Manufacturing Tomorrow

Today we are speaking with Cheryl Hay, Director of Project Talent Acquisition at JobsOhio. Cheryl is responsible for the challenging work of developing a skilled advanced manufacturing workforce for Ohio’s firms. Before JobsOhio, she served as deputy chancellor with the Ohio Department of Higher Education and focused on strategies to help Ohio’s higher education system align with the workforce needs of Ohio businesses as well as their employees. At the same time, she continued to serve as vice president of workforce development for Columbus State Community College. Before CSCC, Cheryl also worked as vice president of workforce development for the Columbus Chamber, where she initiated efforts to ensure a quality workforce for 3500 local business members. She spent thirteen years in the private sector carrying out the human resources needs of White Consolidative Industries, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of household appliances, with 27,000 U.S. employees.

Cindi Marsiglio, vice president of US Sourcing & Manufacturing at Walmart, is responsible for delivering Walmart’s $250 billion commitment towards additional US manufacturing in the next ten years. In that role she leads the company’s mission to facilitate opportunities with current and new suppliers and accelerate making US-made goods available to Walmart customers

She is also responsible for leading Walmart’s Supplier Diversity program, encouraging diverse companies to explore new opportunities with Walmart.

Not many understand the lockstep relationship that Walmart has with manufacturing. Two-thirds of the manufactured goods in their stores are made or grown in the US. With 60% of Americans shopping at Walmart, they can “move markets," taking an active role in the manufacturing supply chain.

Chris Caplice, PhD, executive director of MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics, talks about challenges to the traditional supply chain and how that will alter the competitive landscape for companies.

Today’s podcast is a series of flash interviews with manufacturers and service providers participating at [M]Power, a gathering of Northeast Ohio manufacturing leaders sharing best practices across keynotes and workshops. MAGNET, the Cleveland Engineering Society and Crain’s Cleveland Business sponsored this event that convened more than 450 participants in Cleveland.

Anthony Schlegel, president, founder and inventor of The Difference USA, discusses the process that led to the local manufacture of this portable hand placement/striking machine used primarily for football strength training.

Anthony formed The Difference USA, LLC, after completing his MBA from the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University and leaving his post as the associate director of football sport performance for the Buckeyes.

Anthony started his college career at the U.S. Air Force Academy before transferring to Ohio State and the Buckeye team. He was selected in the 2006 NFL draft by the New York Jets and played with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Today we are speaking with Sridhar Kota, PhD, director of MForesight, a national consortium that is helping to set the trajectory of U.S. advanced manufacturing. He is the Herrick Professor of Engineering, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan and the Director of the Institute for Manufacturing Leadership – a think-and-do tank focusing on policy, education and outreach.

Between 2009-2012 Sridhar served as the Assistant Director for Advanced Manufacturing at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. In this role, he developed policy recommendations and implementation strategies to enhance U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, and to foster innovation-based manufacturing of emerging technologies. He played an instrumental role in launching several initiatives including National Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, National Robotics Initiative and National Digital Engineering and Manufacturing.

Sridhar has authored over 200 technical papers and submitted over 25 patents. He’s also the founder & President of FlexSys Inc. specializing in shape morphing aircraft wings and bio-inspired products.

Today we are speaking with Congressman Tim Ryan, U.S. Representative for Ohio's 13th congressional district, about his strong advocacy for manufacturing, including the NNMI program under which America Makes was generated in Youngstown. Congressman Ryan serves Northeast Ohio, including Youngstown and Akron. When he took office in 2003, he was the youngest Democrat in the House at 29 years of age. He currently serves on the House Appropriations and Budget Committees. Congressman Ryan is also the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Manufacturing Caucus as well as the co-chair of the Congressional Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus.

Before heading to DC, he also served in the Ohio Senate. Congressman Ryan received a degree in political science from Bowling Green State University and earned his juris doctor degree from Franklin Pierce Law Center in New Hampshire. He is a native of Niles, Ohio.

The quickest Manufacturing Podcast ever features several industry leaders participating in the Fisher College of Business Center for Operational Excellence Summit in April. We ask John Matera, COO of WillowWood, Craig Wreede, production manager at Crown Equipment and John Labrador, head of food safety and quality at Agrana about best practices in manufacturing innovation and continuous improvement. Special thanks to the Center for Operational Excellence for helping to arrange these interviews and to those who were interviewed, who were pulled from the crowd to answer questions.

Gary Conley has been President and CEO of TechSolve, a National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) center, since 1995. Among a host of accomplishments, Gary oversaw completion of the TechSolve Business Park, which is home to 13 businesses and 2,000 employees.

Before coming to TechSolve, Gary was President of the Economic Development Corporation of Los Angeles County. He was also President of North Coast Harbor, Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio and oversaw development of Cleveland's lakefront, including the Great Lakes Science Center and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

With more than 40 years of experience managing economic development programs and organizations, he has led the implementation of hundreds of public and private development projects, representing billions of dollars of investment.

Pete Buca, Parker Hannifin's Fluid Connector Group vice president of technology & innovation, discusses their technology breakthrough process on Manufacturing Tomorrow.