Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are coming to you from our studio at the DMDII in Goose Island, Illinois. On today's episode, we continue to have a dialogue about what you can do to prepare your manufacturing business for the future. Jim and Jason talk about how future technologies will impact their respective businesses as they build on the framework we discussed on the last episode. In  Manufactur...

Hello Metalworking Nation and Happy Holidays from Jim, Jason and Ryan at MakingChips! We are happy to be back in our DMDII studio where today we will be expanding upon some similar principles from our last episode. What does your future look like?    Do you have a short, medium, and long-term vision of where you see your company? Jason and Jim lay down the framework for achieving your future desir...

Hello Metalworking Nation and Happy Thanksgiving from MakingChips! Where do you see your manufacturing business in the next five years? Do you have a vision of your company's future? On today's episode, Jim & Jason share 5 Questions that Manufacturing Leaders need to ask themselves  right now . In  manufacturing news,  we talk about a groundbreaking new surgical procedure and how it relates to man...

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are thrilled to be back in the MakingChips studio! On today's episode we answer a listener's questions about the social media platform,  LinkedIn . Jim and Jason both share their individual strategies for using the business platform -- notably for creating a conversation, strengthening their personal brand, and connecting with like minded individuals. They'll share th...

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are pleased to bring you another episode in our #MarketingForMakers series with Red Caffeine Marketing + Technology. On today's episode we welcome back Red Caffeine's Julie Poulos along with Dan Mantilla and Natalie Dubs as they help you answer the question -- "Who Do I Market To?" Where do you start? It starts with a list! Julie and her team cover the four challenges...

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are pleased to welcome back by popular demand,  Bill Strauss - Senior Economist and Economic Advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. On today's episode Bill shares his professional insight on several different topics relating to manufacturing and the global economy. We'll hear about manufacturing's economic performance in the U.S., the potential economic impac...

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are excited to welcome back  Patricia Miller - CEO of Matrix 4 , to the MakingChips Podcast. On today's episode we hear about Patricia's visit to the White House on behalf of the  National Association of Manufacturers . Patricia was seated directly next to President Trump as the group discussed efforts to boost manufacturing in the United States. In  manufacturing new...

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are coming to you LIVE from the  Valley Industrial Association's  Manufacturer's Collaboration Conference in Sugar Grove, Illinois. On today's episode of MakingChips, we answer the question: What is a chaplet? - Hint, it's used in castings. We welcome  Rich Hoster , President at Smith and Richardson Inc. Rich takes us through some of the strategies that Smith and Rich...

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are broadcasting remotely from a  Xometry  Vendor Partner,  GT Automation Group  in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Today we welcome  Steve Gildea , President at GT Automation and  Michael Dickson , VP of Customer and Partner Success at Xometry to the MakingChips Podcast, as they give us a deeper dive into the Xometry brand. We'll hear about the impact that Xometry has had on GT...

Hello Metalworking Nation! Today on MakingChips we welcome back Stacia Hobson for the second half of our two part interview. On this episode we'll hear about how her father reacted to their confrontation. Stacia also shares with us how she was able to take control of the business, what she would do differently in hindsight, how Image Industries addresses the skilled labor shortage, and we'll hear...

Hello Metalworking Nation! On this two part episode of MakingChips, we welcome  Stacia Hobson , Co-Owner of  Image Industries, Inc  to our remote studio at the TMA in Schaumburg, IL. Image Industries offers stud welding solutions for compact construction equipment to service the agricultural and construction markets. They are the industry leaders in manufacturing threaded fasteners & hydraulic por...

Hello Metalworking Nation! Two weeks ago we were joined by  Patricia Miller  and  Will Scott  of  Matrix 4  as they introduced us to the roles of Visionary and Integrator. Today, we take a deeper dive into those roles as we learn how they have been implemented at Matrix 4. Patricia and Will share the impact that these vital roles have had on their company, as they equip and inspire you to effectiv...

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are excited to bring you another episode in our  #MarketingForMakers  series with  Red Caffeine Marketing + Technology .  Today we welcome back  Julie Poulos  (Vice President) and  Kacey Keegan  (Content Writer & Strategist) as they equip you with the key elements to consider when planning your marketing strategy. Topics on today's episode include: creating a campaign...

