Info

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.
RSS Feed Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders
2024
March
February
January


2023
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2015
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2014
December


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: 2022
Jun 6, 2022

Do you struggle with any pet peeves? We’ve compiled a list of three sales and marketing tactics that people utilize that drive us crazy: misusing lead capture forms, cold calls, and spammy LinkedIn connections. But instead of just complaining about these things, we’re going to share what anyone in sales or marketing should do instead. There’s a right way—and most definitely a wrong way—to do it. Find out which side you’re landing on in this episode of MakingChips!

– Nick

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone you know! If you know someone who struggles with spammy sales tactics, it might be a nice way to nudge them in the right direction. 

Segments

  • [3:18] Bring a nanny on your vacation
  • [4:15] The good things happening in our lives
  • [5:57] Manufacturing news: Recession Unlikely in 2022
  • [14:30] Things that drive us crazy (other than Jason)
  • [17:30] Pet Peeve #1: Misusing lead capture forms
  • [21:40] Pet Peeve #2: The dreaded cold call
  • [25:15] Pet Peeve #3: Spammy LinkedIn connections

Resources mentioned on this episode

Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe!

Connect With MakingChips

May 23, 2022

Gino Wickman and Jim Collins popularized the term, “Right people, right seat” in reference to getting the right employees in leadership positions. But what if we take that terminology and apply it to customers? How do you decide what type of customer is the right fit for your manufacturing business? What type of customer will be the most profitable for your business? Those are the questions that we dissect in this episode of MakingChips. Don’t miss it!

Any great tips I can use to find THE right customers for Carr Machine & Tool? Email me at Jim@MakingChips.com

Segments

  • [6:28] The definition of “right people, right seat”
  • [7:22] What’s happening in our lives right now
  • [10:35] Business News: Dow falls for sixth straight day
  • [15:43] How do you decide who the right customer is? 
  • [16:52] Step #1: Focus on solving problems
  • [20:10] Step #2: Focus on sales not vanity metrics
  • [23:15] Step #3: Get the word out about your business
  • [26:14] Step #4: Improve your customer retention
  • [28:14] Step #5: Track your analytics
  • [32:14] How we filter our customers at Carr
  • [36:07] What work is the most profitable?
  • [39:02] Study your customer’s behaviors

Resources mentioned on this episode

Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe!

Connect With MakingChips

May 18, 2022

Do you struggle with time management? Do you find yourself overwhelmed and exhausted at the end of the week with an endless backlog of things to do? After a rough week of long workdays and back-to-back dinner meetings, I felt like a zombie. I thought it wise to dive into an episode about time management.

So in this episode of MakingChips, Jason and I tackle mastering time management in three areas: your phone calls, your calendar, and your time off. Because if you’re not managing your time efficiently, you aren’t making chips efficiently, which means you aren't making money, are you?

— Nick

Do you have a great system for time management? Let us know! Email us at info@MakingChips.com

Segments

  • [2:23] What’s happening in our lives
  • [8:57] Manufacturing News: China Opposes Semiconductor Bill
  • [15:15] Tip #1: Schedule phone calls and Zoom meetings
  • [22:17] Tip #2: Share your calendar to avoid availability ping pong
  • [24:33] Tip #3: Time block your calendar to get work done
  • [29:59] Tip #4: What’s required and what’s optional changes
  • [35:36] Tip #5: Manage “out of office” time the right way
  • [43:14] Jason is certified as a “Full Focus” professional

Resources mentioned on this episode

Connect With MakingChips

May 9, 2022

“King Richard” is a movie about Venus and Serena’s dad, Richard Williams. I remember watching their rise in tennis and was fascinated by this movie that followed their path to success. Their father was a large driving force behind their successful careers. So in this unique episode of MakingChips, we talk about 7 takeaways from King Richard and how they can be applied to the manufacturing world. If you want to rise to the top, you have to make chips. Because if you’re not making chips, you’re not making money. BAM!

