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How can composite manufacturing help you level-up as a runner? Well, this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour will reveal all. Riley Reese, CEO and Co-Founder of Arris, is on the show this week to talk about the power of composite manufacturing in footwear and its potential in industries such as aerospace, sportscars, skiing equipment, and many more. As an avid runner himself, we break down some of the top spots in California to go training and his favorite and most memorable marathons. He explains exactly how his products can impact a runner’s comfort, fatigue levels, and muscle health to get the most performance out of each and every run. We also explore a little about Riley’s startup experience and the biggest business lessons he’s learned in his career. In this episode, find out: The difference between Arris and Riley’s previous business ventures The biggest lessons Riley learned from his startups Why manufacturing is “messy” Why you don’t always need to reinvent the wheel The reasons Riley started Arris How composites improve running performance in shoes Riley’s top marathon runs and favorite trails The reaction and feedback to Arris’ composites plates The top benefits of Arris composites in shoes How composites materials can be used in other industries What’s next for Arris Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “Be really mindful when you're taking on something new that someone else has not already done it in another industry.” “Everyone says this but running really does clear your head. It gives you headspace.” “We have this passion for the superiority of composite materials. We all had experience with them in different industries, but it's always limited to the really high-end stuff. The products around us day to day aren’t taking advantage of it.” Links & mentions: Arris, Berkeley-based composites manufacturer that produces smarter, lighter, stronger, and more sustainable products at scale for consumer products, aerospace, automotive, and many more industries The Rare Barrel, a rustic alehouse in Berkeley that specializes in sour beers Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

It's Thanksgiving week here in the US, and since so many of you are based here, we're bringing you a shorter bonus episode this week as we try something new. First, you'll get a general update from Manufacturing Happy Hour, including our new newsletter - 5 Quick Manufacturing Insights - as well as partnership opportunities. Then, we'll highlight one of the most helpful moments from the show in the past year. Firdaus Pohowalla, Managing Director at Cascadia Capital, appeared on Episode 80 and talked all about investment banking for robotics, automation, and AI companies. In this short episode, we'll spotlight the moment where he broke down the differences between funding rounds, including how Series B is the "make or break" round for most companies.

We’ve got a bit of a different Manufacturing Happy Hour episode this time – it’s one of our first long-form episode at a trade show. Joined by co-host Jake Hall, The Manufacturing Millennial, we recorded this at the 2022 The Vision Show AMR & Logistics Conference in Boston.   Our guest is Malachi Greb, Owner of Elite Automation – a frequent trade show attendee with the goal of leading the “biggest automation company in the world.” An ambitious target, no doubt, but Malachi knows exactly how he’s going to achieve it.  We talk about how Malachi first got into the automation space, his guerrilla marketing tactics, why he’s on a hiring kick, and what it was like venturing into his first international project. We cover a lot of ground with some great actionable tips, especially around trade shows, so don’t miss it!  In this episode, find out:  How Malachi first got started in automation  How Elite Automation is creating growth  Why Elite Automation is on a hiring kick  Why guerrilla marketing strategies are the way to go  Why companies should always aim to add value in marketing   Elite Automation’s winning business strategy   What the manufacturing industry is like in the Midwest  What it was like leading Elite Automation’s first international project in India   How Malachi plans to run the biggest automation company in the world  The advantages of being young in this industry  Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!  Tweetable Quotes:  “Where a business is successful is when it adds value to another company or individuals.”  “Why are people spending $10,000-$20,000 on a booth when you can send 10 employees, spend a quarter the amount of money and have them just run around?”  “We probably do at least five interviews a week, every single week, no matter if we’re hiring or not. And we're doing that because we're building a backlog of individuals.”  Links & mentions:  Elite Automation, a robotics and automation solutions company specializing in robotic weld cells, palletizing, material handling, and AMR deployment  The Manufacturing Come Up, an industry interview podcast hosted by Elite Automation  Bud’s Rockin’ Country Bar & Grill, a Nashville-inspired bar located on Franklin Street in Evansville, IN in the former location of a Harley-Davidson dealership   Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

We’re back for Part 2 of our bonus episodes with KUKA from IMTS 2022. We’ll be jumping back into our partnership conversations while taking an even deeper dive into additive manufacturing in these last 5 interviews of our short series. Stick around until the end to get a full recap on what characterizes great industrial manufacturing partnerships. Make sure to visit ManufacturingHappyHour.com/KUKApartners for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

