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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: March, 2023
Mar 28, 2023

Ken Parent keeps it real. Ken launched Parent Manufacturing in 2020 in the midst of the Covid pandemic. Navigating running a small shop and providing for his family hasn’t been an easy road. Instead of shying away from the reality of entrepreneurism, Ken shares the good, the bad, and the ugly on LinkedIn. The response has been overwhelming

In this episode of MakingChips, we chat with Ken about the realities of being a small business owner in Oklahoma. He shares why he went into manufacturing, what his hope for the future is, and how he’s inspiring the manufacturing nation to make chips. Because if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM! 

– Mike

Segments

  • [3:23] Jason’s “What are you learning?” segment
  • [5:24] Learn more about Ken Parent of Parent Manufacturing
  • [17:38] Why Ken became an entrepreneur
  • [21:42] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop
  • [22:22] How LinkedIn has become a community of support
  • [30:40] The impact of the manufacturing community on his family
  • [36:00] Creating content for The Practical Machinist 
  • [39:48] What Ken’s ideal job looks like 
  • [43:36] The Industrial Buying Engine with Thomasnet™

Resources mentioned on this episode

Connect With MakingChips

Mar 20, 2023

Did you know that we all operate from one of three root motivations? The majority of the decisions we make are because we’re striving for respect, value, or approval. When you know your root motivations as a leader—and in turn learn your team’s—it can help you become a better leader. Dennis Humphrey Ph.D. LCPC joins us in this episode of MakingChips to share how to narrow down your root motivation and how it can benefit your business. Because if your team isn’t syncing up because they don't understand each other’s motivations, you’re not going to be MakingChips, and if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM. 

Segments

  • [2:28] The three root motivations: Respect, value, and approval 
  • [3:10] Manufacturing leader spotlight: Mike Rudy
  • [6:55] Learn more about Dennis Humphrey Ph.D. LCPC
  • [8:20] Where do our root motivations come from? 
  • [10:22] The part where we make Nick the guinea pig
  • [13:52] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop 
  • [15:06] How do the “unhealthy” versions of these values manifest?
  • [19:23] How to use your root motivation to be a better leader
  • [24:20] Using someone’s root motivations to reach goals
  • [30:28] How to frame root motivations correctly with your team
  • [32:19] Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription with code CHIPS25

Resources mentioned on this episode

Connect With MakingChips 

Mar 13, 2023

What is the greatest show on manufacturing Earth? IMTS. Every two years, the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) draws manufacturers from around the world to Chicago for six days. IMTS not only makes a huge impact on the economy in Chicago but also on the manufacturing industry. Peter Eelman—the Chief Experience Officer at AMT— joins us in this episode of MakingChips to share just what that impact is. Because if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM!

– Nick

Segments

  • [0:13] The Industrial Digital Marketing Services at Thomas™
  • [2:45] What our new show structure is going to look like
  • [4:35] Manufacturing leadership spotlight: Karyn Ross
  • [6:22] Today’s guest: Peter Eelman at AMT
  • [9:28] What Peter’s been doing since IMTS
  • [13:16] The impact IMTS has on Chicago
  • [22:41] The economic impact on the manufacturing industry
  • [27:02] Does the health of the trade show industry matter?
  • [30:14] What impacted the attendance numbers in 2022?
  • [35:17] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop 
  • [35:55] How can you engage with IMTS and each other?

Resources mentioned on this episode

Connect With MakingChips

Mar 6, 2023

I’m Mike Payne, the President and Owner of Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication and the first guest host for MakingChips Seasons. When I first bought my company, I had to take on many of the HR functions. Enter Thrive PEO: Jon Scoggins came into the picture and took a lot off my plate. 

So in this episode of MakingChips, Jon joins us to share what a PEO is and how it can not only benefit manufacturing leaders, but help them remain competitive in the workforce. Because if you can’t attract and retain machinists, you’re not MakingChips. And if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM!

Segments

  • [1:48] Learn more about the MakingChips Seasons concept
  • [3:14?] Why Mike Payne is our inaugural guest host
  • [6:25] Introducing Jon Scoggins: President & CEO at Thrive PEO
  • [8:08] What is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO)?
  • [12:17] How a PEO can help you with employee onboarding
  • [14:00] How Thrive PEO goes above and beyond a payroll company
  • [15:38] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop 
  • [16:16] A PEO can help you revamp your employee handbook
  • [18:51] How a PEO stays up-to-date on local regulations
  • [23:32] Is there a downside to using a PEO?
  • [27:10] Can you justify the cost of a PEO?
  • [28:20] Can a PEO work with an existing HR team?
  • [29:44] Takeaways from this episode of MakingChips Seasons
  • [30:53] Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription with code CHIPS25

Resources mentioned on this episode

Connect With MakingChips

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