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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: Page 5
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

Dec 27, 2021

In our previous conversation with Jeff Taylor (episode 292) we introduced the idea of ESOPS (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) as a way to give true ownership to your manufacturing business employees. We invited Jeff back for this episode to tell us more of the journey he’s been on with ESOPs and discovered that the outcome was more than he could have imagined.

Going back to the beginning of the process for Jeff, he has spent his adult life working for others and adding value to their companies. But he never received any sort of extended value or equity in the company. His experience led him to think about how he could develop cultures and attitudes among working teams that enabled them to truly have ownership in the company (in terms of mindset AND equity). That’s when the idea of ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) came onto his radar. This episode explores the topic in greater detail and will open your mind to how your manufacturing business could be organized to leave a legacy through your employees.  

Segments

  • [1:13] Thank YOU for being such loyal listeners
  • [3:45] Manufacturing news: NASA “dart” mission
  • [7:35] Resuming our previous conversation with Jeff Taylor about ESOPs
  • [15:10] The conscious decisions and eventual growth that make and ESOP reality
  • [27:49] Nobody set out to sell, but they wanted to be ready for the best situation
  • [35:51] The timeline and summary and how the company is different now
  • [37:52] Jeff’s view of the ESOP in the continuum of possibilities, pros and cons

Resources mentioned on this episode

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

Visit our Sponsor Xometry

Connect With MakingChips

Dec 20, 2021

The “Great Resignation” as it’s been called, has created a wide variety of circumstances that have impacted the American workforce. 55% of workers making under $30K/year say they will be looking for a new job soon. Has this impacted manufacturing? If so, what can we do as manufacturing leaders to mitigate the impact? This episode focuses on what leaders can and should be doing to build the kind of loyalty that will sustain their companies and provide a culture and experience for team members that is “sticky,” keeping them around for years to come. 

BAM!

Segments

  • [1:20] The Great Resignation: How it impacts manufacturing
  • [6:22] Ripples across the country from this Great Resignation
  • [12:50] Employment news: 55% making under $30K/year expect to look for a new job
  • [16:20] If you lose people on your team, how can it affect your business?
  • [18:45] Why do people leave your company? Why do they stay?
  • [22:06] Hiring process: ways to win candidates and be smart in your process
  • [26:32] How you can improve your retention rate
  • [32:10] Tech company trends and how it might spread

Resources mentioned on this episode

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

Visit our Sponsor Xometry

Connect With MakingChips

Dec 13, 2021

There is a paradigm shift happening in the industry: many skilled machinists are retiring. As these long-term skilled machinists are leaving, they’re leaving with intellectual legacy knowledge that’s irreplaceable. Do procurement people sourcing machining parts know what the processes and procedures look like? Do they know the difference between a fabricated, turned, or machined, or five-axis part? What can we do as owners to mitigate the problem or offer solutions? We dive into the discussion in this episode of Making Chips!

Segments

  • [1:23] The challenges we face with retiring machinists
  • [4:30] The definition of intellectual property
  • [6:28] What is keeping us awake at night?
  • [14:22] Boosting automation in manufacturing
  • [18:18] A discussion of intellectual property 

Resources mentioned on this episode

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

Connect With MakingChips

Dec 6, 2021

Finding Solutions to the Supply Chain Chaos, #293

What is the root cause of the supply chain crisis? How can manufacturing businesses mitigate those risks and find realistic solutions that work in the short and long term? Tom Hilaris—the President & CEO of Ergoseal—joins us to share the three things they focus on: risk mitigation, communication, and culture. In this episode of Making Chips we offer real, practical solutions your business can implement to overcome the supply chain chaos. Because—after all—if you’re not making chips, you’re not making money! BAM!

– Jason

Segments

  • [1:10] Material lead times and pricing
  • [5:10] What’s happening at Carr Machine & Tool
  • [7:07] Manufacturing news related to supply chain issues
  • [14:39] Learn more about our guest—Tom Hilaris
  • [17:16] Step #1: Risk Mitigation
  • [19:46] Managing pricing with redundancy of sourcing
  • [22:58] Step #2: Communicating with your customers is imperative 
  • [29:12] Elmhurst University Supply Chain Masters Program
  • [32:15] Step #3: A great culture improves outcomes

Resources mentioned on this episode

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

Connect With MakingChips

Nov 29, 2021

What is an employee stock ownership plan ESOP? How does it work? How can it transform the buy-in of your team and lead to revenue growth? Jeff Taylor—the President and CEO of Crafts Technology—implemented an ESOP. Listen to this episode to hear about the impact it had on his business—and figure out whether or not it’s right for yours. Employee buy-in can lead to profitability which can lead to Making Chips! BAM!

