food manufacturing
• Why Rajat decided to launch Chef Robotics in stealth mode until recently
• We debate whether you need to be an expert in your niche to succeed in it
• How Rajat positioned Chef Robotics to customers and investors, focusing on pain points and larger companies
• We hear how Chef Robotics works and offers the flexibility that high-mix manufacturing
• Rajat shares his predictions on the future of AI
• What Rajat has learned from other automation businesses and competitors
• Why Rajat isn’t working on automation from restaurants and is instead happy to stick to his niche for now
• Rajat shares predictions on the future of food manufacturing and how restaurants will become a place to appreciate human artistry

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• "The biggest pain point is labor shortage... It's actually the number one labor shortage in the US, with over 1.1 million people that companies are looking to hire."
• “If you're starting a company, you should find a problem statement which is so pressing that your customers are willing to work with you to get there.”
• “AI gets better over time. And that's what allows us to be flexible without custom. You could build custom hardware or custom software per ingredient. You could do that, but that's not really scalable.”

Links & mentions:

• Chef Robotics, robotics-as-a-service company transforming food production with flexible robots and AI
• Chef Robotics Link to Chat, how to get in touch with Chef Robotics
• Chef Robotics Case Studies, use cases showcasing their system in action

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

What happens when you pair the rich culinary culture of Kansas City with the traditional brewing methods of German beer?

KC Bier Co. was founded by Steve Holle, whose love of German beer, his heritage, time spent in the country, and passion for craft brewing were the perfect recipe for starting a traditional German brewery in the heart of Kansas City. He joined this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour as part of our MADE HERE series, created in partnership with ISN, the Industrial Solutions Network, which features stories from the region’s most important industrial operations.

Steve takes us on a journey through the history of German brewing techniques and why he adopts the same traditions that have served German beer lovers for centuries. While Steve wasn’t always in the brewing business, he cultivated his passion for years before finally opening the doors to KC Bier Co. and explains why he decided to focus on the niche of German beer.

We swap beer stories, discuss the most underrated German beers, and talk about the impact breweries like KC Bier Co. are having on the bustling culinary scene in Kansas City. There are some great insights in this episode for manufacturers on the power of specializing rather than trying to be everything to everyone, plus much more.

In this episode, find out:

• Steve explains how he first fell in love with German beer due to his heritage and a semester spent in Germany
• Why KC Bier Co. follows “Reinheitsgebot” methods, the German beer purity law that meant beer could only be made with specific ingredients
• Steve explains what led up to his starting KC Bier Co. and how his plans to become a craft brewer started long ago
• The most underrated styles of German beer and how they compare to American lagers
• How Kansas City’s rich culinary scene ties perfectly into the growing brewery scene
• What the community interaction with competitor brewers and customers has been like for KC Bier Co.
• What Steve wished more people knew about KC’s food and drinks culture
• Steve shares his advice for starting a new venture later in life

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “Respect what you're doing and make sure you do it well rather than just thinking, ‘oh, that sounds like something fun I'd like to do.’”
• “I think craft brewing is not so much about being everything to everybody, but it's having a passion for something that you're doing and trying to be the best at that niche that you want to work in.”
• “Some people question why we don't make stouts and everything else. And I think by focusing on something so specific, we actually bring more variety to the beer drinkers in Kansas City because no one else really does what we do.”

Links & mentions:

• KC Bier Co., Brewer of German-style bier using only water, yeast, and all-imported German malt and hops with a Bavarian-style bierhalle and biergarten in Kansas City, MO

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Fresh off the heels of IMTS in Chicago, the largest manufacturing show in North America, host Chris Luecke invites Nick Haase, Co-Founder of MaintainX, onto the show to discuss how maintenance leaders and frontline workers can drive digital transformation. 

Nick gives us a run-down on his background and how his experiences have contributed to creating an intuitive CMMS and EAM platform. The conversation explores how digitizing maintenance departments can not only facilitate broader digital transformation but also capture invaluable tribal knowledge from an aging workforce. This knowledge transfer is essential as companies prepare the next generation of workers to embrace high-tech solutions.

Nick and Chris also explore the role of AI in enhancing operational efficiency, emphasizing how executives and frontline leaders must collaborate to harness its potential, from making manufacturing more appealing to the younger generation to leveraging data for smarter decisions.

In this episode, find out:

• Meet Nick Haase: Co-Founder of MaintainX
• Why frontline workers are the key link between high-tech equipment and peak operational efficiency
• Nick provides a detailed look at his ‘non-typical’ career journey and how he built MaintainX
• How moving from pen and paper onto digital platforms tie into a digital transformation
• Why you’re only as good as your best plant manager if you don’t invest in data
• How AI is helping make sure the transition to the next work generation is as seamless as possible
• What causes Nick to think differently than other people in the manufacturing industry
• Who's ready for AI in the manufacturing world in this day and age

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “AI in manufacturing isn't a magic solution—it's a powerful tool that requires high-quality, company-specific data to drive real efficiency gains and smooth workforce transitions.”
• “You've got this great installation of this incredible software process, but if you aren't considering how that final frontline worker is going to receive that input and deliver data input back into the system, then you're missing the point.”
• "I was surprised to learn that even at a Fortune 50 manufacturing company, many were still primarily following analog processes on the plant floor."

Links & mentions:

• MaintainX, CMMS and EAM software that prevents downtime, reduces maintenance costs, and delivers the #1 technician experience

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.