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
176 episodes
Michael Goerlich from Raven Concealment Systems on growing a small Rust Belt manufacturing business
It's always a treat to hear from folks who are building new American manufacturing businesses. So chatting with Michael Goerlich, who makes gun holsters just outside of Cleveland, was great fun.Michael, owner of Raven Concealment System...
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47:43
Author Zach Hanson on the immense value of learning trade skills for yourself!
Man, this one was so much fun! I had one of my new favorite authors ever, Zach Hanson, join me to discuss ideas on closing the skilled trades gap from a very personal point of view.Zach is the author of "The Trade Gap," about his journe...
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36:00
In the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination, Mike Becker and Jim Vinoski discuss their differences
Jim Vinoski hosts Mike Becker in the aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk to set the example that people with opposing views can address their differences rationally and respectfully.Mike, a consultant at Becker Quality Improv...
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40:12
Scott MacKenzie from Industrial Talk on making manufacturing cool again!
What a great show it made to have as our guest the one and only Scott MacKenzie, manufacturing advocate and industry commentator extraordinaire!Scott is managing director of Industrial Talk Media, and he shared his journey from starting...
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38:33
Angie Simon and Maria Ford discuss the Heavy Metal Summer Experience, introducing youth to trades
Anyone in industry knows the harsh reality of the skilled trades gap. Every affected business needs to be involved in bringing more of our youth into careers in the trades.Want a great example? That's exactly why we invited Angie Simon,...
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35:40
Filip Aronshtein from Dirac on how automated digital work instructions can supercharge your ops
How can work process automation help your manufacturing team? That's exactly what Filip Aronshtein joined us to talk about. He's co-founder and CEO of Dirac, a company that automates digital work instructions for manufacturers. Dirac's platform...
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33:44
Andre Marino of Schneider Electric talks industrial automation
With factory tech being all the rage in manufacturing these days, it was a treat to get some insights from a global expert.Andre Moreno, Senior Vice President of Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric, joined us to discuss his comp...
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36:45
Episode 169: Shep Hickey on the manufacturing and workforce landscape
Shep Hickey founded Bryzos, a metals trading platform, and he hosts the podcast "Irregardless." Shep shares his journey from steel distribution to digital trade, emphasizing the need for efficient systems and technology. He discusses the import...
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47:02
Author Paul Tice brings us good news about regulations, ESG, and the Endangerment Finding
Paul Tice, author of *The Race to Zero: How ESG Investing Will Crater the Global Financial System,* recently wrote an article about the Trump administration's plan to do away with the EPA's Obama-era Endangerment Finding that classed CO2 as a p...
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41:49
Jim Belosic from SendCutSend on modern tech revolutionizing manufacturing
One of the most amazing categories of story out there is where huge tech leaps in manufacturing completely reshape how we make things. That's why this chat with Jim Belosic, founder of SendCutSend, is so riveting.Jim Belosic discussed h...
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34:41
Lawrence Reed talks free markets, liberty, character, and the best business policies
Lawrence Reed, President Emeritus of the Foundation for Economic Education, about his journey and insights on free markets and business policies. Larry credits his father's common sense and anti-communist sentiments for his advocacy of liberty....
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39:22
Merrin Muxlow on investment casting, metal, and American manufacturing
It's always a good show when we talk about metal. So it was pure awesome having Merrin Muxlow, who leads partnerships for the Investment Casting Institute, join us to tell us about the world of metal casting.Merrin discusses the importa...
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41:40
Author Jeff Leimbach on his book about the decline of US manufacturing - and what to do about it
So, this dude sends me a copy of his book... then pesters me relentlessly to read it.And I'm really glad he did.Jeff Leimbach's *Broken Supply Chains: How Financial Engineering Hollowed American Manufacturing and the Complex Jou...
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37:16
Ed Marsh on driving revenue growth with the right sales process for manufacturers
What a great bunch of know-how Ed Marsh, founder of Ed Marsh Consulting, brings us in this episode! He discusses the importance of revenue growth in manufacturing and emphasizes the need for a systematic approach similar to manufacturing's cont...
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40:08
Patrick Anderson on the flagging EV transition, auto prices, tariffs, and the economy
What a treat it was to have Patrick Anderson, founder of Anderson Economic Group, join us to discuss the economic impact of electric vehicle (EV) costs and tariffs on the automotive industry! Patrick always brings fresh, informed insights backe...
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44:37
Business strategy guru Peter McDonald talks about the ups and downs of our CPG companies
Consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies as a whole have not been doing well lately. They're the ones that make your foods and beverages as well as other daily use items like toiletries and cleaning supplies.But there are winners and los...
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36:35
Mike Rowe discusses his new partnership with PureTalk to bring military vets to the skilled trades
The inimitable Mike Rowe joined us to talk about his passion for promoting skilled trades, highlighting the significant increase in open positions from 2.3 million in 2009 to 7.6 million today. We chatted about his new partnership with PureTalk...
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38:59
Our host Jim Vinoski on the nonexistent rule about rich countries always being service economies
"Manufacturing jobs aren't coming back to America, because rich nations are always service economies."Wrong on all counts!Our esteemed host explains why this oft-repeated statement is flat-out false, and what has really led to t...
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13:42
Noel Joyce on his open-source adaptive mountain bike design
Noel Joyce, an assistant professor at NYU Shanghai, discussed his open-source adaptive quad mountain bike design. After a mountain biking accident left him a wheelchair user for 20 years, Joyce pursued industrial design. He designed a bike to a...
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37:24
Matt Horine on Veryable's on-demand labor app for manufacturing and warehousing
Matt is Head of Reindustrialization at Veryable. We featured them in our early days, when the company's CEO, Mike Kinder, joined us for our Episode 11.Now, with reindustrialization happening in real time, Matt is here to tell how Veryab...
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32:57
Clay Martin gives us all the lowdown on hiring skilled workers from Puerto Rico
Peace Corps veteran Clay Martin found his calling, and he's now founded company #2 that's focused on helping industry employers find skilled workers who want to come here from Puerto Rico.In case you weren't previously aware, that is a ...
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31:18
Isaac Orr joins us once again to talk about how renewable energy makes electricity more expensive
One half of the Energy Bad Boys came back on the show to discuss our electric grids and the good, the bad, and the ugly about them.Isaac Orr and Mitch Rolling published a Substack last month telling how my home state of Michigan's insan...
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36:45
Chris Merida on all the latest in manufacturing recruiting
Chris is with Global Search Network and is Senior Talent Acquisition Leader for Consumer Packaged Goods North America. So he is right there on the front lines of today's tough recruiting game.Chris joined us to share valuable insights o...
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31:30
Episode 153 - Jim Vinoski explains how over-regulation is the #1 problem for US manufacturing
Right on cue, all the major media outlets are chiming in on how "manufacturing jobs aren't coming back," with claims that deindustrialization is somehow just a natural and wonderful thing for a wealthy economy.Nonsense.Your host...
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11:33
Rory Francis Comiskey on how advanced manufacturing technology enables reshoring
Rory has a stellar career's worth of know-how and insights, and he came guns-a-blazin' to fill us in on everything the wise manufacturing leader, executive, or owner needs to know to compete in today's marketplace.Here are the highlight...
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37:24
