Manufacturing Talks

In a recent Forbes article, your host explained how Germany was undergoing the beginnings of deindustrialization as a result of its horrible energy policies, and how that should be a warning to America. Unfortunately the current administration's regulatory policies now have the US on an even worse path than Germany. This is an existential threat to all of American industry, and it's past time for manufacturing leaders to start doing what the farmers have been doing in Europe. Tune in and hear Jim Vinoski explain it all, and please comments, share, and subscribe. Here are some links to what Jim talks about: German deindustrialization Forbes article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimvinoski/2024/02/29/german-deindustrialization-is-a-wake-up-call-for-us-manufacturers/?sh=781e22dc7c0c Biden regulatory blitz: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-congress-regulation-administrative-state-democrats-republicans-government-agencies-1c40da77 John Hinderaker's piece at the Powerline blog on the recent EPA power plant insanity: https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2024/04/us-set-to-regress-from-modernity.php Explanation of the ongoing Supreme Court review of the Chevron case: https://www.scotusblog.com/2024/01/supreme-court-likely-to-discard-chevron/

Yes indeed, Episode 100 is upon us! We could have a celebrity or a head of state as a guest, but it was obvious the right choice was a guy that fans of the show have heard from many times before! John Farabee, our intro and outro voice-over guy, is also one of the most knowledgeable and insightful supply chain gurus we know. So as the only other guy besides our host whose voice has appeared on every episode, it only made sense to finally have him share his thoughts on that topic that has had pretty much everyone's attention since the dark days of Covid. Tune in and hear first his Lou Holtz quote that is his guiding supply chain principle, then stay tuned for the whole thing as John shares his deep wisdom about the state of our supply chains now, the lessons we should have learned from the drama of the past few years, and where things are headed. And be sure to stay till the end when John and our host, both tremendous believers and and supporters of the Boy Scouts of America, share their thoughts on why that program is more crucial than ever for our young people. One last note: John mentions another old friend of the show, Dean Wegner, whose company Authentically American is a story John is particularly fond of. You can find Dean's stuff here: https://www.authenticallyamerican.us/

Augury got its start using a unique way to monitor manufacturing machine health: the sound of the equipment! It's one of those ideas that, once you hear it, seems so blindingly obvious - except you didn't think of it! Now they have over 150 of the largest manufacturers as customers, and they continue to grow. The company uses AI to reduce waste and downtime and to improve processes in all kinds of industries. Their VP of Strategy, Artem Kroupenev, joined us for Episode 99 to tell us all about it. Tune in and learn about the whole story, and how they might help you! Augury website: https://www.augury.com/ Link to your host's 2019 Forbes article about Augury: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimvinoski/2019/09/30/the-machine-whisperers-this-startup-improves-machine-health-through-digital-transformation/

Like too much of American manufacturing, our domestic production capacity for printed circuit boards - the things on which the computer chips that power so much of our world anymore reside - departed decades ago for other lands. Now we're too dependent on foreign nations for that supply, and especially worrying is how much we're dependent on a potential geopolitical adversary. David is executive director at the Printed Circuit Board Association of America, and he joined us for Episode 98 to tell us how we lost this vital industrial capability and what he thinks we need to do to get at least some of it back. Tune in and check out the whole story!

Manufacturing looks like it's turning the corner here in the US, so now is a good time for our domestic producers to look at expanding their businesses. Frank Seidel, Managing Director at Wamser Batra USA, thinks India is a great market to look at, and he joined us to tell us why that is and what companies here need to do about it. He looks at demographics and income growth and says India beats China as a growth market hands down. Now, to be fair, what Wamser Batra USA does to make their money is to help companies do exactly the above. But Frank didn't join us for a no-hold-barred sales job - he brought practical advice on how to get started, what to do along the way, and how to succeed at what he says has to be a long-term play. Here's a timeline with some highlights: 7:20 - the importance of due diligence 10:40 - why it's critical company leaders actually go to India 14:30 - why you should bring the CEO of any Indian company you're going to partner with here to the US 17:40 - the different production options, like making here and exporting there, making domestically for each separate market, or making there and importing here There's a whole lot more great advice and concrete steps to take. It boils down to what Frank shared with me separately: "Don't just go to India because it looks like a good opportunity. Make sure it's the right fit for your business." Tune in and check out the whole thing!

