Best MakingChips LLC Podcasts (2024)

1
Are You Putting Too Much Trust in Your Supply Chain? 403 38:41

2h ago38:41

38:41

How important is building relationships and trust with your vendors? When you do have established relationships, are you placing too much trust in them? How do you balance being business savvy and trusting? Mark McCormack is known for saying “All things being equal, people will do business with a friend; all things being unequal, people will still …

1
How Businesses Can Collaborate with Technical Education, 402 37:19

7d ago37:19

37:19

What are the benefits of working closely with a local career & technical education center? You can have a huge impact on the local community, education system, and businesses. If you partner with a local technical center, it could have a far-reaching impact—and it just might help you recruit the next generation. Nix Partners with a local career & t…

1
SZN1: Should Women Entrepreneurs Choose the Manufacturing Industry? 401 40:17

11d ago40:17

40:17

POV: You’re a woman with an entrepreneurial edge. You want to start a business. Why not consider the manufacturing industry? There are only 6,431 women-owned manufacturing businesses in the United States (representing just 2% of all manufacturing companies). 20% of them are minority-owned. This industry needs a woman’s perspective and expertise. So…

1
Lights Out: How to Prioritize Flexibility when You Invest in Automation, 400 36:09

18d ago36:09

36:09

POV: You’ve decided to start the process of implementing automation in your machine shop—but it isn’t as easy as flipping a switch. It’s a process that consists of failing forward and learning from every mistake. Tom Schroeder—the Executive Vice President at PBC Linear—joins us in this episode of Lights Out to share how to prioritize flexibility wh…

1
Do We Need More Manufacturing Entrepreneurs? 399 43:56

28d ago43:56

43:56

There are around 17,000 contract manufacturing job shops in the US. That sounds pretty great, right? The truth is that growth is down 16% since 2008. Now, more than ever, we need new entrepreneurs in the manufacturing industry. Matthew Nix, Paul Van Metre, Drew Crowe, and Mike Payne join me in this roundtable discussion to talk about the vast oppor…

1
MakingSparks: Staying Connected through Your Front Line Leaders Part 2, 398 29:56

1M ago29:56

29:56

How can leadership remain connected to what’s happening on the shop floor? At Nix, we’ve found a creative way to bridge a gap that many businesses experience. We’ve implemented a program that allows our front line to address problems and propose solutions so that their everyday real-world problems are being fixed. Dakota Hunt and Jack Henry Hagan r…

1
MakingSparks: Growing Shop Floor Front Line Leaders Part 1, 397 27:06

1M ago27:06

27:06

How do we recruit more young talent to fabrication? How do we navigate rapid growth balanced with training and development? How do we help develop young talent into our future leaders? These are just a few questions we wrestle with in this episode of MakingSparks with special guests Dakota Hunt and Jack Henry Hagan. – Matthew Nix Segments [0:48] Jo…

1
MakingSparks: Manufacturing Precision and Processes with BWXT GM Nate Foote, 396 38:14

2M ago38:14

38:14

BWXT Mount Vernon produces components for naval nuclear reactors, used in submarines and aircraft carriers. Their sprawling facility is home to CNC machine tools and sophisticated welding and heat-treating equipment. In this episode of MakingSparks, General Manager Nate Foote shares more about their commitment to processes, their recruiting practic…

1
MakingSparks: How Technology Drives Innovation on the Other Side of Metalworking Nation, 395 44:01

2M ago44:01

44:01

What are the pros and cons of plasma cutters vs. water jets vs. lasers? How does cutting with nitrogen differ from cutting with oxygen? How is technology driving innovation in fabrication? R.J. Reed and Brendon DiVincenzo join us in this episode of MakingSparks to cover all things lasers and fabrication. Because if you’re not MakingSparks with the …

1
An Important Update on Jason Zenger and the Leadership Lessons We Learned from It, 394 36:21

2M ago36:21

36:21

On December 7th, 2023, Jason had a heart attack, the type well-known as the “widow-maker.” Miraculously, Jason survived. Then he survived a heart transplant. January 19th, 2024, he went home. Jason beat the odds. In this episode of MakingChips, we’ll share Jason’s miraculous story. We’ll also share some of the lessons we’ve learned throughout the l…

