Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

Today on MakingChips, we answer a question from a listener and aspiring manufacturing leader named Doug. Doug asks the question: "Not being a manager yet, what can I do to promote a positive culture/work environment at work?" Jim and Jason share their respective opinions on the matter. In  Manufacturing News , we talk about concerns over rising wages in the metal industry. Later on, we share some...

Today on MakingChips we give you an inside look at what you can expect to see at IMTS 2016. We tell you what you need to be prepared, where you can find us at the event, a brief rundown on what's happening in the four different buildings, as well as information to help you find where you're going. In Manufacturing News, we talk about the history of IMTS, and later on we reveal some exciting new de...

On this episode of MakingChips, we welcome back Karla Dobbeck to the show. Karla is a certified professional in Human Resource Management with over 20 years experience in many aspects of human resource management and employment law compliance issues. Karla shares some tips and tricks to help machinists elevate their resume to the next level. In manufacturing news, we talk about Tesla Motor's decis...

Where are you going?   Knowing why you're doing what you're doing (your mission), where you're trying to go (your vision), and how you're going to go about it (your values) are the glue that holds an organization together .   On this episode of MakingChips, Jim and Jason dive into the subject of corporate vision. Notably, the questions you should be asking yourself when developing your companies v...

On this episode of MakingChips, we welcome to the show Bill Angsten, co-founder of Compass Automation. Compass Automation designs and builds custom equipment to automate manufacturing processes. Bill talks with us about how he started the company, what Compass Automation does differently, maintaining a strong company culture, and marketing yourself differently. In manufacturing news, we talk about...

It is not unusual for multiple members of a family to work at the same business.  However, such situations can be troublesome if the relationships give rise to suspicions of favoritism or unfair treatment. We see this a lot in family business, government, everywhere.  After all, it's in our human nature to help those we love and who are like us but is it good for the business? What should your com...

How is digital manufacturing going to affect the modern machine shop? On this episode of MakingChips, we are joined by  Jeff Rizzie, Senior Manager of Business Development at Sandvik Coromant . Jeff talks with us about the next phase of  digital manufacturing  and what changes we can expect to see in the future in terms of process improvement and efficiency. He also shares some key steps to help y...

We are happy to announce that this is the first episode of MakingChips shot entirely with video. We want to thank Chuck Shroeder and IMTS for coming to our studio and making all of us look good. Video segments of this episode are soon to come. On this episode of MakingChips, we have the pleasure of sitting down with  Cassie Haupers , Vice President at  Swiss Precision Machining . SPM  is an ISO 90...

On part 2 of this episode of MakingChips, we continue our discussion with Bill Strauss, Senior Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Topics discussed in this episode include the world economy, energy prices and their impact on manufacturing, borrowing and loans, education, growth rate, future economic trends, and the millennial generation. Episode Structure: [01:30] - Manufacturing Ren...

On part 1 of this 2 part episode, we have a conversation with Bill Strauss . Bill is a senior economist and economic advisor in the economic research department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago . His research papers include analysis of the manufacturing sector, the automotive sector, the Midwest regional economy, the trade-weighted dollar, business cycles and Federal Reserve payments operati...

Today on MakingChips: We welcome a very special VIP guest to our show,   Sean Holt - President for the Americas at Sandvik Coromant.  Sean has more than twenty years of engineering, business development and management experience. He is currently responsible for Sandvik Coromant's organization in North and South America. Sean shares his background with us, his history with Sandvik, and weighs in on...

We're all familiar with Murphy's Law; " Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong".  We've talked about this extensively in a previous MakingChips episode  on crisis management, but what can you do to make sure that your manufacturing company is covered in the event that something goes wrong? "It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when." From equipment breakdowns, to customer and employee clai...

Today on MakingChips: We are coming to you from the  Sandvik Coromant  Headquarters located in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. On this episode, we have a conversation with special guest  Troy Stashi ,   Industry & Application Specialist in Automotive/Milling at Sandvik Coromant. Troy shares his expertise on several different topics including  milling, efficiency, and trends in machining.  In manufacturing...