This week on Manufacturing Happy Hour, we’re exploring what makes an industrial partnership great. Is it the tech? Is it the company culture? Is it the size of the company? Today’s podcast answers all of these questions in the context of a global robotics company, KUKA, and all of their partners. We spent an entire day at IMTS 2022 exploring applications from 3D printing to machining to launching robots into space, all while interviewing KUKA’s partners that make all of these applications possible. This 2-part episode features ten interviews co-hosted by Jake Hall, the Manufacturing Millennial, with the following leaders: Evandro Maia, Robotics Application Engineer, KUKA Juan Vega, CTO, Reliabotics Warren Reynolds, VP of Operations, I-Cubed Industry Innovators Inc. Nick Johnson, Co-Founder, One Off Robotics Travis Turner, General Manager, Eckhart Scott McIsaac, Project Engineer, KUKA Systems Jean-Sébastien Neveu, President, Waybo Cole Nielsen, CTO and Founder, Orbital Composites Michael Duong, Applications Engineer, Ingersoll Machine Tools Matthew Robey, Account Manager, KUKA Darcy Charbonneau, Director of US Sales, KUKA Make sure to visit ManufacturingHappyHour.com/KUKApartners for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Can you really make a business work if you have no experience? Cody Lee, the President and Owner of Everyday Technologies, made that very leap when he took over the business. While his experience was limited, he’s had some fantastic advice from his father and father-in-law, which has helped Cody thrive in his new venture. Cody joins this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour to share where it all began, what led him to buy the business, and how he’s determined to scale it in the future. He explains why his primary focus is on building a talented workforce, revitalizing Everyday Technologies’ branding, updating systems, and playing to his own strengths. While it’s been a unique challenge, Cody’s more than embraced it and has injected new life into a brand that has been in operation for nearly 100 years! In this episode, find out: Cody’s first experiences with entrepreneurship The important lessons Cody learned from his father and father-in-law Why you need to be passionate about your business above all else How Cody bought Everyday Technologies The first steps he took when taking over the business The top changes and updates he made to the business The unexpected challenges that Cody had to deal with Why you don’t need to be the smartest guy in the room Why you need to pay attention to branding to attract top talent Why the success of a business is down to its people What Cody has planned for the future of Everyday Technologies Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “A business is the direct result of its people.” “If you have the right people in the right seats, clear expectations, and hold them accountable to themselves and the folks around them, you can get anything done.” “The core mission of what we're trying to do at the end of the day is just take care of our customers. Without them, there would be no growing, there'd be no revenue, there'd be nothing.” Links & mentions:

What does it take to launch a manufacturing startup? And how do you finally walk away from it when it’s time? Nick Pinkston, CEO and Founder of Volition, is back on the show for round three of our three-part series. In this episode, we take a closer look at Nick’s previous ventures, including Plethora, to get an idea of what it’s like to build a company and then close the door to it. Nick shares the top things he wished he’d have known earlier in his career, what he’s learned from previous business experiences, and some advice for others. He also gives his take on the investor world and explains why VCs are no longer as scared to touch manufacturing as they once were. It’s been a fantastic mini-series with Nick, and he’s been full of brilliant insights into the startup world, investment, and the future of the industry. Be sure to catch up on episodes one and two with Nick if you haven’t already. In this episode, find out: What Plethora did in the manufacturing space Why Nick decided to leave his position as CEO The most important lessons he took from Plethora Why Plethora shut down What you need to do before scaling a startup Why VCs are less afraid of manufacturing these days What Nick wishes he had known earlier in his career What’s currently working for Volition Why Nick learned to love the management side of running a startup Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: "You get what you put in.” “I wish I would have been somewhere where there were lots of mentors who could actually tell you how it works. I just had this huge shift when I moved to San Francisco and met real founders.” “Your reputation is everything in this kind of field.” Links & mentions: Volition, one of the largest marketplaces for industrial components   Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