Segments

  • [3:01] The sacrifice(s) it takes to achieve success
  • [6:25] What’s happening in our lives
  • [9:21] Manufacturing News: Manufacturing Activity Slows
  • [15:08] Takeaway #1: The importance of planning
  • [18:41] Takeaway #2: What are you willing to sacrifice?
  • [21:31] Takeaway #3: Hard work and tenacity can take you places
  • [23:20] Takeaway #4: The more successful you are the more haters you’ll have
  • [24:25] Takeaway #5: Don’t make success about getting in the spotlight
  • [26:23] Takeaway #6: The power of a positive mindset
  • [28:20] Takeaway #7: Make no excuses

Resources mentioned on this episode

Connect With MakingChips

May 2, 2022
5S is a methodology that I decided to implement when Carr Machine & Tool moved to a new location. We were meticulous about each decision we made so that we could create a clean and safe work environment to lead to increased productivity. The 5 S’s consist of sortset in ordershinestandardize, and sustain. In this episode of MakingChips, I share how we implemented 5S in our shop. Our process is something that any shop can learn from and implement. It’s time to get organized and make sustainable changes so you can safely and efficiently make chips. BAM!

Segments

  • [3:13] What is the 5S methodology? 
  • [7:07] What’s happening in our lives
  • [11:18] How we implemented 5S in our inspection department
  • [21:04] How we implemented 5S on our shop floor
  • [23:13] The two hardest S’s: standardize and sustain
  • [30:50] Why we bought a floor scrubber to shine our epoxy floors 
  • [32:45] Don’t forget to register for IMTS 2022! 

Resources mentioned on this episode

Connect With MakingChips

Apr 28, 2022

There’s so much wisdom my generation needs to extract from our older colleagues before they retire. Many young people in this industry are naive because it takes time and experience to master a trade. I don’t want someone to retire and still have lingering questions I wished I would’ve asked. That’s why we NEED to document the wisdom of our elders. So how do I extract wisdom from my colleagues before they retire? In this episode of MakingChips, we talk through a few ideas you can use to learn as much as you can from your expert machinists. 

We’d like to hear from you—How would you extract knowledge from peers? Reach out to info@MakingChips.com 

Segments

  • [3:25] A conversation about retirement
  • [5:34] Why we never learned anything from our dads
  • [7:21] Manufacturing news: Germany is in a recession
  • [12:30] An impromptu ProShop ERP Shoutout
  • [15:55] How to approach a conversation with a veteran machinist
  • [18:52] Four ways to extract knowledge from veteran machinists
  • [25:30] What inspired me to choose this episode’s topic
  • [27:54] Don’t miss IMTS in September 2022!

Resources mentioned on this episode

Connect With MakingChips

Apr 18, 2022

How do gaming, programming, and the world of a machinist look intersect? In this episode of MakingChips, Steve Courchane—the CNC Samurai—shares his “origin story,” talks about how programming and gaming are aligned, and how to apply gamification to machining to motivate employees. Because if your employees aren’t making chips, you aren’t making money! BAM. 

Segments

  • [2:27] What’s going great in our businesses
  • [4:37] Manufacturing news: Shoe manufacturing shifting to the US
  • [8:00] Becoming the CNC Samurai: Steve Courchane’s origin story
  • [15:02] The convergence of programming and gaming
  • [19:37] The interface between Roblox and machining
  • [24:37] Gaming: Attracting the next generation to manufacturing
  • [26:08] How to apply gaming principles to motivate employees

Resources mentioned on this episode

Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe!

Connect With MakingChips

Apr 11, 2022

If your business has been slow-growing or stagnant, can you ramp up your growth? Matthew Nix would know—he’s grown his family business by a 100x multiple and spent seven straight years on the Inc. 5000 list. But how do you grow from a small mom-and-pop shop to an acquisition and growth machine? In this episode of MakingChips, Matthew shares how they’ve scaled their business with a three-prong strategy and how you can, too.