– Jim

Segments

  • [4:49] What’s happening at ZENGERS and Carr Machine & Tool
  • [8:20] Disclaimer about implementing an ESOP
  • [10:54] Welcome Jeff Taylor to Making Chips!
  • [12:13] What is an employee stock ownership plan ESOP?
  • [13:45] How Jeff got into manufacturing
  • [20:15] What is Craft’s technology?
  • [21:49] Choosing to create an ESOP
  • [30:00] Who should consider an ESOP?
  • [35:05] Pensions, profit-sharing, and ESOPs
  • [39:45] What kind of return does an ESOP get?
  • [45:36] Are you handing over control to your team?

Resources mentioned on this episode

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

Connect With MakingChips

Nov 22, 2021
What does your hiring process look like? Do you even have a hiring process in place? In this episode of Making Chips, we walk through what each of our processes look like and share some useful strategies that anyone can implement. A streamlined process leads to better hires which leads to Making Chips! BAM!

– Jason!

What are your tips and tricks for the hiring process? Let us know! Send an email to info@MakingChips.com

Segments

  • [0:30] Check out ProShop ERP for manufacturing software!
  • [3:35] What’s happening in our lives and businesses
  • [6:54] Manufacturing news: A discussion on composite materials
  • [11:44] Shoutout to listeners who’ve left reviews!
  • [14:26] Step #1: It’s all about the setup 
  • [19:10] Step #2: The careers landing page
  • [22:43] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry
  • [24:31] Step #3: Screen your candidates 

Resources mentioned on this episode

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

Connect With MakingChips

Nov 15, 2021

What factors should you consider when forecasting? What questions do you need to ask to determine your next steps? Who gets to make those decisions? We walk you through some common questions to ask yourself—and your company—about your business. We’ll also cover Miles and Snow's Typology of Defender, Prospector, Analyzer, and Reactor to see how your type impacts your decision-making process. Learn a great process to forecast and set goals in this episode of Making Chips! Now is the time to look ahead! BAM!

– Nick

If you have a great methodology for forecasting, let us know! Shoot us an email at info@MakingChips.com

Segments

  • [0:32] Check out ProShop ERP for manufacturing software!
  • [3:16] How future proof is your business?
  • [5:25] What we’re happy about right now
  • [9:34] Discovering the Keys to U.S. Manufacturing Recovery
  • [14:23] What factors should you consider when forecasting?
  • [17:47] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry
  • [21:39] The Miles and Snow's Typology of Defender, Prospector, Analyzer, and Reactor
  • [24:56] Who makes the forecast in your company? 

Resources mentioned on this episode

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

Connect With MakingChips

Nov 8, 2021

Nick jokes that I have a recession obsession—and it’s true. Recessions are painful. I want to make the experience less painful when a recession comes around again. So in this down-to-earth episode of Making Chips, I’ll share the common causes of most recessions and 8 tips you can use to prepare yourself—and your business—for a recession. Preparedness is key to helping your business survive and thrive. Because after all, if you’re not making chips, you’re not making money. BAM!

– Jim

Segments

  • [0:43] Check out ProShop ERP for manufacturing software!
  • [2:53] Shoutout to everyone involved with the research project with Xometry 
  • [5:11] The reasons why Carr Machine & Tool is thriving
  • [9:38] Manufacturing News: Hertz bought 100,000 Teslas
  • [12:18] What’s new in Jason and Nick’s worlds
  • [14:43] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry
  • [15:53] Be smart with the buying decisions that you make
  • [21:55] Learn about the common causes of recessions
  • [24:39] 8 tIps to prepare yourself for a recession
  • [28:28] Learn about Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems

Resources mentioned on this episode

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

Connect With MakingChips

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

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

Connect With MakingChips

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

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

Connect With MakingChips

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

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

Connect With MakingChips

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

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

Connect With MakingChips

Sep 27, 2021

Do your employees feel like they’re a means to an end? I think a lot of team members don’t realize—or believe—that we care about them. Some feel that when you hold them accountable to hit their numbers that data is all you care about. But that isn’t always the case.  At the end of the day, we’re all business leaders who need an efficient working environment. So where do we find a balance between data, accountability, and caring for our team members? How do we drive profitability without driving our employees away? Listen to this episode of Making Chips for the full discussion!

