Manufacturing Happy Hour

It’s been a hot minute since we covered eCommerce on the show, but since COVID, it’s become a growing part of manufacturing and distribution. COVID lockdowns essentially shut off the traditional methods for buying and selling manufactured supplies, and companies were forced to adopt a new way of doing things or get left behind. It’s meant great things for the industry, so we thought we’d get the eCommerce perspective in this episode from Znode's Chief Commercial Officer, Tom Flierl.

Tom joins the podcast to explore the link between eCommerce and manufacturing, how Znode presents a seamless solution, and the reasons why there’s been a spike in eCommerce system adoption. We look at how distribution and manufacturing have adapted, and Tom shares some examples of companies that have embraced new solutions and seen the benefits of integrating everything into a one-stop shop solution.

Tom also chats about AI as the next big thing for manufacturers to lean into, why salespeople are still vital for the industry, and some tips on how to assess the effectiveness of an eCommerce solution.

In this episode, find out:

• Where eCommerce and manufacturing meet
• Tom explains what Znode does
• We hear about Tom’s early experiences in print media and being an “early internet guy”
• How Tom’s background in sales and marketing helped his career during the dot-com bust
• How Tom’s family history helped to prepare him for a career in eCommerce and manufacturing
• The possible causes for the spike in eCommerce system adoption
• How future-ready are distributors and manufacturers today?
• How COVID impacted eCommerce system adoption
• What eCommerce looks like in manufacturing (with examples)
• Why the role of salespeople in eCommerce is still just as important
• Dealers and distributors’ approaches to working with eCommerce
• How people can assess the effectiveness of an eCommerce solution

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 think COVID forced a lot of shifts in everybody's lives. And I think it forced a lot of shifts in even how businesses go to market and the importance of digital.”
• “The big win that we're seeing is a lot of ERPs are moving to offer APIs now. Our platform and some others can take those APIs, talk to each other, and present the right data to the right customer when they log in and give them the right experience by exchanging data with lots of other systems.”
• "It's all about adoption. If adoption isn't there, whether it's the end customer or the distributor or channel, it’s probably not working. I would argue that that applies for distributors and manufacturers.”

Links & mentions:

• Znode, an all-in-one, headless, B2B eCommerce platform developed to enable growth through a rich set of built-in features
• Request a Demo of Znode’s B2B eCommerce platform
• Foxtown Brewing, large brewery located inside of a classic building in Mequon, WI

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in

As new technologies emerge, so do new solutions and new possibilities. The electronics manufacturing world is going through a digital revolution right now, and companies like Arch Systems are at the pinnacle of it.

We welcomed Andrew Scheuermann, Co-Founder and CEO of Arch Systems, to the show to hear about the brilliant backstory behind the company. Before Arch Systems became a thing, Andrew and his Co-Founder were on a mission to solve the problem of broken wells in a number of African countries. Funding new wells is one thing, but without maintenance, they often fail. Using new technology and data insights, this project spiraled into a larger solution that became what Arch Systems is today.

We hear Andrew’s story and his thoughts on balancing non-profit and for-profit ventures to help each other, what the early days of the startup were like, and how technology is paving the way for faster and more effective solutions in electronics manufacturing.

In this episode, find out:

• What Arch Systems does and how it started with a clear mission
• Why Andrew decided to start working with water wells in some African countries
• Andrew explains what the problem was with the wells and how it all came down to maintenance
• How Andrew and his co-founder came up with a solution
• The challenges of using a solution across so many sites
• How Andrew balanced the for-profit and non-profit aspects of his project
• How electronics manufacturing became a focus
• The early days of finding product-market fit and struggling as an early startup
• How leveraging data in Arch Systems could benefit manufacturing companies
• The challenges of handling so much data
• How the right data can help you make predictive maintenance decisions
• How automation can help to fill the gaps in a workforce

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 can solve somebody's problem, it doesn't matter how different or similar you think you are, you can be the best team in the world.”
• “All machines break. It's not a question of if, it's just when. And the more you use it, the more it's going to break. There might have been a defect, it might break earlier, it might just be based on usage. And so they would break, but the problem was painfully simple, there was no maintenance.”
• “What's stuck with me is just being about the people and their problem. Not what you think it is, but what they think it is.”

