Manufacturing Talks

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Adam Gluck was a founding engineer on Uber's engineering strategy team, where got an early education in development and operations (DevOps). He quickly learned how industrial coding errors and cybersecurity breaches are increasingly a very costly Achilles heel for manufacturers.

He founded Copia Automation to help tackle the problem, so it was extremely educational to have him join us for Episode 117. Here are some highlights:

2:15 - DevOps
4:00 - Copia and industrial DevOps
5:30 - source control: testing, deployment, and monitoring
7:00 - device links and backup
9:00 - problems in industrial coding
10:00 - the compounding of the problem with much more automation coming
16:00 - the disconnect between popular apps and industrial programs
18:30 - "shadow IT" - who's touching your software??? (ad hoc changes)
19:00 - "the PLC stopped working"
23:00 - cybersecurity
25:45 - the governance control problem - source control

These are critical topics if you're in manufacturing, so do tune in and learn all about them!

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Model No. produces high-end light fixtures and furniture with a new end in mind: elevating the experience while eliminating the waste. They collaborate with architects and designers along with industry partners to use regenerative and biodegradable materials.

It was a treat to have Phillip Raub, CEO of Model No., and Rahul Kasat, VP at 3D Systems, to talk about the methods the company uses to become more circular. Here are some highlights:

8:00 - the part material science development plays
10:00 - printing with biodegradable materials to reduce costs and increase value
11:00 - the new capabilities of 3D printers
15:00 - the kinds of printing materials used
22:00 - customer-driven R&D at 3D Systems
24:50 - contract manufacturing and partnerships as a part of Model No.'s business
27:00 - using recycled materials in 3D printing

And there's so much more! Tune in and check out the whole show - it's extremely educational and uplifting!

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There have been countless breathless reports about the ongoing "boom" in American manufacturing. After all, look at the countless billions of dollars being spent to build plants! Good times are back!

Except they aren't. Actual manufacturing activity is down, and has been in contraction mode for a long time.

Tune in and learn from your host why pork-fueled spending like what we're seeing now almost never delivers the goods when it comes to actual functioning, job-creating, value-delivering manufacturing plants. The "boom" we're seeing now is a bad episode that's been repeated again and again.

Bad enough that politicians constantly play this game, but to have people who ought to know better in our own world of manufacturing also getting suckered by this fairy tale now is really just too much.

Sources:
Granholm projects: https://dailycaller.com/2021/01/27/jennifer-granholm-michigan-energy-companies-bankrupt/
Inflation Reduction Act and Chips and Science Act delay and cancellations: https://seekingalpha.com/news/4141224-delays-impact-40-of-biden-administrations-biggest-climate-projects-ft
Whitmer administration projects: https://www.bridgemi.com/business-watch/michigan-has-spent-1b-ev-battery-plants-so-far-theyve-created-200-jobs
July ISM PMI report: https://www.ismworld.org/supply-management-news-and-reports/reports/ism-report-on-business/pmi/july/

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It was fascinating speaking with Nick Haase, who co-founded MaintainX to bring modern tech solutions to manufacturing maintenance. You'd think that's a pretty niche application, and yet almost every central element of his platform he brought up also proved to be a fundamental good business practice.

Here are the highlights:
2:40 - the MaintainX story
7:00 - the importance of user friendliness
10:00 - disconnects on software development
12:30 - integrating with other systems
14:50 - underutilized systems: OEM data, how to gather it, and how to make it actionable
20:00 - AI and machine learning
21:40 - the quality of data is critical: how to build a data foundation (1. capture structure, and store; 2. work towards predictive)
25:30 - the importance of knowledge capture and transfer for developing the workforce of the future
27:50 - augmented reality

Nick brought us a whole bunch to think about, but trust me - it will be worth every minute for you to tune in to the whole thing!

The MaintainX website: https://www.getmaintainx.com/

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Matt Guse started in machining as a teenager and eventually took over the machine shop his dad founded.

Along the way he became a fierce advocate for his team members and for new ways to develop the workforce of the future. Oh, and a committed bicyclist just like your host, so be ready for some serious bike talk toward the end.

