Manufacturing Happy Hour

Most successful manufacturing processes start with some sort of roadmap, designed to outline goals and what you need to reach them.

But how do you create a roadmap for an all-new, one-of-a-kind project? 

Brian Donahue, VP of Corporate Affairs at Canvus, says his roadmap creation consisted of commitment and creativity, not to mention a hard-working procurement team. 

Brian joins Manufacturing Happy Hour to share the incredible story of Canvus and how they repurpose disused wind turbine blades into functional art for public use, such as benches, tables and planters. He tells us how the company began, outlines their mission and provides expert tips for manufacturing leaders embarking on groundbreaking projects. 

In this episode, find out: 

• How Canvus upcycles wind turbine parts to create functional products such as park benches, tables and planters 
• Brian explains how he created a roadmap for a never-done-before manufacturing process and provides advice for those looking to do the same 
• Why having the right procurement team, spending time on ideation and finding a suitable facility are the most important things when planning a brand-new manufacturing process 
• Brian shares advice on how he identified standards and best practices despite never embarking on such a project before 
• Brian tells us the number one leadership trait he looks for in new hires and explains his interview process 
• We ask Brian whether Ohio is a hub for his sort of work, or whether Canvus’ location is based around convenience 
• Brian says manufacturing leaders should be willing to pay above market price for resources when they embark on a custom product 
• Brian explains how he collaborates with local artists and shares how you can get a Canvus project installed near you  

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: 

• “You need strong leadership that’s going to drive people, not give them a crutch, but actually make them better.” 
• “The marketing team calls (Canvus) a brand, but I go lofty on them and call it a movement.” 
• “Having the right people is going to get you so much further, faster, than just trying to fill slots on a manufacturing floor.” 

Links & mentions: 

• Canvus, a manufacturer that uses retired wind turbine blades to build new functional art pieces 
• Great Lakes Brewing, Ohio’s original craft brewery, serving 14 states and Washington D.C. with fresh, innovative, award-winning beers 
• Connect with Brian on LinkedIn 

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. 

Frontline operations platforms help manufacturing teams upgrade their processes. So what’s the story behind the world’s leading frontline ops platform and how do they simplify workflows for the manufacturers of today and tomorrow? 

You may have heard the phrase ‘a good engineer is a lazy engineer’. It’s certainly an exaggeration, but what is true is that manufacturers are always looking for shortcuts. That’s why Natan Linder took a step back from his previous venture to focus on building Tulip Interfaces. 

Natan, Co-Founder and CEO, joins Manufacturing Happy Hour to explain how Tulip provide tools and data to manufacturing companies and helps them become the flexible businesses they want to be. 

He shares why connection and composability are key as manufacturing moves forward and tells us why manufacturers leveraging data and tech will become the most competitive. 

In this episode, find out: 

• How his time working with Samsung and Sun Microsystems has shaped his views and ideas around frontline operations and encouraged him to switch up his career plans and start Tulip Interfaces while still at Formlabs 
• Natan explores how he navigates career changes, explaining the similarities, differences and decision-making behind his switches from mobile to 3D printing to frontline operations 
• A deep dive into how Natan’s work “aims to fuse design and engineering to create novel human experiences” and why he finds it fascinating when tech changes people’s processes in the workplace 
• Natan shares why the availability of more tools could help the industry attract more software engineers 
• The problems within lean manufacturing which led him to write his book Augmented Lean to update it for the “reality we live in today”. When lean manufacturing first came into existence, the Internet didn’t exist! 
• Natan’s thoughts on Industry 4.0 and why manufacturers who leverage data will be more competitive and successful  
• Why Natan believes his book and podcast have helped him create a “real ecosystem”, tell stories and bring his community together 
• Why Natan believes the frontline operations category is important, attributing it to a lack of technological advancement in some manufacturing businesses 

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: 

• “Frontline operations platforms bring in a Platform as a Service (PaaS) to the people who are designing, building and operating production lines and operational environments.” 
• “It’s going to be tremendously impactful that companies adopt an agile, composable approach.” 
• “With the book and podcast, we wanted to have different ways to bring the community together and tell stories.” 