At one time, when he lived in the shadow of southwest Michigan's Palisades nuclear power plant, former business owner, author, and employee communications guru Shawn Connors opposed nuclear energy. But then he decided to do his own research and discovered that the horror stories in the media that had convinced him nukes were dangerous were just plain wrong. That's when he founded the Atomic Garage Movement, which uses the arts to help convince people that nuclear energy is safe, clean, and reliable. He has also written both a nonfiction educational book and a fictional novel that both help tell the real story of nuclear energy (links below!) He joined us for Episode 96 to tell us all about his conversion, and why he believes we should ditch all the arbitrary deadlines for replacing our electricity generating stations, stop retiring our coal and gas plants, and instead embark on a program to replace them when their production lives end with nuclear plants. And about Palisades? He's revved up to see it reopened, and thinks it can help make Michigan a nuclear center for the nation. Here are the links: Books: Non-fiction: The Quick Read Nuclear Energy Guide: 21 Easy-to-Understand Q&As - https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Nuclear-Energy-Guide-Understand-ebook/dp/B0CH8MNNH4?ref_=ast_author_dp Novel: Chain Reaction: A Story About Power in the Age of Climate Change - https://www.amazon.com/Chain-Reaction-Story-Climate-Change/dp/B0CGLH8M1P/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Article that I read that first flagged Shawn's work for me: https://www.bridgemi.com/guest-commentary/opinion-wind-solar-arent-enough-case-palisades-nuclear-plant Atomic Garage Movement site: https://atomicgaragemovement.com/ This episode aired originally on YouTube on March 26, 2024.

Starting first with the supply chain and production disruptions of the pandemic, and now being reinforced by the unrest in the Middle East, the idea that outsourcing manufacturing is always a cost savings move has been shown to be wrong. Harry Moser, founder and president of the Reshoring Initiative, has been saying that for years. In fact, he came up with a calculation tool, the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Estimator, to show businesses that in many cases manufacturing right here in the USA makes the most economic sense. (See the links at the bottom of this page.) Harry joined us for Episode 91 to dive into all the details. Here are a few of the highlights of our chat: 12:11 - reshoring job figures 22:11 - how reshoring can cut emissions 24:30 - the effect of reshoring on worker education and workforce development 30:18 - the relationship between reshoring and sound Lean principles Harry rightly points out that for us to convince our younger generations that manufacturing is a good career choice, there have to be manufacturing jobs available. That's why the increasing head of steam reshoring is seeing is so important. Tune in and check out the whole discussion! The Reshoring Initiative's home page: https://www.reshorenow.org/ TCO Estimator tool: https://www.reshorenow.org/tco-estimator/ This episode aired originally on YouTube on February 20, 2024.

Doesn't it seem like every single day now brings fresh news of another monstrous dollop of tax money is being given away somewhere in the US to coerce some manufacturer to build and "create jobs?" That's great news, right? Not so much, and James Hohman, Director of Fiscal Policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy right here in Michigan, is here to tell us why it's not. Here are just a few of the points he covers: 20:00 - a better way: create a better business environment and quality of life 23:45 - job creation and loss under these schemes 26:00 - money spent versus jobs created 30:00 - economic development program spending versus schools and prisons Check out the whole thing to learn why the better road is to let manufacturers pay their own way while making the business environment and workforce attractive enough that they'll come to your state anyway! This episode aired originally on YouTube on February 27, 2024.

Fluke Reliability has been a mainstay in manufacturing maintenance for a long, long time. With tools like temperature and vibration monitors and acoustic and thermal imaging, they've helped make true preventive maintenance a reality for industry. So it was extremely informative for Episode 93 to chat with their president, Ankush Malhotra, about their recent acquisition of Azima DLI, which is helping supercharge Fluke's aggressive push into the use of AI for machine failure prevention. Ankush gives us a deep dive into what Fluke has going on with its new efforts, and how they can help manufacturers of all kinds stay competitive in today's tough business environment. Tune in and check out the whole thing! This episode aired originally on March 5, 2024.

Episode 94 once more features our friends from Aprio, a CPA-led advisory firm with over 700 clients in their Manufacturing and Distribution Practice. Simeon Wallis and Michael Lange join us to discuss their latest quarterly "Manufacturing and Distribution Insights" report, which is a great look into the state of business for American industry. Simeon is Chief Investment Officer and leader of Aprio’s Wealth Management Practice, and Michael is Partner in Assurance Services at Aprio, so they bring a whole lot of expertise to the subject. The latest issue had more good news for manufacturers, including a slight rise in manufacturing sentiment from the Institute for Supply Managers and a boom in plant construction spending. But there were also indications of weakening demand, and a fresh ISM report came out after we recorded showing a decline in the outlook of industry professionals. Michael and Simeon dive into all the details of their report and give their insights about the current state of things and where they think we're headed. Tune in and hear the whole expert story! View the Aprio quarterly insights report here: https://www.aprio.com/6-manufacturing-distribution-insights-from-q1-2024-and-what-they-mean-for-you/ This episode aired originally on March 12, 2024.