1
MakingSparks: Expanding and Transitioning a Family Business in Manufacturing with Joe Patterson, 393 44:50

2M ago44:50

44:50

Every family business that’s growing and expanding runs into some challenges. From navigating tough conversations with family to determining a centralized versus decentralized model, there are numerous things to consider. Joe Patterson’s family business overcame the challenges that came their way and expanded globally. However, they had lofty goals…

1
MakingSparks: Embracing the Family Aspect of Business with Tad Dickel Part 2, 392 34:58

3M ago34:58

34:58

communication with your family? How do you foster open communication in difficult conversations? Running a family business is full of unique challenges—and successes—that many other businesses don’t have to think about. But navigating those challenges doesn’t have to be difficult. Tad Dickel returns in this episode of MakingSparks to cover it all. …

1
MakingSparks: Navigating a Family Business in Manufacturing with Tad Dickel Part 1, 391 30:15

3M ago30:15

30:15

Nix Companies is a fifth-generation family business in an industry that's predominantly privately held and family-owned. Family-owned businesses are the fabric of our economy. Today’s guest on MakingSparks, Tad Dickel, is a Leadership & Strategy Consultant with a special interest in family-owned businesses. He helps them with everything from govern…

1
SZN1: Manufacturing Fuels Grit with Drew Crowe and Andy Mueller Part 2, 390 22:43

3M ago22:43

22:43

Cutting tool manufacturers have to remain on the cutting edge. If you do so, it’s possible to stay competitive. We know that a solid education and training for new talent is the best first step. But you also have to learn to embrace grit to make it through. We cover what else is important to remain successful and competitive in this episode of Maki…

1
SZN1: Manufacturing Fuels Grit with Drew Crowe and Andy Mueller Part 1, 389 49:59

3M ago49:59

49:59

Andy Mueller is a seasoned vet in manufacturing, one of the real OGs. I’ve leaned on him for advice and support throughout the years because he’s been through the seasons and weathered the storms. Andy was able to step in and teach my students things that I couldn’t with my limited resources. That’s why, in this episode of MakingChips, we have a co…

1
SZN1: Manufacturing Fuels Gratitude with Drew Crowe and Kyle Stoff, 388 50:40

4M ago50:40

50:40

Kyle Stoff spent his high school years doing parkour and making butterfly knives by hand. By the end of his Junior Year in high school, he’d decided he wanted to get into manufacturing to perfect his knife-making process. He skipped his Senior Year and dove into a full-time program at Ranken, becoming one of my best—and youngest—students. Now, Kyle…

1
SZN1: Manufacturing Fuels Greatness with Drew Crowe and Dan Borders Part II, 387 29:16

4M ago29:16

29:16

Do you express gratitude for your team members? Do they know their work is appreciated? Do you help guide them through their career so they can continue to learn and improve? Too many shops overwork good employees because they achieve excellence. That’s a mistake. It’s one of many reasons machine shops struggle with retention. In part II of our con…

1
SZN1: Manufacturing Fuels Greatness with Drew Crowe and Dan Borders, 386 43:58

4M ago43:58

43:58

How can we attract the next generation to machining? How can small shops attract and retain talent? How can we fuel greatness? In this episode of MakingChips, guest host Drew “The MFG” Crowe—the force behind the American Manufacturing Renaissance—brings on Dan Borders with Edge Technologies to start to tackle these questions. Because if you’re not …

1
How Can the Golden Rule be Applied in Business? with Mike Ruge, 385 42:13

4M ago42:13

42:13

What separates successful shops from unsuccessful ones? The people. As a leader, taking care of your people is paramount. So how do you manage and lead your people better? By following the Golden Rule. How do you apply the “Golden Rule” in business? Mike Ruge—the Integrator and Experience Director at ZENGERS—shares what that looks like and it can t…

