The Manufacturing Executive

Manufacturing got left behind as the software industry progressed rapidly over the years. It’s time to catch up, and innovators like Adam Keating make it possible.As the Co-Founder & CEO at CoLab Software, Adam embraces the engineering approach of problem-solving. His team enables 2D and 3D CAD collaboration which has changed the game for manufacturing businesses, especially in the last 18 months.What we talked about:Adam’s Hyperloop adventures and the emergence of CoLab SoftwareManufacturing is catching up on the 20 year lead held by the software industryExamples of businesses that are thriving since embracing collaborative manufacturing technologyDigitization strategy for the sake of it vs. the intent to solve tangible problemsCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Adam’s LinkedIn profileAdam’s Twitter profileCoLab Software’s websiteSubscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

Would you rather focus on people or profitability in your business? You can’t have it all. But maybe you can…Maybe people and profitability go hand in hand, and each makes the other stronger. In this episode of The Manufacturing Executive, I talk with John Kramer, Chairman & CEO at Cambridge Air Solutions, 
and Marc Braun, President at Cambridge Air Solutions, about what it means to restore glory and dignity to manufacturing through both culture and business practices. We also talked about:How to build a culture that celebrates people. How profitability fits in with a people-first culture How to adapt to crises in a way that cares for people and drives business forward.Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.

There’s this perception that manufacturing jobs are dirty and dangerous. But in the modern era of manufacturing, that perception is changing as jobs are becoming more and more rooted in technology.In this episode of The Manufacturing Executive, I talk with Dr. John Mitchell, President & CEO at IPC, about the move from “dirty and dangerous” manufacturing to high-tech manufacturing. We also talked about:How IPC is using education to transform the negative manufacturing perception. How manufacturers can realize the benefits of AI.What manufacturers need to be thinking about when it comes to scaling.What's going on with semiconductors right now. Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:About IPCIPC EDGE Training Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.

Remember fax machines? They were going to revolutionize the way we did business. Then came dial-up modems and email. Now, our customer gives us a CAD file. We can create a toolpath in a snap.Like technology, organizational culture has completed several revolutions in a single lifetime. The speed of those revolutions is increasing, and manufacturing transforms every five years. What's coming next?In this episode of The Manufacturing Executive, Jim Carr, President at CARR Machine & Tool, Inc., talks about how manufacturing is evolving in both culture and technology.Here's what Jim and I discussed:Jim's family history in the manufacturing spaceThe effects of culture and technology changes on manufacturersHow to get everybody in your company working toward the same goalsTo ensure that you never miss an episode of The Manufacturing Executive, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, or here.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

If the Wright Brothers lived in the 21st century, they might be the Lonsberry boys. Andy Lonsberry earned his Ph.D. by researching machine learning and artificial intelligence for bipedal walking robots. His brother focused on biologically spiking recurrent neural networks.Together, they dived deep into allowing nonlinear systems to learn how to improve themselves. Then these two Ohio boys and their autonomous robot traveled to the west coast in search of funding. The trio came home with $15 million.In this episode of The Manufacturing Executive, Andy Lonsberry, Founder and CEO at Path Robotics, an AI robotics software company, talks about how the midwest houses the future of robotics.Here's what Andy and I discussed:How Path Robotics got its startUncovering automation talent in the midwestHow machine learning and AI are starting to change the manufacturing gameTo ensure that you never miss an episode of The Manufacturing Executive, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, or here.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

If we want to balance America's $800 billion trade deficit, we need to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. — 5 million manufacturing jobs to be exact.The ancillary benefits would be enormous. We'd reduce CO2 emissions 40-50%, slash the budget deficit, improve unemployment, and bolster national defense.What's stopping us? In this episode of The Manufacturing Executive, Harry Moser, Founder of the Reshoring Initiative, talks about his mission to bring 5 million manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. Here's what Harry and I discussed:Why the U.S. needs its manufacturing jobs backWhat Harry's Total Cost of Ownership calculator can tell executives about the benefits of reshoringHow reshoring can help eliminate the trade deficit To ensure that you never miss an episode of The Manufacturing Executive, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, or here.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

Baby Boomers are retiring. Manufacturing is booming in 2021. And emerging generations aren't considering careers in the field. There just aren't enough people to do the jobs that need to be done.How will manufacturers fill the skills gap Boomers are leaving behind them?In today's episode, I talk with Matt Guse, President at MRS Machining Company, about an actual manufacturing operation happening within the walls of a Wisconsin high school.Here's what Matt and I discussed:How Matt launched, funded, and supported his competitionThe benefits of inserting a manufacturing operation into a high schoolWhy interest in manufacturing has declined among young people and how to change that trajectoryTo ensure that you never miss an episode of The Manufacturing Executive, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, or here.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

How do you define marketing success? Many manufacturing organizations are sales-centric. They may not even support a marketing department beyond a content team. Consequently, they don't measure marketing success. But if you've taken things a step further, you've probably discovered how convoluted a measurement system can be.In today's episode, I, Joe Sullivan, share my thoughts about how to straighten out your marketing success measurement system. I dive into topics such as:Defining your termsWhich KPIs matter mostThe danger of growing near-sighted with your marketingTo ensure that you never miss an episode of The Manufacturing Executive, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, or here.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

A lot of companies are started by people who are experts in their craft, but are not great at building companies. But how do you learn to let go of the day-to-day? How do you, as a founder, learn to focus on developing repeatable and scalable business processes in order to grow and scale your business successfully? On this episode of the Manufacturing Executive, I sit down with Paul Van Metre. Paul is the Co-Founder of ProShop ERP, and our conversation on this episode centered all around:Why focusing on repeatable and scalable processes is the ONLY thing that’s going to grow your businessWhy you should be working ON the business, not IN the businessThe process of evolving from a machine shop into a software businessTo ensure that you never miss an episode of The Manufacturing Executive, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, or here.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

Are you prepared to exit your company?Many business owners haven't thought about transitioning from their position of leadership. But it's inevitable that you'll hand over the keys to your business one day. When that day comes, will you know what your options are?In today's episode, I talk with Chris Redmond, Senior Vice President at Capital For Business, about transitioning ownership or leadership of an industrial enterprise.Here's what Chris and I discussed:Three different approaches to private equity investmentHow to differentiate your company for prospective buyersWhere owners seeking outside investment should startTo ensure that you never miss an episode of The Manufacturing Executive, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, or here.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.