Shows
Manufacturing TalksMike Rowe discusses his new partnership with PureTalk to bring military vets to the skilled tradesSend us a textThe 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, a wireless company, to support veterans transitioning into trades.All that and a whole lot more!Mike Rowe's Passion for Promoting TradesRowe discusses the increase in open positions in skilled trades from 2.3 million in 2009 to 7.6 million today, emphasizing the need for jobs that don't require a four-year degree....2025-06-1738 min
Manufacturing TalksOur host Jim Vinoski on the nonexistent rule about rich countries always being service economiesSend us a text"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 the decline of much of American industry.We're already reshoring, and we can cement that trend and accelerate the recovery of American industry by fixing those root causes:- Overregulation- Dumb financial decisions- Destroying our electric generation infrastructureTune in for the whole thing. It...2025-06-0313 min
Manufacturing TalksMatt Horine on Veryable's on-demand labor app for manufacturing and warehousingSend us a textMatt 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 Veryable is uniquely suited to helping supply chain companies with their labor needs as they grapple with the volatility that new opportunities bring.Matt is also the host of Veryable's podcast, US Manufacturing Today. Our host Jim Vinoski is appearing with him the same day this show first airs! See the...2025-05-2032 min
U.S. Manufacturing TodayRe-shoring and Industrial Renaissance with Jim Vinoski, Manufacturing TalksIn this episode of US Manufacturing Today, sponsored by Veryable, host Matt Horine welcomes Jim Vinoski, a business strategy advisor, author, and Forbes journalist with extensive experience in the industrial sector. Jim discusses the current state of American manufacturing, highlighting the positive trends of reshoring and reindustrialization. He emphasizes the importance of strategic planning, technological adoption, and maintaining a strong connection with the manufacturing floor to ensure long-term success. Jim also shares insights from his work profiling over 300 companies, underscoring the resilience and optimism that drive successful manufacturing operations. Listeners are encouraged to explore Jim’s content on various pl...2025-05-2024 min
Manufacturing TalksChris Merida on all the latest in manufacturing recruitingSend us a textChris 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 on what he sees every day that can help you no matter what part you're playing: hiring manager, HR, recruiter, or candidate.Here are the highlights:Guest IntroductionChris shares his background, including his initial job at Enterprise Rent-A-Car and his transition to recruitment, emphasizing his...2025-04-2931 min
Manufacturing TalksEpisode 153 - Jim Vinoski explains how over-regulation is the #1 problem for US manufacturingSend us a textRight 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 with the most, Jim Vinoski, takes apart the "evidence" for those claims piece by piece, and then points out the elephant in the room: it's over-regulation that has caused the problems, and radical deregulation is needed to revitalize our industrial base.A few highlights:Wealthy countries naturally become service...2025-04-2211 min
Manufacturing TalksMelanie Hellwig-White on making sway bars and helper springsSend us a textGearheads unite! Episode 143 features the CEO of Hellwig Products, Melanie Hellwig-White, chatting about how they make cool aftermarket parts like helper springs and sway bars.It's a great fourth-generation manufacturing business story. Here are some highlights.Chapters:00:00 - intro01:00 - how Melanie landed in the family business03:00 - helper springs and the founding of Hellwig Products04:45 - Jim's helper spring experience07:15 - the ag workforce in Visalia, California knows how to work09:30 - Melanie's move up the ladder12:30 - the breadth of...2025-01-2827 min
Manufacturing TalksHe calls it "the silver tsunami!" Colin Dowd from Armanino on how to address the workforce challengeSend us a textUnless you've been hiding under a rock for a few years, you know we're facing a big problem getting the talent we need. And industry is in a particularly dire state.That's why it was so valuable to have Colin Dowd join us for Episode 131. He heads up strategy for manufacturing and distribution at Armanino, one of the 20 largest independent accounting and business consulting firms in the nation. He's been warning people in industry and transportation about the "silver tsunami," the giant wave of our most knowledgeable people who are retiring e...2024-10-2930 min
Rust Belt RundownEpisode 83 featuring Jim Vinoski of Manufacturing TalksOur guest this week is Jim Vinoksi, the Host of Manufacturing Talks!
In this episode, Jim offers us insight into his career journey and how he became a prominent thought leader in the manufacturing industry.
He shares how his contributions to Forbes inspired his podcast, Manufacturing Talks. Jim and Paul also discuss current manufacturing trends as they relate to the upcoming election, reshoring, workforce development month, and more.
As a Michigan native, Jim shouts out Rush Creek Bistro as his favorite restaurant.
