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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: October, 2021
Oct 25, 2021

In round three with Titan Gilroy, we talk about why Titan decided to move his entire business from California to Texas. Was it a smooth transition? Was he able to retain his entire team? Titan also shares more of the “why” behind his business and his passion for serving his audience. Titan continues to go above and beyond the expected as he grows his academy. Listen to learn more. BAM!

Segments

  • [0:52] Why Titan moved his business to Texas
  • [11:28] Solving people’s problems = success
  • [18:28] Understand your audience + tell your story
  • [26:50] Titan’s transition from regret to changing lives
  • [29:34] Where did Titan’s “Boom!” come from

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Oct 18, 2021

In this episode of Making Chips, we dive back into the conversation with Titan Gilroy. This time, we talk about how Titan’s TV show, “American Built,” came to life. We also talk about how he almost gave up the TV show to do something he was passionate about—helping prisoners transform their lives and learn to become full-fledged machinists. This passion project eventually led to the creation of the Titans of CNC Academy, where you can learn everything from the fundamentals of machining to creating aerospace parts—all completely free. Don’t miss this episode with THE Titan of the industry. BAM!

Segments

  • [1:55] Why schools and colleges don’t have sufficient manufacturing training
  • [7:35] How Titan’s TV show, “American Built” came to fruition
  • [13:31] How Titan took inmates and helped them become full-fledged machinists
  • [19:34] Why Titan uses the phrase “uniquely abled” instead of disabled 
  • [32:48] Learn more about Titans of CNC Academy 

Resources mentioned on this episode

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Oct 11, 2021

This episode takes you (and us) to Texas to speak with Titan Gilroy. He calls himself an advocate for advanced manufacturing, and that’s a huge understatement. He runs two academies that teach what it takes to be a success in manufacturing. His personal stroy demonstrates that becoming a success in the industry — individually or as an organization — doesn’t happen overnight or without a significant amount of struggle. We skip the banter and back and forth typical of our episodes because we are so excited to bring you this conversation with Titan. So, without further delay, click the play button and hear what Titan’s got to share. BAM!  

Segments

  • [1:50] Titan Gilroy’s start in CNC machining came through a great deal of hardship
  • [6:30] Moving to California and finding his first opportunity in a shop
  • [10:15] Stepping into his first role in a machine shop and making the most of it
  • [18:10] Moving into a troubleshooter role for large companies, then starting his own shop
  • [22:15] The beginning of Titan Engineering in early 2005
  • [31:15] Raising the bar to eliminate variance and manufacture art for customers
  • [40:35] The 2008-2009 recession hit hard — everything stopped & 15 people had to be let go
  • [46:53] Lessons learned during the economic downturn were exactly what he needed 

Resources mentioned on this episode

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Oct 4, 2021

According to a recent article in Reuters, “The ISM said its index of national factory activity inched up to 59.9 last month from a reading of 59.5 in July. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in manufacturing, which accounts for 11.9% of the U.S. economy.” Manufacturing is on the rise, yet every industry is struggling with an impaired supply chain. Will things get better anytime soon? How can manufacturing businesses manage shortages in the meantime? We share some thoughts in this episode of Making Chips! 

Segments

  • [0:40] Check out ProShop ERP for manufacturing software!
  • [4:15] A discussion about supply chain issues
  • [6:57] What do we like right now?
  • [11:30] U.S. manufacturing activity rises; shortages linger
  • [14:08] The disruption that comes with reshoring
  • [17:00] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry
  • [19:40] How shortages are impacting industries
  • [26:14] Learn about Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems
  • [26:57] Will the supply chain get better anytime soon?
  • [29:01] Tips to mitigate the pain of supply chain disruptions

The Great Supply Chain Disruption

Manufacturing is becoming increasingly busy but supply chain woes linger. It’s the #1 thing on our minds right now. Most machine shops are at or near capacity. But we’re having trouble getting aluminum, brass, steel, and finished goods. Even getting containers to ship the goods is a struggle. This phenomenon is being dubbed “The Great Supply Chain Disruption.” 

Whenever you’re making a systemic change, it’s going to cause disruption. No matter how much planning you put into something, disruption happens. This should have been expected. 

The disruption that comes with reshoring

Reshoring is more relevant than ever. And this isn’t a new topic to our show. What is driving the reshoring initiative? COVID. Everything that was coming from overseas halted or decreased. Ships weren’t coming through the Panama Canal. Ships weren’t being unloaded because the workforce was at home. 

When China started rethinking its business environment and they started to incorporate more free-market tendencies, they wanted to become an export economy. They didn’t have the technology to export high-end goods so they started on the low end. But now they’re catching up. Now, China is focused on export as well as making branded goods for their economy. 

People spent their time in quarantine buying low-cost things that are sourced from Amazon—from exercise equipment to kitchen mixers. They’re buying computers, TVs, headphones, etc. Many things that are sourced from China. 

Will the supply chain get better anytime soon?

Lead time and prices are going to increase. Everyone is dealing with it right now. We can’t be the link that absorbs all the cost increases. The federal government knew that the influx of money into the economy plus the supply chain issues were going to lead to increased prices. This is going to lead to inflation. Inflation does slow growth. But everyone is saying that interest rates will be holding steady ingo 2022. We think the supply chain issues will continue into 2022 but it’s currently a game of wait and see.

So what can manufacturers do in the meantime to mitigate the problems that come with supply chain issues? We share a few tips in this episode you don’t want to miss. Check it out! 

BAM!

– Jim

Resources mentioned on this episode

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