Links & mentions:

• Arch Systems, building expert data solutions that objectively observe and optimize manufacturing processes, driving decision intelligence for electronics manufacturers   
• WellDone International, a non-profit organization working to improve global access to clean water and other basic services essential to human health, productivity, and well-being
• Amandine Lounge, serving a range of international cocktails in Los Altos, CA

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode....

Imagine a world without connectors… If we didn’t have connectors, technology and products would simply be cool ideas without that all-important functionality we need. In this episode, we speak to two of HARTING Americas’ team about the importance of connectors in manufacturing and engineering processes.

Casey Spitz, the Vice President of Development and Innovation, and Cory Jenkins, Senior Director of Business Development, weigh in on why connectors should be a part of design processes from the very start, rather than left to the end.

Casey and Cory share insights on the technical details of connectors, the trend toward miniaturization, and the evolution of things like Ethernet over the past few years. We also chat about the project management side of engineering, how HARTING balances growth with everyday processes, and how engineers should think about localization. As industry leaders, they have some great actionable advice on leadership, growth, and the importance of team collaboration. We hear what it takes to build an efficient engineering process that welcomes new ideas to boost innovation.

In this episode, find out:

• What are connectors and why are they so important for engineers
• Why Europe appears to be ahead in the connectors world compared to North America
• How Ethernet has evolved and the lessons we can take from that
• How Cory has successfully led HARTING through a number of technology shifts, including a branch out into semiconductors
• Actionable advice for engineers and manufacturers to execute quickly and adapt to the market
• How Casey created processes that HARTING needed to grow to the next level
• How Casey balanced creating processes for growth with working on the day-to-day priorities
• Advice for building efficient processes into your own business as a manufacturer
• The role of localization in HARTING’s growth, plus advice for others
• Why collaboration is a huge priority for HARTING and how it directly drives innovation
• What engineers should know about connectors and how they should integrate them early in the process

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 world of connectors is actually pretty niche. There's not a lot of people that have done this before, so we're looking for people that are top notch collaborators, that are very humble and respectful of other people's ideas.”
• “Don't confuse busyness with productivity. And the difference between those two is really being connected to your company's goals.”
• “If you go in every direction, that's not a right answer. But you've got to be listening to every direction.”

Links & mentions:

• HARTING, a connectivity solutions provider that operates worldwide to design connectivity for challenging environments
• Ernst Barre Private Brewery, located in the East Westphalian town of Lübbecke in the north-western German district of Minden-Lübbecke

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 difficulties manufacturers face when it comes to finding and retaining top talent is something we often discuss on this podcast, so it’s great to welcome a guest who has an excellent solution. In this episode, we speak with Retired Lieutenant Colonel (USAF), Kathy Lowrey Gallowitz.

Kathy shares her story with us about how she got into the military and eventually the industrial space. She explains what it means to be a veteran champion if you’re hoping to recruit veterans to your manufacturing team, and how you can ensure your organization is veteran-ready. She also provides an enlightening look at the broad skill sets that veterans bring to the table, from nursing to project management to sales, and gives us some tips on tangible ways to become an advocate for veterans in everyday life.

In this episode, find out:

• Kathy shares her favorite type of grilled cheese!
• We hear about what it means to be veteran-ready vs veteran-friendly
• Kathy takes a deep dive into her journey in the military
• Why her adaptability and problem-solving skills drew Kathy to the military
• The diversity of experiences that come out of being in the military
• Kathy shares why she wrote her book, Beyond “Thank You For Your Service:” The Veteran Champion Handbook for Civilians
• What can manufacturing leaders do to increase retention of veterans and improve mentorship?
• Why it’s so important to develop a veteran hiring program
• Kathy tells us about the Veteran Hiring Academy courses in April and September each year

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:

• “My appreciation for the technical aptitudes that service members bring to the workplace is particularly relevant in the manufacturing industry.”
• “I invite you to join the veteran champion movement and be a part of the win because it really is a win when you get to know a veteran, understand their life story, their experiences. So I contend that it improves your quality of life.”
• “’Thank you for wearing the uniform.’ That is super special because it implies that you have some appreciation for what it means to me to take the oath of office, to make that commitment, and the pride and professionalism we feel when we wear the uniform”.

Links & mentions:

• Vanguard Veteran, equipping civilians to become veteran champions
• Beyond "Thank You For Your Service:" The Veteran Champion Handbook for Civilians
• Invite Vanguard Veteran to Speak
• Vanguard Veteran's Employer Consulting and Training
• Complimentary Veteran-Ready Assessment
• O*Net OnLine Military Crosswalk Search
• Women...

