The Manufacturing Executive – Details, episodes & analysis

Abby Smith, President and CEO of Team Pennsylvania, has figured out how to bring together the public and private sectors to move manufacturing forward in her state. She'll talk about exactly what they're doing and how they're doing it. My hope is that some of you listening today will walk away feeling inspired and triggered with ideas for what similar things might be possible in your own region.

When you're leading a manufacturing organization that's thriving (or even growing bit by bit), somewhere along the way you're likely to run into a problem you can't ignore. And that is: We're out of space. In this conversation, Alex Garland and Christopher Yows from Burns & McDonnell will talk about the different layers of complexity involved with manufacturing facility expansions and what you should be thinking about if you know an expansion may be on the horizon for your business. They'll dive into everything from location, incentives and space planning to risk mitigation, automation and labor.

Warehouse management systems. What exactly are they? What's different from the features in your ERP? Or your MES? Who truly needs a warehouse management system? When do you know you'll be ready for one? And how do you choose the right one for you? CEO of Fullstride, Casey Winans, is here to answer all of these questions and more.

Creating an online community can be challenging and far-fetched for many. When it’s done correctly, it can foster communication in a way that creates a feedback loop between you and your customers.  
Joining today are two of Gorilla 76's own strategists, Brendon Forrest and Peyton Warren. In this episode, Brendon and Peyton explain how to apply an online community to a business setting.  
Join us as we discuss:
What an online community is
Examples of thriving online communities in the manufacturing sector
Why creating value must take precedence over pushing products in these settings
What might motivate a manufacturing leader to facilitate an online community  


Additional Resources:
Industrial Marketing Live, an ongoing webinar series designed specifically for marketers in the manufacturing sector

Although the physical labor Boomers can provide in the manufacturing workforce has diminished, we cannot ignore the expertise and knowledge they bring to the table with years of experience in this industry.  
Will Healy III is a founding board member of the Advance Manufacturing Industry Partnership (AMIP), whose mission is to connect manufacturers, educators, and workforce partners to evangelize the positive outcomes of manufacturing careers. Will has more than 16 years of experience in various discrete production industries, including assembly, food and beverage packaging, welding and stamping. In this episode, Will talks about how to retain Boomers in the workforce.  
Join us as we discuss:
Why we should invest in people-centric technology 
How can we keep our Boomers around and empower them 
The importance of diversity in the manufacturing workforce
What actions Will would like to see the manufacturing sector take to shine a light on the great things happening in the space

The narrative around robotics, automation, and industry 4.0 technology are that these technologies are out of reach and require overwhelming investments and change to company infrastructure, but with advancements in technology across the manufacturing sector, this narrative is changing quickly.   
Fady Saad and Mark Martin are General Partners at Cybernetix, a venture capital firm leading the way for investment into early-stage robotics, automation, and AI startups. Fady is also the Co-Founder of MassRobotics, the world's first and largest robotics & AI startup escalator. He led the multi-million dollar fundraising for the organization and architected MassRobotics' corporate partnership program and business model.  
Mark has 25+ years of executive tech leadership spanning industrial, healthcare, automotive, and consumer industries. A former VP of Analog Devices Industrial Automation, Sensors, and IoT division leading a $1B+ business, Mark led multiple acquisitions, strategic investments, and scaled new business ventures. 
In this episode, Fady and Mark break down all of the transformational technology changes that are affecting manufacturing right now.  
Join us as we discuss:
Some of the transformational technologies that are happening in manufacturing right now 
What it takes to get past the fear of change to make or invest in something new 
Mark and Fady's perspective on automation in manufacturing not being an option, but a necessity 
How the current economic climate will affect manufacturing in the near future

It is easy to do the same thing repeatedly, but there is no better time than now to start thinking differently as a manufacturing leader.  
Nikki Gonzales is the Head of Partnerships for Quotebeam, a collaborative marketplace and workflow platform for the industrial automation industry. She helps buyers cut their sourcing time from weeks to days by building partner relationships with distributors and manufacturers in the space. Nikki is also the host of the Automation Ladies podcast, where girls talk about industrial automation. In this episode, Nikki offers her perspective on how manufacturing leaders can begin to shift their mindset.  
Join us as we discuss:
How the Automation Ladies Podcast came to be
Why is manufacturing such a male dominated industry and what needs to happen for that to change
 What is Quotebeam, why it’s important, and what are some of the unique challenges that come with working in a startup
Nikki’s perspective on the supply chain crisis and where it is headed

When someone says “made in America,” it has always been said with a sense of pride. It is a term that has traditionally been associated with quality and reliability. But what does “made in America” mean, and do the benefits of keeping things stateside outweigh offshoring operations? 
In 2013, Brandon Acker purchased Titan Abrasive Systems after spending five years learning the ins and outs of the business. As President of Titan Abrasive, Brandon oversees the design and manufacturing of the company's complete line of blast room and blast Machine Products for industrial applications. In this episode, Brandon talks about what being "made in America" means and the benefits of sourcing components that are made in the USA.  
Join us as we discuss:
The advantages of being fully made in America as a manufacturing operation
What's happening at the US government level to help manufacturers bring manufacturing back to the US
What happened to the manufacturing workforce after the pandemic
Brandon's advice for manufacturers wanting to become a made-in-America business

Innovative organizations have figured out that employee engagement highly depends on the employer-employee experience you provide inside your organization. The changes that covid has brought to the workplace over the last two years have affected the experience businesses can provide to their employees. 
Julie Jeannotte is the Employee Engagement Expert & Senior Researcher at OfficeVibe. With over 15 years of experience in the HR industry, Julie is an expert at helping organizations understand the value of placing their people at the heart of their strategy. Julie's background and experience have given her the ability to know what it takes to build high-performing teams with a people-first approach.  
Join us as we discuss:
How Julie began her journey in the HR industry
The core functions of her company’s employee engagement software, OfficeVibe
Why employee engagement is essential in creating great work environments

Ongoing learning and professional development are necessary for anyone who wants to stay ahead of the curve. And this episode’s guest has constructed his business around this exact idea. 
Tim Wilborne is the owner of TW Controls with his wife, Amber. Tim began working in a machine shop at the age of 12 and eventually found his way into industrial controls. While his wife was eight months pregnant, they started TW Controls with the primary goal of helping you become a better technician. Tim brings us great insights into how he began his journey and why it’s never too late to get started. 
Join us as we discuss:
Tim’s foray into the world of industrial controls 
The common misconception about automation
Why ongoing learning is so critical