Peace Corps veteran Clay Martin found his calling, and he's now founded company #2 that's focused on helping industry employers find skilled workers who want to come here from Puerto Rico. In case you weren't previously aware, that is a territory of the United States, so the people there can come here with no red tape and no immigration complications. And there are a whole bunch of trained and eager workers wanting to do just that. Clay specializes in playing matchmaker between them and the companies here in the US that need their skills. Here are some of the highlights. Chapters: 00:00 - introduction 06:00 - the nuances that make it work 07:30 - the Puerto Rican economic challenges and effects of Hurricane Maria have made some people there look to the mainland for work 10:00 - no visa needed, no red tape - Clay can get you 12 to 20 workers here in 2-4 weeks 12:30 - Clay helps you deal with flights and housing 17:30 - being available and caring are easy things to say, but Clay believes in delivering 19:30 - Clay is now looking at adding nursing as a skill he recruits for - huge demand here! 21:15 - creating a program - help out as much as needed 23:15 - entrepreneurs: don't overestimate the risk! (Jeff Bezos) 27:30 - overcome your insecurity: connect widely, learn to deal with all different kinds of people There's a whole lot more too! Tune in for the whole thing, especially if you're struggling to recruit for the skills you need for your industrial business. Clay's website for Isla Talent: https://www.recruitingpuertorico.com/

Isaac shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the current state of America's power grids and state and federal energy policies. Tune in for the whole thing! https://youtu.be/2Uc7objMc4s

One half of the Energy Bad Boys came back on the show to discuss our electric grids and the good, the bad, and the ugly about them. Isaac Orr and Mitch Rolling published a Substack last month telling how my home state of Michigan's insane energy policies will likely shut down the last remaining iron mine in the Upper Peninsula, the Tilden mine. Now Isaac is on the show to do a deeper dive into that, the realities for all the states chasing the nonsensical green power dream, and how the Trump administration is trying to help. Here are the highlights. Channels: 00:00 - introduction 02:30 - taking always-on power for granted 04:00 - how the monopoly power generation companies benefit from building new stuff - even if it's ineffective 06:00 - Mitch and Isaac's Substack (link down below) - the rising costs for Michigan's electricity and what that means for the Tilden mine 10:00 - how the promises of the green energy activists about falling costs are untrue, and what the actual rising costs mean for consumers and jobs 12:45 - the problem of urban voters ignoring the needs and realities of largely rural mines, manufacturing, and supply chains 16:00 - the difficulty of getting the general public to understand the need for domestic metals and minerals supply chains 19:30 - the need for low-cost and reliable power for manufacturing and data centers 21:00 - the Trump administration's best moves: undoing Biden's bad stuff 22:00 - reconsidering the Endangerment Finding 29:45 - why "all of the above" is a bad energy answer 30:45 - nuclear 32:30 - the problems with Europe This is a densely packed episode, so it's best to tune in for the whole thing. Here are a couple of helpful links: Mitch and Isaac's Michigan energy disaster Substack: https://energybadboys.substack.com/p/a-michigan-iron-mine-will-pay-15 The Always On Energy Research website: https://www.aoenergy.org/

Chris is a highly experienced recruiter who know his way around! Check out this intro, then tune in to the whole show at the link: https://youtu.be/Sc9KDZJEDXY

