Abby Smith and Ronn Cort with Team Pennsylvania

Scott MacKenzie hosts a podcast celebrating industrial professionals and their innovations. In this episode, he discusses with Abby Kantor and Ronn Cort from Team Pennsylvania the importance of collaboration in manufacturing. Team Pennsylvania, a nonprofit since 1997, fosters collaboration between government, business, and education to support Pennsylvania's economy, particularly in manufacturing. They offer resources like the "Factory of the Future" website, which helps manufacturers integrate technology and connect with local support. Ronn shares how his company, Dunmore, restructured its maintenance and engineering teams using these resources. The conversation emphasizes the need for actionable, long-term strategies to support manufacturers' digital transformation.

Action Items

• [ ] Manufacturers can visit PAmanufacturingfuture.com to take a quiz and identify where they are on their technology integration journey and find local resources to help them.
• [ ] Dunmore will continue working to restructure their organization to better focus on automation, including potentially creating an on-site training center.
• [ ] Manufacturers can contact Team Pennsylvania via their website or email if interested in getting involved.

Outline

Introduction to Industrial Talk Podcast

• Scott MacKenzie introduces the Industrial Talk Podcast, emphasizing its focus on industry professionals and their innovations.
• Scott highlights the importance of manufacturing and the platform's goal to celebrate industrial professionals.
• The episode features Abby and Ronn from Team Pennsylvania, an organization dedicated to manufacturing solutions.
• Scott encourages listeners to visit the Team Pennsylvania website and reach out for collaboration opportunities.

Introduction of Abby and Ronn

• Scott MacKenzie welcomes Abby and Ronn to the podcast, emphasizing their roles at Team Pennsylvania.
• Abby introduces herself as the President and CEO of Team Pennsylvania, a nonprofit organization focused on collaboration for Pennsylvania's economy.
• Ronn introduces himself as the President of Dunmore, a mid-sized manufacturer specializing in specialty films, foils, tapes, textiles, and specialized coatings.
• Scott and Ronn discuss the importance of collaboration and the role of Team Pennsylvania in supporting manufacturers.

Overview of Team Pennsylvania

• Abby explains that Team Pennsylvania was founded in 1997 and focuses on collaboration between government, business, and education for Pennsylvania's economy.
• The organization hosts the Manufacturing Competitiveness Collaborative, involving manufacturers, business leaders, government leaders, organized labor, and education institutions.
• The goal is to ensure the health of manufacturing in Pennsylvania through collaboration and technology integration.
• Ronn shares his experience with Team Pennsylvania, highlighting the organization's role in supporting manufacturers and its public-private partnership model.

Manufacturing Competitiveness Collaborative

• Abby describes the Manufacturing Competitiveness Collaborative as a platform for manufacturers to work together on common challenges.
• The collaborative focuses on integrating technology into manufacturing and ensuring that manufacturers have the resources they need.
• Ronn emphasizes the importance of action-oriented collaboration and the need for immediate results while also considering long-term benefits.
• Scott and Ronn discuss the challenges manufacturers face in navigating government processes and the role of Team Pennsylvania in facilitating this.

Factory of the Future Resource

• Abby introduces the "Factory of the Future" resource, available at PAmanufacturingfuture.com, to help manufacturers integrate technology.
• The resource provides a quiz to help manufacturers identify their current stage in the technology integration process.
• The resource also lists vetted organizations that can provide local support for technology integration, ensuring manufacturers connect with reliable partners.
• Ronn shares his experience with the resource, highlighting how it helped his organization restructure and improve their technology integration efforts.

Impact of Team Pennsylvania on Manufacturers

• Ronn discusses how the "Factory of the Future" resource helped his organization restructure their maintenance and engineering teams.
• The resource provided best practices and local support, leading to more efficient and effective technology integration.
• Abby adds that the resource also helps manufacturers secure funding by providing comprehensive strategies and demonstrating readiness for technology integration.
• Scott and Ronn emphasize the importance of collaboration and the role of Team Pennsylvania in supporting manufacturers' digital transformation.

Abby's Leadership and Team Pennsylvania's Agility

• Abby explains that Team Pennsylvania's small size and high altitude allow for nimble and responsive decision-making.
• The organization balances long-term vision with short-term action, ensuring they remain relevant and effective in supporting manufacturers.
• Ronn praises Abby's leadership and the diverse talent within Team Pennsylvania, highlighting their commitment to driving innovation and collaboration.
• Scott and Ronn discuss the importance of staying current and adapting to the rapid pace of change in the manufacturing industry.

Contact Information and Final Thoughts

• Abby provides contact information for Team Pennsylvania, encouraging manufacturers to reach out for collaboration opportunities.
• Ronn shares his contact information, including his LinkedIn profile, and invites listeners to connect with him for further discussions.
• Scott emphasizes the importance of collaboration and encourages listeners to visit the Team Pennsylvania website and reach out for support.
• The episode concludes with a reminder of the importance of supporting manufacturers and the role of platforms like Industrial Talk in fostering collaboration and innovation.