1
BOTCHED! How Manufacturing Leaders can Avoid the Horror Story of a Failed ERP Implementation, 384 40:12

4M ago40:12

40:12

How do you select the right ERP for your business? What should the implementation process look like? What are some mistakes you must absolutely avoid making? In this episode of MakingChips, Paul Van Metre shares some of the lessons he’s learned from failed ERP implementations. Because if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM! – Nick …

1
Why Manufacturing Leaders Should Invest in Video to Tell their Story and Build Their Brand, 383 33:05

5M ago33:05

33:05

Why do you need to create video content, both for recruiting team members and bringing in new business? How do you get started when you don’t have the budget to hire a production company? Casey Voelker and Matthew Nix share what you can do to kickstart video marketing for your shop—and why it’s incredibly important—in this episode of MakingChips! B…

1
MakingSparks: Why Should a Manufacturing Leader Come to FabTech? 382 30:40

5M ago30:40

30:40

What is FabTech? Why should anyone in welding, fabrication, metal forming, or finishing attend FabTech? They not only hold seminars and have booths and exhibitors to visit. You won’t only learn about trends in technology and meet with potential suppliers. Most importantly, you’ll be able to network. In this episode of MakingSparks recorded live at …

1
MakingSparks: Part 2: Tactics and Strategies to Use for Recruiting in Manufacturing, 381 40:46

5M ago40:46

40:46

Recruiting in manufacturing can be difficult. Many students are taught the traditional “Graduate high school and go to college for four years” mentality. While there’s nothing wrong with taking that route, how do we capture the attention of young talent? How do we make them see the career trajectory available in welding or fabrication? Lindsey Nix …

1
MakingSparks: Part 1: Embracing Culture to Recruit Top Talent in Fabrication and Manufacturing, 380 30:14

5M ago30:14

30:14

Most mom-and-pop shops don’t have to worry about recruiting, hiring, and retaining talent until they decide they want to grow. When you find yourself needing to recruit and hire talent, where do you start? Start with your core values. Your company needs core values and a clear mission and vision to hire the right people, build the right culture, an…

1
MakingSparks: The Launch of MakingSparks with Casey Voelker and Matthew Nix, 379 18:13

6M ago18:13

18:13

MakingSparks has officially arrived! Matthew Nix and I, Casey Voelker, are here to speak to the welding and fabrication industry. And just like MakingChips, we want to equip and inspire while attracting the next generation. Everyone will have some takeaways from MakingSparks. In this episode, Matthew shares more about Nix Companies and their explos…

1
Why MakingChips is Sparking a New Show for Fabrication Leaders, 378 24:38

6M ago24:38

24:38

Are you in welding or fabrication? Are you a long-time listener of MakingChips who’s just been waiting for content that speaks directly to you? The wait is over. In this episode of MakingChips, Casey Voelker and Matthew Nix join us to introduce a brand new addition to the MakingChips lineup: MakingSparks. Casey and Matthew will be hosting the show …

1
SZN1: Diligently Doing "Due Diligence" in Your Next Manufacturing Acquisition, 377 21:35

6M ago21:35

21:35

You’ve found your acquisition target. They’ve committed to selling you the business. Now the real work begins. It’s time for due diligence. Where does due diligence start? What factors should you consider? How do you build a checklist? Jason, Nick, Adam Schmitt, and I tackle due diligence in this episode of MakingChips. Because if you’re not doing …

1
SZN1: The Starting Point in Acquisitions with Matthew Nix, 376 29:23

6M ago29:23

29:23

How do you increase your capacity, make more chips, and bring on new clients without buying a new machine or pitching yourself to a single end user? Buying a company. Acquisitions are a large part of how we’ve all built our companies. But how do you start acquiring companies? Why would you want to? In this episode of MakingChips, Adam Schmitt—the M…

1
Building a Lean Culture Through Strategic Leadership Part 2, 375 28:54

7M ago28:54

28:54

Once you’ve implemented lean manufacturing, how do you sustain a lean culture? How do you motivate your team to focus on continuous improvement? How do you inspire them to keep reaching and passing their goals? In this episode of MakingChips—part 2 of a live panel discussion at TSMA with special guests Doug Bawel, Femi D-Etti, and Jake Ward—we dive…