Segments

  • [0:40] Check out ProShop ERP for more information on manufacturing software!
  • [3:24] Hold your employees to metrics they can control
  • [7:33] Manufacturing News: A Generation of American Men Give Up on College
  • [16:55] Learn about Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems
  • [17:39] Avoid measuring data that is not helpful to the employee
  • [37:33] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry

Hold your employees to metrics they can control

I’ve seen a trend where everything is about data. Everyone wants to harvest data. But can you take it a step too far? Can there be an imbalance in the data?

On a recent episode of Russell Brand’s podcast, he talked about how Amazon’s delivery people have an app they have to use. The app tracks every move they make and everything they do when they deliver packages. But it appears that Amazon is tracking metrics that are outside of the control of the employee and using those metrics to evaluate them. 

We believe when you hold people accountable with metrics it should be something that’s within their control. But Amazon has taken it so far that people are being fired when they don’t meet the metrics of the algorithm Amazon has in place for delivery drivers. 

When Russell Brand described this, he pointed out that Amazon was treating their employees like zombies living in an algorithm—disposable cattle. 

The data doesn’t always show the full picture

Nick had a conversation with leaders at AME and Hennig about compensation for their salespeople. Commissions are results-based compensation and the result is why you work. But there are other activities salespeople do that add value. They do activities to achieve an objective to create a result. So his company talked about activity-based objectives they could compensate their salespeople for. They decided compensation should be a mix. 

Salespeople are driven by increasing their compensation. So they tend to focus on what would compensate them the most. But if your company wants them to focus on other activities not directly tied to making a sale, you might have to compensate them. You have to match the compensation with the desired behavior. 

Situations when data-tracking is necessary

I just took off the month of August and ZENGERS had a record month of sales while I was gone. I’m not trying to micromanage my team. They have an overall objective—sales and profitability. My goal is to train them on the right things to do to achieve that goal. I’m not saying they need to make a certain amount of calls a day or track every detail. I give them an overall mission to achieve but I don’t track their every movement. I feel like asking your team to track everything they do is the kiss of death. But is that true for every business? 

For Jim, due to Carr Machine & Tools AS9100 certification, they are mandated to document all of the results from their machining process. He runs a data-driven and oriented business where he has to measure, record, validate, time-track against jobs, and more. 

And of course, each individual on my team has those types of quality measurements that they have to hit. We record data that contributes to useful management of your team. But I don’t want my team to record data that’s pointless. Nick’s brother always says that any data that you record and isn’t used to make an improvement is wasted money. Wasted information is wasted action. 

The bottom line is that everyone needs to take a step back and think about this. Are the right activities being tracked? Are you gathering useful data, or just wasting time? You need to collect the right data that helps you drive profitability for your company. Listen to the whole episode for the full conversation. 

BAM!

– Jason

Resources mentioned on this episode

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

Connect With MakingChips

Sep 20, 2021

The U.S. labor market is still struggling despite record numbers of job openings. Businesses aren’t able to hire as quickly as they need to. What’s the holdup? Is there a lack of candidates in the market? Are people choosing not to return to work? In this episode of Making Chips we dissect what’s happening—and a few things you can do about it. 

Segments

  • [0:18] Check out ProShop ERP for manufacturing software!
  • [2:30] What’s happening in the Making Chips world
  • [8:43] Manufacturing news: The U.S. Labor Market
  • [19:41] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry
  • [20:36] What I’m learning through the hiring process
  • [35:35] How to recruit high caliber candidates
  • [41:34] Learn about Amper Technologies monitoring systems

The U.S. Labor Market Isn’t Adding Up—And This Is Why

According to Andrew Hunter’s research, we’re seeing a high level of job openings but low levels of hiring. Millions of Americans are quitting and many aren’t re-entering the labor market. It’s claimed that the labor market is healthy, but the numbers don’t add up. Why? 