What does the future hold for hardware manufacturing? We welcome back Nick Pinkston, CEO and Founder of Volition, for round two of a special three-part episode where we dig into all things hardware manufacturing. In this episode, Nick explores the world of hardware startups, VC investment, and the future of the industry. He also breaks down his thoughts on rising trends like 3D printing and AI, and explains which manufacturing tech he’s most excited about. We also hear his thoughts and experiences on navigating U.S. industrial policies and what he thinks is missing from the wider manufacturing community. Check out part one and stay tuned for part three, coming soon! In this episode, find out: Why hardware startups are more difficult to get off the ground Why the investor base in hardware is improving What we learned about hardware and physical goods during COVID The manufacturing tech Nick’s most excited about Nick’s thoughts on additive manufacturing and AI How investors are changing the way they back manufacturing companies What’s missing from the wider manufacturing community? The regions leading the way in manufacturing The effect of industrial policy on manufacturing Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: "The horrible situation of COVID has shown everyone that the physical world [of manufacturing] actually matters.” “Everyone thinks 3D printing is going to replace stuff. I don't think that's true at all. I think the traditional processes will be with us forever. We just need to put computing inside of them.” “Everyone's going for high performance first. And I think that's because all these technologies start off really expensive. So you better have a really good use case for some performance improvement, as opposed to a cost improvement. I also think that VCs have a bias towards performance because it's cool.” Links & mentions:  Volition, one of the largest marketplaces for industrial components   The Interval, a cocktail bar in San Francisco and home of The Long Now Foundation Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Welcome to our first ever “mega episode” here on Manufacturing Happy Hour, a 3-part interview with Nick Pinkston, one of the more fascinating people in the manufacturing world. If you're not already familiar with Nick, he’s has a great track record of leading hardware and manufacturing startups, while much of the rest of the world was preoccupied with the software side of the tech world. Currently, he’s the Founder and CEO of Volition, a marketplace dedicated specifically to industrial components. Part 1, today's episode, is backstory. Part 2 will really focus on Nick's perspective on manufacturing, hard tech startups, and the future of the industry. In Part 3, we'll hear about Nick's experience with his previous company Plethora and the realities of manufacturing startups. In this episode, we’ll hear about Nick’s background and what it was like growing up and being surrounded by manufacturing. Nick shares how he started his career in Pittsburgh while elaborating on his mission for accelerating innovation and the way manufacturing gets done. Finally, we’ll learn about his latest venture Volition. Make sure to visit ManufacturingHappyHour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Having employees with strong personal brands is a great asset for any business, manufacturing or otherwise. In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we talk to Daniel Murray, marketing ops leader and the founder of podcast and marketing community, Marketing Millennials. Daniel discusses his career so far, how he simplifies marketing for marketers and the benefits of building personal brands. He also provides unmissable tips on building lasting LinkedIn posting habits and what platforms he finds most engaging right now. This episode is simply a masterclass in marketing and it’s gold for any manufacturer! In this episode, find out: Daniel’s goals for Marketing Millennials How to leverage LinkedIn purposefully Why executives should build personal brands Reasons why employers should hire employees with strong personal brands Why social media is just one part of the trust-building puzzle The importance of creating content consistently The power of newsletters and podcasts What’s resonating on LinkedIn right now Why put your personal brand over your career at times Top book recommendations from Daniel Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: "Consume a lot of content from your space. Understand what people are saying.” “One mistake people make is they’re not consistent enough on social media.” “You want people to trust you and the way you build trust is by sharing what you know.” Links & mentions: The Marketing Millennials, a community highlighting and uplifting today's marketing leaders and tomorrow's top stars. Zero BS. Just fun, unfiltered, industry insights with the game-changers behind some of the coolest companies from around the globe. Sign up here for the newsletter. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, by Robert Cialdini Justin Welsh, Founder of The Saturday Solopreneur who’s building a portfolio of one-person businesses; follow him on LinkedIn for personal branding tips Terry Black’s Barbecue, the best BBQ in Austin, TX, according to Daniel Franklin Barbecue, a mainstay Austin, TX BBQ joint famous for their long lines. Line up at 9am on a weekday if you want to get it before it runs out. Your host Chris Luecke still thinks this is the best brisket he’s ever had (but he also hasn’t been to Terry Black’s yet). Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Marketing, manufacturing, and remote work – we cover a lot of ground in this episode featuring Adar Hay, Co-Founder and CEO of Jiga.io. Jiga helps manufacturing companies centralize their supplier sourcing, and Adar explains how the idea for the company first came about. We hear how Jiga has a refreshingly modern approach to marketing and why Adar decided to start a podcast to learn more about potential users. Adar also explains the reasoning behind his remote-first team, and why for remote working to be effective, it needs to be rooted in the company culture. He also talks about the number one benefit of remote work – being able to hire anyone in world, not just those in your local area. In this episode, find out: Adar’s thoughts on underrated marketing strategies Why Jiga uses more human-focused marketing Why Adar started a podcast for Jiga How he measures content marketing success Why he started Jiga Why manufacturers should treat suppliers like partners Why digital transformation doesn’t need to be complex The simple secrets of remote working success The biggest pro for remote work Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “People want to connect with people. Being honest, upfront, and talking about challenges is very important, as well as sharing things from a human perspective of me as the CEO.” “When you're building a product, especially something new, you always have to talk to your customers. You want to talk to people in your industry about their problems and about their needs.” “Remote teams are more of an attitude. It's not just about working remotely, it's cultural. You need to fully trust the people that you work with.” Links & mentions: Jiga.io, centralized automated manufacturing sourcing Design to Product, a podcast hosting hardware manufacturing professionals, founders and engineers who talk about the stories behind their products Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