What are some of the results of integrating cobots into your production processes and how do you help your employees push past any initial apprehension they feel to fully embrace the benefits?

In this special case study-style episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we welcome Rob Goldiez, CEO of Hirebotics, a company that makes welding cobots for welders, and Justin Montes, CEO of DeAngelo Marine Exhaust, onto the show to talk about the intersection of automation, technology, and human craftsmanship.

We take a deep dive into real-world scenarios of what it looks like when a company adopts robotics, specifically collaborative robots. What factors into the decision making? What are some of the hiccups that happen along the way and what does success look like after a robot is installed?

The conversation also covers leadership, robotics, and trends in the collaborative robot space. Plus, if you like welding, fabrication (or boats!) then you’re going to love this episode!

In this episode, find out:

• The world of DeAngelo Marine Exhaust
• Explore Hirebotics’ revolutionary robotic solutions
• The journey to automation – overcoming challenges with cobots
• Some of the impacts of cobots in the workplace
• How embracing cobots is a game changer in production
• The impact of cobots on efficiency and innovation
• Industry perspectives – reactions to cobots
• Cobots as creative tools
• Ongoing support and results

Tweetable Quotes:

• “We paid off the cobot within an order. One order! So that was done. Now it's just icing!”
• “The consistent thing is companies are struggling to hire and retain key welders. They’re an aging workforce. You see that all over. Can't find welders, can't meet production, struggle to grow the business.”
• “There is a general fear of automation. It's going to replace my job versus it's going to take the dull, dirty, dangerous stuff away so I can be more creative.”

Links & mentions:

• Hirebotics, fabrication cobot solutions for welders
• DeAngelo Marine Exhaust, marine engine exhaust systems
• YOT Bar & Kitchen, voted Fort Lauderdale best for brunch and outdoor dining
• Edley's Bar-B-Que, Nashville style Bar-B-Que
• Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, hot Chicken Sandwich
• Tootsie’s, live musical performances daily and delicious food
• Connect with Rob on LinkedIn
• Connect with Justin on LinkedIn

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.

Additive manufacturing isn’t exactly a new kid on the block, but are manufacturers using it as much as they could? And are we using it in the right way by teaming it up with automation?

According to Liz Stortstrom, 3D Printing Product Manager at HP, manufacturers are starting to lean into using additive manufacturing with automation – but we could do more to fully realize its potential!

In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Liz gives us a quick overview of her varied career – from engineering to operations, to her Spain-based product management role. She shares her take on why additive manufacturing and automation make the perfect pairing and her predictions for how the industry will develop in the future.

We also hear a little about which industries are leading the way, and how companies can get buy-in from their team and leadership to join in with the success.

In this episode, find out:

• Liz explains her role as a product manager in additive manufacturing
• Liz’s career story and how it began in engineering, moved into operations, and then additive manufacturing
• How she realized that working in operations wasn’t for her and she needed to make a change
• Lessons Liz learned from previous roles that tie into additive manufacturing
• How 3D printing and automation go hand in hand
• Industries that are leading the way in additive manufacturing
• Liz shares her predictions on the future of additive manufacturing
• The best people in a company to talk about 3D printing
• Liz shares her experience of moving her career to Spain and what she’s learned

Tweetable Quotes:

• “Every 3D printing process has some sort of automation inherently involved. Whether that be automating the movement of parts, the digital workflow, or around the quality control process.”
• “A lot of companies need this higher level of agility, right? This higher level of flexibility. And how do you do that with the same old manufacturing methods?”
• “You need a champion, usually an engineer, who is near the design and understands the benefits of additive manufacturing. At the same time, especially if you're a big company, you need someone higher up to say, 'we're going to start using additive manufacturing more.'”

Links & mentions:

• Victoria Bar, a great cocktail bar in Portland, Oregon
• Connect with Liz on LinkedIn

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.

Now, who doesn’t love a good chat about robots? In this episode, we speak with Ryan Gariepy, the CTO of Clearpath Robotics & OTTO Motors, about the future of robotics and how leadership can effectively integrate autonomous equipment and robots into existing operations.

We hear about Ryan’s career in robotics, from his early days to building his two companies, which were recently acquired by Rockwell Automation. Ryan explains how companies, big or small, can start working with robots in different ways to find the best possible applications for them.

