I thought I knew manufacturing—until this episode.
Join me as I sit down with Ville Lehtonen, CTO of Real Time Robotics, and discover a hidden niche in automation that’s saving companies billions—if they’re bold enough to use it. We break down the world of robot path planning, the cultural gap between U.S. and Chinese factories, and the one thing that now decides who wins in manufacturing: the speed at which you can adapt.

Thanks to Ellison Technologies and GSC 3D—experts in automation, CNC integration, and SOLIDWORKS solutions—for supporting this episode and helping manufacturers push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Learn more about Real Time Robotics at: https://www.realtimerobotics.com

Whether you’re an industry insider or just automation-curious, this episode will change how you see the future of factories.

A stamping machine goes haywire because someone hit play on a Netflix movie. Welcome to the hidden chaos of factory networks.

In this episode, Justin sits down with John Rinaldi, founder of Real Time Automation, to expose the hilarious (and horrifying) tech issues that haunt modern manufacturing—from ghost nodes and dying Ethernet cables to the real reason Industry 4.0 often fails.

If you're a future engineer, this episode is your crash course in everything they don’t teach you in school—but will absolutely call you at 3am to fix.

This is why engineers can’t have nice things.

Topics include:

• Why IT and OT are basically oil and water

• The 1919 tea machine that still runs like a champ

• Why documentation dies the second an intern leaves

• How to become the most valuable person in the plant

What if your "failed" college semester led you to a multi-million dollar empire and a partnership with one of the world's most influential figures?

This episode of Manufacturing Runs The World reveals the jaw-dropping journey of Mitch Free. Discover how he pioneered the first online manufacturing marketplace, mfg.com, and the personal call that led to Jeff Bezos buying into his vision.

Mitch pulls back the curtain on navigating critical health challenges, making a powerful return to the shop floor, and building ZYCI – a thriving business that dominates aerospace and defense without any marketing spend.

If you think you know what it takes to succeed in manufacturing, prepare to have your mind blown. This isn't just a podcast; it's a blueprint for impossible success.

In this episode of Manufacturing Runs The World, we dive into the garage-gym innovation that’s shaking up the fitness industry.

When Tyler Danen couldn’t find the right dumbbells during a workout, he didn’t just get frustrated—he got inspired. That spark turned into FITBENCH, a fully loaded, all-in-one fitness station now used in commercial gyms and home gyms across the U.S.

But this isn’t just a product story—it’s a reshoring, redesign, and reinvention story.

Tyler shares how:

• ​His idea was knocked off in China just months after launch
• ​COVID-19 forced him to rethink his supply chain
• ​He reshored production and reengineered the product to eliminate welds and reduce weight by 30%
• ​Fitbench landed a national contract with Planet Fitness and scaled production with just 10 employees 💪
• ​He’s now building strength equipment with American steel and next-level lean manufacturing

Whether you’re a product designer, entrepreneur, or just someone who’s ever done a “walk of shame” with too-heavy dumbbells… this episode is for you.👉 SHOP: https://fitbench.com

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – The dumbbell fail that started it all

00:42 – The lightbulb moment

01:30 – Knocked off in China

02:15 – Reshoring to the U.S.

03:00 – Redesigning for lean manufacturing

05:02 – Planet Fitness deal & scaling smart

07:29 – 10 employees, full U.S. production

08:10 – Product pricing & why strength is back

09:21 – Bonus: Jacked, tan, and… gray?

👋 Follow us for more stories from makers, founders, and manufacturers:

Instagram: @ManufacturingRunsTheWorld

LinkedIn: Manufacturing Runs The World

TikTok: @ManufacturingRunsTheWorld

#MadeInUSA #FitnessInnovation #ManufacturingPodcast #Entrepreneurship #LeanManufacturing #PlanetFitness #FITBENCH

What if industrial sales wasn’t about pushing product—but solving real pain?

In this episode of Manufacturing Runs the World, Justin sits down with Shane, co-founder of 3BG Supply, who shares how his team wins business not through pressure—but by solving problems that most suppliers ignore.

From helping a stranded sailor in Thailand keep sailing to saving a manufacturer $2.5M with a better chain system, Shane reveals how his team earns lifelong customers by focusing on what really matters: people.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• Why 3BG was built around the engineering pain behind every quote
• How younger sales reps are trained to understand, not just sell
• The real ROI of helping someone hit a production bonus—or keep their job
• What happens when you treat buyers like humans, not transactions

If you’re in manufacturing, distribution, or B2B sales—this episode is your playbook for building trust, impact, and long-term partnerships.

🎧 Subscribe to catch future episodes and follow the human side of manufacturing.

