Manufacturing Talks

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Nick Reinhart has a good chunk of the answer.

Nick founded Kreate, which makes toolboxes and storage totes for Home Depot, and a whole lot more.

Nick  discussed his company's rapid growth in plastic injection molding in the U.S. since 2018. Kreate operates four facilities with 110 machines, employing 600 associates, and has an exclusive partnership with Home Depot. The company focuses on advanced automation, including AI and servo-driven machinery, reducing labor costs to 1.5-2%. Nick emphasized the importance of skilled trades, proper wages, and continuous investment in technology. Future plans include expanding into the $2.4 billion outdoor self-composting toilet market and acquiring more companies. He highlighted the need for capital, deep know-how, and a committed workforce to reindustrialize America.

Highlights:
00:00 - Introduction
02:22 - Kreate's Product Categories and Market Position
04:47 - Advancements in Automation and AI
08:42 - Challenges and Opportunities in Manufacturing
11:58 - Future Growth and Expansion Plans
18:13 - Attracting and Retaining Skilled Workers
25:00 - Create's Engineering Capabilities

There is so much good stuff here... you really owe it to yourself to tune in for the whole thing.

Here are a couple of useful links:

Kreate: https://kreate.com/
Krevera: https://www.krevera.com/

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Across the industrial world, everybody is TALKING about autonomy and AI-enabled production.

What most people are actually DOING, meanwhile, is scratching their heads over how the heck to use all the data they already gather.

That's where Oleksandr Khimiak from Advisource AB and their Factory Cortex service come in.

What a treat to chat with Oleksandr and talk honestly about what the real needs in our factories are versus the pie-in-the-sky flying car dreams.

Oleksandr dove into what Factory Cortex can do for your operation. It's a cognitive layer for manufacturing processes. He highlighted the structural crisis in Western manufacturing due to globalization, talent drain, and generational knowledge gaps.

Factory Cortex helps by combining Lean Six Sigma with data science to identify and address root causes of issues like unplanned stops and quality defects. Oleksandr emphasized the importance of understanding problems before implementing solutions and shared a five-phase implementation process. He noted that Factory Cortex makes your existing data streams actionable by integrating with existing systems, like your ERP and MES. The approach aims to transform manufacturing culture from firefighting to continuous improvement.

Highlights:
00:00 - Introduction
04:47 - Challenges in Modern Manufacturing
10:56 - Impact of Micro Stops and Firefighting in Manufacturing
20:33 - Introduction to Factory Cortex
24:24 - Integration with Existing Systems and Custom Solutions
30:00 - Assessment and Implementation Process
33:28 - Final Thoughts and Contact Information

This one is chock-full of good, useful information if you're right there in the trenches in manufacturing. Check out the whole thing.

Oleksandr's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oleksandr-khimiak/
Advisource AB: https://www.theadvisource.com/

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What great fun this episode was!

Jay Dekmar, founder of Lok Grips, had us out to his Wyoming, Michigan, shop to record right on the factory floor and hear all about how he founded his business and what he's got going on.

Jay shared his journey from a tool and die apprentice to owning a successful pistol grip manufacturing business. Initially, he faced challenges in the job shop market but found success with pistol grips, starting in 2014. By 2018, he focused solely on grips. Today, Lok Grips employs 32 people and uses 15 CNC machines, with 40% automated. Jay emphasized the importance of automation, which has increased efficiency and job satisfaction. He also discussed future plans to expand into base pads and magazine extensions, targeting a $500 million market.

Check out the whole show, and do swing over and have a look at our companion "Welcome to the Machine" piece on just what Jay and his team do to make their superb grips: https://youtu.be/kCyTZJ9kTqQ

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When aren't you in cost-cutting mode in manufacturing? "Never" is indeed the right answer.

But is all cost-cutting effective? "No" is the right answer.

But Chuck Deise is here to help with that.

Chuck, from EFESO Management Consultants, joined us to discuss strategies for sustainable cost-cutting in your industrial business. He highlighted a survey EFESO did with Industry Week, revealing 85% of companies face severe cost pressure, with 91% having more aggressive targets for 2025 and expecting the same aggressiveness for next year.