We’ve not covered medical device manufacturing on the show, so we thought this would be a great time to delve into it. In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we talk to Natalia Mendez, VP Head of Manufacturing Medical Devices at Philips. Natalia has lots of great insights into her industry and provides expert advice for both those in the medical space and manufacturers in general. Natalia explains the importance of meeting customers’ needs and dispels myths and misunderstandings about the industry. Plus, she explains why manufacturers should use data to solve and prevent future customer problems. There’s so much to unpack, so this is a must-listen for any Manufacturing Happy Hour fan! Make sure to visit ManufacturingHappyHour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty. In this episode, find out: How Natalia got started in medical device manufacturing What makes medical device manufacturing unique Why it’s important for manufacturers to keep evidence of what they’ve done Misconceptions about Natalia’s space Why you should involve end-to-end experts in manufacturing How to improve your resilience and performance How to meet customers’ needs The importance of being ready to put the product in the users’ hands Whether medical device manufacturing differs around the world About the importance of understanding markets and regional agencies Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “If you don't involve end-to-end experts when you are thinking about a new product, something will break in the chain.” “Never forget that, in order for a customer or a patient to use the product, you have to put that product physically in their hands in a timely manner.” “There are some countries that will not allow products that are manufactured in a specific place. So, you have to have that in mind when you set up your manufacturing footprint.” Links & mentions: Manufacturing Strategies Summit - packed with key industry speakers discussing a range of topics from developing and rolling out a robust R&D strategy, to streamlining business and operational processes: https://www.manufacturing-summit.com/?utm_source=show+notes&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=manufacturing+happy+hour Philips – a focused leader in health technology. Their purpose is to improve people’s health and well-being through meaningful innovation: https://www.philips.com/a-w/about.html    Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

There’s a good chance you already have a tool from the Stanley Black & Decker family in your toolkit. They’re household names, quality, reliable tools, and we wanted to hear more about the manufacturing process behind them. Antonio Hill, Head of Manufacturing Digital Solutions, Global Supply Chain at Stanley Black & Decker, joins Manufacturing Happy Hour to talk about his career, the challenges of managing supply chains, the impact of Industry 4.0, and what lean manufacturing means to him. We hear how Antonio made the jump from HR to manufacturing (bringing some important skills with him) and how he’s grown in his career since. We hear some top advice on starting with a lean process, building a “culture of lean,” and managing supply chain issues now and in the future. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, so you won’t want to miss it! In this episode, find out: How Antonio made the jump from HR to manufacturing What lean manufacturing is How Industry 4.0 affects Antonio’s work Why data is the key to building more efficient processes Why you need a “culture of lean” in manufacturing Why you need to know your facility inside-out The challenges of managing supply chains (especially in a pandemic) The coolest thing about working at Stanley Black & Decker Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “No one can predict the future, so in order for us not to go and try to hire Nostradamus, let's go ahead and create processes where we're getting the right information in order to make the best decision for our organization.” “We're always trying to improve the marginal cost and reduce costs to improve our business. We want our business to be the best.” “I think that a lot of times people get laser-focused on what they're on and not necessarily take the holistic approach.” Links & mentions: AMS Summit, learn from manufacturing leaders about the most impactful trends in manufacturing – from workforce development to lean & OpEx – talking place October 11-12 in Houston, TX Stanley Black & Decker, manufacturer of iconic tools from household names such as BLACK+DECKER, DEWALT, CRAFTSMAN, STANLEY, and more Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