Chris is with Global Search Network and is Senior Talent Acquisition Leader for Consumer Packaged Goods North America. So he is right there on the front lines of today's tough recruiting game. Chris joined us to share valuable insights on what he sees every day that can help you no matter what part you're playing: hiring manager, HR, recruiter, or candidate. Here are the highlights: Guest Introduction Chris shares his background, including his initial job at Enterprise Rent-A-Car and his transition to recruitment, emphasizing his preference for the family atmosphere at Global Search Network over corporate life. Challenges and Market Dynamics Chris discusses the importance of acquiring new clients to maintain a steady stream of job opportunities, as his core clients often have consistent needs. He highlights the challenges of a slow market and the necessity of maintaining an active pipeline of both candidates and clients. Chris describes the current job market as having many openings, with clients sometimes being too selective or taking too long in the interview process, leading to candidates accepting other offers. He praises Chobani for having an efficient recruitment process and the ability to expedite decisions when needed, contrasting it with other clients who may take longer. Client Relationships and Recruitment Processes Chris elaborates on the importance of having a supportive and efficient recruitment process, using Chobani as an example of a client with a well-organized system. He mentions the role of coordinators in managing the recruitment process, which helps in expediting decisions and keeping candidates updated. Jim and Chris discuss the benefits of having a supportive and efficient recruitment process, with Chobani being a gold standard in this regard. Chris shares his appreciation for having Chobani as a main client, noting their growth and acquisitions, and expresses a wish for more clients like them. Impact of COVID-19 and Candidate Expectations Chris notes the significant impact of COVID-19 on candidate expectations, particularly the desire for remote or hybrid work arrangements. He observes that newer candidates prefer not to work on the manufacturing floor and often leave jobs quickly for career growth, unlike older generations who valued stability. Chris emphasizes the importance of patience and performance in career growth, advising newer candidates to be patient and produce results before seeking promotions. Jim and Chris discuss the misconception that there is a lack of workforce for manufacturing jobs, with Chris believing that a capable workforce can be found for any job. Workforce Availability and Job Descriptions Chris argues that there is always a workforce available for manufacturing jobs, despite the common narrative that there is a shortage. He believes that if jobs were available in the U.S., the workforce would adapt and fill those roles. Jim and Chris discuss the importance of detailed job descriptions to ensure candidates understand the requirements and fit for the job. Chris shares his experience with remote roles and the challenges of attracting candidates who read the job description carefully, emphasizing the need for clear and accurate job postings. Networking and Job Search Strategies Chris advises job seekers to network on LinkedIn and connect with employees at companies they are interested in, increasing their chances of success. He emphasizes the importance of reading job descriptions carefully and ensuring that candidates meet the requirements before applying. Chris highlights the success of LinkedIn as a job board, noting its dominance over other job boards like CareerBuilder and Monster. Jim and Chris discuss the importance of cutting through the noise of technology and making meaningful connections to stand out in the job search process. Conclusion and Final Thoughts Chris reiterates the importance of persistence and networking in the job search process, advising candidates not to be discouraged by rejections.

Right on cue, all the major media outlets are chiming in on how "manufacturing jobs aren't coming back," with claims that deindustrialization is somehow just a natural and wonderful thing for a wealthy economy. Nonsense. Your host with the most, Jim Vinoski, takes apart the "evidence" for those claims piece by piece, and then points out the elephant in the room: it's over-regulation that has caused the problems, and radical deregulation is needed to revitalize our industrial base. A few highlights: Wealthy countries naturally become service economies: hogwash Manufacturing employment naturally drops as a country modernizes: nope Productivity improvements explain all losses of US manufacturing jobs: uh-uh Tune in for the whole priceless education! Here are my last two Substack articles that I mentioned: https://manufacturingtalks.substack.com/p/major-media-narrative-of-the-day https://manufacturingtalks.substack.com/p/wealthy-nations-become-service-economies

Rory has a stellar career's worth of know-how and insights, and he came guns-a-blazin' to fill us in on everything the wise manufacturing leader, executive, or owner needs to know to compete in today's marketplace. Here are the highlights. Chapters: 00:00 - introduction 03:00 - Rory's first day inside a factory 05:15 - the colossal importance of manufacturing 09:00 - the latest in manufacturing tech and what industry leaders need to know 12:40 - US manufacturers need to stop beating themselves up - we're the world's best innovators and designers 18:00 - the manufacturing workforce numbers shortfall and how we solve it 21:30 - how manufacturing and academia need to work together 26:00 - how to improve worker training and apprenticeship programs 31:45 - electrification and the super-cycle of innovation And oh so much more! This is an information- and solution-rich episode, folks - one of our best ones ever! Tune in for the whole thing. Rory's "Igniting American Manufacturing" podcast: https://dailynewsnetwork.com/topics/shows/igniting-american-manufacturing/

Martha is an economist with the Center of the American Experiment in Minneapolis, and she did a video a few months ago for PragerU about growing up in Malawi and how very different her life was there versus since she came to America for school then work. I saw the video right as I was first starting with my now routine message about how manufacturers have to stop apologizing for what we do. Martha's even more fundamental message about how much we take for granted and how different people's circumstances are based on economic systems and basic freedoms really struck a nerve with me. So I invited her to deliver that message here on my show as well. Here are the highlights. Chapters: 00:00 - introduction 02:00 - Martha's childhood in Malawi 03:45 - her initial plan to go back home and work for the government 06:00 - why freedom and prosperity go hand in hand 08:45 - why blaming businesses for inequality is wrong 12:20 - how Malawi had less inequality - because almost everybody was poor 16:00 - the economics of plenty - Adam Smith's passage about self-interest 17:35 - the differences between starting a business in Malawi versus the US 20:50 - the differences that property rights bring 24:00 - service provision: private sector versus government 26:00 - Martha's current work in Minnesota This one is so important. Too many people in the Western world have bought into the falsehoods about the evils of capitalism and the wonders of collectivism. Martha brings not theories, but real-world distinctions between the two systems and her own experiences living under each. Her message is a powerful one. Tune in and take in the whole thing.