Segments

  • [3:40] What’s happening in our lives?
  • [6:16] Learn all about Matthew Nix
  • [8:23] What Nix Companies looks like 100 years ago
  • [14:47] How Matthew rapidly grew his business
  • [20:28] The difference between growing and scaling
  • [24:31] Nix Companies’ three-prong approach to growth
  • [26:52] Should you provide your leadership team with equity?
  • [32:22] How to use acquisitions as a growth tactic
  • [35:58] Financial advice for acquiring businesses
  • [40:10] Manufacturing news: lead times & pricing

Resources mentioned on this episode

Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe!

Connect With MakingChips

Apr 4, 2022

Today’s episode of MakingChips is recorded at a special LIVE Tri-State Manufacturing Alliance (TSMA) event in conjunction with the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership. We are joined by three amazing panelists:

  • Leah Curry: The President at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana
  • David Conner: The CFO at Anchor Industries in Evansville, IN
  • Matthew Nix: President at Nix Companies in Poseyville, IN

Each panelist shares their perspective on the importance of taking care of your people, implementing the right processes, and how to compel and measure performance. We also have the pleasure of announcing this year's Manufacturing Excellence Award. Don’t miss out on a unique perspective from manufacturing leaders in the trenches!

Segments

  • [0:33] Don’t forget to register for IMTS!
  • [1:43] Learn more about each of us!
  • [7:41] Successfully hiring and retaining top talent
  • [25:10] Processes and procedures to meet customer demand
  • [35:55] The PDCA process: Plan, do, check, and act
  • [39:10] The impact of compensation and benefits on performance
  • [44:44] Applying gamification to impact performance
  • [49:01] How to recover culture post-COVID
  • [52:43] Making processes adaptable when hiring and promoting
  • [56:52] Presenting the manufacturing excellence award
  • [1:02:31] Make sure to listen to the MakingChips Podcast!

Resources mentioned on this episode

Connect With MakingChips

Mar 28, 2022
We’re on a five-hour drive to a speaking event for the Tri-State Machining Association (TSMA) so we thought, why not do an episode on the importance of travel for manufacturing leaders? In this special episode of MakingChips, we cover the benefits of travel, the potential downsides, and how to use your time wisely when you’re on the road. Welcome to MakingTrips

Segments

  • [0:35] Don’t forget to book a hotel for IMTS 2022!
  • [2:27] Welcome to our special edition: “MakingTrips”
  • [3:16] Is travel necessary for a manufacturing leader?
  • [7:04] Manufacturing news: The price of gas
  • [11:23] The hidden benefits of travel
  • [16:53] Use your time wisely when traveling
  • [18:49] The dangers of traveling too much
  • [21:14] You have to establish travel guidelines
  • [23:41] Weighing the cost of travel against the ROI
  • [26:07] Get out of your cave—go and see for yourself
  • [28:20] Identify and connect with the decision-makers

Resources mentioned on this episode

Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe!

Connect With MakingChips

Mar 18, 2022

What do you do when an employee resigns? How do you handle their departure in a dignified way? What do you do when you have to let someone go? You have to handle each scenario differently—and sometimes gingerly. So in this episode of MakingChips, we walk through navigating the exit process. Paul Van Metre joins us to share how ProShop ERP can make the transition easier. 

Segments

  • [0:26] Come see us at IMTS 2022!
  • [3:14] What’s happening in our worlds
  • [5:07] Manufacturing News: What’s happening in Ukraine?
  • [7:28] What do you do when someone resigns?
  • [10:37] The formalities of the exit process
  • [13:38] Paul shares how ProShop ERP can ease the transition
  • [19:50] What happens when you have to let someone go?
  • [22:10] What Jim’s Dad would have done 

Resources mentioned on this episode

Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe!

Connect With MakingChips

Mar 7, 2022

What do you expect from your employees? Do you expect them to think like an owner? Or just clock in and get their work done? Are they compensated for your expectations? In this episode of MakingChips, we’ll cover the bonus incentive plan I’ve structured for my core team. I’ll share the goals of the program, how to determine what behaviors to incentivize, what the reward(s) will be, and an easy way to manage it. Don’t miss it!