“A platform for communities to invest in their best and brightest” …that’s how this week’s guest describes the company he works for. Sounds great, right? We invited Cole Shearer, Vice President – Skills Accelerator at gener8tor, to join Manufacturing Happy Hour this week. In this episode, he outlines his career to date, what he does at gener8tor, and provides some top tips for startup founders. Cole explains the struggles of the talent shortage in the cybersecurity space and breaks down how the gener8tor program helps job seekers find work. We hear a little about how gener8tor has evolved since Cole joined the team, and he also describes what his ideal organization to work with would look like. In this episode, find out: All about Cole’s early career Why startup founders should take risks How gener8tor helps jobseekers into work How gener8tor’s skills accelerator program works Why gener8tor teamed up on a Microsoft initiative How gener8tor has changed in recent years Why there’s a growing need for cybersecurity talent Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “If someone wants to make a change in their career and they have the aptitude and willingness to go through a program, they’re probably fit for ours.” “There are hundreds of thousands of open cybersecurity roles right now across the country. And the amount of actual potential talent to fill those positions is very limited.” “Our cybersecurity program is set up as a 10-week program that will be able to support participants and make sure that they're able to take the next stage of their career.” Links & mentions: gener8tor, an accelerator platform that offers over 75 programs such as startup and skills accelerators, fellowships and conferences to startup founders, corporations and job seekers. Bar 18, Indianapolis Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

We haven’t covered imaging and vision much on Manufacturing Happy Hour, so we thought it was time that changed. This week, we are talking to Greg Hollows, Vice President, Product Strategy at Edmund Optics, who discusses his various roles at Edmund Optics, where he has worked for over two decades. He also looks at the ways imaging has changed since he got started and provides some unmissable advice on succeeding in the industry. Greg gives us so much food for thought in this episode. It’s one you don’t want to miss! Make sure to visit ManufacturingHappyHour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty. In this episode, find out: What an optics company does About Greg’s career from the start Why Greg pursued imaging as a career What imaging was like when Greg got started The role imaging plays in automation today What applications and industries are primed for vision solutions If it can work for both small and large companies How Greg makes career decisions Greg’s most challenging work situations Top tips from Greg on succeeding in imaging and vision Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “What we do here at Edmund is changing the world.” “Imaging is just like a portfolio when you’re doing investment. You have risky things, you have stable things.” “You need to be connected to the industry. You need to understand the customer’s applications and you need to understand where things are going.” Links & mentions: Jackson Hole – a mountain resort overlooking the Grand Teton National Park in Teton County, Wyoming Edmund Optics – a global manufacturer and supplier of optics, imaging and photonics technology based in Barrington, NJ Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of robots and what they can bring to the manufacturing world here on Manufacturing Happy Hour. So, we invited fellow robot enthusiast Nate Brazelle, VP of Sales and Marketing at KUKA, onto the show to share his predictions on robots in the future of the industry, where they fit in now, and why they could be the answer to the labor shortage. Nate explains how he first took a step into the world of robotics and shares the challenges and realities of working with cobots. We hear about the different areas cobots excel in and how they can work alongside human workers. Nate also lets us in on KUKA’s future plans for industrial robots and how its operating system aims to make deploying robots even easier. In this episode, find out: How Nate first got into robotics The top challenges in robotics The rise of cobots in manufacturing How cobots can help with additive manufacturing Why cobots could fill in the gaps of the talent shortage Why you should let your team make mistakes How to get comfortable with new tech Future plans for KUKA Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “Skilled labor is still going away, and we can't find it. So we're thinking of applications like welding, which is great skilled labor, but it's just going away.” "I think the real big benefit of 3D printing is the value and benefit of the cobots and 3D printers in ARM tooling and the grippers. I think that's a really big value.” “I think in the next couple of years, if we focus and look at the areas where we simply can't find the skilled labor, that's going to be where the markets continue to grow.” Links & mentions: KUKA, global robot and automation solutions company offering tailor-made solutions for your industry Buddy Guy’s Legends, a classic blues club with up-and-coming and famous acts plus New Orleans-style pub grub, located in Chicago, IL  Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

