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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: November, 2022
Nov 29, 2022

When do you ask customers to pay their invoices? How do you ask your customers to pay their invoice(s)? Collecting on a debt that’s owed is an art and a science. You have to be careful so you don’t lose a customer. In this episode of MakingChips, we cover a recent frustrating situation I dealt with that should have been handled differently—because they just might lose me as a customer. Don’t miss this episode to hear the whole story!

– Jim

Segments

  • [3:06] What’s happening at ZENGERS and Carr Machine & Tool
  • [7:12] Using discretion in your collection tactics
  • [9:10] Manufacturing news: Indiana leads nation on manufacturing job growth
  • [15:37] The reason why we’re talking about collection tactics
  • [23:58] How we evaluate our collection tactics
  • [26:51] Who is handling accounts receivable? 

Resources mentioned on this episode

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Nov 22, 2022

We believe that there are three components to running a great manufacturing company: Peopleprocess, and performance. And properly managing each of these areas will drive the success of your business. In this episode of MakingChips, we moderate a panel at the CV Manufacturing Conference with special guests Mike Allison and Ryan Howard. We cover everything from finding and retaining top talent to achieving and sustaining high-output results. Don’t miss this special edition of the MakingChips podcast!

Segments

  • [1:20] How MakingChips got its start
  • [4:28] Introducing Mike Allison and Ryan Howard
  • [6:42] Strategies to find, hire and retain top talent 
  • [14:05] How manufacturing can make an impact on your family
  • [18:54] How to build on the strengths of your employees
  • [26:32] Using personality tests to identify motivations for employees
  • [30:46] The processes they use to meet customer’s demands
  • [38:50] Key characteristics of a best-in-class supplier
  • [42:20] What Mike and Ryan are doing differently with processes
  • [46:16] How to achieve and sustain high output results
  • [52:06] Using gamification to help motivate employees to level up
  • [57:53] Sharing who’s receiving rewards for excellence in manufacturing
  • [1:01:30] Make sure you actually implement your “open door” policy 
  • [1:04:30] Setting the example for your employees post-Covid
  • [1:11:36] Where to get started with the MakingChips podcast!

Resources mentioned on this episode

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Nov 15, 2022

Do you struggle to sleep at night? Do you lay in bed and think about work and show up in the morning exhausted? Guess what—sleepy leaders are NOT better leaders. I’m going to share why I think that and how manufacturing leaders can get higher-quality shut-eye in this episode of MakingChips. Because if you’re not getting enough sleep, it’s like being drunk on the job. And if you’re drunk, you’re certainly not MakingChips, and you’re not making money. BAM!

Segments

  • [3:40] What’s happening in our businesses
  • [6:24] What’s keeping you up at night? 
  • [8:05] Why sleep is important to your overall health
  • [13:17] My tips to help you achieve better sleep
  • [23:42] Jim’s tips to help you sleep at night 
  • [29:16] Some tips that experts recommend 

Resources mentioned on this episode

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Nov 8, 2022

I met Jamie and Lee Marzilli at ProShop ERP’s happy hour event while we were at IMTS 2022. When I heard how they founded and grew a machine shop as a married couple, I knew we needed to have them as guests on MakingChips. So in this episode, Jamie and Lee share their background in machining and how they built Marzilli Machine from the ground up. Don’t miss hearing about their grassroots success story! 

Segments

  • [2:35] A husband and wife team on MakingChips!
  • [5:31] The definition of teamwork (makes the dream work)
  • [6:05] Recruiting and hiring in our businesses
  • [9:12] The Hawkeye Community College visit
  • [10:30] How rising inflation impacts manufacturing
  • [14:37] Introducing Jamie and Lee Marzilli
  • [16:37] How Jamie got started in manufacturing
  • [24:01] Jamie’s temporary stint selling cars
  • [28:05] How Jamie and Lee started their shop
  • [34:40] Navigating a business and a marriage
  • [39:06] The vision for the future of Marzilli Machine

Resources mentioned on this episode

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Nov 1, 2022

Kelsey Heikoop and Paul Van Metre met in an entry-level engineering class. They hit it off right away—while simultaneously falling in love with machining. Once they graduated college, they started their own machine shop. How did that lead to founding ProShop ERP? They share the ProShop ERP origin story—full of overcoming challenges to reach success—in this episode of MakingChips! 

Segments

  • [2:17] Our aha moments from IMTS
  • [5:49] Manufacturing news: Uptick in production
  • [7:12] Learn more about Kelsey Heikoop and Paul Van Metre
  • [15:54] From growing a custom machine shop to creating an ERP
  • [19:08] Selling the idea of ProShop ERP to a developer
  • [25:44] What helped them overcome their struggles
  • [30:44] Onboarding ProShop ERP with their first customer
  • [34:37] The outstanding success of ProShop

Resources mentioned on this episode

  • Connect with Kelsey Heikoop on LinkedIn
  • Connect with Paul Van Metre on LinkedIn

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