Connect with Jim Vinoski on LinkedIn for more ma...2024-09-2648 min
Manufacturing TalksJim Vinoski on why pork-driven plant construction spending doesn't make a manufacturing boomSend us a textThere 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 manufacturing activity is down, and has been in contraction mode for a long time.Tune in and learn from your host why pork-fueled spending like what we're seeing now almost never delivers the goods when it comes to actual functioning, job-creating, value-delivering manufacturing plants. The "boom" we're seeing now is a bad episode that's...2024-08-2012 minManufacturing TalksYour host Jim Vinoski explains how Biden's regulations blitz is the industrial suicide of AmericaSend us a textIn 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 administration's regulatory policies now have the US on an even worse path than Germany. This is an existential threat to all of American industry, and it's past time for manufacturing leaders to start doing what the farmers have been doing in Europe.Tune in and hear Jim Vinoski explain it all, and please...2024-04-3015 minManufacturing TalksHe founded Skymall. His new startup is disrupting home construction with robotics and modularity!Send us a textBob Worsley doesn't let the grass grow under his feet! First he founded Skymall and sold it to Rupert Murdoch. Then he ran successfully for an Arizona state Senate seat.And now he's tackling the housing crisis. His new company Zennihome, is using robotic automation to make small housing units, built on the dimensions of shipping containers, "live larger" by making spaces truly multi-purpose. And his two models are designed to be connected together to make everything from a larger single-family home to a multi-story apartment building! They also include green...2023-09-1942 minManufacturing TalksShe's an expert on electric grids, and she says blackouts are on their way!Send us a textMeredith Angwin, author and speaker, joins us for Episode 60 to tell us why she thinks our fragile electric grids are soon going to be failing us.Since she predicted the failure of the Texas grid during the winter storm a couple years ago, you probably ought to be listening to her.Plus she actually wrote the book on the subject: Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid. As she says, "Grid insiders know how fragile the grid is becoming. Unfortunately, they have no incentive to solve...2023-09-1249 minManufacturing TalksNo, wind and solar and storage did NOT save the Texas power grid during this summer's heat wave!Send us a textYour host Jim Vinoski is flying solo again on this one, talking about why the claims that renewables and power storage saved the day in Texas this summer are complete hogwash.This one's critical. Because what's playing out in Texas is soon going to be playing out everywhere: more and more unreliable power generation, less and less reliable generation, and lots of people lying trying to cover up the coming disaster.Watch the whole thing, and please like, share, and subscribe to hear a lot more coming about the...2023-09-0514 minManufacturing TalksIt's a CALL TO ACTION for manufacturing leaders and execs to develop our workforce of the future!Send us a textTerry Iverson joins us for Episode 58. He was the third generation leader at his family's machine tool business, Iverson & Company, for most of his career. Then he took a challenge to connect with young people and help sell manufacturing as a great career path, and he was off to the races!He founded CHAMPION Now, an advocacy to reach out to America's youth. Its focus? Here it is in Terry's own words, from the CHAMPION Now website: "CHAMPION Now® exists to change the image of manufacturing from the unrealistic, stereotypical 'dark a...2023-08-2935 minManufacturing TalksHe's a Lean manufacturing guru who learned what works (and what doesn't) the right way!Send us a textJason Haines is owner and consultant out at Industrial Solutions Arizona, braving the brutal Phoenix heat after growing up in southeastern Ohio, helping manufacturers improve what they do! He joined us to talk all about it in our Episode 57.Jason learned the only way you really can: by working for 20 years himself right out on the factory floor! He talks about why Lean efforts fail and how you can prevent that from happening to you, and what Lean tools are the best for those getting started. And he talks some really...2023-08-2238 minManufacturing TalksOur guest doesn't think too highly of industrial policy or tariffs or protectionism - find out why!!Send us a textAuthor of the recent book, *The Next American Economy: Nation, State, and Markets in an Uncertain World,* (https://www.amazon.com/Next-American-Economy-Markets-Uncertain/dp/164177276X) and Distinguished Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research, Samuel Gregg joins us for Episode 56 to talk about the wisest public policies for manufacturing.He tells us why tariffs and having the government picking winners and losers have been shown again and again not to work, and how they hurt the people they're supposed to help.Tune in for some really intelligent perspectives on...2023-08-1537 minManufacturing TalksThis economic guru is hear to tell us what we need to do to get our economy back on track!Send us a textSure, he appears regularly on Neil Cavuto's and Maria Bartiromo's shows, but now he's hit the big time: Manufacturing Talks!Investment strategist and small-government true believer Luke Lloyds joins us for Episode 55 to talk about why so much is going wrong with our economy, what we need to do to fix it, and what manufacturers in particular ought to know!Plus we talk about bourbon and cigars, rock music, and a whole lot more! Trust us, this one is a great show!2023-08-0842 minManufacturing TalksHis company can replicate the years of barrel aging for whiskey and rum in just a single day!Send us a textAllan Evans is co-founder of a company called BarrelRM. They've been working for years on a way to bypass the need for years of aging in brown spirits, and he joins us for our Episode 54 to tell all about it.And you can try his stuff for yourself! The company now has a whiskey specifically formulated for cocktails called W.K. Reed. You can pick some up at the link: https://gacraftspirits.com/products/w-k-reed-whiskey-750ml2023-08-0141 minManufacturing TalksShe says manufacturing needs more people asking questions and questioning assumptions. We agree!Send us a textGail Robertson is Chief Curiosity Officer at her own manufacturing-based PR firm, GailNow. She also calls herself a recovering journalist, and is deeply concerned about where that profession is headed. But for our Episode 53, she joins us to tell her whole career story, and to encourage the rest of us to act like the real journalists of old, and challenge the orthodoxy that's being forced on us - whether it's in business, politics, or our personal lives!Tune in for one of our most enlightening and informative episodes yet!2023-07-2543 minManufacturing TalksHe writes kids' books that can help us create the manufacturing workforce of the future!Send us a textAfter reading the immortal Gary Paulsen's childrens' book *Hatchet,* Phil Rink's daughter couldn't find anything else good to read.And that's because far too many modern kids' books are politicized, vulgar garbage.So Phil took matters into his own hands and began writing them himself. His are not politicized, are not vulgar, and are not garbage. Quite the opposite - they're good reads not just for kids, but for adults too!Why does this matter in manufacturing? Because Phil also takes on some technical challenges as