Our guest today sheds light on what future warehouses will look like as robots become more intelligent. Michael Perry is the Vice President of Marketing at Dexterity, Inc. Michael's main objective is to help customers and partners understand how AI-enabled robots can grow their operations. Before Micahel's time with Dexterity, he was Boston Dynamics VP of business development, where he led the go-to-market campaigns for the company's first commercial products. Michael was also the general manage...
Aug 16, 2022•30 min•Ep. 115
In any manufacturing operation, quality matters. Andrew Steele, the founder of FactoryQA, is an expert in quality management systems. After starting on the manufacturing floor and years of experience auditing, Andrew brings excellent insights into what quality management systems mean inside a manufacturer's operations. Join us as we discuss: What does quality mean in manufacturing? How to know if you have a sound quality system in place? The future of quality management in an increasingly digita...
Aug 09, 2022•29 min•Ep. 114
Over the years, I’ve talked to a lot of manufacturers as a marketing advisor. When I ask them what their ideal customer looks like, I usually get a response saying that they deal with many types of customers in many different industries. While there’s nothing wrong with targeting different customers, channeling your marketing energy into lanes where you have the best chances of winning will assure you don’t spread yourself too thin. Join us as we discuss: Making intentional decisions about which...
Aug 02, 2022•34 min•Ep. 113
Harnessing the power of technology allows you to do more with less. Mobile industrial apps enable manufacturers to get more done with fewer people by streamlining processes, improving the capture and sharing of data. Greg Bohling, the Vice President of Sales and Customer Success at Alpha Software, brings over 15 years of experience in providing digital transformation leadership to manufacturing companies. Greg coaches organizations on how to digitize manual and paper-intensive processes. Join us...
Jul 26, 2022•35 min•Ep. 112
Fran Brunelle is President of Accelerated Manufacturing Brokers, Inc., a company specializing in the sale of lower middle-market manufacturing companies. Fran was named one of the most influential women in M&A (mergers and acquisitions) in 2020. She is also the host of the Women and Manufacturing Podcast. Fran helps manufacturing business owners prepare their companies for sale and navigate the sale process to ensure positive financial results. Join us as we discuss: Factors that buyers will...
Jul 19, 2022•43 min•Ep. 111
In the manufacturing sector, the person who’s writing the check often isn’t the same person whose attention and trust you need to earn. Instead, the most important buying process influencers tend to be the technical professionals who are trying to solve a problem or achieve an outcome. And in many cases, those technical professionals are engineers. Wendy Covey, CEO, and Co-Founder of TREW Marketing, is an expert in reaching those exact people. As host of the Content Marketing, Engineered podcast...
Jul 12, 2022•52 min•Ep. 110
It appears that we’re heading into a recession. So what does that mean for manufacturers? And how can you deploy (or redeploy) your marketing team to make sure you come out in one piece on the other end of it? Today John McTigue, a Freelance Writer and B2B Marketing Advisor at The Customer Journey Maestro, joins us to talk about how marketing can help you recession-proof your business. John brings a wealth of insight with experience as a product marketer and account executive in enterprise softw...
Jul 05, 2022•41 min•Ep. 109
The days of posting a job and watching candidates line up around the corner are now in the past. We’ve quickly shifted into a candidate-driven market and many employers are being affected by it, but most don’t know how to handle it. ` Today we talk to Ann Wyatt, founder and agency owner of Ann Wyatt Recruiting. An expert recruiter in the manufacturing sector, Ann shares her insights on what you can do to make your workplace more appealing to prospective candidates. Join us as we discuss: The cur...
Jun 28, 2022•40 min•Ep. 108
The way our customers collect information and look for products has changed, and in order to keep up with demand, manufacturers have to change the way that they approach sales and marketing. Today’s episode is very unique. This is a conversation that was originally recorded on Chris Grainger’s podcast: EECO Ask’s Why. Chris Grainger joins us from EECO, an industrial automation and power solutions company. Chris has been running the EECO Ask’s Why podcast for over 2 years and offers valuable insi...
Jun 21, 2022•45 min•Ep. 107
Marty Groover, Partner and CTO at C5MI, spent over two decades as a Surface Warfare Officer in the US Navy. He didn’t know it at the time, but this time in the Navy helped him see into the future – of manufacturing. Marty offers insight into the unmatched benefits of using live data to enhance your processes, product and bottom line, and how pairing people processes with technology will position you to lead the fourth industrial revolution. Join us as we discuss: What the manufacturing sector ca...
