EECO Asks Why Podcast

The Christmas season brings lots of opportunities to step away and reflect.  One of the benefits of that reflection is the ability to see what is working and what adjustments you should consider in the future.   In this Christmas special Chris shares 5 valuable insights he's learned from procurement professionals that have recently come on the show. Their knowledge is sure to help many improv...

When the worlds of manufacturing and education collide powerful things can happen! That's exactly what Jeremiah Williams is leading at Danville Community College in Danville, Virginia.  He is the Directior of Integrated Machining Technology and their program is leading the way in developing some of the strongest machining technicians in industry.  Jeremiah shares how a program like his got st...

Our hero Alicia Gilpin is making waves in the industrial automation world. From controls to social media influencer to podcaster her plate stays full. In this fun hero story she unpacks her journey and shares lessons learned along the way.  She has an amazing example of how people are coming to her directly for engineering support and the new way she can serve them.  By leaning into her LinkedIn n...

The world of sourcing has changed dramatically.  In this information packed conversation Karen Blackburn returns and provides an inside look at the world of professional procurement.  Karen covers the areas that matter most in manufacturing including: Sustaining and securing the supply chain What value added services truly matter Creative ways to consider freight The power of Vendor Managed Invent...

Some heroes wear capes and others make metal fly! Jeremiah Williams is an absolute hero of industry as he's building the next generation of machining leaders one class at a time.  His journey led him to an exciting opportunity at Rolls Royce working with some of the most cutting edge technology available. From there he got a call that would change his path, any so many others in the future. ...

In this special episode Chris unpacks some of the moments he has been most thankful for since we launched EECO Asks Why. We hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving and get to celebrate with the ones that mean the most. Women in Engineering/Industry Series: Start of the first series Last episode of the first series (10 in total!) Start of the second series Finale of the second series  Power Series...

The world of control system integration is evolving fast! Alicia Gilpin (affectionately known as Ali G) shares insight into this exciting world.  As the Director of Engineering at Process and Controls Engineering she is on the frontlines daily and gives a perspective that is quite unique.  Ali unpacks many critical areas to consider including: Cybersecurity and  how that has firmly planted itself...

Submarines, airplanes and supply chain...oh my! In this powerful hero episode Karen Blackburn shares about her amazing journey through manufacturing.  Having over 40 years of hands on experience in multiple procurement roles led to a conversation full of wisdom and truth. Karen started out working for a company that manufactured submarines for the US Navy.  She speaks to many of the lessons learne...

Changing behavior is hard - especially for manufacturing. In this thought provoking idea episode Chris Roche breaks down how those in industry can start the shift from lead generation to demand generation.  He does a phenomenal job of explaining the history of lead generation and how it evolved over the years. In the ever changing digital landscape it is critical to develop a demand generation min...

"I am addicted to building things" - Robert Cooke Talk about an amazing journey Robert Cooke unpacks how his love of technology at an early age catapulted him into a career that takes him all over the world.  As the founder and Chief Technology Officer at 3 Forge he is on the front lines of developing game changing software solutions for many industries. Robert shares how a computer from...

The world of professional procurement has changed dramatically.  These days the focus has shifted to adding value through the supplier network. Amanda Prochaska is an expert in all things procurement and she gives an in depth review of how the game is now being played.  Digital transformation is not just for the manufacturing floor anymore and she shares insight into many areas that companies are...

"I like to connect people to what it is they need so they can accomplish what it is that they set out to do." - Ayoka Gay That quote summarizes the powerful conversation we had with our hero Ayoka Gay.  She is driven to serve others and help them understand the many options that exist for the future.  Her story is amazing and began at Lockheed Martin where she was an integral part of the...

Nothing should get in the way where an operator has to make a decision that could lead them to throwing away a batch of product.  Especially when it comes to the OT network.  Jonathan Noren breaks down the idea of how OT owners prioritize decision making and the impact that can have on business. He digs deep into the language barrier that exists between the IT and OT groups.  In a perfect scenario...