subject...2023-07-1846 minManufacturing TalksWhat's more manufacturing-focused than gears?Send us a textMatt Croson, President of the American Gear Manufacturers Association, jumps on with us for Episode 51 to tell us all about what his outfit does.Come for the education about gear-making standards and education, and stay for the discussion about heavy metal music!Oh, and if you think gears are a thing of the past with high tech taking over, think again. Matt fills us in on all the lates and greatest uses of gears, in everything from spacecraft to EVs.2023-06-2733 minManufacturing TalksHe's back! Independent journalist Eric Starkman updates us on coming blackouts and car recalls!Send us a textIt's Episode 50!!To celebrate, we've got our first return guest. Eric Starkman is one of the most courageous voices out there in journalism, bucking the narrative to fill us in on what's really going on in the world of business and policy and so much more.He talks about the rapidly approaching energy crisis and how the reliable electricity we've become accustomed to looks to be on its way out.And about the cratering quality of American cars!Tune in to hear the truth, the...2023-06-2048 minManufacturing TalksHe's helping Hyundai make a car that walks!Send us a textJake Bernal joins us for Episode 49. He's an engineer who works for Hyundai's New Horizons Studio on their totally cool concept car, the Ultimate Mobility Vehicle (UMV). Jake also teaches at Montana State University in Bozeman.Tune in and hear all about this insanely awesome piece of design and engineering: how the company chose Bozeman for its new R&D facility last year, some of the particular technology challenges, where things stand today, and where they're headed.https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimvinoski/2020/10/21/hyundai-and-autodesk-join-forces-to-design-ultimate-mobility-vehicles/https://www.hyundai...2023-06-1335 minManufacturing Talks"Follow the science!" This scientist says there aren't enough minerals for our clean energy dreams.Send us a textFor our Episode 48, Mark P. Mills joins us to chat about why one of the biggest bottlenecks in the "energy transition" is mining, metals, and minerals. He gave a very lengthy and detailed talk about it at the beginning of the year (see link below), and now he chats with our host Jim Vinoski to tell about some of the basic problems we're already starting to run into.He's a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a Faculty Fellow at Northwestern University, and a Strategic Partner at Montrose Lane, an investment...2023-06-0643 min
Transform Talks: The Supply Chain Transformation Podcast#184 - Jim Vinoski on how the energy transition is impacting manufacturingJim Vinoski is an industry executive who has spent decades in manufacturing, focusing predominantly on engineering, operations, and management. During his 30-year career he has helped companies such as Ralston-Purina and General Mills make products ranging from food to plastics and paints to bourbon. Jim is currently the president of Cosgrove Content, which provides writing and editing services. As well as this he writes a regular column for Forbes magazine and hosts the Manufacturing Talks podcast, where he interviews the movers and shakers in the industrial world.
On this week's episode Jim and Maria discuss:
His l...2023-05-3127 minManufacturing TalksHe has to have the coolest job ever! Isn't that true of every job at the Zamboni Company?Send us a textThey make the coolest product ever manufactured. Therefore, it was destined someone from the company would make an appearance here on Manufacturing Talks! For our Episode 47, Doug Peters, Regional Sales Manager at the Zamboni Company, joins us to fulfill that destiny.He tells us all about the history of the company and its iconic products, his favorite moment of his career, and not just a little bit about hockey.Tune in and hear about the whole story!2023-05-3031 minManufacturing TalksIn case you haven't been paying attention, a severe energy crisis is coming. Our host explains why.Send us a textEpisode 46 features our host Jim Vinoski telling why things are getting critical when it comes to reliable and affordable electrical power. For manufacturing, this is the #1 risk in the medium to long term. You need to understand what's happening, and get involved in driving a major policy course correction.Here's some reading on the subject:https://www.manhattancontrarian.com/blog/2023-5-14-biden-federal-government-goes-full-suicide-bomber-against-americahttps://www.utilitydive.com/news/most-of-us-faces-elevated-risk-of-summer-blackouts-extreme-heat-nerc/650531/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/york-gets-tough-owners-natural-091501926.htmlhttps://starkmanapproved.com/the-night-the-lights-go-out-in-america/https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2023/05/here-come-the-blackouts...2023-05-2312 minManufacturing TalksHe travels the world to photograph as many steel mills as he can get himself into!Send us a textEpisode 45 features photographer extraordinaire Viktor Mácha from Prague. When he was still a youth, his parents stopped on a trip to show him some of his country's steel industry, and from that moment he was hooked. (A student of religion and theology, he describes that moment as "a religious experience.")As market downturns and globalization took their toll on steel plants around the world, Viktor decided he would make his mark by documenting as many of them as he possibly could.Now he visits as many countries as h...2023-05-1628 minManufacturing TalksMake textiles in America? Anna and Mark at Red Land Cotton say, "HECK YES!"Send us a textEpisode 44 features the co-founders of Red Land Cotton in Alabama, Anna Brakefield and her dad Mark Yeager.Mark is a longtime cotton farmer who built his own cotton gin years ago and was looking for a way to get more money for his crops. His daughter went to school for marketing and was good and ready to go into business with her dad, so they founded their company back in 2015. Their first products were super-high-quality bed sheets, and they've done so well that they've since expanded into apparel and accessories t...2023-05-0932 minManufacturing TalksShe engraved the amazing dueling pistols you'll see in the John Wick 4 movie!Send us a textFor our Episode 43, we chat with Melissa McMinn, Master Engraver at Melissa M Studios. She tells us how she got where she is, the tricks of her trade and the tools she uses, the kinds of work she does, and yes, the story of those fabulous dueling pistols!She's just one of three female Master Engravers in the whole United States.2023-05-0227 minManufacturing TalksFor this one, it's your host, Jim Vinoski, giving a recent speech out in Montana!Send us a textEpisode 42 is a very special one, featuring yours truly, Jim Vinoski! I recently was invited to speak at the Manufacturing and International Trade Day in Helena, Montana. I spoke about the state of manufacturing in the world and in the US, and why I think Montana is positioning itself extremely well to compete for manufacturers looking for a good place to settle.Many thanks to the Montana Chamber of Commerce and the Montana Manufacturing Association for having me out there, and for their kind permission to use the video they took...2023-04-2530 minManufacturing TalksHe's the CEO of a huge industrial automation company... and he's here to help the little guys?? Yes!Send us a textFor Episode 41, we're joined by Cedrik Neike, CEO of Siemens Digital Industries and Member of the Board for Siemens overall.He has two vital messages. First, if you're in manufacturing and you're not working on digitalization, you're getting left behind. And second, no matter how big your company is, Siemens is here to help, with a new modular product offering that lets you pick and choose what you go after and when.Plus he's just got a whole lot of other great insight into what's hot in the industrial...2023-04-1833 minManufacturing TalksHe worked at Tiffany & Co. Now he's a silversmith in Montana!Send us a textEpisode 40 features Lance Neirby, CEO of Montana Silversmiths in Billings. Learn how he went from undergrad in Minnesota to a Master of Fine Arts from Rochester Institute of Technology to Tiffany to Montana! It's a heck of a story.Lance not only knows the ins and outs of metalsmithing and jewelry making, but he's also doing a bang-up job running the show at his small outfit in the Treasure State. Tune in for a great personal story and an even greater lesson in how to run a business.2023-04-1133 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 39: Nadav Goshen, CEO of UltiMakerSend us a textWant to learn what's going on in the world of 3D printing (a.k.a. additive manufacturing or AM)?Nadav Goshen is the CEO of UltiMaker. They recently merged with MakerBot, and now the combined companies are off to the races expanding the market for their existing printers, and looking to the future at new opportunities.Nadav joined us to tell us all about his fascinating background, what got him into the AM world, and what's big now and down the road at UltiMaker.2023-04-0431 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 38: Eric Starkman, journalist at Starkman ApprovedSend us a textAre US automakers headed back to the bad old days of the 1970s? Journalist Eric Starkman joins us for a special episode of our show to drill into that question.Eric worked in Detroit (among other places) years ago, and he still regularly covers the big stories from the Great Lakes State. Nowadays he exposes the warts that ought to be exposed at his own outlet, Starkman Approved (www.starkmanapproved.com).Unfortunately, he's had a lot of warts to expose when it comes to the car industry lately. Like...2023-03-2842 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 37: Paul Van Metre, co-founder at ProShopSend us a textPaul Van Metre had his own machine shop, and learned along the way what he really needed when it came to business software.That's why he shifted hears and helped found ProShop, the ERP solution for machine shops. His software is focused on giving machine shop owners, managers, and workers exactly what they need to maximize the efficiency of their operations.Tune in and listen as Paul shares what his experiences on the front lines taught him, and how he's brought that knowledge to making his software solution the...2023-03-2137 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 36: David Blackmon, energy writer, analyst, and consultant, and "miner of absurdities"Send us a textThe #1 middle- to long-term risk to American manufacturers is our increasingly unreliable energy supply. So this episode diving into the reasons things are headed the way they are, and what we can do about it, is our most important one so far.David Blackmon has been warning us about this for years. It was incredibly educational to hear him talk about how really awful policy decisions are putting our energy security into doubt.This one is a must-see. Tune in and watch the whole thing.And if...2023-03-0734 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 35: Scott Sehnert, President of the Montana Manufacturing AssociationSend us a textMontana may not be a state that, when you first think about it, has manufacturing come to mind for you. But there are plenty of reasons it should be.So it was great fun to chat with Scott Sehnert about his adopted home state. Scott is a VP at First Security Bank Montana in Bozeman, and he also serves as President of the Montana Manufacturing Association. Tune in and hear him chat about all the great things that the Treasure State has happening to make it a great place for manufacturers...2023-02-2132 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 34: Gabe Draper, co-founder at FacturSend us a textGabe Draper is a self-proclaimed failed machine shop owner. Now he's in another business to help manufacturers avoid the mistakes he made.He's co-founder of Factur, his company that hunts customers... for their customers. They're all about lead generation, using their specialized tech and tools to generate high-quality sales. Tune in and hear Gabe talk about how you can diversify your customer base and make your business more robust.Plus he shares some amazing news about his family, and he and I compare notes about bicycling. What's not to...2023-02-0730 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 33: Melissa Martin, Director of Marketing at LAB Midwest and Producer of the TechEd PodcastSend us a textMelissa Martin has a whole lot to tell you about what we all need to be doing to rebuild our nation's pipeline of skilled workers.She has not just one, but TWO jobs where she does her part for all that. She's Director of Marketing at LAB Midwest, a distributor for the whole upper Midwest of training curricula and equipment for the workplace and for STEM materials for schools. And she's the producer of the TechEd Podcast, where she helps bridge the gap between the technical education world and the workforce...2023-01-1739 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 32: Kerrie Jordan, VP of Product Management at EpicorSend us a textIt was such a lot of fun hearing from Kerrie about everything Epicor has going on. Epicor is a software development company specializing in its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) suite that's designed specifically for manufacturers.As I mentioned in our chat, I know a lot of you out there get a bad taste in your mouth anytime you hear "ERP." But if you haven't checked out the latest developments, do give our chat a listen, because ERPs have come a long way since the days of the "jack of all trades...2023-01-0334 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 31: Dan Burgos, President and CEO of Alphanova ConsultingSend us a textIt's all too common in manufacturing circles to hear about the operations improvement projects that didn't pan out, the Lean transformation that sputtered, or the cultural reset that never got off the ground.Making sure those kinds of failures don't happen is Dan Burgos's stock in trade. It was lots of fun chatting with him and hearing his thoughts on what both leaders and front-line workers need to do to make these efforts successful, how to identify a bad employee fit before bigger problems arise, and how to successfully transform your...2022-12-2040 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 30: Neil Friedman, co-founder and COO of BodiMetricsSend us a textNeil Friedman has done a lot of cool things in his time, but maybe the coolest yet is his company's still fairly new product, the circul+ fitness ring. It's got so much going for it: it's unobtrusive, it works for general condition monitoring, exercise, sleep monitoring and improvement, and even help with treating Long Covid. Plus it doesn't have the skin pigmentation glitches that watches do.It's so cool I wrote about it for Forbes (https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimvinoski/2021/12/22/is-the-prevention-circul-wellness-ring-the-future-of-wearable-health-monitors/).Now you can hear all about it...2022-12-0636 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 29: Aaron Marks, founder and President of Aspire Marketing GroupSend us a textOne thing it's pretty common for manufacturers to miss the mark on is marketing. Especially today, when just about everything marketing-related is changing so fast, though, it's a critically important topic. So it was a treat to host Aaron Marks, who founded Aspire Marketing Group because of the opportunities he saw in this particular vein.Aaron has nearly two decades of marketing leadership expertise, focused on digital and inbound marketing. His specific focus has helped manufacturers and distributors deliver marketing success. His mission is always to construct, manage, and implement strategies...2022-11-1538 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 28: Jake Manthei, President of Aster BrandsSend us a textJake heads up one of the business units for The Manthei Group, which is one of the most inspiring family business stories I've ever come across. Five generations ago, a couple of German immigrants came over, settled in what's now a popular resort area in northern Lower Michigan, and began farming. After many fits and starts, and lots of amazing business decisions, their family runs a business that literally spans the globe. And it's all still headquartered right up there in little Petoskey, Michigan (and Jake's dad Ben still lives in the old...2022-11-0141 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastEducationWelcome back to the Making a Difference for Us podcast! Todays episode with Jim, Hyatt, Edwin, and Kevin we are discussing education. 2022-10-2838 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 27: Mark O'Brien, Founder and Principal at O'Brien Communications GroupSend us a textMark O'Brien and I have known each other for a few years, and I've always admired his writing. But when I read his piece entitled, "Give It a Shot," (https://www.bizcatalyst360.com/give-it-a-shot/) I knew I had to have him on here to chat about it."I don’t think we’re quitters. I think we don’t try." That's one of the many memorable lines. The article hit home for me in many ways, some good and some bad.Go read the piece, and give our chat a list...2022-10-1849 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 26: Craig Cegielski, Tech Ed Teacher and Founder at Cardinal ManufacturingSend us a textTech Ed teacher Craig Cegielski of the Eleva-Strum School District in Wisconsin wasn't satisfied just doing the usual stuff when it came to teaching his students the craft and the business of machining. So he came up with an idea: make an actual business out of his upper-level students' work!That's where Cardinal Manufacturing got its start, and now it's a functioning business that teaches not just machining, but other business skills like accounting, marketing, and fundamentals like how to dress, how to shake a client's hand, and how to address...2022-10-0435 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 25: Dave Yonkman, President of DYS MediaSend us a textManufacturers in particular, but really any business in general, can learn a lot from Dave Yonkman! He's the President of his own PR firm, DYS Media, LLC, and he's got a wealth of experience on what works to attract and keep great customers, and how to grow your business.Here's a preview of our superb chat: make your customers, not you, the heroes in their "stories"!Dave shares a whole lot more excellent ideas - tune in and check out the whole thing.And as always, please...2022-09-2042 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 24: Jason Ray, CEO and co-founder of Paperless PartsSend us a textJason Ray saw an opportunity with the antiquated processes machine shops used to quote their jobs. So he and a friend founded Paperless Parts to help shop owners bring how they do things into the 21st century.In addition to being a guru on that, Jason is also a wealth of knowledge on the general topic of how to win in today's competitive manufacturing environment. And he should know - since I talked to him a few years ago for the Forbes article I did on Paperless Parts, he's grown his...2022-09-0641 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 23: Nikki Gonzales, partnerships guru at Quotebeam and podcast co-host at Automation LadiesSend us a textThere was a whole collection of characteristics Nikke Gonzales has that made me want to interview her here on Manufacturing Talks: to highlight just a few, she's an expert in automation for industry and supply chain; she takes on seemingly way too much in her life, just like I do; she brings fresh new perspectives to the sometimes stodgy old "make it" and "move it" worlds; and she immigrated to the U.S.A. from Iceland, which was one of my favorite places I've ever visited!She offered a whole bunch...2022-08-2345 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 22: Shane Cooper, Founder, President, and Chief Sockologist of DeFeet InternationalSend us a textI always love it here on Manufacturing Talks when I get to explore a business that's tied to one of my personal interests. As a lifelong bicyclist, then, it was an absolute pleasure getting to chat with Shane Cooper, President and Chief Sockologist of DeFeet International, producer high-quality American-made cycling socks and other apparel. Shane had so much to share - about establishing a business to solve a real problem, about catching the attention of the pro cycling world, and about coming back from setbacks that could have destroyed lots of entrepreneurs.2022-08-0245 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 21: Ashleigh Walters, President of Onex, Inc.Send us a textWhere do I even start when it comes to Ashleigh Walters?Some years ago she had left her engineering career in corporate America to be a stay-at-home mom. But then her father-in-law came calling; he needed her to sort out the finances at his company, Onex, Inc., in Erie, Pennsylvania which is both a product and service outfit for refractory materials and systems for the steel industry and others. Unfortunately, things were a mess, but Ashleigh buckled down and enlisted the frontline workers to help right the ship. She felt so...2022-07-1936 min
CAPitalize Your FinancesCAPitalize Your Blue Collar Business with Jim VinoskiIn our tech-heavy world, one where fortunes seem to be made mostly by people whose days are filled with bites and bytes, one of the less-heralded types of business in the 21st century is manufacturing -- also known as "blue collar" work.And while they don't make big headlines, blue-collar businesses are the backbone of our economy. There are opportunities to be had in these types of businesses, especially for those who look at themselves as a hands-on, build-it-yourself kind of person. A good CAPitalizer will not ignore any aspect of business, which is why I...2022-07-1828 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastA Glimpse of the Past and of the FutureA look back on season 2 and insight into what we're excited about for season 3!2022-07-1506 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastGun ControlWarning: This episode contains conversations revolving around mass shootings in public places, such as those in schools or hospitals. Our final episode of season 2 in which we introduce a new panelist as discuss gun control laws in the US and how they compare to other countries.2022-07-0845 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 20: Brandon Acker, President of Titan Abrasive SystemsSend us a textTitan Abrasive Systems started nearly 70 years ago, originally based in the founder's backyard shed, focused on equipment for sandblasting, surface preparation, and surface finishing. For our 20th episode, their President, Brandon Acker, joined me to tell how the company, based just north of Philadelphia, continues today to make high-quality blast room equipment, blast cabinets, dust collectors, and portable blast systems. Plus he educated me about the latest blast media and new applications for blast equipment, along with his own new manufacturing technologies that continue to make Titan one of the highest-quality providers out...2022-07-0539 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 19: Katie Lyon, co-founder of Allegiance Flag SupplySend us a textWhen the American flag they'd received as a wedding present quickly became worn and tattered, Katie and Wes Lyon went looking for something much better, and preferably made in the USA. They couldn't find it, though, so instead they teamed up with their friend Max Berry and founded Allegiance Flag Supply to make their own.After some fits and starts, they found the business model that works, and they not only survived but thrived through the pandemic. Katie visits the "Wall of Metal" to tell us how they did it.2022-06-2141 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 18: Chris Panagiotu, Owner of CAPitalize Your Finances, LLCSend us a textMy pals all over the manufacturing world do amazing things. But let's face it: a lot of us were never educated in running a business. So I took advantage of the opportunity to have my friend Chris Panagiotu on the show to give us all some education. Chris is the owner of CAPitalize Your Finances, LLC. He's a wealth adviser and a certified financial planner. He hosts his own podcast, aptly named the CAPitalize Your Finances Podcast, and he also has a book coming out soon! And he's a heckuva great guy, too.2022-06-0739 min
The Business SphereEpisode 278 Jim Vinoski | Manufacturing Expert and Advocate“When you run into fear, and you want to get past it, you have to learn about yourself and what’s going to motivate you to take that next step.”Jim Vinoski is a Forbes contributor and an advocate for the American manufacturing environment. His career has taken him from plant floors to corporate boardrooms with companies like General Mills and Ralston-Purina. His motivation to succeed in any face of challenges played a significant factor in building his corporate leadership skills.Join Jim Vinoski as he recounts his experiences and how his motivation and mindset have h...2022-06-0149 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastForeign PolicyOur 5th episode of season 2 in which Christine, Edwin, and Kevin discuss their stances on US Foreign Policy and if our current practices are solely with US citizens in mind or with humanity as a whole in mind. 2022-05-2346 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 17: Brad King, co-founder and CEO of Orbion Space TechnologiesSend us a textWay up in Houghton, Michigan, there's a little company that's making nearby Michigan Tech University a new destination for space technology. Brad King, who helped found Orbion Space Technologies, picked the location because of the exceptional technical talent the school generates. (And the staggering natural beauty of Michigan's Upper Peninsula doesn't hurt either.)Tune in and listen to the whole story! As always, if you like it, please like, share, and subscribe!2022-05-1735 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastLGBTQIA+ RightsOur 4th episode of season 2 in which Edwin, Kevin, and Christine discuss LGBTQIA+ rights in regards to both societal perception and government2022-05-0649 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 16: John Stitt and Joe Bradley of KA-BARSend us a textA lot of you probably know about KA-BAR because of their iconic US Marine Corps fighting knife. But the company's history goes a lot farther back than WWII. It's a fascinating story, and today KA-BAR is making some outstanding products (do check out the tactical spork!)CEO John Stitt and Director of Sales and Marketing Joe Bradley joined me to tell me all about it. They're a couple of great guys, and we had a fabulous chat.Do check out the whole thing, and as always, like, share, and...2022-05-0345 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastEnergy & Environment Our 3rd episode of the season in which Jim, Kevin, Edwin, and Christine discuss energy and the environment and how the government should or should not be involved with research. 2022-04-2244 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 15: Dianna Huff, President of Huff Industrial Marketing, Inc.Send us a textDianna Huff is one of my favorite industrial advocates out there, since we share a passion for American manufacturing (though I will say she beats me big time on actually buying American!) She's had some great experiences in writing about manufacturing and helping producers market their goods in today's digital world. And along the way she's found ways to buy almost everything she uses only if it's made the USA. She recently launched a blog about that, so she's also Publisher of Keep It Made USA, where she helps consumers follow her lead.2022-04-1934 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastTaxesOur 2nd episode of the season in which Jim, Kevin, and Edwin discuss taxes and their role in both the federal and state government.2022-04-0838 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 14: Eric Girouard, CEO of BRUNT WorkwearSend us a textEric Girouard grew up doing blue-collar work, went to college and learned about business, then worked in the fashion world. But his hometown friends who went into the trades begged him to launch a workwear company to get them the gear they needed.So he did.His friends were right about there being a big market for that. It's been going gangbusters ever since with BRUNT's boots, coveralls, and more.Tune in and hear all about it. And subscribe to hear more cool stories like Eric's!2022-04-0532 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastImmigrationOur first episode of season 2 where we talk about immigration laws in the US featuring a guest who works as a family law attorney but also worked previously in immigration in terms of employment.2022-03-2556 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 13: Aimee Ridella, Communications Strategist at DTE EnergySend us a textHere's an educational one for our manufacturing audience. Aimee Ridella, in her previous job with Weber Shandwick, was the best PR partner I had in helping me find great stories for some of my earliest Forbes articles. Now doing internal communications work at DTE Energy, she came on to help teach us what people in manufacturing should be thinking about when it comes to PR, and how they might get help in getting their names out there and in putting the best image forward for their companies.It was an absolute...2022-03-1541 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastA Look Back to the FutureGoodbye Season 1, hello Season 2! An insight into how we're still working to evolve with bipartisan respect while being listened to and heard. 2022-03-1107 min
Leader of The Pack Podcast#18. Manufacturing and Business Deep Dive with Industry Veteran, Jim Vinoski, Forbes Contributor, Columnist & Podcast Host.In this week’s episode, Duluth Pack’s CEO, Tom Sega sits down with Jim Vinoski, Forbes Contributor and Columnist, plus Podcast Host of 'Manufacturing Talks', to dive deep into his business experience. Jim shares about receiving his engineering degree, working for corporate company, General Mills, brewing bourbon, receiving over 1 million article reads as a contributor for Forbes with 200+ articles, and now becoming a podcast host focusing on Made in America manufacturing. You don’t want to miss this week's episode of Leader of the Pack; a Podcast by Duluth Pack.
