Manufacturing Talks
There are millions of cool stories in manufacturing. Your host, Jim Vinoski, helps share them by talking to the people who are making them happen. Manufacturing is where the rubber meets the road. There's no hiding. You're either making good products people will buy for enough to keep you in business, or you're not. Meet the amazing folks who thrive in that survival-of-the-fittest world.
Episodes
124 episodes
Anthony Constantino of Sticker Mule on making stickers and standing up to trash media outrage
There are two distinct stories in this episode featuring the CEO of Sticker Mule.The first one is about how Anthony and his business partners built a successful business making and selling stickers (and now a whole lot more!) It's a gre...
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35:40
Lester Young gives us his personal experiences with second chance hiring
There are a lot of stories out there about the companies that have blessedly tackled the desperate need for a pathway back to gainful employment and a meaningful career for those who've served time in prison.But you don't hear too many ...
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39:14
Mikhail Taver educates us about investing in industrial AI
You may have heard a bit about AI, am I right?But have you heard about how to whether a specific AI business is a good economic opportunity?Mikhail Taver is here to help. He founded his own investment company, Taver Capital Part...
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24:50
John Bowman tells all the amazing stories from his career in advertising!
We don't often delve into the world of advertising here, but how can you succeed as a manufacturer without it? Fortunately for Episode 121 we connected with one of the best ever, Adman Emeritus John Bowman from Admeritus.John's now most...
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42:27
Green cement that's economically competitive? Ryan Gilliam from Fortera says yes!
Too many emissions reduction-driven or otherwise environmentally friendly new methods of manufacturing simply cost too much and require too much new equipment and plant disruption, so they rarely fly without big dollops of government pork.<...
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29:35
Anna Frounfelker is the Woman of Steel!
We don't talk about the steel industry near enough around here. Yet it's the fundamental form of manufacturing, a precursor to so much other production!So it was a true pleasure to be joined for Episode 119 by Anna Frounfelker. She's cu...
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27:06
We need smarter energy policies - and our favorite scientist Mark Mills is on the job!
Polymath Mark Mills joins us again for a rousing discussion of what's ailing America when it comes to ensuring affordable and reliable energy.Mark is putting the finishing touches on his new outfit - he's now the Executive Dire...
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44:34
Are software vulnerabilities costing your factory big dollars? He's here to help!
Adam Gluck was a founding engineer on Uber's engineering strategy team, where got an early education in development and operations (DevOps). He quickly learned how industrial coding errors and cybersecurity breaches are increasingly a very cost...
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31:46
They use 3D printing to make more environmentally friendly (and extremely cool!) furniture
Model No. produces high-end light fixtures and furniture with a new end in mind: elevating the experience while eliminating the waste. They collaborate with architects and designers along with industry partners to use regenerative and biodegrad...
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35:29
Jim Vinoski on why pork-driven plant construction spending doesn't make a manufacturing boom
There have been countless breathless reports about the ongoing "boom" in American manufacturing. After all, look at the countless billions of dollars being spent to build plants! Good times are back!Except they aren't. Actual manufactur...
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12:06
How are maintenance fundamentals the foundation of good business? He's here to tell us
It was fascinating speaking with Nick Haase, who co-founded MaintainX to bring modern tech solutions to manufacturing maintenance. You'd think that's a pretty niche application, and yet almost every central element of his platform he brought up...
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32:11
Running a family business? Workforce development? Cycling? Matt Guse says check, check, and check!
Matt Guse started in machining as a teenager and eventually took over the machine shop his dad founded.Along the way he became a fierce advocate for his team members and for new ways to develop the workforce of the future. Oh, and a com...
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34:27
Want to reduce absenteeism? She says to make it easier for your workers to communicate!
Calling off work is the easiest thing to do, right?Maybe not, and maybe that breakdown in communications is costing you a lot more than you think.Sheila Stafford, co-founder and CEO of TeamSense, joined us for Episode 112 to exp...
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29:59
Manufacturing digitalization? Heck yes - these guys are here to tell us why and how!
Alex Krüger is the co-founder and CEO of United Manufacturing Hub (UMH), our subject company, and Frank Thelen is co-founder and CEO of Freigeist, a venture capital fund that's backing them. They joined us for Episode 111 to explain all about w...
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31:05
Wanna hear about the totally cool Giant Magellan Telescope?
Bruce Bigelow joins us for Episode 110 to share the latest and greatest in one of the biggest coming pieces of science technology ever. The Giant Magellan telescope, which is being constructed in Chile, will open up vistas of our universe we co...
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43:20
How to grow a fifth-generation family company? Diversify!
Multiple generations of ownership of a family business make for a great story - but they also historically make for increasing difficulties in making the business work. Matthew Nix. President and CEO of Nix Companies, took the industrial compan...
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33:36
Tommy's Express does manufacturing too? Yep - he's here to tell us why...
Who knew the fast-growing car wash smash hit company Tommy's Express is also into manufacturing?When you learn why, it makes perfect sense. Ed Ouellette, the company's National Franchise Development Manager, joined us for Episode 108 to...
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30:15
Clare Epstein from Vector Solutions talks about the latest and greatest in keeping your workers safe
It should be job one for everyone, but especially for manufacturers, to ensure the people who work for us go home every night in at least as good condition as they were in when they showed up for the job.Among other offeringss, Vector S...
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24:14
Lori Waiser and Brian Hollowaty of Los Angeles Brands tell their manufacturing success story
Nothing like throwing yourself a challenge! Los Angeles Brands has its production of skin care and beauty products right there in the LA area, just to make things interesting. Then they launch their products against some of the biggest, best-kn...
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34:04
Paul H. Tice tells us about his dire warnings about ESG and global finance from his recent book
This is the most important episode we've done so far. That's because, if we don't heed the call to action from author Paul Tice in his book, *The Race to Zero: How ESG Investing Will Crater the Global Financial System,* our economy and our way ...
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46:00
Quality guru Michelle Brydalski gives us the all the latest scoop about food safety
The terrible headlines of recalls and foodborne illnesses can have people thinking our food supply is a disaster. But the fact is that while it's safer now than at almost any time in the past, there are always places where our producers can imp...
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36:16
Isaac Orr and Mitch Rolling of Always On Energy Research on why we're heading for an energy disaster
Having just founded Always On Energy Research, Isaac Orr and Mitch Rolling -experts on power generation and our creaky grids - joined us to give us their unique perspectives on America's electricity situation. They publish routinely on the subj...
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31:13
Konstantin Christoulakis shares his encyclopedic knowledge of metal markets and mining
For our 102nd episode, your host is joined by his pal who helped him with a Forbes article about mining a year ago, and who has been his go-to guy for metals intelligence ever since.Konstantin Christoulakis is a senior manager of procur...
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40:59
Your host Jim Vinoski explains how Biden's regulations blitz is the industrial suicide of America
In a recent Forbes article, your host explained how Germany was undergoing the beginnings of deindustrialization as a result of its horrible energy policies, and how that should be a warning to America.Unfortunately the current administ...
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15:18
Our gravelly-voiced announcer John Farabee joins us for Episode 100 to talk supply chains
Yes indeed, Episode 100 is upon us! We could have a celebrity or a head of state as a guest, but it was obvious the right choice was a guy that fans of the show have heard from many times before! John Farabee, our intro and outro voice-over guy...
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35:02