Links & mentions: 

• Tulip Interfaces, the industry’s leading frontline operations platform, giving manufacturers a holistic view of quality, process cycle times, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and more 
• Formlabs, the largest supplier of professional stereolithography (SLA) and selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printers in the world 
• Connect with Natan on LinkedIn 

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. 

Performance management is critical to keep your manufacturing processes running smoothly. So, as the capabilities of technology continue to advance, how can leaders leverage tech and data to build strong, meaningful employee relationships and cut their turnovers in half? 

This feels like a classic episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, and joining the show is Mike White, Founder and President of Secchi. Secchi is a platform providing clarity for HR professionals and helping them make data-driven performance decisions.  

Mike shares details of his career, from his early days in frontline work to the experiences that led him to create Secchi. He explains his simple philosophy, telling us why effective employee relationship management comes down to respect and treating people right. Plus, he explores how frontline teams are responding to leaders making data-led judgments. 

What we discuss with Mike: 

• What Mike noticed when he first entered the world of frontline manufacturing with Johns Manville in 2006 
• Why great people management comes down to ‘treating people right’ and why Mike believes ‘everybody is a leader’ in their own way 
• How Mike leads HR during economic ebbs and flows and how he continued prioritizing people during the financial downturn in 2008 
• Mike explains why we are ‘entering the age of the frontline worker’ and why AI and tech may not affect frontline work as much as we think 
• How problems Mike encountered in the workplace led him to create Secchi, improving employee relationship management and cutting turnover in half 
• How frontline employees respond to the fact that there is data on their performance, leadership and relationships 
• Why ‘data, teamwork and courage’ are held dear at Secchi and how they relate to employee relationship management 
• Mike explains how bad employees can chase off good ones, emphasizing the importance of rewarding great behavior in the workplace 

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: 

• “What I noticed is that most issues are completely solvable for people. It’s just treating people with respect. That’s where I came up with my philosophy that everyone is a leader.” 
• “The frontline is like the O line. They have to go every day, grind, run into problems and fix things. They’re underappreciated.” 
• “When you think about employee relationship management, you don't think about data. We want to bring this level of transparency with data that we're no longer making feelings decisions with folks. We're making data-driven decisions and letting great workers do great work.” 

Links & mentions: 

• Secchi, generate instant performance reviews based on automated data, including attendance, warnings, and recognition 
• Pete’s Pub, a laid-back neighborhood pub & restaurant located in a historical building in the heart of Milwaukee's Brady Street 
• Follow Secchi on LinkedIn 
• Follow Mike on LinkedIn 

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.

Industrial distribution is so much more than just shipping boxes. It’s an essential part of the manufacturing process and, without it, customers would never see the products they need. 

But how has industrial distribution evolved? What does it mean to be a distributor today? And what does the distributor of the future look like? 

We can’t believe we’ve never dived into industrial distribution on Manufacturing Happy Hour, but better late than never! Here to shed some light is Nate Bucklew, a district manager with E&H Electrical Supply, an electrical distributor based in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Nate shares how his role has evolved into a fully-fledged service provider and explains why the customer is central to success in distribution. Plus, he tells us why Louisville is such a special place and leaves us with some unmissable tips on career progression.    