Aside from the practical application of robots, we also dig into the ethical considerations that leaders should be aware of – most importantly, the safety of human workers on site. Plus, we also hear how R2-D2 was the inspiration behind Ryan’s love of robots.

In this episode, find out:

• Ryan gives us a brief overview of what Clearpath Robotics does
• We hear the story of how Ryan first developed his love for robots (plus his favorite movie robot)
• Ryan explains why he decided to build his two companies
• The top lesson Ryan learned from his time in the industry
• Ryan’s thoughts on industry adoption of robotics for both small and larger businesses
• How smaller companies can minimize the risks of adopting robotics
• How bigger companies can build robotics adoption into digital transformation plans
• The ethical considerations of deploying robots in existing teams
• How robots have affected the economy in manufacturing in Canada

Tweetable Quotes:

• “If we're going to put our time and money and all sorts of other resources into building new technology, let's do it in areas like agriculture or the basics of healthcare or construction. Let's try not to put robots in the creative spaces.”
• “Robots are one of the few components which are both necessary and sufficient to drive value. Just on their own.”
• “I think it's important for people to learn from existing successful deployments and not try to reinvent the wheel because reinventing the wheel is costly, but when it comes to people's health or wellbeing generally, it opens up corner cases.”

Links & mentions:

• Robotics Summit & Expo, the world's leading robotics development event, taking place in Boston, MA on May 1-2, 2024
• Clearpath Robotics by Rockwell Automation, mobile robots for research & development, enabling researchers and corporations to accelerate their robotics research and development
• OTTO Motors by Rockwell Automation, the most experienced autonomous material handlers in the industry
• Canadian Robotics Council, robotics-fuelled economic development is within Canada's reach, uniting innovation stakeholders from across the country

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.

This episode is all about ‘Made in Missouri’ and was recorded live at the 2024 Midwest Manufacturers Trade Show & Conference. It’s a special episode for host Chris Luecke, because not only did he grow up in Missouri, but also because he is a big fan of the Missouri Association of Manufacturers, which is a group that’s constantly advocating for manufacturing and building a great community of manufacturers in their area.

This episode is a compilation of three different interviews with three very interesting manufacturers from three different parts of Missouri, focusing on what it’s like to manufacture in the Midwest.

Chris speaks to Pavel Bosovik, founder and CEO of 27North, where they make expedition vans and adventure vehicles, Josh Shelton the owner of Etched Nameplate Company as well as Kevin Thompson, CFO turned Leadership Coach at Cambridge Air Solutions, who talks about how to create a culture that makes you the talk of the industry.

For loads of insights, invaluable advice, and an in-depth look at how to leverage others in your manufacturing ecosystem, don’t miss this episode.

In this episode, find out:

• How Pavel industrialized the process of making adventure vans
• His big recommendation for anyone launching a new product or company
• The importance of real-time user feedback and how it sets 27North apart
• The part of their vans that Pavel most loves to tell people about
• Pavel’s vision and dream for the company when he was just starting out
• Why it’s so important to surround yourself with the right people when building a business
• How getting fired was the springboard Josh Shelton needed to start Etched
• What characteristics make someone the right co-founder for your business
• What it’s like being a part of the Midwest manufacturing community
• Why Etched has acquired a new company every year since 2020
• What it means when Cambridge Air Solutions says they’re in the business of enriching lives
• How their morning meetings have made them the talk of the industry
• How manufacturing ambassadors are working to build relationships and enrich the community
• Transitioning from CFO to Leadership Coach and why the company was so ready for it
• What the manufacturing scene is like in St. Louis currently

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 wish there was a secret sauce or I could say, ‘hey, my bachelor's degree helped’. It definitely accelerated the process. It helped me lay the foundation and know the vocabulary. But in any new business or new product that you launch, the processes is the hardest part.”
• “If you want to scale your company from $20 million to $100 million, find $100 million companies. Forget Elon Musk. Find people that are the next step of where you want to be in your journey.”
• “We don't exist to make HVAC equipment. We exist to enrich lives. We happen to enrich lives by making and distributing HVAC equipment.”

Links & mentions:

• Missouri Association of Manufacturers, the only organization dedicated solely to representing the interests of manufacturers in Missouri 
• 27North, helping people experience adventure through custom-built expedition vehicles 

Does personal branding have a place in the manufacturing space? It might be something you associate more with marketing or creative industries, but this week’s guest has seen her personal branding efforts open doors to new and exciting opportunities.