Modiv is a real estate investment trust (REIT). That's company uses investor money to trade in real estate. For Modiv, it's not just any real estate - the company focuses entirely on manufacturing properties, investing in industrial properties via long-term net leases. Their CEO, Aaron Halfacre, joins us for Episode 95 to tell us why that's a good business proposition for his investors and for the owners of the manufacturing companies alike. Aaron also discusses how Modiv's corporate values are rooted in the small-town strong-work-ethic background he grew up with. We talked West Virginia, Mississippi, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and chicken farms! You can learn more about Modiv here: https://modiv.com/ This episode aired originally on YouTube on March 19, 2024.

Montana isn't just one of America's fastest-growing states in population. It's also rapidly expanding its manufacturing base, growing it by 14% last year alone! Why? Not because of giant dollops of taxpayer-funded subsidies. Governor Greg Gianforte, a serial entrepreneur and former small businessman himself, and the Montana legislature have focused on improving the general business environment and other areas critical to industrial companies like skilled trades training. They've tried to tackle all the different areas of government that were holding manufacturing back. And it's working. The governor joined us for Episode 86 to talk about the tax relief efforts he has led, the reductions in regulations that he worked with the legislature to pass, his efforts to solve the housing crunch so many areas of the country are still struggling with, and his partnering with educational institutions and business groups to make sure the workers that manufacturing employers need will be there. Companies like Hyundai's New Horizons Studio, German high-tech vacuum component maker VACOM, and military ammunition producer Brixtel Defense have all selected Montana for new facilities. Tune in and learn all the small-government winning ways that have Montana's manufacturing growing fast! Here's a link to Governor Gianforte's bio: https://governor.mt.gov/About/ Here are a couple of related Forbes articles by your host: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimvinoski/2023/12/22/vacoms-new-us-hq-is-another-win-in-montanas-manufacturing-blitz/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimvinoski/2023/02/03/bozeman-landed-hyundais-new-horizons-studio-rd-center-now-montana-is-on-the-hunt-for-more-manufacturing/ This episode aired originally on YouTube on January 30, 2024.

Episode 88 is another must-see. Energy economist, entrepreneur, commodities trader, and author Dr. Lars Schernikau joins us to talk about his latest book, *The Unpopular Truth about Electricity and the Future of Energy,* which he co-wrote with Professor William Hayden Smith. Lars dives into just why our current path of rapid additions of variable renewables is wrong and why battery storage and hydrogen won't help. He introduces his concept of eROI - energy return on investment - and tells us why it's crucial. He tells us why coal is still vital and why nuclear is an absolute must, and how geothermal and even off-planet solar might play a part in our energy future. And finally, he explains why the situation right now in Germany ought to be educating us all on exactly the wrong way to do things energy-wise. Do tune in and listen to the whole thing! Check out Lars's homepage here: https://unpopular-truth.com/ And get a copy of his book (highly recommended!) here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BM3T8BBG?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_JXKGDT67BYEJ37BEAEB3 This episode aired originally on YouTube on February 6, 2024.

Appearing on Broadway in Les Misérables... playing a part on General Hospital... and launching an AI-driven industry software services company? Yep, yep, and yep, if you're Michael Lynch. He joined us for Episode 89 to chat about all of it. After earning a living singing, dancing, and starring on stage and screen, Michael served as CEO of Right Hemisphere Inc., a provider of small tools for graphics professionals. The company was acquired by SAP, where Michael led the Internet of Things business. The he co-founded Praxie, a business process automation company. Michael dives into the specific services Praxie brings to manufacturing customers, including making data actionable and making Lean efforts more effective. This one was fun, entertaining, and educational! Check out the whole thing! This episode aired originally on YouTube on February 8, 2024.

Grace Stanke spent her reign last year as Miss America promoting nuclear energy. And she knows what she's talking about - in December she graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in nuclear engineering! She joined us for Episode 90 to talk about why nuclear is safer and less expensive than you might think, and why there are even bigger things on the horizon with Small Modular Reactors and, one day, nuclear fusion! Some highlights: 4:00 - how Grace chose nuclear engineering 19:00 - the nuclear power generation business is safer for its workers than grocery or fast food! 22:30 - nuclear energy is clean energy! 24:20 - we need 70% of our power to be reliable baseload, and Grace thinks 30% to 40% ought to be nuclear It's well worth your time to check out the whole thing! Grace shares other experiences too, like when she played an AC/DC song on her violin for the talent portion of an earlier pageant, and how she recorded with us just before she jetted off to Africa to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro! This episode aired originally on YouTube on February 13, 2024.