#manufacturing #salesstrategy #b2bsales #distribution #industrialautomation #podcast

When cows were overheating in the California sun, Jaylin Krell’s father and grandfather set out to solve a problem no one else was paying attention to. That’s how MacroAir created the first-ever HVLS fan — a category that changed the way we cool large spaces forever.

In this episode, Jaylin shares how they turned that breakthrough into a global business, why they’ve resisted the pressure to “scale big,” and how small, family-run manufacturing still wins by staying human-first.

Whether you're a business owner, engineer, or just curious how innovation actually happens — this story will change the way you see manufacturing.

You’ll hear:

• The untold origin of HVLS fans (yes, it started with cows)

• Why staying small was a strategic advantage

• How MacroAir balances innovation with a human-first manufacturing culture

• Real tactical lessons for any manufacturer trying to scale smart

What kind of person builds robots to fail? Meet Dan Allford, the founder of Arc Specialties, who’s been automating the world’s most dangerous jobs—from offshore rigs to nuclear reactors—since 1982.

In this episode of Manufacturing Runs The World, we explore:

• How failing on purpose leads to safer automation

• Why Arc Specialties tests 10 ideas to find 2 that sell

• The surprising role of welding in tomorrow’s workforce

• The REAL reason reshoring needs robotics

• How Dan uses podcasting to build trust and drive sales

⚠️ Think your factory could benefit from automation?
👉 Dan offers a FREE on-site Manufacturing Automation Audit (MAAP) where he personally walks your floor to identify opportunities. No gimmicks. No pressure. Just real insight.

📩 Learn more and request your MAAP walk-through at:
https://www.arcspecialties.com/maap

📌 Subscribe for more interviews with the people reshaping American manufacturing.

In this episode of Manufacturing Runs The World, host Justin Schnor sits down with Chris Boyd, Sales Director at Charter Machine Company — a New Jersey-based manufacturer that builds massive belt filter presses used in wastewater treatment plants all across the U.S.

Yep, they squeeze the poop. But they also fabricate parts used in NASA’s space shuttle transport system. 🧠💩🚀

Chris breaks down the wild world of sludge pressing, why skilled trades offer more than college ever could, and what it takes to build a manufacturing business from the ground up.

💡And while most of it didn’t make the final cut, huge shoutout to Cardinal Hollow Winery — Chris’s side hustle producing award-winning wines (including jalapeño wine!). Thanks for the bottles, Chris — you're a legend.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

• How municipal sludge becomes potting soil sold at Home Depot

• Why wastewater jobs can pay $150K and come with a pension

• How Charter Machine stepped in after Hurricane Ivan and never looked back

• What it takes to manufacture for NASA-level projects

• The case for trade careers over college debt

• How to start a manufacturing business with $50K (and not go broke)

  
  

🍷 Support Chris’s winery: https://www.cardinalhollowwinery.com
🛠️ Subscribe for more real stories from manufacturers changing the world:

👉 https://youtube.com/@ManufacturingRunsTheWorld
🎧 Also available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

#manufacturing #wastewater #NASA #trades #skilledlabor #entrepreneurship #cardinalhollowwinery #manufacturingrunstheworld

In this episode, Tony Varela, owner of Meta Fab, shares how his team grew a small precision shop into a 30,000 sq ft operation serving aerospace, automotive, and semiconductor industries—without sacrificing quality or control. He dives into the power of buying existing shops, building in-house finishing capabilities, and why manufacturers should be thinking more like entrepreneurs.You’ll hear:

• Why buying an aging shop is smarter than starting from scratch
• The hidden value of in-house powder coating and silk screening
• How AI and automation are changing the shop floor
• The biggest mistake new manufacturers make

This is a roadmap for anyone serious about growing a U.S.-based manufacturing business in 2025 and beyond.🔔 Subscribe for more real stories from the front lines of American manufacturing.

What do vending machines, medical devices, and power storage units have in common? Chances are, they all rely on parts made by Tendon Manufacturing—a Cleveland-based, family-owned job shop quietly powering the world behind the scenes.

In this episode, Justin sits down with Adam Gordon, second-generation leader at Tendon, to talk about how a small machining house turned into a manufacturing powerhouse. They cover everything from robotic welding arms and automation-driven growth to the emotional pride of seeing their work on display at the MLB All-Star Game.

Whether you’re into Industry 4.0, workforce development, or just love hearing how real businesses adapt, grow, and build—this episode delivers.

🔧 Topics we cover:

• Why automation isn’t replacing jobs—it’s saving production
• The importance of family in a family-owned business
• Behind the scenes of parts you see every day (and don’t even realize)
• Why American manufacturing is still alive—and scaling fast
• What it’s like to pivot across industries, from medical to data centers

📍 Recorded remotely with Adam Gordon, VP of Tendon Manufacturing

🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts