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Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

Manufacturing is challenging, but if you are connected to a community of leaders, you can elevate your skills, solve your problems and grow your business! MakingChips was launched in 2014 to equip and inspire the metalworking nation. Hundreds of episodes and a million downloads later, it’s an industry-leading source of information, inspiration, and entertainment for manufacturing leaders of all types. It’s hosted by Jason Zenger and Nick Goellner, two multi-generational manufacturing leaders, and they’re joined by a rotating panel of expert guests – including Titan Gilroy (TITANS of CNC), John Saunders (NYC CNC), Mark TerryBerry (Haas Automation), and many more. Join us as we tackle the topics that keep you up at night - leadership, operations, technology, growth, workforce development and culture.
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Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders
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Now displaying: February, 2024
Feb 27, 2024

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] Join the AMT online community 
  • [2:14] Introducing Jack Henry Hagan & Dakta Hunt
  • [3:47] Casey’s dad joke
  • [4:16] Dakota’s background in fabrication
  • [8:27] Jack Henry’s background in fabrication
  • [11:24] Sparks of Knowledge: CRMs
  • [13:45] Why fabrication is rewarding work
  • [16:28] Dos and don’ts for bringing in young talent
  • [21:38] How to handle rapid growth

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Feb 20, 2024

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 practices, and why the work they do is incredibly important. 

– Casey

Segments

  • [1:09] Learn more about AMT
  • [2:38] Introducing special guest Nate Foote
  • [7:57] Casey’s dad joke
  • [9:31] BWXT’s team-building process
  • [13:54] Their program with a local high school 
  • [15:39] Spark of Knowledge: Strategic Planning 
  • [17:28] The recruiting strategies they leverage 
  • [26:38] Get Oracle’s KPI Checklist 
  • [29:42] BWXT’s involvement in niche markets
  • [31:18] Their commitment to processes
  • [35:38] What’s keeping Nate up at night
  • [36:35] What Nate’s most excited about

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Feb 13, 2024

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 right tool, you’re not making money. BAM!

– Nick

Segments

  • [0:19] FREE IMTS 2024 Exhibitor Workshop
  • [2:17] Nick’s dad joke
  • [2:43] Learn more about R.J. Reed and Brendon DiVincenzo
  • [9:45] The definition of precision
  • [12:16] The history of lasers in machining
  • [19:28] Netsuite by Oracle’s Ultimate KPI Checklist
  • [21:29] Plasma versus water jet versus laser cutting
  • [25:55] Cutting with nitrogen versus oxygen
  • [31:05] How technology is driving innovation
  • [38:48] Are people still G-code programming?

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Feb 6, 2024

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 last couple of months. Be ready to be awe-struck. 

– Nick

Segments

  • [0:18] IMTS 2024
  • [2:01] Miracle #1: Making it to the hospital
  • [8:35] Miracle #2: Getting a heart transplant
  • [12:01] Miracle #3: Being near the right hospital 
  • [14:41] Miracle #4: Hearing Jason on the phone
  • [21:22] Netsuite by Oracle KPI Checklist
  • [24:16] Takeaway #1: Focus on your health
  • [26:59] Takeaway #2: Create an estate plan
  • [29:23] Takeaway #3: Build a team you can trust
  • [32:19] Takeaway #4: Don’t take anything for granted 

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