For Episode 150, we wanted something really meaningful. Dan Meyer brought it. Say you're in manufacturing and you can't find enough people to do the jobs you need done on your factory floor. (Sound familiar?) Here's a thought: there is a whole class of people who are desperate for jobs, but because of a past bad decision, they're locked out of the very things they need to turn their lives around, with gainful employment being the biggest hurdle. Want to give them a chance? Then tune in and hear just how to do it and why it's so important from one of the very first activists for second-chance hiring, Dan, who is founder and CEO of Nehemiah Manufacturing Company in Cincinnati. Dan covers just how he was inspired to hire the formerly incarcerated, his early challenges and how he overcame them, and what second chance hiring does for people, businesses, and the community. Here are the highlights. Chapters: 00:00 - introduction 01:45 - Dan's corporate background with P&G, Pepsico, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, and his founding of his first company, Changing Paradigms 03:00 - selling that company and founding Nehemiah Manufacturing 06:30 - challenged to hire a felon: did it, but after the first few, started losing them 07:30 - hiring a social worker to solve that problem 09:30 - Nehemiah's pillars, including building community, affordable housing, and legal support 13:45 - now have 170 second-chance employees, with turnover of 15% 18:20 - getting other companies to buy in, including Kroger 21:00 - "people don't change" - why that's a myth 23:30 - educational help and Nehemiah U 25:00 - addressing fears of liability or violence - not a problem 28:00 - if you need more info, reach out to Dan There is much, much more, and every bit of it is critical. Tune in and check it all out!

Episode 149 features longtime leader from the Department of Energy and now CEO of CURIO Ed McGinnis talking about safely and profitably reprocessing all the "waste" nuclear fuel we have collecting at our many nuclear reactor sites across the country. It turns out most of it can be made into new fuel, and what remains - 3-4% - can be safely disposed of in boreholes. Ed tells us all that and how the reprocessed fuel not only makes new fuel, but also much-needed isotopes and rare metals as well, and as a result the CURIO process can be very profitable. Here are the highlights. Chapters: 00:00 - introduction 01:15 - Ed's thirty years with the DOE 05:15 - the public's understanding of nuclear energy 11:00 - President Carter's ban on nuclear waste reprocessing 14:30 - the CURIO opportunities 15:45 - the problem with PUREX, the old method of reprocessing: it makes weapons-grade plutonium 17:30 - oh, and it uses nitric acid 19:15 - one person's waste is another person's treasure 20:45 - CURIO's way to reduce waste to a 3-4% remnant 22:15 - storage requirements for the remnant 23:30 - isotopes and metals extraction 27:00 - CURIO provides two types of fuel: uranium and proliferation-safe plutonium 33:00 - using the uranium in existing reactors 35:30 - 2-3 scale-ups for CURIO, and full commercialization by 2035 37:00 - using the SpaceX model There is a whole whale of a lot of detail to all this, so please do tune in for the whole discussion. This is a vital topic for our skyrocketing energy needs and protecting the environment. Subscribe, please - and like and comment too! Share it with your friends.

Tony Demakis is one of those sons of a manufacturing-related business owner who didn't want to take over from his dad. Until he did. Now he runs Alliance Specialties/Alliance Laser Sales, and has great insights on how to succeed in our corner of the business world and how to build a great team. He's also a fellow manufacturing show host, with his Manufacturing Alliance Podcast. So it was great fun hearing his takes on everything from how he landed back in the family trade to his faith to his vision for leadership both inside and outside of work. Here are the highlights. Chapters: 00:00 - introduction 02:45 - did not like his dad's shop 04:00 - how he came back to work for his father 06:15 - how he started his podcast 07:15 - an early partnership with Bales Metal Surface Solutions 10:00 - what Alliance does 12:00 - how to build great people 15:00 - talking faith 20:15 - American-made 27:45 - looking to the past for what's needed now 31:45 - business is back! 32:45 - the strong survive 34:45 - tell your story! And there's plenty more where that came from! Tune in and check out the whole thing. Share it with your friends! Follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe and sign up for alerts for future shows! A couple of helpful links: Alliance Specialties/Alliance Laser Sales: https://alliancelasersales.com/ The Manufacturing Alliance podcast: https://alliancelasersales.com/tmfgalliance/ The book I mentioned in our discussion, *Freedom's Forge:* https://tinyurl.com/sr7sp3k7

It's another stellar multi-generation family business: Malco Products in northeast Ohio, where they make the very best stuff folks use for auto detailing. Company president Seth Glauberman joined us for Episode 147 to tell us all about the company history, how he landed in the family business, and what's hot for the company these days. Here are the highlights. Chapters: 00:00 - introduction 04:00 - how Seth would up joining the business 05:15 - Malco and what they do: specialty chemicals 10:30 - taking the company to the next level 15:30 - the amazing amounts of talent available in the Rust Belt 21:00 - a global company's challenges: tariffs, etc. 24:30 - we talk bicycling! 26:30 - rebranding 28:00 - Malco needs a sales guy! 29:00 - Malco's Quality Improvement Teams and what they've accomplished There's a whole lot more, too. Tune in for the whole thing! Do add your comments or questions, and please like and subscribe. Follow us on LinkedIn and share this one with your friends!