Here are some highlights:
4:00 - making the business work
5:20 - get help! Matt hired a part-time CFO
6:40 - find a mentor
7:10 - sports officiating lessons for business
12:20 - developing the future workforce: Cardinal Manufacturing (covered in a previous episode of Manufacturing Talks - see link below)
17:00 - appearing on Fox Business
20:40 - the importance of company culture
24:30 - a long chat about cycling

Matt brings some seriously inspirational ideas from his manufacturing and entrepreneurial experiences. Tune in and check out the whole show!

Links:
Our episode about Cardinal Manufacturing featuring Craig Cegielski: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1861953/episodes/11432832-episode-26-craig-cegielski-tech-ed-teacher-and-founder-at-cardinal-manufacturing

The M.R.S. Machining website: https://www.mrsmachiningco.com/

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Calling off work is the easiest thing to do, right?

Maybe not, and maybe that breakdown in communications is costing you a lot more than you think.

Sheila Stafford, co-founder and CEO of TeamSense, joined us for Episode 112 to explain how her company's platform to facilitate offtime call-ins for your team members can actually reduce absenteeism and improve productivity.

Sheila learned all this firsthand in her time on the floors of various manufacturing operations. The dysfunctional communication methods she witnessed for herself inspired her to help found and launch TeamSense.

Here are some highlights from our chat:
7:30 - manufacturing-specific design - careers vs. jobs
8:40 - it's not an app, so people don't get bent out of shape about you commandeering their personal devices
11:00 - remove manual processes and multiple different contact methods, and automate the data
12:30 - fix language barriers!
18:30 - it's an employee portal!
22:00 - facilitate schedule and vacation management
25:30 - future opportunity: leverage AI to add more automation

Tune in for an extremely educational conversation!

The TeamSense website: https://www.teamsense.com/

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Alex Krüger is the co-founder and CEO of United Manufacturing Hub (UMH), our subject company, and Frank Thelen is co-founder and CEO of Freigeist, a venture capital fund that's backing them. They joined us for Episode 111 to explain all about why digitalization is now a must for manufacturing companies, and how you can best go about it. Here are some of the highlights:

5:30 - your digital use case and single source of truth
11:45 - how to build internal tech innovation - it has to become part of your company's DNA
14:00 - how to make your data actionable
19:00 - reduce complexity and try something out
24:00 - get manufacturing people and the manufacturing world involved

Find out how UMH is helping manufacturing companies become tech companies, and learn some specific changes you can make so you don't get left behind in this critical transition.

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Bruce Bigelow joins us for Episode 110 to share the latest and greatest in one of the biggest coming pieces of science technology ever. The Giant Magellan telescope, which is being constructed in Chile, will open up vistas of our universe we couldn't even have dreamed about a few years ago.

This instrument features some extraordinary designs and manufacturing methods that enable it to do what it will be able to do. Bruce tells us all about them, and about where things stand on the building of this amazing scientific tool.

Their website: https://giantmagellan.org/

The latest news: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/06/13/2898457/0/en/Giant-Magellan-Telescope-Enclosure-Ready-for-Construction.html

My Forbes article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimvinoski/2022/08/02/magic-mirrors-will-power-the-giant-magellan-telescope/

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Multiple generations of ownership of a family business make for a great story - but they also historically make for increasing difficulties in making the business work. Matthew Nix. President and CEO of Nix Companies, took the industrial company that his ancestors originally started as a blacksmith shop over 120 years ago and with the help of his wife and brother and others, grew it through acquisitions to include custom fabrication, maintenance services, real estate and other business areas.

In addition to creating a true success story with the family business, Nix also helps set the example of valuing people and doing good for society by doing well as a business.

Tune in and hear Matthew tell the whole inspiring story!

Nix Companies website: https://www.nixcompanies.com/

Making Chips website (where you can find Matthew's content): https://makingchips.com/

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Who knew the fast-growing car wash smash hit company Tommy's Express is also into manufacturing?

When you learn why, it makes perfect sense. Ed Ouellette, the company's National Franchise Development Manager, joined us for Episode 108 to explain how so many of the cool and user-friendly features you see at Tommy's are there because they make them for themselves!

Listen at around the 12:45 mark when Ed explains how that easy-to-drive-onto conveyor belt came from the carrot processing industry.

Stay for his explanation at around 26:00 about how consistency is the key!

There's a whole lot more before, in between, and after - check out the whole thing! And leave your questions and comments for us, and do please leave us a like, share the show, and subscribe!