  1. Subdued Employment: 8.7 million Americans remain unemployed. Before the pandemic, 5.7 million Americans were unemployed. 
  2. Record Job Openings: The number of job opportunities is high and rising, reaching 10.1 million at the end of June with 590,000 more openings than the month before. 
  3. Low Hiring: Hiring isn’t keeping pace with job growth. June saw 6.7 million hires, but that’s 3.4 million short of the number needed to fill open roles.
  4. High Quits: Referred to as the “great resignation,” 3.9 million people quit their job in June. It’s partly the response to job opportunities. Workers are confident in their ability to find better jobs. 

The incentive to stay home and not work will decrease as the double unemployment payments are pulled back. The economy is recovering but worker confidence isn’t returning at the same pace. Autumn 2021 may bring the correction needed to balance the market. The outlook is optimistic. But until things turn around, what do manufacturers do?

Find creative solutions to your problem

A client of Jason’s had a key person in their shop that was doing some things that he deemed worthy of firing. But Jason’s client couldn’t afford to lose—and be forced to replace—this person. So he took a risk and sat him down for a conversation. He gave him the option to fix the problem or he’d be fired. This person turned his life around completely. This may not be an option for everyone, nor will it work in every scenario, but it was a creative way for this business owner to solve a problem. 

Two ways to hire for difficult positions

Recruiting for regional sales positions has been a huge focus of mine recently as we are restructuring our sales. But I don’t want to hire the first warm body. Everyone has heard “Hire slow, fire fast,” right? But if your machinist quits, you can’t hire slow because it causes production problems. 

So what am I doing right now? Finding a way to work with a candidate before we commit to hiring them full-time. If there’s a way to test the relationship, do it. Making Chips is a podcast and marketing agency. We brought someone on as a contractor to try out on a trial basis before we commit to hiring him full-time. It’s great for both parties to make an educated decision about each other. You can even put it in writing so it’s transparent and fully agreed on. 

What else can you do to hire for a difficult-to-fill position? Use LinkedIn’s recruiting tool. The price is steep—approximately $30,000—but you’re given access to highly qualified candidates interested in a new position. LinkedIn will even train you how to use it. The opportunity to do it yourself is available for larger companies who can make that number work. 

Listen to the whole episode to learn more about how the hiring process has gone for me and get some in-depth details on my two strategies. 

BAM!

– Nick

Shameless plug: If you are interested, we’re all hiring!

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Sep 6, 2021

I wanted to differentiate myself among other machine shops in the area with the new Carr Machine & Tool location. The shop floor is where we make our money. I took extra steps in the process to create a new image for my shop. I wanted to present it in a way that was sophisticated, high-tech, polished, and professional—while remaining efficient. 

That’s where IMEC came in. I reached out to them for some technical collaboration to help design an efficient shop floor. I worked with both Dean Harms and Tim Maurer and it was an amazing experience. So in this episode of Making Chips, I’m sharing what the collaboration and design process looked like with IMEC.

Segments

  • [0:24] Check out ProShop ERP for more information on manufacturing software!
  • [2:46] Why I chose the new Carr Machine & Tool location
  • [4:17] What’s happening at ZENGERS?
  • [6:19] Why investing in your business is important 
  • [10:32] President Biden Announces Support for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework
  • [12:55] The process of designing a new facility with IMEC 
  • [15:10] What IMEC (the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center) is all about
  • [19:16] Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems
  • [19:59] How the infrastructure bill will be distributed to MEPs
  • [25:43] My experience working with IMEC to design my shop floor
  • [36:50] Other types of shops IMEC works with
  • [38:55] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry

What IMEC (the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center) is all about

Dean Harms is a Regional Manager with IMEC. It’s his mission to help others any way he can on a daily basis and have fun along the way. Sounds like us, right? 

IMEC is part of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network. It’s connected to the US Department of Commerce through the NIST organization. IMEC launched in the 1990s and is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. There are 51 MEPs (one in every state + Puerto Rico). Their overall mission is to provide solutions and improvements to small and medium-sized manufacturing companies to help them navigate the changing landscape, drive profitability, sustain growth, and become globally competitive. 

IMEC is a non-profit that is both privately and publicly funded. They are a channel that brings tax dollars back into the state of Illinois by specifically serving manufacturing businesses. Dean Harms makes sure the money is applied where it’s needed most. 

