Mastering Operational Excellence and Customer Partnerships in EMS with Worthington Assembly CTO Chris Denney

EMS@C-LEVEL · 14 Apr 2024 · 12m

What this episode covers

Chris Denney, CTO of Worthington Assembly, a small New England contract manufacturer, discusses the importance of technical excellence and skilled staff in attracting long-term customer partnerships, particularly in the medical device sector. He explains how the company helps clients improve manufacturability and manage supply chain obsolescence, while highlighting the critical need for automation to address labor shortages in the region. Denney also shares insights on the current state of AI in manufacturing, noting its potential in software tools like AOI and SPI, and promotes his podcast, Pick, Place, Podcast, as a training resource for engineers.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 42m

    BONUS: Gaps in the Manufacturing Industry (and what to do about them), LIVE from Fathom's Manufacturing Exchange in Hartland, WI

    Chris Luecke moderates a live panel at Fathom Digital Manufacturing's Hartland, WI facility, featuring Matt Weinheimer of Milwaukee Tool, Tim Fredericks of Rockwell Automation, Christine Vandergeist of AMI Metal Fabrication, and Carl Held of New Berlin Plastics. The discussion addresses critical gaps in manufacturing, including technology adoption barriers, talent retention strategies, and supply chain resilience. The panelists emphasize starting with specific problems rather than solutions, engaging shop-floor employees in change management, and building robust data strategies to support AI and automation initiatives.

  • The Next Byte Podcast · 59m

    248. Xometry’s Oscar Lovera & How AI Is Rebuilding Manufacturing

    Oscar Lovera, COO at Xometry, explains how the AI-powered manufacturing marketplace is digitizing the sourcing of custom parts by integrating design, quoting, and manufacturability feedback into a single workflow. He discusses the shift from traditional, disconnected RFQ processes to instant, scalable matching between engineers and a global network of manufacturers, including CNC, 3D printing, and injection molding partners. Lovera emphasizes that while AI automates repetitive tasks, human expertise remains critical for complex problem-solving, trust-building, and ensuring operational excellence, arguing that strong processes matter more than flashy equipment. He also shares his perspective on supply chain resilience, advocating for global flexibility over local sourcing and highlighting the importance of intentional career choices for future engineers.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 49m

    287: The Art of Precision Manufacturing: Why Humans Still Matter on the Factory Floor | Live from The Manufacturing Exchange in Rochester, NY (Powered by Fathom)

    Matthew Bradley, Program Director at Moog Inc., explains how his team is building a new 150,000-square-foot machine shop to address staffing shortages and flow issues by automating lower-skilled work while preserving human intuition for precision tasks like servo valve assembly. James Greer, Lead Sourcing Rep at X-Bow Systems, discusses evaluating suppliers across the US, noting that shop culture and owner investment in people are critical for retaining talent, particularly in regions like Upstate New York, Alabama, and Oregon. Chris Brown, SVP of Sales at Fathom Digital Manufacturing, argues that automation adds value only where processes are repeatable, emphasizing that novel problems require human problem-solving and that supportive culture is essential to prevent turnover among young machinists.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 41m

    298: Exploring Massachusetts' Aerospace & Defense Industry, LIVE in Canton, MA

    Megan Glidden of Web Industries, Michael Tamasi of AccuRounds, and Joe McCadden of Globe Composite Solutions discuss the strategic advantages of Massachusetts' aerospace and defense manufacturing ecosystem. The panel highlights the critical workforce shortage in the submarine industrial base, which requires 100,000 people over the next decade, and explores local talent pipelines including the uniquely able academy for adults on the autism spectrum and trade school partnerships. They also cover Web Industries' employee ownership model, which drives retention and continuous improvement, and AccuRounds' use of state grants to fund automation and digital transformation.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 34m

    An Interview with Chris Denney

    Chris Denney, CTO of Worthington Assembly, discusses the evolution of US contract manufacturing, contrasting the manual, low-volume shops of the past with modern, highly automated facilities. He details the partnership with CircuitHub, which uses native EDA files and APIs to automate quoting and data normalization, drastically reducing the time engineers wait for prices. Denney also provides specific design-for-manufacturing advice, such as avoiding double-sided assembly for heavy components and verifying footprints to prevent assembly errors.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by EMS@C-LEVEL. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.