Chuck emphasized the need for standardized, digitized processes and organizational models to achieve 10-15% cost savings. He stressed the importance of reliability, using advanced sensors and predictive maintenance to improve uptime. He also underscored the significance of a robust performance management system and cultural change to ensure long-term cost reductions and operational efficiency.

Highlights:
00:00 - Introduction
05:30 - Survey Findings on Cost Pressure and Cost Takeout Targets
10:45 - Challenges and Opportunities in Cost Takeout Programs
16:33 - Cultural Change and Operational Improvement
29:17 - Digital Strategy and Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

EFESO Management Consultants: https://www.efeso.com/
The EFESO/Industry Week survey: https://www.argoconsulting.com/resource-insights/2026-manufacturing-industry-report/
Chuck's email: [email protected]

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It was great to have Mush Khan join us for his second appearance!

Mush, co-founder and CEO of Alchemy Industrial, leads a team of talented and passionate people who are dedicated to building a domestic manufacturing industry. This time around, he discussed Alchemy's focus on reshoring battery energy storage systems for commercial and industrial customers, avoiding residential and grid-scale systems. He highlighted the increasing demand and spikiness of power use, leading to significant business impacts, including demand charges and power quality issues. Mush emphasized the importance of AI in manufacturing, citing a project to incorporate AI into their systems. He also stressed the need for American reindustrialization, advocating for innovative solutions rather than replicating existing methods. He encouraged collaboration across borders and sectors to address manufacturing challenges.

Highlights:
00:00 - Introduction
01:46 - Focus on Battery Energy Storage Systems
03:25 - Challenges and Opportunities in Power Management
08:47 - AI and Reindustrialization
12:19 - Reimagining Manufacturing for the Future
14:49 - The Role of AI in Job Creation and Reskilling
17:09 - The Importance of Celebrating Manufacturing Heroes
29:25 - Building a Strong Manufacturing Community
33:59 - The Future of American Manufacturing

Alchemy Industrial: https://alchemyindustrial.com/

Mush's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mushkhan/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BirXuLj%2BKQbSKpL0r3nlRDw%3D%3D

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One thing that's critical in reindustrializing America is teaching our youth about building their own companies.

But according to Dave Goerlich, we aren't always doing the greatest job at that.

Dave is co-founder and CEO of The Refinery, a software development firm specializing in manufacturing. He joined us to discuss the importance of entrepreneurship education. He criticized current programs for focusing too much on business plans and competitions, advocating instead for hands-on experience. Dave emphasized the need for mentorship and real-world learning, citing the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program as a model. He highlighted the shift in The Refinery's focus from software development to advisory services. Dave also stressed the importance of execution over ideas and the value of building in public to gather feedback and refine solutions.

Highlights:
- Dave's Journey to Entrepreneurship
- The Refinery's Niche and Market Focus
- Market Segments and Clientele
- Entrepreneurship Education and Challenges
- The Role of Competition and Market Testing
- Mentorship and Real-World Experience
- The Importance of Execution Over Ideas

This is really vital and really practical stuff. Check out the whole show!

The Refinery: https://the-refinery.io/

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Why are five of the biggest American defense contractors neck-deep in divisive, destructive diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices? Dustin DeVito had a great article about that recently (link at the bottom), and he joined us to discuss just why that needs to change, pronto.

Hint: it's not just about DEI.

Dustin, director of research at the 1792 Exchange, discussed the organization's efforts to steer corporations away from divisive social and political issues, focusing on accurate data and trustworthy analysis. He highlighted the top five defense contractors' involvement in DEI initiatives, which he views as discriminatory and contrary to their core business priorities. Dustin emphasized the importance of companies focusing on their core business objectives rather than yielding to political activism. He also noted the effect of the Business Roundtable's wrongheaded 2019 statement on corporate governance, and emphasized in contrast the need for companies to align their policies with non-controversial causes.

