Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing

In this episode of Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing, host Phil Mintz talks with Luke Taylor, owner of Omni Mold & Die, a high-precision machine shop in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, specializing in the design, machining, repair, and maintenance of plastic injection molds, metal stamping dies, and custom tooling. Luke's path into manufacturing was anything but traditional. Armed with de...

In this episode of Clocking In: Voices of North Carolina Manufacturing, host Phil Mintz sits down with Conrad Leiva, Vice President of Ecosystems and Workforce Development at CESMII (The Smart Manufacturing Institute), to discuss how smart manufacturing is becoming more accessible to manufacturers of all sizes, no matter how long you’ve been manufacturing. ----more---- Conrad shares how advances i...

In this episode, Dr. Phil Mintz sits down with Amber Coker Butler and Laurence Butler, third-generation leaders of Coker Feed Mill , a family-owned animal feed manufacturer based in Goldsboro, North Carolina. After careers in education and a life in Phoenix, the couple returned home to help transition the business as Amber’s father prepared for retirement. ----more---- Coker Feed Mill produces hig...

In this episode, Dr. Phil Mintz, Director of NC State University Industry Extension Services, talks with Bogdan Ionescu , co-owner of OGC Stained Glass (Ordway Glass Company) , a husband-and-wife–run stained glass studio based in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. Bogdan walks us through how he and his wife Nicole built a thriving, award-winning business out of their garage—balancing art, family life,...

In this episode of Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing, host Dr. Phil Mintz sits down with Tommy Ausheman, co-founder and president of Outrider USA. Based in Mars Hill, North Carolina, Outrider USA is a premier manufacturer of adaptive electric all-terrain vehicles designed to restore independence, adventure, and access to the "great outdoors" for individuals with mobility impairments. ----mor...

In this episode of Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing, host Phil Mintz sits down with Lindsey Crisp, President and CEO of Carver Machine Works—also known as CMW Global—a nearly 50-year-old manufacturing company located just steps from the Pamlico River in Washington, North Carolina. ----more---- Lindsey shares how Carver Machine Works has evolved from repairing phosphate mining equipment in t...

In this episode of Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing, host Phil Mintz sits down with Dr. Jason Alexander, Business Development Manager at Alotech, Inc., a contract manufacturing company based in Goldston, North Carolina. ----more---- Alotech’s journey—from its early roots in remanufacturing to its expansion into machining, engineering, logistics, and product development—reflects both the ada...

In this episode of "Clocking In, Forces of NC Manufacturing," host Phil Mintz, director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP), interviews John Weir, the founder and CEO of I2E Group ( I2E stands for "Innovation to Execution”). Based in High Point, North Carolina, the I2E Group specializes in the design, development, and production of a variety of electronic assemblies,...

From Classroom to Continuous Improvement: Clifton Dial’s Journey in Manufacturing Leadership. In this episode of Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing, host Phil Mintz sits down with Dr. Clifton Dial, Operations Manager at WePack Logistics in Laurinburg, North Carolina. From a start in biology and education to a leadership role in manufacturing, Dr. Dial shares his unconventional career path and...

Gilden in Sanford, North Carolina, Changes Corporate Culture. North Carolina is the home to some of the world’s largest apparel manufacturers. In this episode of Clocking In, we are fortunate to learn more about Gilden, a leader in textiles for over 40 years, with 30 locations and more than 45,000 employees in over 12 countries. ----more---- Gildan is one of the world’s largest vertically integrat...

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s New Focus on Manufacturing In this episode of Clocking In, NCMEP Director Phil Mintz speaks with U.S. Small Business Administration leaders Lisa Shimkat, Mike Arriola, and Dan Piche about the new Made in America Manufacturing Initiative. The initiative aims to strengthen small manufacturers through reduced regulations, tailored loan programs, and workforce...

AI will be a Game Changer for an Optimistic Economic Outlook for North Carolina New technologies such as artificial intelligence will no doubt transform the state’s traditional powerhouses of textiles, tobacco, and technology. ----more---- As a new federal executive branch takes shape and establishes its policies, Dr Phil Mintz, Director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership, d...