If you're looking for a great example of real-world results that using AI in the manufacturing realm can bring, you definitely want to hear this discussion with Chris Kuntz. He's the VP of Strategic Operations at Augmentir, provider of AI-based connected worker software. He covered how Augie, the company's generative AI assistant for industrial work, can make things better in a number of ways for your frontline employees, their supervisors and managers, and your whole operation. Here are some highlights. Chapters: 00:00 - intro 02:30 - the founding of Augmentir by guys who brought us Wonderware and Thingworks, and who discovered their next tech task to tackle was workforce challenges 05:00 - work process automation 08:15 - the launch of Augie, the work assistant 11:45 - how Augie presents solutions in a way to make work safer and more efficient 16:30 - skill level versus experience level 20:00 - an example of how Augie works with operators: autonomous maintenance 23:30 - worker pushback about spying or monitoring? Not a problem 27:30 - integrating workers' tacit knowledge 29:40 - how we're still just in the beginning of what's possible This was a really rich discussion, so there's a whole lot more in there. Tune in for the whole thing, and please add your questions or comments so we can get you any additional information you're looking for. Also, if you like this, please subscribe here and follow us on LinkedIn, and shar this with your friends too!

Lots of manufacturers, especially those with small and medium-sized businesses, take a "it'll be fine" approach to their IT. Since it's not necessarily central to the business, it's easy for owners and managers to put off dealing with it or just leave to the same folks who've always handled it for them. Jeff Borello, co-owner and CEO of Andromeda Technology outside Chicago, says that's exactly the wrong thing to do. Jeff joined us for Episode 145 to chat about why IT is more and more critical to the business of manufacturing. Below are some of the highlights. Chapters: 00:00 - introduction 03:00 - where the name Andromeda Technology came from (IYKYK) 05:30 - the critical nature of cybersecurity and multifactor authentification 08:15 - the incredible potential cost of a cybersecurity incident, and why you need an insurance policy that covers them 11:00 - why it's vital to have the right IT team, whether internal or external 14:45 - business process automation 18:30 - how to create a strategic advantage with your IT approach 22:40 - AI: Jeff says be careful with Copilot in Office 365! 25:00 - how Andromeda Technology differentiates itself And there's oh so much more! Definitely check the whole thing out - it's a truly crucial subject you don't want to miss. If you want to learn more about Jeff's company: https://www.andromeda-tech-solutions.com/

Are you curious about how manufacturers can keep up with the rapid advancements of the digital age? Join us as we chat from afar with Australian John Broadbent, the visionary behind Realise Potential. John shares many insights into the evolution of Industry 4.0, from the early days of PLCs and automation to today's AI-driven innovations, but you may be surprised as his recommendations for the best path forward for manufacturing leaders seeking to future-proof their operations. Through our conversation, you'll uncover the essential steps in implementing Industry 4.0, starting with the foundational task of connecting equipment and gathering data. We tackle the challenges organizations face when diving headfirst into AI without a robust data foundation, and explore how incremental improvements can drastically enhance operational efficiency. John shares real-world examples, like reducing packaging errors, to illustrate the tangible benefits of integrating data-driven insights into everyday processes. We also confront the hurdles operational leaders encounter in championing innovation, particularly when met with resistance from higher management. Shifting gears, we delve into the leadership dynamics within the manufacturing sector, emphasizing the transition from proof of concept to proof of value. John discusses the pressing need for strategic leadership and long-term planning, contrasting it with the short-term mindset often driven by the corporate or private equity mindsets. Finally, we explore John's personal advocacy work, especially his commitment to supporting men, whether in dealing with midlife struggles or needing to foster deeper connections. His journey of personal growth and dedication to service is both inspiring and a call to action for others in the industry. Don't miss this insightful episode with a leading figure in manufacturing transformation. Chapters: 00:00 - introduction 13:45 - unlocking the advantages of Industry 4.0 with digital transformation, whether through factory digitalization or work process automation 19:41 - challenges in manufacturing leadership and strategy 29:08 - empowering men through advocacy, service, and connection John's book site: https://manunplugged.com.au/ Realise Potential website: https://realisepotential.com.au/