My experience working with IMEC

Dean cold-called me after I was on a live Facebook interview. I mentioned I was about to move my shop, so he reached out. He knew that there was probably something IMEC could do to help with the move. I heard that they could help design my shop floor and I really wanted a high-end polished shop. Dean introduced me to Tim Maurer and said he would be the perfect guy to collaborate with to design my shop floor. Tim has decades of experience not only with IMEC but also with Caterpillar. After I met Tim, I knew I was dealing with someone who was competent and knew what a manufacturing floor should look like. 

The shop floor design process

Tim’s design process was thorough, starting with the vision for our future and ending with the execution of the move. We started by setting objectives: Where did we want to be? What type of work would we be doing? What new technologies will be utilized on the shop floor? 

We did a physical walk of both of the properties. He took physical measurements of the new building, all of our tools, and made sure the room was big enough for a CMM. After he did the physical layout, we met again to go over the flow of the room and nail down the workflow. We placed the machinery and equipment in the prime areas of the floor to maximize the square footage. 

He established power needs, air drops, water needs, an eyewash station, etc. He developed the CAD and we talked about future automation and made sure they’d be room around the machines. He delivered the final layout to us in a CAD model. The best part? On moving day we had a roadmap to mark where everything went. We knew where every single thing would go. 

The design process was an investment in our future productivity. I would never have completed this process as well as Tim did. I highly recommend working with IMEC through a big move to create a more efficient shop floor. Don’t be afraid to delegate design to the experts. 

BAM!

– Jim

Resources mentioned on this episode

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Aug 30, 2021

Everyone is familiar with the concept of networking. But how many people actually implement it to grow themselves and their businesses? In this episode of Making Chips, Jim, Jason, and I dive into how networking has impacted our businesses in unexpected ways. To hear the good, bad, and the ugly—give it a listen!

Segments

  • [0:18] Check out ProShop ERP for more information on manufacturing software!
  • [3:04] Learn what’s happening at ZENGERS
  • [3:51] Nick welcomed a baby boy to his family on June 27th!
  • [4:54] Boeing Slows Dreamliner Production After New Manufacturing Issue
  • [9:17] Can Networking Change Your Manufacturing Business?
  • [12:41] How networking has changed Jim’s business
  • [16:10] Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems
  • [16:54] The Making Chips Network of Manufacturing Leaders
  • [20:59] Should increasing sales be the objective of networking?
  • [24:41] A working relationship built on mutual interests
  • [26:15] Ad-hoc networking: Keep your ears to the ground 
  • [28:58] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry
  • [30:09] Networking is like growing a 401k

Networking is what brings us together today

I think it’s important to point out that networking is why all of us are here. It’s why we all know each other and host a podcast together. But where did this partnership start? 

Jim was spending money at ZENGERS and was a great customer for them. So Jason loosely knew who he was. Why did Jim purchase from ZENGERS in the first place? One of his friends—a production manager at a shop—recommended ZENGERS. One would’ve thought that’s how their relationship started. But it wasn’t. 

Jason and Jim were both asked independently to be on an AM radio show at 6 am on a Saturday (the time slot when you know only serious entrepreneurs and business owners would be awake and listening). Jason was talking about creating a vision for your company and Jim talked about social media marketing for manufacturers. They were both impressed by each other, their business acumen, and how well acquainted they were with the industry. They realized they’d make a great combination and the podcast was developed from there. 

The question is—without networking, would they have gotten the opportunity to speak on the same radio show?

How networking has changed Jim’s business

Jim had a strategic vision for networking for his business. He became a member of the Technology and Manufacturing Association (TMA) who had recently hired a marketing manager to help machine shops with their marketing. Jim got on the phone with him and they got along. He became instrumental in helping Jim develop networking within the association. 

Jim was asked to join a young leaders group where he was able to meet like-minded people. He knew if he committed his time to networking and building relationships within the community, that he would grow in some capacity. He didn’t know where it would take him but that he’d walk away from networking events learning more. 

If you go to a networking event and leave feeling like you learned nothing, you’re doing something wrong. You’re either in the wrong place—or not asking the right questions. 

Jim also joined the Greater O'Hare Association and the Valley Association. He met great people in all of them. Networking is a great way to listen to other people and learn from their experiences. 

The Making Chips Network of Manufacturing Leaders

Some of our Making Chips sponsors have been a great way for us to realize connections across the industry.

Amper can help you better understand your shop and help you solve problems on your shop floor. Nick, our guest on a previous episode, also works with Amper. It was a game-changer for him. Nick had emailed me a year or so ago and I hadn’t followed up with him. Luckily, Jim met him again at a networking event and we all got back in touch.