Segments

  • [2:16] ZENGERS new bonus incentive program
  • [2:50] What’s happening in the lives of ZENGERS and Carr
  • [5:59] Illinois and Chicago’s Vaccine and Mask Mandates to End Feb. 28th
  • [9:03] How I structure my bonus incentive program
  • [13:15] The 4 goals of my bonus incentive program
  • [15:39] How to determine what behaviors to incentivize
  • [23:53] The goal of the incentive program is to drive results
  • [26:20] Determine the reward of your incentive program
  • [28:17] How to manage your bonus incentive program
  • [32:33] Are you incentivizing what someone is paid to do?

Resources mentioned on this episode

Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe!

Connect With MakingChips

Feb 28, 2022

As our team begins to grow at Carr Machine & Tool, I believe it’s time to hire for a middle management position. But what is middle management? What does a middle management role consist of? Will implementing this role truly solve our problems? Jason helps me talk through the challenges I’m facing in this episode of Making Chips!

Any tips, tricks, or ideas to help me through this? Reach out at Jim@MakingChips.com. I’d love to hear from you! 

Segments

  • [2:00] Does my shop need middle management?
  • [4:46] What’s happening in our worlds
  • [7:33] BIG NEWS: Meet us at IMTS 2022!
  • [8:36] Manufacturing is a high-tech frontier
  • [15:48] What does a middle management role consist of?
  • [18:54] How to determine if you need middle management roles
  • [24:49] The core problem we’re trying to solve
  • [30:45] What is the biggest role of a middle manager?

Resources mentioned on this episode

Connect With MakingChips

Feb 21, 2022

How do you keep corporate culture alive when your workforce is completely remote? How do you focus your company on your values, mission, and goals? When a thriving company culture is crucial to retaining your employees, it can’t be neglected. We dissect this problem we’re facing because of the COVID pandemic—and 6 possible ways to promote and maintain your unique company culture—in this episode of MakingChips. 

Segments

  • [2:11] How remote work impacts company culture
  • [4:57] What is corporate culture? 
  • [6:27] What’s happening in our worlds
  • [8:09] Celebrating our 50th Anniversary our way
  • [10:05] Artificial intelligence in manufacturing
  • [15:20] Corporate culture in a virtual world
  • [18:23] Tip #1: Populate your social stream
  • [20:38] Tip #2: Start a virtual club
  • [21:34] Tip #3: Embrace video calls
  • [25:40] Tip #4: Gamify your platform
  • [26:56] Tip #5: Create an expert’s area
  • [28:27] Tip #6: Keep your company mission alive 

Resources mentioned on this episode

Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe!

Connect With MakingChips

Feb 14, 2022

Is the labor shortage accelerating automation? Why is there a perception that automation is both risky and complex? How do you lead your elders with authority yet humility? To dovetail—or not to dovetail? These are the questions that we hash out with Michael Gaunce, the VP of Sales for Tooling and Workholding at SCHUNK. We take a deep look into the technical side of workholding and automation in this episode of Making Chips. Now is the time to embrace automation. Because if you’re not making chips efficiently, you’re not making money!

Segments

  • [2:55] What’s happening in our lives
  • [5:23] 2022 Labor and Employment Outlook for Manufacturers
  • [9:09] Learn more about Michael Gaunce
  • [12:47] Is the labor shortage accelerating automation? 
  • [15:20] The perception that automation is risky or complex
  • [19:10] Two ways to do automation machine-tending
  • [27:42] A conversation on workholding
  • [32:55] To dovetail or not to dovetail?
  • [39:01] Leading your elders with authority and humility

Resources mentioned on this episode

Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe!

Connect With MakingChips

Feb 7, 2022

MakingChips is NOT a cult of personality. We want MakingChips to be about the Metalworking nation. We want to interview you. We want to talk about your problems and how to solve them. We hope we equip, inspire—and sometimes entertain—you. With that being said, some BIG changes are coming. What will the future of MakingChips hold? Listen to this episode to hear our game-changing update for the Metalworking nation. 