1
Building a Lean Culture Through Strategic Leadership Part 1, 374 31:31

7M ago31:31

31:31

What is your definition of lean manufacturing? One definition of lean is “Maximizing the flow of value through your business to your customer.” We all want our business to be customer-centric, right? It’s a given that we all want to reduce waste and improve efficiency. But how do you do that? On this episode of MakingChips, we recorded a live panel…

1
SZN1: What's Going on With the Manufacturing Economy? 373 36:12

8M ago36:12

36:12

What is going on with the economy? We’re all feeling a slowdown in the manufacturing industry. So what gives? What happens in the economy can be directly impacted by politics. It can be impacted by war. It can be impacted by interest rates and the rising costs of consumer goods. Nicole Wolter—the President and CEO of HM Manufacturing—joins us again…

1
SZN1: What is a Woman Manufacturing Leader? with Nicole Wolter, 372 35:59

8M ago35:59

35:59

Today’s controversial topic: What is a woman…in manufacturing? We need to inspire the next generation of women to pursue a career path in manufacturing. But is the “sex sells” movement killing any chance of that? I’m Nicole Wolter—the President and CEO of HM Manufacturing. In this episode of MakingChips, I share how we can attract more women to man…

1
SZN1: Taking a Lean Leap of Faith Toward Digital Transformation, 371 40:53

8M ago40:53

40:53

Many companies strive to move toward digital transformation. Some struggle with the process. Others—like JJR Fabrication—see remarkable results. They’ve seen enormous efficiency and throughput improvements by embracing digital workflows while ensuring the physical side of their shop is in full alignment. This includes doing things like lean manufac…

1
Married to Each Other and the Business Part 2 with Lindsey Nix, 370 27:14

8M ago27:14

27:14

How do you grow a business while raising a family? When you and your spouse are business partners, how do you choose what to prioritize and when? Matthew and Lindsey Nix have been navigating this challenging road together for years. In the second part of a two-part episode (check out episode #1 first), Matthew and Lindsey share some of the lessons …

1
Married to Each Other and the Business with Matthew Nix Part 1, 369 29:55

9M ago29:55

29:55

What is it like to be married to your business partner? Especially when both people are very involved in the business. The metalworking industry is dominated by family-owned businesses. I’d love to see more husbands and wives team up to grow manufacturing together. In the next two episodes of MakingChips, special guests Lindsey and Matthew Nix shar…

1
LIGHTS OUT: How a Prototyping Shop is Shattering the Status Quo with Automation, 368 45:00

9M ago45:00

45:00

Are you embracing automation in your shop? Or are you hesitating because you’re unsure how to implement it so that you’re making the best use of your time and money? Brian Kippen—the owner and CEO of KAD Models & Prototypes—reframes how you can use automation. In this episode of MakingChips, Brian Kippen, Steve DeGrasse, and I share how you can app…

1
SZN1: #ThankAMachinist, 367 17:19

9M ago17:19

17:19

I created a campaign to build awareness for machinists. Why? Because, sadly, the general public knows very little about manufacturing. They don’t look around them and see what we see: That almost everything is machined. So in this episode of MakingChips, I’ll share a few ways you can highlight manufacturing in your communities. It’s not just to bui…

1
How a Passion for the Manufacturing Community Caused This Shop to Transform into a Software Company, 366 32:52

9M ago32:52

32:52

Paul Van Metre is no stranger to MakingChips, and we’ve shared his story before. But this time, we’re looking at it through a whole new lens. Paul and his partners started in the industry running a machine shop. Then, it morphed into a software company: ProShop. What started as a solution to their problems became a solution for thousands of busines…

1
Keys to Maintaining a Manufacturing Leadership Mindset, 365 45:27

10M ago45:27

45:27

How do you create and cultivate a manufacturing leadership mindset? What can you do to recharge? How do you take care of yourself so you can take care of your team? How do you unify your team toward a shared goal? Special guests Eric Nekich 5th Axis® Workholding, Michael Gaunce with SCHUNK USA, and Kaleb Mertz with AME help me tackle these question…

