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
119 episodes since 2021
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...
September 17, 2024
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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...
September 10, 2024
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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...
September 03, 2024
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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...
August 27, 2024
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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...
August 20, 2024
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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...
August 13, 2024
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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...
August 06, 2024
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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...
July 30, 2024
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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...
July 23, 2024
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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...
July 05, 2024
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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...
June 25, 2024
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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...
June 18, 2024
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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...
June 11, 2024
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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...
June 04, 2024
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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 ...
May 28, 2024
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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...
May 21, 2024
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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...
May 14, 2024
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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...
May 07, 2024
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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...
April 30, 2024
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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...
April 23, 2024
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35:02
Artem Kroupenev from Augury talks about using AI to improve plant capacity and predictability
Augury got its start using a unique way to monitor manufacturing machine health: the sound of the equipment! It's one of those ideas that, once you hear it, seems so blindingly obvious - except you didn't think of it!Now they have over ...
April 16, 2024
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35:52
David Schild and the PCBAA are on a mission to rebuild America's printed circuit board industry
Like too much of American manufacturing, our domestic production capacity for printed circuit boards - the things on which the computer chips that power so much of our world anymore reside - departed decades ago for other lands.Now we'r...
April 09, 2024
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27:47
Frank Seidel of Wamser Batra USA explains why and how US manufacturers should expand into India
Manufacturing looks like it's turning the corner here in the US, so now is a good time for our domestic producers to look at expanding their businesses. Frank Seidel, Managing Director at Wamser Batra USA, thinks India is a great market to look...
April 02, 2024
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33:08
Shawn Connors of the Atomic Garage Movement explains why he's a staunch advocate for nuclear energy
At one time, when he lived in the shadow of southwest Michigan's Palisades nuclear power plant, former business owner, author, and employee communications guru Shawn Connors opposed nuclear energy. But then he decided to do his own research and...
March 26, 2024
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38:07
Aaron Halfacre of Modiv chats about how and why his company invests in manufacturing properties
Modiv is a real estate investment trust (REIT). That's company uses investor money to trade in real estate. For Modiv, it's not just any real estate - the company focuses entirely on manufacturing properties, investing in industrial properties ...
March 19, 2024
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31:15