Segments

  • [3:58] Learn more about the MakingChips hosts
  • [5:22] We’re NOT a cult of personality
  • [7:26] The numerous transitions of MakingChips
  • [11:05] MakingChips 3.0: next steps
  • [14:39] How to apply to become a podcast host
  • [16:06] Jim’s new show: My True Position 
  • [20:00] Nick’s new show: Design. Build. Grow.
  • [22:30] Jason’s new show: At the Boring Bar

Resources mentioned on this episode

Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe!

We want to bring on three new hosts of three NEW shows. If you believe you have a podcast the Metalworking nation can benefit from, connect with us. Send us a pitch at info@makingchips.com. Share a description, your history, and why you believe it can become a monthly show. You may just become a member of the MakingChips podcast family!

Connect With MakingChips

Jan 24, 2022

Your people are the most important part of your business. If they’re not, they should be. When you hire someone, it’s always with the hope that they’ll become a long-term part of the family, right? So you need to cultivate a workplace culture they want to stay and thrive in. So in this episode of Making Chips, we’ll share nine simple tactics that you can implement immediately to transform your company culture. 

Segments

  • [5:01] Your culture is the muscle below the muscle
  • [7:56] The good things happening in our lives 
  • [13:30] Tactic #1: Fight for individuals that you care about
  • [14:52] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry
  • [16:48] Tactic #2: Get to know your employees
  • [21:58] Tactic #3: Cultivate and promote friendships
  • [23:38] Tactic #4: Don’t overly focus on profit and achievement
  • [27:30] Tactic #5: Reward your people for success
  • [29:06] Tactic #6: Believe in your mission and align everyone to that
  • [30:33] Tactic #7: Be humble and treat everyone as equals
  • [32:10] Tactic #8: Inspire your people to be better
  • [33:44] Tactic #9: Be approachable in any circumstance

Resources mentioned on this episode

Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe!

Connect With MakingChips

Jan 17, 2022

What are the things you HATE about meetings? Moving into 2022, would you like to have better, more productive meetings that don’t waste time and actually get things done? The MakingChips team is discussing the issue on this episode based on a book Nick read recently, called, “Death By Meeting.” Learn 3 steps you can take to make your meetings powerful for 2022.

Segments

  • [0:32] Holiday experiences from the guys (good ones)
  • [7:35] Manufacturing news: supply chain issues: trucking, air, ocean, rail trends
  • [13:30] Nick’s resolution: Lead better meetings in 2022
  • [21:45] How to have better meetings
  • [26:25] Making it safe for participants to share differing opinions
  • [36:19] Asynchronous meetings: what they are, how they work

Resources mentioned on this episode

Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe!

Connect With MakingChips

Jan 10, 2022

This is NOT another goal-setting podcast episode. You know, the kind that explains how to effectively set goals for the year… this one is about WHY you need to set goals. No tips and tricks. No newest approaches and apps. We’re going to talk about the impact goal-setting can have on your life and business. Jim and Nick come along for the discussion because this is something important to me, personally. We’re going to cover eight reasons annual goals will benefit you, so be sure to listen.

BAM! 

Segments

  • [3:57] This episode’s topic
  • [6:19 ] Manufacturing News: Industry Week Article: Taking action, future flexibility 
  • [11:56] Closure of the preceding year  comes from annual planning
  • [13:15] Goal-setting enables you to Identify opportunities
  • [15:09 ] Prioritization flows from goal setting
  • [15:39] Goal-setting enables you to develop an attitude of gratitude
  • [22:26] You can focus on what is important throughout the year when you set goals
  • [23:04] Goals enable you to say “NO” to things 
  • [23:45] You can tell if you have won at the end of the year if you set goals
  • [27:04] Annual goals set you up for 3 to 5 years

Resources mentioned on this episode

Get The Boring Bar Newsletter - Text CHIPS to 38470 to subscribe!

Connect With MakingChips

« Previous 1 2