Another sponsor, Xometry, asked us to be part of a focus group consisting of manufacturing leaders. This shows that Xometry cares about their network. How often do companies hire a credible third party to dig into discovery? How often do they dig into their segments to find out what they care about and need? They got a third party to investigate and find out what’s happening. They wanted to re-engineer their value proposition to serve their customers better. 

In the Xometry focus group, we heard that four of the individuals were all ProShop ERP users—and had heard about them through the Making Chips Podcast. These leaders all loved ProShop. It certainly gave us more structure for our processes. You’ll become more efficient, productive, detail-oriented, data-driven, and results-oriented. 

They heard about ProShop because Jason and Jim had the courage to create a podcast just for the manufacturing industry. I joined them because I’m just as passionate about the space and I know that this show delivers valuable content.

People tend to think networking has to be about growing your business and making connections to make sales. Why is that the wrong mindset to have? What mindset should you embrace instead? Learn more by listening to the whole episode!

BAM!

– Nick

Resources mentioned on this episode

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Aug 18, 2021

Part of being a machine shop owner—and a business owner in general—is that every day there’s a new challenge to navigate. A machine might break down. Perhaps someone who has been a team member for decades quits. Your factory could burn to the ground. Or your Dad—the owner and manager of the shop—gets sick with cancer. That’s how Nick Sainati was thrust into becoming the GM of Belden Universal. In this episode, he shares his journey. It will resonate with some of us, fascinate most of us, and impress all of us. Don’t miss this inspiring family story!

Segments

  • [0:26] Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems
  • [6:24] Dealing with supply chain issues caused by COVID
  • [8:09] Fun facts about family-owned businesses
  • [14:07] Create a Formal Business Succession Plan in 7 Steps
  • [16:52] Today's guest: Nick Sainati, GM at Belden Universal 
  • [24:00] Check out ProShop ERP for more information on manufacturing software!
  • [27:42] When everything changed: How Nick took over his Dad’s machine shop
  • [40:10] Managing a machine shop through COVID
  • [44:35] What the future looks like for Belden Universal
  • [46:32] How Nick’s experiences have prepared him for the future
  • [48:42] Accelerate your digital transformation with Xometry

The history of Belden Universal

Belden Universal is an AS9100 manufacturer of precision universal joints and drive shafts. They started in 1970 as Belden Tools, founded by Nick’s grandfather and his brothers on Belden Avenue in Chicago. They used to buy tools from ZENGERS, which was just down the street! 

Instead of going into the family business, Nick ended up in San Francisco in investment banking. He spent two years at an eCommerce startup and eventually moved back to Chicago. After both he and his wife got an MBA, they moved to Seattle for her job. After running a wine business, Nick transitioned into Starbucks Corporate in brand management. He helped launch the Starbucks evening program that tied-in with wine. He transitioned to a strategy team after that. He learned about culture, managing people, and running complex projects. 

How Nick took over his Dad’s machine shop

Two months after Nick’s first daughter was born, his parents came to visit them in Seattle. They told Nick that his Dad had a rare form of Leukemia. He needed to take time off of work for treatment. They were going to have to sell the business unless Nick or his sister could come back and run it. Nick was shocked. His parents were healthy active people who were never sick. 

After processing the news and discussing it with his wife, Nick decided to move back to Chicago to take over Belden Universal, an AS9100 manufacturer of precision universal joints and drive shafts. Four months later, he was in Chicago running a machine shop—and he knew nothing about manufacturing. Nick bought a large book about manufacturing that was for a college-level manufacturing class and dug into back episodes of Making Chips, which helped him get immersed in the language of machining. 

Navigating challenges while learning the ropes

When Nick took over in 2018, the machine shop had just moved into a new facility, doubling the size of their manufacturing floor. They had a tenured team and people to help get Nick up to speed. But he was also their boss—and couldn’t do most of their jobs. 

Soon after taking over, Belden lost their biggest customer—which was one of the reasons they had moved into the bigger space. They immediately lost what would have been ¼ of their business. Nick knew it would be his first challenge. But then his sales manager of 19 years quit three months in. Instead of panicking, he took stock of the situation and helped define where they wanted to go in the future.