What we discuss with Nate: 

• How his family history of industrial work led him to pursue a career in manufacturing himself, working in a warehouse and returning to manufacturing full-time after graduation 
• Nate explains why patience and building trust and strong relationships is integral as you lay the foundations for a progressive career in manufacturing 
• Manufacturing is a distinct part of Louisville’s identity and plays a huge role in why it is a fast-growing city 
• To instigate and execute a successful digital transformation, manufacturing leaders must help their teams understand the reasoning behind the change 
• Nate explains why the product is irrelevant if it doesn’t reach the customer at the desired speed. Distribution is an often overlooked but incredibly important part of the manufacturing process 
• Nate shares how industrial distribution has undergone a transformation and tells us why leaders in his field have seen their job roles expand and become service providers 
• Why the future of the manufacturing industry lies with people and their abilities to learn and progress. Technology will also play a critical part as distributors work to build even stronger trust with customers 
• Why the most important thing for industrial distribution is understanding and delivering what the customer wants 

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 a people business. What we do is much more than just providing boxes.” 
• “Everything we do is based around transparency and integrity as a baseline.” 
• “We better be darn sure that, as we strive to solve our customers’ problem, we’re not poking another customer or distributor in the eye. It’s a nimble journey.” 

Links & mentions: 

• E&H Electric Supply, a division of CED, E&H is the #1 source for automation & electrical supplies in the Kentuckiana area 
• Repeal, Whiskey Row's only oak-fired steakhouse, located in downtown Louisville housed in the former site of J.T.S. Brown and Sons’ wholesale warehouse and bottling operations 
• Connect with Nate on LinkedIn 

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. 

There’s no doubt that Smart Manufacturing has a plethora of benefits for manufacturing organizations. It can help speed up your processes, improve your product quality and reduce your costs.

But effective Smart Manufacturing adoption lies with the leader. That’s why host Chris Luecke asked seven industry leaders for their Smart Manufacturing tips and tricks on our latest bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, recorded at the Smart Manufacturing Experience at SOUTHTEC.

They discuss how leaders can cultivate a Smart Manufacturing mindset through their organization, why it’s OK to start with small changes and why factory floor teams should be involved in discussions before leaders make Smart Manufacturing decisions.

Plus, discover how you can leverage the benefits of Smart Manufacturing in four actionable steps.

Head to the previous episode for Part 1.

Guests in this episode include:

• Jeff Winter – Sr. Director of Industry Strategy, Manufacturing, Hitachi Solutions America
• Habib Quazi – Director of Innovation & Business Transformation, ExxonMobil
• Rick Van Dyke – Sr. Director of Supply Chain Engineering, PepsiCo
• Rick Bullotta – Founder of ThingWorx
• Sanjeev Heda – Principal Industry Consultant, IoT Division, SAS
• Sudarsan Rachuri – Federal Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy
• Olivia Morales – Solutions Architect, CESMII

Smart Manufacturing goes way beyond being just a buzzword. It’s a movement and mindset taking the industry by storm. But what does it really mean, what are the key benefits and how can manufacturing leaders get started today?

Manufacturing Happy Hour host Chris Luecke asked industry experts these questions live at the Smart Manufacturing Experience at SOUTHTEC. In this special bonus episode, seven manufacturing leaders shared their own definitions of Smart Manufacturing, the secrets behind the successful digital transformations they’ve overseen and the best ways to adopt a Smart Manufacturing mindset.

Stay tuned for part 2 with more inspirational manufacturing leaders next week!

Guests in this episode include:

• Sudhi Bangalore – Founding Partner & CEO, Full-Bore
• Mike Tomasco – VP, Pfizer Digital
• Patrick Gaughan – Partner, Axiom Manufacturing Systems
• Aldo Ferrante – CIO, SORBA.ai
• Michael Clark – Director, OPC Foundation
• Erich Barnstedt – Chief Architect, Standards, Consortia & Industrial IoT, Azure Edge & Platform, Microsoft
• Katherine Cahalane – Founder & CEO, BennitAI

Louisville is the recognized bourbon capital of the United States, evolving alongside shifts in technology and culture. But how can the bourbon industry adapt in this age of data and automation?

Don Ault, CEO, and Scott Feldmeier, Senior Automation Engineer and COO of Opus Integration, join Manufacturing Happy Hour to discuss the rich history of manufacturing in Kentucky and how Louisville came to be a hub for bourbon production.

They explain what part Opus Integration plays as the industry integrates data and automation to take bourbon manufacturing to the next level, sharing how manufacturers can use smart devices and get floor team members on board with data-driven change.