There is an old adage that has been floating around the business world for ages; "you should never do business with friends". If you've never worked together with your friend, it can be difficult to translate their skills from a social context into a business one. That doesn't mean that you should refuse to start a business relationship with friends and family. On this episode of MakingChips, we a...

When it comes to starting up your own business, it isn't always easy finding the the right space for exploring, creating, and developing your new ideas. What if you could assemble a community of like-minded people in a place where you can share ideas, be inspired, and collaborate with other creators. "It started with four or five people, grew to 400, and now we've built a physical home for that co...

There are several options when it comes to selling one of your old machines. Some are more convenient than others, but might offer you less money than what you expected. With a little bit of added effort, you can get the most money out of your old machine. On this episode of MakingChips, Jim shares his steps for creating a successful eBay campaign. We also talk about the upcoming IMTS 2016, Chicag...

The Manufacturing Industry of today looks a lot different than it did 20 or 30 years ago. Modern machine shops are safe, clean working environments; equipped with high-tech machinery. Unfortunately, there is still a stigma associated with manufacturing as a "dirty" and "dark" profession. So how do we change this perception amongst our youth?  Or perhaps more importantly, their parents, whose mispe...

There is an old saying: “ Expect the best, prepare for the worst. ” It’s not something we want to think about, and it can be a difficult topic to discuss. Crises don’t happen very often, but when they do occur, they tend to have significant consequences. Without a well-thought out, strategic plan, your business is at risk of being completely caught off guard should a disaster happen. "Know that a...

Throughout history, successful individuals such as Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, and Thomas Edison all met with groups of like-minded people on a regular basis, to help one another achieve common goals and grow. Today, this concept is called a “ mastermind ”, and is very well known amongst successful business owners.  In fact, many consider some concept of a mastermind group as a critical part to m...

We come to you from two separate locations (Dallas & Chicago) on this remote episode of MakingChips. Today we talk about establishing and exploring your manufacturing company’s niche . Jim and Jason share their idea of what niche means to them in their respective companies. In Manufacturing News we discuss Five Vital Steps to Set Up a Successful Manufacturing Business. We also recap the TMA’s 90th...

On this special episode of MakingChips, we recap the 2016 Crain's Manufacturers Summit with interviews from several VIP guests. First, we speak with  John Sapiente  of  Elgin Die Mold and  Trident Manufacturing about the challenges of running two businesses. Second, we have  Jason Scher of  Vosges Chocolate who speaks to us about working with your spouse, and the evolution of Vosges Chocolate. We...

Women are the future of manufacturing industry leaders and essential to the success of the industry. However, many women in manufacturing have experienced a gender bias which has excluded them from core managerial roles such as production supervisors and operations managers. Compounding the issue, many people think of manufacturing jobs as dirty, unskilled, back-breaking labor. That’s not the case...

A few months ago, we met with  Craig Zoberis of Fusion OEM to talk about his company's  Core Values.   In that episode, we covered the importance of figuring out who you are as a company and what you stand for.  More than anything, being a  leader is about staying true to the values and principles that you have built your company on. Leadership also imparts the responsibility of holding your visio...

Last week, we talked with Frank Holthouse about East Leyden High School’s Metals Program , and how they are providing an environment for students to learn modern manufacturing practices. This week, we continue that discussion. What can we do to spark interest in manufacturing to the younger generation? How can you replicate the success of Leyden’s Metals Program in your own community? “We need to...

Just a few years ago there were stories of mass layoffs in the manufacturing industry. Now, that is no longer the case. In 2015, Forbes listed Machining as one of the top 10 hardest jobs to fill in the United States. Today, Manufacturers are increasingly looking to high schools and community colleges to fill current staffing needs. Many schools are working to meet demand by modernizing their manuf...