# S6E36 Tessa Axsom | Casting, Metallurgy, & Finishing with Fictiv

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2025-09-05
- Length: 42m
- Episode: 36
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-09-05-s6e36-tessa-axsom-casting-metallurgy-finishing-with-fictiv

## Summary

Tessa Axsom, Product Marketing Manager for CNC at Fictiv, discusses how the company leverages AI and human expertise to simplify sourcing for clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500s. She details Fictiv's expansion into casting and assembly, highlighting specific DFM improvements like 70% cost reductions through part consolidation and 30% weight savings via die casting. Axsom also emphasizes the importance of metallurgy, material science, and soft skills like storytelling and humility for engineering career growth.

## Chapters

- [0:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-09-05-s6e36-tessa-axsom-casting-metallurgy-finishing-with-fictiv#t=13) Introduction: Tessa Axsom and Fictiv Overview
- [3:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-09-05-s6e36-tessa-axsom-casting-metallurgy-finishing-with-fictiv#t=195) Fictiv's Capabilities: Assembly, Testing, and Global Presence
- [8:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-09-05-s6e36-tessa-axsom-casting-metallurgy-finishing-with-fictiv#t=534) Expanding into Casting and Die Casting for Weight/Cost Reduction
- [11:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-09-05-s6e36-tessa-axsom-casting-metallurgy-finishing-with-fictiv#t=715) Axsom's Background: From Aerospace to Product Marketing
- [15:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-09-05-s6e36-tessa-axsom-casting-metallurgy-finishing-with-fictiv#t=919) Soft Skills: Humility, Storytelling, and Confidence
- [22:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-09-05-s6e36-tessa-axsom-casting-metallurgy-finishing-with-fictiv#t=1352) DFM Trends: Over-tolerancing and Machining Limitations
- [28:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-09-05-s6e36-tessa-axsom-casting-metallurgy-finishing-with-fictiv#t=1700) Fictiv's AI: Materials Selection and DFM Feedback
- [32:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-09-05-s6e36-tessa-axsom-casting-metallurgy-finishing-with-fictiv#t=1938) Case Studies: Climate Tech and Med Tech Cost Savings
- [35:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-09-05-s6e36-tessa-axsom-casting-metallurgy-finishing-with-fictiv#t=2137) Career Advice: Developing People Skills and Material Science

## Topics

- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Fictiv (company)
- Misumi (company)
- 6061 aluminum (material)
- C101 copper (material)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [248. Xometry’s Oscar Lovera & How AI Is Rebuilding Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-07-14-248-xometrys-oscar-lovera-how-ai-is-rebuilding-manufacturing) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Additive Manufacturing, Then & Now: A Conversation with Alex Oster, Autodesk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2025-06-17-additive-manufacturing-then-now-a-conversation-with-alex-oster-autodesk) (Additive Snack)
- [How Protolabs turns CAD files into parts in under 24 hours](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-08-14-how-protolabs-turns-cad-files-into-parts-in-under-24-hours) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [A New Era of Design Engineering Productivity w/ Hugo Nordell](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-01-02-a-new-era-of-design-engineering-productivity-w-hugo-nordell) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [203: Design for Manufacturing for a New Invention Product](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-11-24-203-design-for-manufacturing-for-a-new-invention-product) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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