Plus, they explain what makes them such a great partnership and explore their predictions for the bourbon market.

In this episode, find out:

• What Opus Integration does
• How Kentucky became the bourbon capital of the US
• What happens in a bourbon distillery
• How bourbon manufacturing has evolved
• How to get floor teams on board with data-driven processes
• What makes a great partnership in manufacturing
• What’s next for the bourbon industry

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:

• “Great partnership centers around a balance of different exposures and different experiences.” – Don Ault, CEO of Opus Integration
• “There’s a lot of opportunities and a lot of tools available to take the bourbon industry to the next level.” – Don Ault, CEO of Opus Integration
• “In the distilleries we’re working on now, everything is automated. It’s starting to evolve even more. Once that data is in your production facility, it just leads to the next piece of data and the next piece of data.” – Scott Feldmeier, Senior Automation Engineer and Chief Operating Officer of Opus Integration

Links & mentions:

• Connect with Don on LinkedIn
• Connect with Scott on LinkedIn
• Opus Integration, a systems integration company based in Buckner, KY, offering services including PLC application development, virtualization of process automation systems and plant floor troubleshooting support
• Heaven Hill Distillery, a family-owned whiskey distillery, based just west of downtown Louisville, KY. Offering a selection of classic rye whiskeys and bourbons 
• Watch Hill Proper, a unique dining experience in Louisville for both the foodie and bourbon enthusiast alike. A hub for those keen to learn about the rich history of Kentucky and how the role bourbon has played in the United States

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.

In every manufacturing organization, company culture is key to success. But what does company culture really mean? And how can manufacturing leaders ensure the culture in their organization is the best it can be? 

Jim Mayer, founder of TCO Strategies and host of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, joins Manufacturing Happy Hour to share his thoughts. He provides a super-simple definition of company culture, describing it as the alignment of values between employees and the organization. 

In the episode, we also look at what got Jim interested in manufacturing culture to begin with and how he caught the podcasting bug, sharing insights into industry culture on his weekly show. Jim tells us how his podcast guests have shifted his perspectives of the industry and provides actionable advice for budding podcasters in manufacturing. 

In this episode, find out: 

• What got Jim interested in manufacturing 
• What he has learned from carrying out engagement surveys 
• Something Jim has learned since starting his podcast 
• His thoughts on the automation culture paradox in SMB manufacturers 
• How companies can become culturally ready for automation 
• The stories that shifted Jim’s perspective of manufacturing culture 
• Jim’s favorite comedy movies 
• What to do if you think you’re late to the game with your concept or idea 
• Jim’s advice for budding manufacturing podcasters 
• Jim’s questions for Chris 

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: 

• “There’s a lot of ways people can get the podcast exposure they’re looking for, without having to take the time, money and effort to do it on their own.” 
• “If you start talking about culture and engagement and what you want that to be, then you don't do anything with it, your culture is going to plummet.” 
• “When it comes to podcasting – if you’ve got that niche, give it a go.” 

Links & mentions: 

• Wild Roots, seed-to-table dining to satisfy both heart and soul in West Allis, Wisconsin 
• Chelsea’s Kitchen, an Arizona roadhouse celebrating the cuisine of the Great American Southwest 
• Bourbon & Bones Chophouse and Bar, a fine dining experience in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona, with attentive service, USDA Prime grade steaks, fresh seafood, bourbon and signature cocktails  
• Connect with Jim on LinkedIn 
• Tune into The Manufacturing Culture Podcast, where Jim sits down with a manufacturing leader each week and explores where their culture was, where it is now and where they want to get it 
• The Wisconsin Manufacturing & Technology Show, the industry-leading Midwest manufacturing trade show – from additive manufacturing to robotics, machining centers to welding, tooling and fabricating equipment and many more technologies in between 

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 can a former Navy SEAL teach us about upskilling and manufacturing business acquisition? It turns out, a whole lot!  