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/po...2022-03-0954 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 12: Mike Wisnefski, co-founder and CEO of MaterialsXchangeSend us a textThe lumber commodities market can be tough to negotiate, especially for smaller companies. Getting price transparency for buyers and dealing with credit risks for sellers were always a problem, even before today's crazy marketplace conditions.Mike Wisnefski had been trading lumber since the 1990s, and back in 2009 he saw an opportunity when the CME Group started trading lumber futures on its Globex system. That transition to digital trading eventually led him to help found MaterialsXchange, which digitized the trading of physical lumber. That's made it a heckuva lot easier for the...2022-03-0147 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastMinimum WageOn our last episode of the first season, we discuss the federal minimum wage. Should it be raised and, if so, what would be the implications affecting the free market and employers.2022-02-1936 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 11: Mike Kinder, CEO and co-founder of VeryableSend us a textBack before the pandemic, Mike co-founded his company, Veryable, which introduced an app and other innovations to provide on-demand labor for manufacturing and supply chain companies looking for better way to right-size their workforces.Then came Covid, and what Mike says was a deliberate attack on small business that's hit manufacturers particularly hard.Tune in and hear all about it, and learn what you can do to help yourself in these difficult times for staffing and for keeping your business healthy.2022-02-1539 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastMinimum WageOn our last episode of the first season, we discuss the federal minimum wage. Should it be raised and, if so, what would be the implications affecting the free market and employers.2022-02-0436 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 10: Chip Barletto and Cory Bonnet of Patterns of MeaningSend us a textChip and Cory happened on a rather large "barn find" piece of American industrial history, and, taking the bull by the horns, they've now established an exhibit in Pittsburgh of the most amazing handcrafted wooden patterns for steel casting, and thousands of associated drawings.What brought this steel plant scrapper and oil painter together to accomplish such an amazing and deeply meaningful feat? Tune in and hear the whole story!2022-02-0137 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastMilitaryOur 5th episode of season 1 in which we discuss the role of the US military in regards to both our national and international involvements.2022-01-2228 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 9: Jason Brownell, Director of Engineering at Mold In Graphics - PolyfuzeSend us a textBack in the mid-1970s, a guy named Michael John Stevenson got fed up with labels not sticking to plastic. So he came up with a solution: make the graphics part of the plastic itself! So were born Mold In Graphic Systems (MIGS) and Polyfuze, the companies Stevenson founded to sell his labeling solutions.Now Jason Brownell works with customers on those very same solutions, while also making sure everything at MIGS-Polyfuze is working right. It was a treat to hear him describe their work! Tune in and hear all about...2022-01-1838 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastHealthcareOur 4th episode in which we discuss the cost vs. benefit of healthcare and whether or not healthcare it a right or privilege. Featuring Zac Djamoos and Dennis Pistolis.2022-01-0740 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 8: Jake Hall, The Manufacturing MillennialSend us a textFor the first episode of 2022, I had a great time talking to Jake Hall, The Manufacturing Millennial. By day, Jake is a Business Development Manager for Feyen Zylstra. But in his social media presence, his passion is to work with manufactures, integrators and end-users to share his knowledge around automation, robotics, and Industry 4.0.His passion for automation and high-tech manufacturing, and its popularity in our industrial world and beyond, manifests itself mightily on his social outlets. With 23,000 followers and over 8 million views on his content, he ignites conversations about the latest...2022-01-0440 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastHappy Holidays from MAD4USA special short episode wishing you happy holidays while talking about what the holiday season means for us.2021-12-2407 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 7 Gretchen Philyaw, founder of USA LOVES MFG and President of Magenta TechnologiesSend us a textGretchen is one of the most-recognized advocates of American industry around. She's President of her own manufacturing technology solutions company, Magenta Technologies, established 2015 after she'd done several stints in telecomms and media. She's also founder of her made-in-America manufacturing advocacy organization, USA LOVES MFG.Tune in to hear her whole story!2021-12-2133 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastAbortionOur 3rd episode, halfway through our first season, in which we discuss one of the most heated topics in politics; abortion. Join us as we explore whether or not abortion laws should be governed at the federal or state level, what harm is created by the different sides, and if there are special circumstances in which abortion should be allowed.2021-12-1046 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 6: Dean Wegner of Authentically AmericanSend us a textWhen West Point graduate and former US Army helicopter pilot discovered that just 3% of apparel purchased in the USA is made in America, he set out to change that. His company, Authentically American, sells casual business attire and leisure wear. It's high-quality apparel made in 12 different states by American workers.Tune in to hear his whole story!2021-12-0726 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastJudgesOur 2nd episode in which we discuss the role of judges, how often laws should be adjusted, and what limits should be in place for what government can and cannot do.2021-11-2636 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 5: Tom Sega, CEO of Duluth Pack and Spring Creek ManufacturingSend us a textTom Sega had a travel bag fail him long ago in his former life as a sales guy. A friend recommended he get a new one from Duluth Pack, a maker of high-end duffels and bags right there in his own hometown of Duluth, Minnesota. Tom did and became a huge fan. When the company hit on hard times, he heard about it, bought them, and brought them back.Then he did it all over again with Spring Creek Manufacturing, maker of canoe accessories and industrial truck racks up in Mountain...2021-11-1643 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastBlack Lives MatterOur first episode in which we explore the Black Lives Matter movement, the different viewpoints of its message, and the actions made in its name.2021-11-1247 min
Making a Difference for Us (MAD4Us) Political PodcastMeet the team!A short episode to allow listeners to be introduced to the panelists, host, and graphic design artist so that you can meet us outside of politics, 2021-11-1109 minManufacturing TalksEpisode 4: Ben Findlay, CEO of Machine CompareSend us a textBen Findlay is the founder and CEO of Machine Compare, where he's created an online marketplace for buying and selling manufacturing spare parts. Companies anywhere with obsolete or excess parts can list them on the Marketplace, and people who need obscure and hard to get items can search and find them there. As said in my Forbes headline when I wrote about Ben, he's made the whole world your spare parts storeroom - and those of you in manufacturing know exactly how huge that is! Tune in and here his whole story.2021-11-0244 min
The Lean Solutions PodcastLean with Forbes Writer, Jim VinoskiThis week on the podcast, I am speaking with Jim Vinoski, a writer, manufacturing advocate and Lean expert with a focus in engineering, operations and management.