1
What Really Sells Machine Tools? 364 35:52

10M ago35:52

35:52

What is the most impactful factor that helps machine tool distributors sell tools? Is it the quality of the tools themselves? Is it the skill of the salesperson? Is it the service that the distributor can offer? Tony Harrod—General Manager at Methods Machine Tools, Inc.—believes that one of these things sets you apart: Service: But is the answer re…

1
Bonus Chips: Manufacturing Happy Hour Interviews Jason Zenger & Nick Goellner about Manufacturing Leadership, 363 27:13

10M ago27:13

27:13

In this special Bonus Chips episode of MakingChips, we’re guests on Chris Luecke’s podcast, Manufacturing Happy Hour. Of all the manufacturing podcasts, we both double down on leadership topics. So in this episode, we seek to tackle one question: What does it mean to be a manufacturing leader? Tune in to hear what it takes to lead. Because if you’r…

1
ABC's of CMMC and Cybersecurity, 362 38:25

10M ago38:25

38:25

In 2018, the US Government set a standard for cybersecurity, so anyone in any industry that touched the US government had to meet the requirement—but it wasn’t happening. Now, CMMC is coming out and you will be audited. So what is CMMC? Does your shop need it? How can ProShop ERP help you accelerate the adoption of the different security standards?…

1
SZN1: Haves and Have Nots with Paul Van Metre, 361 49:21

11M ago49:21

49:21

There is a widening disparity in the manufacturing industry: Insanely busy shops and shops that are barely treading water. In any business, there will always be companies that thrive and grow and those that don’t. But successful shops are doing something differently. In this episode of MakingChips, Kelsey Heikoop shares four things you can do diffe…

1
SZN1: Hot Sauce with Tony Gunn and Meaghan Ziemba, 360 40:27

11M ago40:27

40:27

We are melting our faces off with some hot sauces in this episode of MakingChips. Why? Because spices break down barriers. And as these hot sauces break down our mouths, you may just get some answers you weren't expecting about everything from mental health to making investments. So join us as we work our way through a Lethal Dose of The Hottest Sa…

1
SZN1: Medium Sauce with Meaghan Ziemba from Mavens of Manufacturing, 359 32:17

11M ago32:17

32:17

We’ve moved on to medium sauce and we are on FIRE. We’re in manufacturing, so the MakingChips podcast covers all things manufacturing. But we’re also human, and we value the importance of being transparent and talking about things like mental health. So in this episode of MakingChips, we cover some of the most challenging things we’ve faced both pe…

1
SZN1: Mild Sauce with Tony Gunn from MTD CNC, 358 29:10

11M ago29:10

29:10

We’re tasting our way through 12 different types of hot sauce chosen by none other than me, Tony Gunn, the Global GM at MTDCNC.com. Meaghan Ziemba of Mavens of Manufacturing also joins us as we work our way through some chicken wings. We’ll talk about our backgrounds, how we balance life and work, and mental health in manufacturing. Balance is impo…

1
Bonus Chips: Q&A with Titan Gilroy, 357 15:33

11M ago15:33

15:33

Does Titan still run a shop? Does he believe in digital transformation on the shop floor? Why did Titan seek out jobs no one else wanted? In this special edition of MakingChips, Titan Gilroy answers burning listener questions while simultaneously sharing some spectacular advice for manufacturing leaders everywhere. We recorded a short and sweet epi…

1
Lights Out: Automation 101 with Chris Luecke Manufacturing Happy Hour, 356 48:38

12M ago48:38

48:38

Automation continues to be a popular and divisive topic in the manufacturing world. Automation is important for attracting and retaining young talent and growing your business. So we’ve been working hard to highlight the importance of automation—and where you can dive in—with our Lights Out series. Chris Luecke—the host of Manufacturing Happy Hour—…

1
Who is a CNC Expert According to Titans of CNC? 355 39:39

12M ago39:39

39:39

Titan Gilroy wanted to create a platform where aspiring machinists could hone their skills, share their work, and connect with leaders in the industry to get hired. So he launched CNC Expert. You can share projects, get hired (or hire someone), receive free training to get certifications, and much more. CNC Expert certifications are based on real-w…