Here are some highlights:
- Challenges with DEI in Defense Contractors
- Impact of DEI on Corporate Governance
- Critique of Business Roundtable's Statement
- Specific DEI Practices and Their Actual Effects
- Legal and Public Pressure on Corporate Policies
- Positive Examples and Future Directions

We're at a crucial moment in national defense, when we need to focus on rebuilding our capabilities in an enormous way. We have neither time nor money to waste on failed divisive social experiments.

Dustin's article: https://shorturl.fm/QVbCc
The 1792 Exchange: https://1792exchange.com/
My anti-DEI Substack: https://manufacturingtalks.substack.com/p/its-time-to-abolish-dei

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What I love about this episode is how Tony Gunn utterly, shamelessly shatters the myth of perfection.

Tony is a prominent advocate for manufacturing, and he shared his diverse and challenging journey from a troubled high school student to a leading voice in the industry. He discussed his early struggles, including dropping out of high school and being kicked out of multiple universities. Tony detailed his career progression from machining to sales and consulting, highlighting his contributions, such as creating patents and improving efficiency in precious metals machining. He also revealed his transition to public speaking and media, aiming to make manufacturing more visible and accessible. Tony announced plans to launch his own YouTube channel and podcast, "The Machinist Club," to further promote the industry.

Some of the highlights:
- Tony Gunn's Early Life and Education
- Transition to Machining and Early Career
- Career Progression and Sales Role
- Transition to Public Speaking and Media
- Future Plans and Vision for Manufacturing

There is so much goodness here, you would be doing yourself a huge disservice NOT to check out the whole thing!

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Software runs the world these days, and the machining world is no different. And the biggest name in software there is Mastercam, so it was educational to have Russ Bukowski as our guest for this episode.

Russ, president of Mastercam, discussed the integral role of software in modern machining and Mastercam's mission to solve manufacturing challenges. He highlighted Mastercam's evolution, including its annual release cycle and recent acquisitions. Bukowski emphasized the importance of bridging the skills gap through AI features like Mastercam Co-Pilot and apprenticeship programs. He noted the need for automation to enhance productivity and quality of life for employees. Bukowski also stressed the importance of education and vocational training to address the trades gap and support reshoring efforts by improving efficiency and reducing costs in U.S. manufacturing.

Highlights:
- Mastercam's Mission and History
- Challenges and Opportunities in Modern Manufacturing
- The Role of Education and Parental Influence
- Mastercam's Efforts in Workforce Development
- Reshoring and Efficiency in Manufacturing
- Future Opportunities for Mastercam

This is an incredibly informative episode for those in machining, general manufacturing, and the business world alike! Check out the whole show.

Mastercam's website: https://www.mastercam.com/

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The money game when it comes to funding your industrial business just got a bit easier.

Scott Peper, founder and CEO of Mobilization Funding, joined us to discuss his journey from sales in the medical device industry to founding Mobilization Funding, which provides working capital loans to manufacturers and commercial contractors. Scott highlighted the importance of understanding cash flow and the challenges manufacturers face in securing financing. He introduced the Maximus app, designed to streamline loan processes and provide real-time information to business owners. Scott emphasized the need for good systems, processes, and financial organization to attract investors and lenders. He also mentioned his book, "The Big Book of Cash Flow," and various educational resources available on their website and podcast.

Highlights:
- Understanding Manufacturing Cash Flow
- Introduction to the Maximus App
- Challenges and Pitfalls in Manufacturing Investments
- The Role of Mobilization Funding in Manufacturing Growth

If you need help with financing your business and getting your vital work accomplished, check out the whole show and the links below.

Mobilization Funding website: https://mobilizationfunding.com/
The Maximus app: https://mobilizationfunding.com/mobilization-funding-launches-maximus/
Cash flow tool: https://mobilizationfunding.com/project-cash-flow-calculator/
The Mobilization Mindset podcast: https://legacy.mobilizationfunding.com/realmferpod/
Scott's book, *The Big Book of Cash Flow:* https://tinyurl.com/43tsczth

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