Jun 14, 2022•27 min•Ep. 106
People often worry that technology and automation will replace human workers. But what if the most powerful path forward is empowering workers with technology for better effectiveness and efficiency, instead of replacing them? In this episode, Dr. Prasad Akella, the Founder and CEO of Drishti, shares his view on the future of manufacturing. A future where video data not only improves the quality of a product, but also empowers workers on the plant floor and strengthens employee retention. Join u...
Jun 07, 2022•33 min•Ep. 105
Are trade shows worth it? That seems to be a divisive question these days. But here's the truth: Like with many forms of marketing or sales activities, it comes down to execution. Today’s guest, Jake Hall, Keynote Speaker and Content Creator of The Manufacturing Millennial, details how to connect the physical world of a trade show with the digital world that exists before, during and after that event. Join us as we discuss: How to create value and content from trade shows How building relationsh...
May 31, 2022•33 min•Ep. 104
Our workforce has changed drastically over the decades. The highly desirable and stable manufacturing industry of the past has struggled to retain workers in our modern times. But there is a way to revitalize the manufacturing industry in the US to keep up with the manufacturing powerhouses around the world. Today’s guest, Jason Azevedo, Chief Strategy Officer at MRCA, shares his views on the importance of investing in your workforce, how automation keeps workers employed, and what manufacturing...
May 24, 2022•32 min•Ep. 103
On this milestone 100th episode, the hosting tables are turned. Joe Sullivan is interviewed by Logan Lyles of Sweet Fish Media about his learnings from 100 consecutive weeks of podcasting and six ways it’s impacted his business. Joe Sullivan, Founder of Gorilla76, opens up about why he originally wanted to start a podcast and how he made the transition from creating mostly written content to fueling an entire content program. Joe reflects on the six most impactful outcomes, and shares his advice...
May 17, 2022•49 min•Ep. 102
The manufacturing industry has been slow to adopt new technology. But with the continued improvements in technology, updating your systems has become more cost effective, faster to implement, and more flexible for your manufacturing needs. Today’s guest, Barry Johnson, President of Digital Manufacturing at Symphony Industrial AI, talks about how to take advantage of digitization, AI, and emerging technologies to increase productivity. Join us as we discuss: What MES is and the purpose it serves ...
May 10, 2022•25 min•Ep. 101
Are you making the right decisions to optimize productivity? Most organizations don’t. Most get distracted by efficiency and ultimately fail to meet their goals. Today’s guest, Pavel Kuviarzin, Business Growth Expert at Future State Engineering, talks about the problem solving steps to make a true impact on productivity, profitability, and the success of your business. Join us as we discuss: The difference between “busy” and productive When to utilize the resources you have vs. when to invest Ho...
May 03, 2022•25 min•Ep. 100
Internal marketing employee or marketing agency? Entry level hire or seasoned marketer? Broad range of skill sets or deep specialist in a few core skills? Today’s guest, Mary Keough, Senior Marketing Strategist, Gorilla76, breaks down the questions that any manufacturing leader will need to answer for themselves before building a marketing team. Or even before making that first marketing hire. Join us as we discuss: When to hire an internal marketer versus an agency Budgets for staffing a market...
Apr 26, 2022•38 min•Ep. 99
Today’s guest, Tony Lopez, Vice President, Manufacturing & Logistics Services, Pride Industries, provides insight about delivering business excellence with a positive social impact. Join us as we discuss: The hiring and employment hurdles that face the disabled population How education bridges the gap between employers and the disabled workforce What the benefits are to hiring disabled workers Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website. Listening on a...
Apr 19, 2022•25 min•Ep. 98
It's never been more costly to watch your people walk out the door. Today’s guest is Dan Johnston, Co-Founder and CEO, WorkStep WorkStep is a software platform that empowers companies to find and keep frontline employees for the long run. Dan has seen first hand how workforce retention can make or break a company and I’m thrilled to have him on the show. Join us as we discuss: How supply chain disruption and labor shortages are connected Why the manufacturing labor force looks different today th...
Apr 11, 2022•32 min•Ep. 97
What are the best manufacturing executives doing to combat labor shortages and supply chain issues and thrive in this industry? Today’s guest is Dan Burgos, President and CEO, Alphanova Consulting, knows the answer. Dan and his team have over 15 years of experience helping manufacturers in various industries, including aerospace injection molding, construction projects, chemicals, fiberglass, furniture, electronics, consumer goods, oil and gas, and medical devices, among others. Dan's approach i...