They hired an internal candidate for the sales management position. She blossomed as a leader and got their team back on track. They worked hand-in-hand on the culture so people were excited to come to work every day. In an era like today where every shop is competing for employees, the culture matters. A shop can’t survive with a negative culture. 18 months later, after continuous incidents with the production manager (who had been there 29 years), Nick decided it was time to part ways. They let him go. But this man had been involved in every part of the business.

The benefit of letting him go was that Nick was forced to get more involved in floor operations. He began to work closely with his engineers on improvement projects and personnel issues. He got to know the people on the factory floor. He stepped up and earned respect from his team.

How did Nick manage the machine shop through COVID? What does the future hold for Belden Universal? Listen to the whole episode to hear more of his unique story. 

How Nick’s experiences have prepared him for the future

What did Nick learn? The most important thing is that problems can look very daunting in the moment—especially multi-faceted problems. But the most important thing is to take a break, formulate a plan, understand what the desired end outcome is, and start chipping away at it. Family businesses have long timelines where things don’t have to be solved overnight. They can make progress every day, month, and year towards that vision. Eventually they will find success. A problem now may seem like a bump in the road over the arc of your career. 

— BAM!

Resources mentioned on this episode

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Aug 9, 2021

What is the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)? The DOD is implementing the CMMC to normalize and standardize cybersecurity preparedness across the Federal government’s defense industrial base. Meaning? If you’re doing DOD work, they’re mandating that you get this certification. So you need to know what this is all about. We’ve brought in Paul Van Metre and John Bilek to help fill in the blanks. Check it out!

Segments

  • [0:00] Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems
  • [3:39] Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)
  • [5:05] Let’s talk acronyms (there’s one for everything)
  • [7:20] What’s happening at ZENGERS?
  • [8:20] The amount of money wasted on cybersecurity
  • [11:05] We welcome our two guests to the show
  • [14:48] What is CMMC really all about?
  • [17:09] Who is impacted by the CMMC requirement? 
  • [19:44] Check out ProShop ERP for more information on manufacturing software!
  • [20:44] The five levels of CMMC compliance
  • [21:56] The CMMC implementation process
  • [27:19] What does “CMMC Compliant” mean?
  • [29:02] What ProShop ERP is rolling out to enhance security

The amount of money wasted on cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is a large problem. Most attacks originate from Russia but there’s also a lot of domestic hacking happening. Because of this—according to MXD—the DOD is now spending more than $300 billion each year on government contracts. The DOD Directive 8140 requires that any contractor must satisfy specific training and certification provisions to ensure sensitive data remains secure. The qualifications can be transferable and useful across the board. 

Jason points out that this cybersecurity effort is how we protect our country, industry, economy, and more. Our enemies want to steal our technology, which is why we must keep it secure. Because manufacturing is a huge part of what the DOD does, anyone in their supply chain must follow the same cybersecurity protocols. 

Who is impacted by the CMMC requirement? 

CMMC applies to anyone in the defense contract supply chain. That includes both contractors who engage directly with the DOD and subcontractors who fulfill and/or execute those contracts. The CMMC standards will affect over 300,000 organizations. If you want to continue to do work for the DOD, you will have to get certified over the next 4–5 years. 

Paul has heard of shops that are starting to lose work because they aren’t on track to get the CMMC certification. John has been asked multiple times if he’s been certified. While you cannot get certified yet, he is working toward compliance. There are five different levels of CMMC compliance. Most machine shops are expected to be certified at level three.

How soon do you have to implement this? Paul points out that you can’t sit on this. There are very few approved auditors, so if you wait until the last minute you’ll lose out on a significant amount of your sales. If 30% of your business deals with the DOD, you could lose millions without the certification. 

The financial impact on machine shops

In May 2021, an entity was announced that would start handling the CMMC audits. What kind of costs will be put on machine shops? It’s going to be far more expensive to implement than an AS9100 audit. The CMMC is built on cybersecurity standards, the main one being the NIST 800-171 standard

If a company is already compliant with that standard, they can likely check off the boxes for CMMC Level one. If you aren't compliant with this standard, to reach level one compliance could cost you between $5,000 to $25,000. For level three, it will be around $15,000 to $100,000, depending on the size of your shop. This is going to be a large financial hit no matter what you do. The certification is costly—but if you don’t get it, the loss of business may cost you more.

A shop in Florida was quoted $100,000 for a company to “help” them get CMMC certified. Be wary of who you look to for help—a lot of unscrupulous people will take advantage of this rollout. Find accredited and reputable consultants. There will be grant money offered to help companies get this certification.