Nikki Gonzales, the Head of Partnerships at Quotebeam and Co-Host of the Automation Ladies podcast (amongst many other projects) joins this episode to talk about personal branding and the importance of trust. Trust is a key theme in this episode, and personal branding can go a long way in building it within your network. But it also comes up when we chat about why companies are sometimes hesitant for employees to work on their personal brands. For Nikki, it’s important that companies trust their employees, like Quotebeam did for her.

We dive into how Nikki has built her brand and network and the benefits she and Quotebeam have experienced as a result. We also talk about Nikki’s background, having moved from Iceland to the UK to Texas, where she learned about the world of tech sales and the importance of networking.

In this episode, find out:

• What Nikki learned growing up in Iceland, moving to the UK and eventually to Houston
• Nikki shares the story of her first sale at her dad’s company
• Why Nikki made the jump to software based on the kind of lifestyle she wanted
• How a long networking relationship led to Nikki getting her role at Quotebeam
• Why Nikki decided to focus more on her personal branding
• How Nikki’s personal branding efforts are also benefitting Quotebeam
• Why companies are hesitant to trust employees working on a personal brand
• Nikki shares how she came to start and co-host the Automation Ladies podcast
• Nikki explains the work Quotebeam does and teases some new developments in the future

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:

• “Network effects are real, and we are a technology business, yes, but the backbone of that is the people."
• “The owner or the leadership team at that organization needs to take a look in the mirror and say, are we fostering the type of culture that's going to result in a positive perception of our company from the folks that work here?
• [On personal branding] “I think getting buy-in is really important. You can go out on your own and do all kinds of stuff. But if you do it completely without discussing it with your employer at all, then you're probably setting yourself up for some sort of conflict down the road.”

Links & mentions:

• Quotebeam, a platform that brings products from many supply chain sources to one place to help customers source their parts without endless searching
• Automation Ladies, join Nikki Gonzales, Ali G, and Courtney Fernandez as they chat with people from all walks of life and all corners of the industrial automation industry
• Process & Controls Engineering, LLC, the Northwest's leading woman-owned control systems integration firm
• Saint Arnold Brewing Company, established craft brewery featuring facility

Innovation is 3M’s bread and butter. As a leading science-based technology company, we wanted to hear more about the stories from people who make all that innovation happen. 

This episode was recorded at 3M’s headquarters in St. Paul Minnesota, where we spoke with three brilliant women from 3M about innovation in STEM, how 3M encourages new ideas and projects and diversity in STEM. Joining this episode are Jayshree Seth, Corporate Scientist, Brittany Moren, Robotic Application Engineer, and Michelle Frumkin, Global Marketing Manager.

They explain how they first entered the world of STEM and what we can do to encourage more from diverse backgrounds to pick STEM as a career path. We also hear about 3M’s 15%-time policy which allows team members to dedicate 15% of their time to work on innovative new projects and experiments. 

In this episode, find out:

• We hear from Brittany what a project engineer at 3M does
• How Michelle, Brittany and Jayshree first got involved in STEM
• How 3M works in the robotics and automation spaces
• Jayshree explains how 3M builds uncommon connections between problems and solutions
• What innovation means and how 3M’s culture of empowerment helps to grow it
• Exciting projects that 3M’s 15%-time policy has helped empower employees to work on
• What we need to do to get more women and girls interested in STEM careers 
• Why lack of diversity is a systemic problem and requires real intentionality to solve it

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're leadership, if you're one of the CEOs, if you're able to continue showcasing the women and everyone in your workforce and the hard work that they do, it really says, okay, I feel like I'm valued here and it makes sense for me to stay and continue.” Michelle
• “I strongly believe in bringing awareness much sooner into people's lives. So I've done a lot of outreach with middle school and high school. A lot of times when I have talked to high schoolers that are maybe like junior seniors, it actually a lot of times feels too late.” Brittany
• “I think role models are important. People want to see representation and that makes them want to aspire to those roles.”

Links & mentions:

• 3M, a science-based technology company that seeks to improve lives with innovative technology. 
• Not the Science Type, a short film showcasing four women who break down the boundaries in STEM.
• Skilled, a docuseries created to showcase diverse and meaningful trade careers.

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.