It's been a while since we covered 3D printing here. Who better to chat with about it than Blake Teipel, who joined us for our Episode 87? He co-founded Essentium, maker of high-speed extrusion 3D printers and materials, and they were just acquired by Nexa3D. Now Blake is Chief Strategy Officer for the combined company, and he'll be there at the helm taking Nexa3D into the future. Despite some doldrums in the industry right now, Blake is bullish on that future. Tune in and hear him talk about the industry's strengths and opportunities, including fast-improving hardware, software, and materials. He gives us his thoughts about the need for industry consolidation and how companies can position themselves for success. With GlobalData recently predicting that the 3D printing global business will reach $70 billion by 2030, the insights Blake has to offer are crucial if you're wanting to learn what's what in additive. Tune in and check out the whole show - you'll be glad you did! This episode aired originally on YouTube on February 1, 2024.

The funniest polymath around joins us once again, this time to do a deep dive into his latest book. Mark P. Mills, now Distinguished Fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and Contributing Editor at City Journal, waxes poetic about his predictions for a whale of a decade in *The Cloud Revolution: How the Convergence of New Technologies Will Unleash the Next Economic Boom and a Roaring 2020s.* Tune in and hear his prognostications about everything The Cloud will bring: new and better materials, AI, robots, better education, better jobs, a lot more 3D printing, and a whole lot more! As always with Mark, it's an enjoyable and educational chat. Get your own copy of his book here (highly recommended!): https://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Revolution-Convergence-Technologies-Economic/dp/1641772301/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1704765177&sr=8-1 This episode aired originally on YouTube on January 9, 2023.

If you're doing any kind of show about manufacturing, then you want to be just like Damon Pistulka and Curt Anderson, creators and hosts at Manufacturing eCommerce Success! These two wrote the book on how to make engaging content focused on industry. Plus they were some of the originators at LinkedIn Live, showing the rest of us how to do it right! They joined us for Episode 84 to tell us all about their backgrounds, how the dark days of the Covid lockdowns helped lead them to launch their legendary show, how they bring such incredible energy, and whole bunch more! Tune in and check out the whole thing to learn all about these unbelievably great guys and what they do! This episode aired originally on YouTube on January 16, 2023.

For Episode 85, we're joined by Jeffrey Korzenik, chief economist at one of our major American banks and author of the very important book, *Untapped Talent: How Second Chance Hiring Works for Your Business and the Community.* He tells us all the critical reason we should all be taking a look at hiring those who've previously been incarcerated or have criminal records. Right now they can find themselves with almost no path to earning a living, which makes it pretty tough to get off the path of crime and onto one of being a productive citizen. Jeff tells us why it's good economics, good business, and being a good human being to try to give those who've made legal mistakes a second chance. Jeff also tells about the hurdles companies will face in getting after this laudable goal, and where they can find help to do it. Check out Jeff's website here, where you can get a copy of his book (highly recommended!): https://www.jeffkorzenik.com/ This episode aired originally on YouTube on January 23, 2023

For Episode 78, we're joined by Adam Beckerman and Simeon Wallace at Aprio, a CPA-led Advisory Firm with over 700 clients in their Manufacturing and Distribution Practice. Their quarterly "Manufacturing and Distribution Insights" report is a great look into the state of business for American industry. Simeon is Chief Investment Officer and leader of Aprio’s Wealth Management Practice, and Adam is Manufacturing and Distribution Industry Practice Leader and Assurance Partner at Aprio, so they bring a whole lot of expertise to the subject. The latest issue had some good news for manufacturers, including falling input prices and rising manufacturing sentiment from the Institute for Supply Managers. Adam and Simeon dive into all the details and give their insights about the current state of things and where they think we're headed. Tune in and hear the whole expert story! Link to the Aprio report: https://www.aprio.com/6-manufacturing-distribution-insights-from-q4-2023-and-what-they-mean-for-you/?utm_campaign=Manufacturing%20%26%20Distribution%202023&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=280490226&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--amAn4KMyPVhJGSc5pOQ19PsA0Ht2SlcIVRZESNQ7JbejCLoz6wlBRbI4KGdiQgIU9vdf8gbru0McLFhOyT3aGZkIV4A&utm_content=280490226&utm_source=hs_email This episode aired originally on YouTube on November 21, 2023.

