Manufacturing Happy Hour

What makes second-chance hiring a success? Dignity and respect. Here, the President of JBM Packaging, Marcus Sheanshang, chats with Chris about the value of camaraderie, respect, and having fun in second-chance hiring. Listen to episode 278 on our website for more.

A concert venue and a video company walk into a podcast. In episode 279 with Coate & Michael O’Sullivan, we speak on creativity, constraints & the relationships that build businesses that last. In this special live edition of the podcast, we’re on stage at The Argo for our first live show of 2026. Tune in on our website.

Legacy fabs can't start from scratch like digital fabs can. Anuj Mahendru shares how solving the workforce challenge also solves the workflow challenge, and why legacy fabs need creative solutions to keep up. This is the first of two parts, episode 271 out now on our website.

Manufacturing is one of the best-kept career secrets in the U.S. And that’s exactly the problem. In episode 277, Russ Bukowski from Mastercam explains why manufacturing is one of the most compelling modern career paths. Listen to the podcast on our website.

Previous experience of my newest 12 manufacturing hires: - donut shop worker - accounting assistant - elderly caregiver - janitor - bartender - AI data analyst - call center rep - nurse at the VA - associate at Dollar Tree - hospitality associate (?) - school custodian - graphic designer I'm asked all the time about "how will manufacturers find skilled labor as we scale and reshore" and the answer is we have to create it ourselves. Relying on someone else (a school, the government) to create skilled labor for you means you're gonna be waiting a while. Just do it yourself. On-the-job training is the only way I've ever known how to hire. I think I was really lucky to come from a small town where OJT was common, and often the only way to learn how to do something. We have a 19 year old running a $1M Matsuura MAM, and a 70 year old running another machine next to him. Both produce great parts. The labor supply is endless if you are willing to put in the effort.

Applications from candidates with a felony record are usually rejected. But often they deserve a second chance. Tune into Chris’ conversation with JBM Packaging’s Marcus Sheanshang to learn more about second-chance hiring in manufacturing. Catch episode 278 on our website.

“Everyone’s voice matters” only works if you know whose voice matters when. This clip breaks down why having the right people, in the right room, at the right time can be absolutely invaluable. Catch episode 270 on the website

Phones. Homes. Cars. We already use technology to control everything around us. Robotics and automation are simply the industrial version of that same transformation. Alex Shikany, EVP of A3, explains why framing it that way changes everything in episode 276. Listen on our website.

AI in manufacturing doesn’t replace workers, it makes them 10x more productive. In episode 277, Chris sits down with Russ Bukowski to discuss bridging the knowledge gap and how Mastercam’s AI co-pilots are compressing years of training into months. Listen on our website.

Automation downtime hits differently when a movie set is standing by. Andy shares a Black Adam story that highlights why adaptability matters as much as performance, especially when you’re dealing with The Rock. Listen to episode 269 in full on the website.

Most people assume venture capital is the only way to build a manufacturing business. Andrew Johnson, co-founder of HeavyTech, explains why he turned down VC funding and chose to crowdfund instead. Catch episode 275 on our website.

In 2025, business confidence hit pandemic lows. Manufacturers delayed billions because anxiety, not data, drove business decisions. In episode 276, Chris sits down with a panel of experts to discuss what to do about it. Listen on our website.

Every region has assets. Fewer know how to activate them. In this clip, Grady Buchanan talks about why belief inside a regional ecosystem matters, and how existing factories, talent, and technology can be repurposed rather than replaced. Hear the full conversation in episode 268 on our website.

Loan guarantees. Tax credits. Funding. These are the things local manufacturing needs to bring processing to U.S. soil. Check out episode 274 on our website to hear what Representative Stevens plans to do about it.

Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Look at what’s already working even in an adjacent sector. That’s exactly where Andrew Johnson, co-founder of HeavyTech, found his business idea that’s set to disrupt construction and farm equipment. Listen to the full episode 275 on our website.

There’s a lot of fear around digital transformation, but what if the story is more hopeful? Kathy Miller breaks it down in episode 267 on our website.

Ever seen a podcast with a mid-interview rocket launch? Episode 273 with Ken Rasmussen, Operations Director at Imerys West Hub, was recorded during a SpaceX launch next door. Yes, really. Catch the full episode on our website.

Posting our Super Bowl ad here, it’s way cheaper

Would your factory look different if you built it from scratch today? David Duecker of SynergyOps shares how they balance improving existing equipment with investing for the fifth, sixth, and seventh generation. Catch the full conversation in episode 266 on our website.

Manufacturers can see entire factories in empty space. Ask about the money, and it gets...difficult. It’s a blind spot a lot of the industry shares. Check out episode 272 with Chris Hale, co-founder and CEO at Klear, out now on our website.