Bill Berrien, CEO of Pindel Global Precision, joins episode 160 of Manufacturing Happy Hour, to share his thoughts on upskilling your team and his journey from the Navy to manufacturing business leader. We hear why he chose to acquire Pindel and how he was lucky enough for the seller to stay on board to help ease the leadership transition. 

We explore the importance of upskilling your team and why Pindel’s philosophy is to “hire for attitude, train for skill,” – as well as a great example of how someone moved from the janitorial department to work with CNC equipment. Bill shares his take on why upskilling is so important in manufacturing and what he thinks the industry should do moving forward to train the future of talent. 

In this episode, find out: 

• What Bill believes about upskilling in manufacturing  
• Bill explores his time as a Navy SEAL  
• The challenges of acquiring a company 
• What made him choose to acquire Pindel 
• How Pindel’s seller stayed on board to ease the transition 
• Bill’s business aha moments 
• What to consider before buying a business 
• What upskilling looks like at Pindel 
• Bill’s thoughts on the future of upskilling in manufacturing 
• Advice for manufacturing leaders 

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: 

• “Our adage to the team is more value created, more value captured. So, if you allow the company to augment the value you can create by training you, that is going to lead to more value captured in the form of wages, bonuses, etc.” 
• “Once you figure out what you're going to focus on, that allows you to put all your chips on the table in that direction.” 
• “The two challenges when you have that ambition to acquire a company is number one, acquiring the skills to be able to do it well. And then number two is acquiring the capital to be able to make it happen. You can't just jump from simply having that ambition to the end state.” 

Links & mentions: 

• Pindel Global Precision, an innovative manufacturing company that values innovation, integrity, and continuous improvement in every aspect of their operations 
• PMPA, the Precision Machined Products Association strives to progressively lead members to sustainable success with reliable and relevant information, resources, advocacy, and networking opportunities 
• Otter.ai uses AI to write automatic meeting notes with real-time transcription, recorded audio, automated slide capture, and automated meeting summaries 
• Buckley’s, a neighborhood fixture for refined American comfort food, located in Downtown Milwaukee 

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.

Whether it’s on the job or in a traditional academic setting, education is essential to building a strong manufacturing function.  

But this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour homes in on one specific aspect of learning – career and technical education (CTE) – and explores how it’s helping teams make better decisions and better products. 

Amatrol’s career and technical training solutions are used in all 50 U.S. states and in 50+ countries, so we invited Kent Powell, their VP of Sales and Marketing, onto the show to let us in on some of their secrets. 

Kent shares how Amatrol became a leader in their field, his thoughts and observations on smart manufacturing and why Louisville is a hub for education and employment. 

Plus, he explains how Kentucky FAME program is helping students get into manufacturing roles in just two years, debt-free.  

In this episode, find out: 

• About Kent’s background in aerospace 
• How Amatrol became a leader in CTE 
• What manufacturing teams need to know most 
• Kent’s insights into smart manufacturing 
• How to decide what to train staff on next 
• What manufacturing means to Louisville 
• How Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing (FAME) is impacting the industry 

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: 

• “By using smart sensors, as opposed to on-off switches, we’re able to collect more information, make better decisions in record speed, and make a better product in a short amount of time.” 
• “Manufacturing is our path forward in Louisville. It’s a great place to start a manufacturing company.” 
• “We’re nothing without the success of our clients. If they’re successful, we’re successful.” 

Links & mentions: 

• Connect with Kent on LinkedIn 
• Amatrol, the global leader in online career & technical education (CTE) 
• Kentucky FAME, the Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (KY FAME) is a partnership of regional manufacturers whose purpose is to implement career pathway, apprenticeship-style educational programs that will create a pipeline of highly skilled workers 
• Amount of Data Created Daily (2023) 
• The Brown, a historic hotel in Louisville, KY known for its fine Kentucky bourbon & iconic destination; home of the “Hot Brown” and – according to Kent – one of the best Rye Manhattans in the city 

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.