If you're a manufacturer almost anywhere in the world, you're having some challenges hiring the people you need. That's been Magda Dexter's specialty at Saint-Gobain North America, where she's Sr. VP of Communication and Human Resources. She joins us to tell all about their excellent efforts to attract the talent they need, with initiatives like formal mentoring programs, second-chance hiring for the formerly incarcerated, a focus on recruiting military veterans, and so on. Tune in and check out the whole thing - there are lots of ideas here you can copy! This episode aired originally on YouTube on November 28, 2023.

With a background as an engineer on the production front lines for GM and Tesla, Ryan Kuhlenbeck set out to found a tech company focused on helping the floor operators solve their biggest problems. He's co-founder and CEO of Pico MES (https://www.picomes.com/), which facilitates solutions such as visual task instructions on screens right on front of the worker, ready communication channels to management and plant technical resources, and computer-connected tools to error-proof the job. Ryan tells us about the risks, rewards, and hard work of launching his own tech company, and talks about all the different solutions Pico MES brings to its customers. He shares some of the actual breakthrough results folks in the field are seeing after bringing his tech to their floors. This episode aired originally on YouTube on December 5, 2023.

Eric joins us once again for Episode 81! We chat about the recent news of the $10 billion share buyback at GM, the continuing news of the huge scaling back of the pork-laden Ford battery plant in Michigan, and general discussion of how those companies seem to be going off the rails. Eric also offers his take on the recent clean energy legislation that Michigan Democrats have foisted on the state. Tune in and check out the whole show - you'll be glad you did! And check out Eric's work at https://starkmanapproved.com/. This episode aired originally on YouTube on December 12, 2023.

Guru on all things power generation Meredith Angwin comes back to the show, this time to focus entirely on the big points of her superb book, *Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid.* (https://www.amazon.com/Shorting-Grid-Hidden-Fragility-Electric/dp/1735358002/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1702947902&sr=8-1) Tune in to learn all about the cockamamy regulations and horribly skewed incentives that have our power producers doing all kinds of crazy stuff. Learn why wind and solar absolutely make prices for electricity skyrocket every time (hint: backup for when the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine!), why batteries and/or pumped hydro won't save us, and why our current tendency to rely on gas to bail out the renewables is courting disaster. Oh, and hear why your host's home state of Michigan is headed for blackouts! Here are a few other links referred to in the show: The Spectator article about Meredith: https://thespectator.com/topic/meredith-angwin-power-grid-prophet-energy/ Jason Hayes's article about Michigan's stupid new power generation mandates: https://www.mackinac.org/blog/2023/michigan-lawmakers-should-aim-for-the-least-harmful-net-zero-plan Mackinac Center for Public Policy: https://www.mackinac.org/ This episode aired originally on YouTube on December 19, 2023.

I can't believe I got to Episode 75 before doing anything on bicycles! But we went big - Tony Karklins, CEO of Time Bicycles and Cardinal Cycling Group, joined us for a great discussion of my favorite sport! Tony digs into: - His own background and how he got to be where he is - including owning his own bike shop as a teenager! - Why pretty much all bike making went to Asia back at the beginning of the century - How Europe has already gotten a start on bringing bicycle manufacturing back - especially Portugal - Why he's bullish on his prospects for bringing some of that production back to America - Where he thinks the bike making hot spots for the US will be - What can be made here and what can't - His growth plans for the Time Bicycles brand Along with checking out the whole show and hearing all about what Tony has to say about the bike business in general and making them here in America, you should also check out this link: https://www.google.com/search?q=perfection+in+every+strand&oq=perfection+in&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggBECMYJzIGCAAQRRg5MgYIARAjGCcyBwgCEAAYgAQyBwgDEAAYgAQyBwgEEAAYgAQyBwgFEAAYgAQyBwgGEAAYgAQyBwgHEAAYgAQyBwgIEAAYgAQyBwgJEAAYgAQyBwgKEAAYgAQyBwgLEAAYgAQyBwgMEAAYgAQyBwgNEAAYgAQyBwgOEAAYgATSAQkxMDkzOGowajSoAgCwAgA&client=ms-android-samsung-rvo1&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:a74a8778,vid:5bQQqJ3r20E,st:0 And you can find Time Bicycles right here: https://shop.timebicycles.com/ This episode aired originally on October 31, 2023.