If you already thought that the 5-day work week was one day too long, then this episode will rock your boat. This week, we’re chatting with Joe Sanok, author of Thursday is the New Friday, and he offers a practical breakdown of how the 4-day work week would fit into a manufacturing setting. Before we dive into all that, Joe tells us about his professional background and then offers a brief but detailed history of the 5-day work week (and a bit about the concept of time). We also hear a step-by-step breakdown of how to slow down in order to speed things up and ultimately get more done in four days as opposed to five. Joe leaves us with a whole lot to mull over as far as productivity is concerned. So this is definitely one of those episodes you’re going to want to tune in to. In this episode, find out: What Joe’s book, “Thursday is the New Friday” is about Joe’s relationship with the manufacturing industry growing up The motivation behind Joe’s career choices When Joe really started questioning the 5-day work week The history of the 5-day work week How people often react to the notion of the 4-day work week The first step to slowing down (to ultimately speeding up) How manufacturers can adjust to the 4-day work week How to test the 4-day work week Surprising things Joe learned while writing his book Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “The pandemic was the final linchpin in the 40-hour work week.” “You need to first gain clarity through slowing down so when you eventually speed up, you’re doing the right things instead of putting out fires.” “A lot of the realizations people get from slowing down are more personal than business-related.” Links & mentions: Thursday is the New Friday, by Joe Sanok Practice of the Practice podcast, innovative ideas to start, grow, and scale a private practice JoeSanok.com Workshop Brewing, right on the water in Traverse City, MI Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

The worlds of robotics and automation have been picking up speed for some time now. But the pandemic has only fast-tracked the need for the next generation of talent to wield these tools. Organizations such as Illuminate STEM are leading the way for young blood to gain knowledge and fly the flag for robotics for decades to come. Terrence Southern, Founder, CEO & Executive Director at Illuminate STEM, joins this episode to explain how he taught budding robotics workers, how he started his company, and more. Plus, Terrence outlines his predictions for the future of robotics and automation. He explains that, however excited younger generations are about robotics, the eagerness to get involved in the industry still has a long way to go. In this episode, find out: How Terrence got started in robotics How he teaches students and helped a student who now works for one of world’s largest companies How Illuminate STEM first got started Why Terrence aims to make robotics a more viable career choice How the pandemic sped up our reliance on automation What Terrence thinks about the future of ‘cobots’ Why, despite excitement around robotics, people don’t want to work in the industry The negative associations people have with robotics Terrence’s predictions for the future of robotics Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “I see ‘cobots’ becoming more accessible and more widely used.” “There’s so much to look forward to in the robotics industry.” “I hate to say it, but the pandemic was the perfect storm to open the floodgates for automation.” Links & mentions: Northland Roller Rink, Detroit’s largest, oldest, world-renowned skating rink Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

It’s not every day you get to record a podcast episode in Berlin, so when Florian Pestoni told me he’d be in Berlin at the same time as me, we had to meet up to record an interview. In this special live episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we step out of the studio and into the beer garden to discuss what chronic care for robots looks like. Florian is the Co-Founder & CEO of InOrbit, a Silicon Valley-based startup that helps companies managing fleets of robots streamline their robotic operations. Florian shares his motivation behind his shift from software engineering to robotics, before diving into a discussion about #RobOps and examples of how InOrbit offers chronic care for robotic fleets. Altogether, it’s an informative and - dare we say - unconventional episode packed with insights about the future of robotics, the startup scenes in Berlin, Silicon Valley, and beyond, and yes, the quirks of recording live podcast episodes in less-than-ideal conditions.

We're taking a break this week for summer vacation! Sort of. Actually, we have a bonus episode for you that's all about a summer vacation-esque topic: Industrial Tourism. Until this week, I thought "industrial tourism" was a term I made up, but it turns out it's actually a well-documented practice. From brewery tours to visiting upcycled, decommissioned factories, industrial tourism actually covers a lot of ground. In this episode, I share 3 examples of my own industrial tourism experiences from my recent travels. From Copenhagen to Pennsylvania, there are industrial sites with plenty of good reason to visit them far and wide.