In this episode, Jim and I talk about Lean in manufacturing and how leaders can involve and excite their team when it comes to implementing Lean. We also talk about some of the important lessons and tips Jim has for someone just starting out in Lean.
What You’ll Learn This Episode:
Jim’s best and worst lean experiences
The culture of continuous appearance, what it is and how to avoid it
How leaders can e...2021-10-1929 min
Manufacturing TalksEpisode 3: Bob Jacquart of Stormy Kromer and Jacquart Fabric ProductsSend us a textThe story of Stormy Kromer, maker of iconic winter hats and so much more, is one of my favorite ones in manufacturing. Since they're located in my little Upper Peninsula of Michigan hometown of Ironwood, it involved old family friends, along with that unique brand of upper Midwest can-do attitude. Here's CEO and owner Bob Jacquart to tell you all about it!2021-10-1728 min
Manufacturing TalksEpisode 1: Titan Gilroy of Titans of CNCSend us a textTitan Gilroy is CEO of Titans of CNC, a Texas machine shop, and creator of his own reality TV show and the Titans of CNC Academy, which provides low-cost education in CNC programming. His own troubled past inspired him to provide a positive outlet for others who might be looking for a better path. Tune in to listen to this inspiring manufacturing icon!2021-09-2943 min
Manufacturing TalksEpisode 2: Empowering Women - Amy Robbins of Alexo AthleticaSend us a textAmy Robbins is CEO of Alexo Athletica, maker of concealed carry workout gear. A former model, she started the company after a harrowing personal experience while training for a marathon. Tune in and learn about that, as well as her ups and downs as an entrepreneur!2021-09-2937 min
The Voices of ManufacturingHow to Retain and Attract a Qualified Manufacturing Workforce with Jim VinoskiWelcome to the first episode of The Voices of Manufacturing! Join us in conversation with Jim Vinoski, a Forbes Author who specializes in all things manufacturing.As manufacturing businesses face workforce shortages and perception problems, Jim and Brian talk about the actionable steps that companies of any size can begin implementing today. Jim also focuses on strategies for retaining top talent and giving your workforce clear paths towards improvement and professional development.A full transcript along with additional resources are listed here.
2021-08-0935 min
WBSRocks: Business Growth with Enterprise Software and Digital TransformationWBSP122: Grow Your Business by Learning Key Nuances From the Distillery Industry w/ Jim VinoskiSend us a textThe processes of most food and beverage businesses are challenging due to government regulations. Still, the distillery business is even trickier due to maintaining inventory through the production process. There is significant inventory tied in the final phases of the production process. Then you don't have access to the final consumer as the government mandates you to go through the distribution channels. Finally, there are significant quality and packaging guidelines that need to be followed through and after the distribution.In today's episode, we have our guest, Jim Vinoski, who discusses...2021-08-0943 min
The UNFLTRD PodcastThe UNFLTRD Podcast with Jim VinoskiIn this episode, I chat with Jim Vinoski, a self-declared wanna-be Renaissance man. He’s married and has two sons, an avid cyclist, runner, and reader, a big WWII history buff who has never gotten over his 1980s fascination with heavy metal music.2020-09-2047 min
Manufacturing TomorrowJim Vinoski, ForbesJim Vinoski, Forbes contributor and manufacturing expert, has covered the challenges and opportunities that manufacturers face, highlighting topics as diverse as the role of digital technologies in prosthetics production, generative design, mass personalization and Fiestaware. Jim leads teams for plant and corporate manufacturing and supply chain initiatives. He has been a site leader for Midwest… Continue reading Jim Vinoski, Forbes2020-01-2700 min
Manufacturing TomorrowJim Vinoski, ForbesJim Vinoski, Forbes contributor and manufacturing expert, has covered the challenges and opportunities that manufacturers face, highlighting topics as diverse as the role of digital technologies in prosthetics production, generative design, mass personalization and Fiestaware.
Jim leads teams for plant and corporate manufacturing and supply chain initiatives. He has been a site leader for Midwest Grain Products, a large distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and spent more than 15 years in plant system engineering and corporate leadership roles at General Mills.2020-01-2728 min