CTI Systems Realizes the Value in Retaining Their Workforce. CTI Systems has been locally owned and producing high-quality equipment for the electronics assembly industry for over 35 years. CTI Systems offers a wide range of products, from the most complex laser markers to depaneling routers and simple conveyors. Located in the Lee County Industrial Park, CTI Systems is a four-fold operation in th...

One woman turned a family recipe into an award-winning snack company, combining innovative branding, sustainable growth, and community support to deliver high-quality cheesy snacks and create new business opportunities. In this episode of Clocking In, Phil Mintz, the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership director talks with Becca Jordan Wright, the CEO and founder of Piedmont Pennies,...

Husband and wife duo of Queen City Engineering and Design launch an in-house manufacturing company to control the development process resulting in greater flexibility, quality, shorter project lead times, and new business opportunities. ----more---- Queen City Engineering and Design’s growth from a single laptop in a spare bedroom to a 7,000-square-foot engineering design and manufacturing facilit...

Kings Mountain, North Carolina fabric manufacturer STI Fabrics holds up against the test of time. In today’s industrial landscape, the demand for specialized fabrics tailored to unique applications has never been greater. From heavy-duty manufacturing to advanced technological fields, specialized fabrics ensure efficiency, safety, and innovation across various industries. These fabrics are enginee...

West Jefferson, NC-based Carolina Timberworks received the 2024 Sustainability Leadership Award. Mass timber is a type of engineered wood product that is gaining popularity in the construction industry due to its sustainability, strength, and versatility. Unlike traditional lumber, which is typically cut from large trees, mass timber is made by laminating smaller wood pieces together to create lar...

Winston-Salem-based ZIEHL-ABEGG received the 2024 NCMEP Developing Markets Leadership Award. Developing markets represent organizations experiencing rapid growth and industrialization. These markets are characterized by increasing economic activity, expanding consumer bases and significant investment opportunities. Companies and investors are drawn to developing markets due to their potential for...

Lenior, NC-based Teijin Automotive Technologies received the 2024 NCMEP Manufacturing Excellence Award. Continuous improvement in manufacturing is a strategic approach focused on systematically enhancing production processes, reducing waste, and increasing efficiency. Rooted in principles like Kaizen and Lean Manufacturing, this methodology involves the relentless pursuit of incremental changes to...

Burlington, NC climbing rope manufacturer wins the 2023 Coolest Thing Made in North Carolina Award. Climbing rope is a crucial component of climbing equipment, serving as a lifeline for climbers in recreational and professional settings. They are indispensable in the climbing world, providing essential support and safety to climbers. Their design, construction and technological advancements contin...

Located in Durham, NC, First Flight Venture Center Hangar 6 is an NCMEP partner that focuses on the entrepreneurial and startup space. Prototyping spaces, also known as maker spaces or innovation labs, are crucial for the advancement and success of the manufacturing industry. These specialized environments provide essential tools, resources, and collaborative opportunities that enable manufacturer...

The Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) BioWork program trains students for a career with biomanufacturing organizations like Pfizer. Home to more than 700 life science companies North Carolina currently ranks third in the nation for biotechnology. With its robust infrastructure, skilled workforce, and supportive business environment, the state has become a hotspot for companies looking to e...

NCMEP Partner, North Carolina Community College System, brings accessible customized training for businesses and individuals to counties across North Carolina. Community colleges hold immense importance in the educational landscape, serving as accessible gateways to higher education for diverse students. These institutions are vital in providing affordable and flexible educational and training opp...

North Carolina-founded brick manufacturer Triangle Brick Company, produces hundreds of millions of bricks yearly to build America. Bricks have been a reliable and versatile construction material for thousands of years. From ancient civilizations to modern cities, bricks have stood the test of time and are integral to our built environment. But have you ever stopped to think about how they are made...

The Sanford, North Carolina Bharat Forge facility continues to play a crucial role as the production of electric vehicles increases. The art of forging has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. It has been a fundamental practice in human civilization, from early techniques to modern advancements, contributing to the development of society and technological advancements. ----more---- A...