Can you swing the cost of the certification? 

What can help cover some of these costs? IMEC gave Carr Machine a grant to get ISO certified years ago, which covered some of the implementation and auditor fees. IMEC will be giving grants out to augment the cost of implementing this. Paul points out that the MEP gets its money from the Federal government and allocates it to different organizations like IMEC. The unknown? The amount of labor you may have to invest in to get to level three certification. 

So what does CMMC compliant actually mean? How is ProShop ERP implementing updates to help you walk through the process? John and Paul share a few examples, so keep listening!

If you have an idea for a MakingChips message, please ask us a question or leave us a message at 312-725-0245 and let us know!

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Aug 2, 2021

In this episode of Making Chips, Jim and I chat with Paul Van Metre—the Co-Founder of ProShop ERP—about the process of selling his machine shop. We dissect the process, including how to understand the valuation of your company and how to make your shop more attractive to potential buyers. If you’re considering selling in the next few years, this episode is full of actionable tactics and strategies that will help you succeed. 

BAM!

- Jason Zenger

Segments

  • [0:07] Amper Technologies machine monitoring systems
  • [3:10] How to sell your machine shop
  • [5:11] Ozark Technical Community College offering a two-week manufacturing bootcamp
  • [7:49] Jim shares what’s new at Carr Machine
  • [8:42] Paul Van Metre’s experience selling his machine shop
  • [13:42] Is this a big change in the manufacturing industry?
  • [15:27] Why would a strategic buyer pay more? 
  • [16:40] Understanding the process of valuation 
  • [17:35] Check out ProShop ERP for more information on manufacturing software!
  • [26:10] The experiences of Paul’s customers buying shops
  • [28:12] How to make your company more attractive for buyers
  • [30:53] How buyers can make sure they’re getting a fair valuation

Now is a great time to sell—or buy—a machine shop 

I bought ZENGERS from my Dad in 2019, right before the pandemic hit. learned that there’s a lot involved in buying/selling a machine shop. Not only that, but it takes multiple years to get to the point to learn how to run a shop by yourself. Running any business that employs a team of people takes a lot of work. 

A lot of people are looking to retire and sell their machine shops. The youngest people of the Baby Boomer generation will be 65 by 2030. And of the 18,000 machine shops in America, the majority are owned by Baby Boomers. The vast majority will have some type of transition of ownership in the next 10–15 years. 

Jim is getting calls from M&A companies all the time about buying his shop. He isn’t even close to ready to sell. I’m on the buy side, and I think this is a great time to buy a machine shop. Whether you want to merge, participate in a roll-up, etc. now is the time. Even if you’re not ready for several years, you need to start planning.

The experiences of Paul’s customers buying shops

Paul notes that owning a business is one of the most significant financial decisions anyone can make in their lifetime. These shops are the baby of their owners. They’ve poured 10, 20, 30, 40+ years into them. Leaving that behind and passing it on to the next generation is a difficult and taxing process. Some shops may close their doors and sell off their machinery. 

A client of Paul’s, Mike, was deeply involved in the M&A and private equity space. He was trying to sell a shop where the owner wasn’t interested in making her business attractive for sale. They couldn’t sell the shop for years. So Mike decided to buy the shop himself. He knew it was a good business at the core and got it for a great deal. He also recently acquired another machine shop.

Paul worked with a small shop in Colorado—Focused on Machining—who was in banking before moving into manufacturing. He looked at 4–5 shops before landing on this one. Because he was in banking he understood the financial side and has done an incredible job growing the business.

Paul’s experience selling his machine shop

Pro CNC was founded in 1997 when Paul was just 23—straight out of college. When they sold in 2014, they were a mature company with 17 years of experience under their belt (Paul shares his story in episode #98 of Making Chips).

In hindsight, Paul had been preparing the company for sale for many years. They started hiring people to replace the three partners so they weren’t working in the business every day. They then hired an M&A company to take them to market (the whole process took around a year). 

Sadly, Paul points out that 80% of businesses that get listed for sale never sell. Many businesses end up selling off their assets. Those people are likely making only a fraction of what their company could be worth. So how do you set your business up for success? What can you do now to make it more attractive to future buyers? Listen to the whole episode to learn the process!

Resources mentioned on this episode

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