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are excited to bring back a former guest who's incredible journey over the last few years has seen her go from an industry "newbie" to a manufacturing "rockstar". Two years ago we introduced you to  Patricia Miller of Matrix 4 , who had recently left her career in marketing to take over her grandfather's failing manufacturing business. With a complete overhaul of the...

Hello Metalworking Nation! On today's episode, we bring you part two of our interview with Nicole Wolter, President of HM Manufacturing. Last week we heard about a dire situation within HM Manufacturing that rocked the family business to it's core. On this episode, Nicole shares how the company recovered, implementing new procedures and processes to help lift HM to where they are today.  Episode S...

Hello Metalworking Nation and greetings from our studio at the DMDII in Goose Island, Chicago.  On this two part episode of MakingChips, we welcome back Nicole Wolter, President of HM Manufacturing Company. Nicole shares the captivating story of HM Manufacturing, a company that began with her father's passion for F1 racing. The downturn of the economy in 2008 proved to be the perfect time for Nico...

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are happy to bring you another episode of our #MarketingForMakers Series with Red Caffeine Marketing + Technology. Today we welcome back back Julie Poulos as she introduces Red Caffeine's Founder & CEO -- Kathy Steele. On this episode of MakingChips, we focus on integrating technology into your business. Kathy and Julie walk us through some starting points that will e...

Success is one of those concepts that we all understand, and yet, in reality it means something different to each individual. For some, it is financial, for others it is freedom to be able to lead a certain lifestyle. On this episode of MakingChips, we examine the concept of personal success as Jim and Jason ask: "What does success look like for you, and have you achieved it?". Jim Carr makes an a...

In business, we all know things don't always go the way they're supposed to. Shipments become delayed, orders aren't finished on time, and plans can change in an instant. Sometimes you can't keep up with your end of the transaction. So what is the appropriate way to respond to these unfortunate occasions, even if they're out of your hands? Maybe we can all learn something from the major airlines o...

Hello Metalworking Nation! Today, we are bringing you another episode in our #MarketingForMakers Series with Red Caffeine. We are pleased to welcome back Julie Poulos as she introduces Red Caffeine's Tech Lead /Lead Developer / Front End Designer  -- Chaz Klein . Today's episode focuses on the face of your business -- your website . Julie and Chaz guide us through some steps that will equip you wi...

"The more comfortable you get with trying new things, the more you're going to say yes to new challenges." Hello Metalworking Nation! Today, we are coming to you from our new studio at the DMDII in Goose Island, IL. On today's episode, Jim and Jason share their experiences that led them to step out of their comfort zone, and pursue new challenges. We'll hear from each of them as they explain what...

There are 12 Master Brand Archetypes. Which one are you ? Hello Metalworking Nation! We are thrilled to bring you another episode in our MakingChips #MarketingForMakers Series with Red Caffeine. On today's episode we welcome two special guests from Red Caffeine; Shannon Callarman – Content Director and Danny Wyse – Graphic Designer. We'll hear Shannon explain what Archetyping is, and what it says...

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are excited to be coming to you from our brand new studio at the DMDII in Goose Island, Chicago. On this episode of MakingChips, Jim and Jason talk about overtime in the manufacturing industry. Should workers count on it as a guarantee; or should it be considered a special privilege? We also speak about industry 4.0, our new studio, family vacations, and growing pains...

Hello Metalworking Nation! Today we are coming to you from DMG MORI's Innovation Days in Hoffman Estates, IL where we are pleased to welcome some very special guests to the show. On this episode we'll be speaking with three different manufacturing leaders, and getting their perspective on hot-button topics including automation, strategic visioning, digitization, and mitigating the skills shortage....

Hello Metalworking Nation! We are thrilled to bring in a very special guest this week; someone who we truly believe can help elevate your leadership to the next level. Today we welcome  Andrea Olson ,  founder and CEO of  Prag'madik.   Prag'madik  works with technology companies, industrial manufacturers, and professional service companies that are facing challenges to growth, and looking to make...