Apr 05, 2022•29 min•Ep. 96
What if your engineering bonuses were tied to blog post writing? Today’s guest, Chris Grainger, Podcast Host and Engineering and Services Manager, Electrical Equipment Company (EECO) believes that content marketing is so important he gives bonuses based on how many blog posts and how- to videos each employee produces. Chris is passionate about content marketing because he knows that it works. Join us as we discuss: How to get your employees involved in content marketing The benefits of podcastin...
Mar 29, 2022•31 min•Ep. 95
When most people hear “influencer,” it might conjure up images of YouTube icons and Reality TV stars… Influencers don’t matter in manufacturing, right? Well, today’s guest, Eddie Saunders, General of Demand Generation at Flex Machine Tools, thinks that statement couldn’t be any more wrong. He joins the show to share the secrets to shoring up your influencer strategies Join us as we discuss: Why influencers still matter in manufacturing How to pick an influencer to work with Why there is power in...
Mar 22, 2022•30 min•Ep. 94
How do you convince both reps and execs in manufacturing that the CRM is not a deterrent but a path to next-level improvement? In this episode, I talked about how to overcome challenges to adopting a CRM with these three standout guests: Ron Pretzie, Sr. Enterprise Account Executive at Prolifiq Andy Keehn, Director, Demand Generation at Prolifiq Dave Sheer, Retired VP/CEO at The Steel Supply Company Join us as we discuss: What a great CRM can really do for a business Why reps are reluctant and h...
Mar 15, 2022•38 min•Ep. 93
Underlying supply chain problems, only exacerbated by pandemic disruption, have plagued every industry the past few years. But our guest today thinks we may be seeing the light at the end of a long tunnel. And now is the perfect time to shore up weaknesses exposed by the demand spike. Jim Pratt is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Forsyth Advisors, and an expert at solving sourcing problems and creating operational strategies that work. Join us as we discuss: Lingering supply chain challeng...
Mar 08, 2022•19 min•Ep. 92
Additive manufacturing technologies are rapidly disrupting the old practices. The adoption rate is increasing, leading to exciting advancements in performance, GTM, and repair applications. Melanie Lang is the Co-Founder and CEO of FormAlloy and the Women in 3D Printing San Diego Ambassador, and she serves on the Executive Committee of America Makes. Join us as we discuss: - The flexible tech behind directed energy deposition - The right and wrong time for additive manufacturing - Determining th...
Mar 01, 2022•20 min•Ep. 91
Welcome to a new era of robotics! Robots of the past were defined by their tasks. They went through pre-planned motions and they weren’t able to adapt to changes in their environment. Today’s next-gen robots, however, are hyper-intelligent, able to differentiate between people and objects, and adjust to changes in real time. Nan Li, Managing Director at Obvious Ventures, has spent a lot of his career watching the evolution of robotics, and in this episode, he explains what this new era of robots...
Feb 22, 2022•25 min•Ep. 90
The biggest obstacle to renewables is a lack of knowledge on the subject. But once everyone knows the money they can save while helping the environment… We’ll be living in an all electric-society. Today’s guest, Jack Nehlig, President at Phoenix Contact USA, joins the show to discuss these benefits and what the all-electric society means for manufacturing. Join us as we discuss: - What people need to know about renewables - The trends in autonomous vehicles - How anyone can take advantage of the...
Feb 15, 2022•34 min•Ep. 89
It's never been more costly to watch your people walk out the door. Today’s guest is Dan Johnston, Co-Founder and CEO, WorkStep WorkStep is a software platform that empowers companies to find and keep frontline employees for the long run. Dan has seen first hand how workforce retention can make or break a company and I’m thrilled to have him on the show. Join us as we discuss: How supply chain disruption and labor shortages are connected Why the manufacturing labor force looks different today th...
Feb 09, 2022•32 min•Ep. 88
Too often, we’re having the wrong conversation about automation ROI. In a time when simply finding labor is the biggest challenge many manufacturers face, the ROI conversation around automation is now about much more than replacing labor costs. So says today’s guest, Scot Lindemann, CEO at Mission Design & Automation, who joins the show to explain how to make the conversation around automation a more fruitful one for everybody. Join us as we discuss: - The unseen returns of automation - Why ...
Feb 08, 2022•28 min•Ep. 87
It’s no secret why so many companies have sent their manufacturing overseas: It’s to save money. But are you really saving when the hassle costs you your ability to innovate quickly? Today’s guest, Martin DeBono, President at GAF Energy, joins the show to share his insights on how colocating R&D domestically can ultimately save you by helping you get innovative products to market faster than your competitors. Join us as we discuss: - The difficulties with overseas manufacturing - Why reshori...
Feb 01, 2022•19 min•Ep. 86