Does your curiosity lead you to wondering how to make things around you better? Our hero Amanda Prochaska is driven by her personal curiosity and forged an amazing path that she shares in this fun conversation.  When Amanda is serving others she is completely in her happy place! She has a passion for procurement and that world has evolved greatly over the years.  When she decided to take the entre...

Ovens, tomato sauce, crusts, cheeses, meats, veggies and even fruit - these are all components to making an amazing pizza!  Knowing how to arrange these items to make perfect pie is a visualization of manufacturing.  Now - what if you wanted the best pizza available how do you do it?  Prabhjot Singh breaks down how you can analyze the manufacturing process and make the adjustments that will leave...

When you utilize your gifts and talents the impact is huge.  David Friedman does that everyday as he loves to teach business leaders how to build amazing cultures.  His journey started in the insurance industry and after having incredible success there he found himself with a unique opportunity ahead. He began speaking at Vistage Leadership meetings all over the country and specifically taught abo...

Data is not a cost - it is an asset! The surge of data available to industrial manufacturing has been moving at an exponential rate.  Industrial 4.0, smart manufacturing and IIoT can make the best engineers feel like they are drinking from a fire hydrant.  Robert Cooke is on a mission to help people connect with data in a meaningful way. In this thought provoking conversation Robert shares how he...

Chris Roche forged an amazing path that started with his love of soccer.  Starting back in his elementary days in England he always found himself pursuing an entrepreneurial journey. Since coming to the US he has taken on some incredible challenges and currently is the CEO of Catalyst Consulting. His knowledge of marketing and demand generation put him at the forefront of helping SaaS and B2B comp...

Electric motors are the lifeblood of industry and knowing how to properly select them is critical.  It is easy to get overwhelmed if you have never sourced an electric motor before and this conversation will take all the stress away. Mike Rathbun is an expert in all things power related and electric motors is one of his specialties.  He shares practical tips that everyone needs to know to make the...

Joe Sullivan is making a huge impact on the world of manufacturing and it was an honor to have him share his amazing story.  He unpacks how his love of marketing led him down several paths that ultimately opened the door to the industrial manufacturing sector.  He is helping manufactures amplify their voice and combat the lies that manufacturing is dark, dirty and dangerous.  He and his amazing te...

Close your eyes and picture your dream career.  What are you doing?  Where are you finding joy?  While that exercise is fun the reality is that to land that dream job you will need to sharpen your skills around interviewing.  In this powerful conversation Vic Parangelo unpacks ten areas that everyone can take, learn and apply that are guaranteed to help you in the next interview.   Vic unpacks in...

Be present in what you are doing and make an impact!  That is the approach our hero Prabhjot Singh takes to business and life.  He is leading the way as the CEO at Pyze and his passion for helping manufacturers improve their processes is inspirational. Prabhjot shares how the pressure is impacting industry as the markets are more competitive than ever and the end users who understand their process...

The customer experience impacts us all.  When you enter a store the journey begins. Everything from how you find the items you are looking for to the actual purchasing process, every step makes an impression on how you evaluate a business.  This reins true in the industrial manufacturing sector as well as the markets are more competitive than ever so any opportunity to remove friction should be ca...

Alicia Wilson is leading the way at Summerville CPW and after walking through their amazing case study we had to unpack her journey as a nice cherry on top. She shares with us many of the steps she has taken in her career and even how a Clemson girl can stand strong surrounded by a world of Gamecocks!  This was the first time we were able to connect with someone in the water/wastewater industry an...

This is the incredible conclusion to Micah Miley and Mike Rathbun's amazing modernization case study.  It began by them working together to get their ducks in a row.  Then it moved into actual project management which basically meant they were dialed in with each other at all times (this is how trust and friendship is built).  In this episode they review the moment we have all been waiting fo...