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

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2024-04-14
- Length: 12m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-04-14-mastering-operational-excellence-and-customer-partnerships-in-ems-with-worthingt

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-04-14-mastering-operational-excellence-and-customer-partnerships-in-ems-with-worthingt#t=8) Introduction to Worthington Assembly and Technical Excellence
- [1:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-04-14-mastering-operational-excellence-and-customer-partnerships-in-ems-with-worthingt#t=62) Customer Relationships and Design Phase Involvement
- [4:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-04-14-mastering-operational-excellence-and-customer-partnerships-in-ems-with-worthingt#t=283) Supply Chain Challenges and Obsolescence Management
- [5:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-04-14-mastering-operational-excellence-and-customer-partnerships-in-ems-with-worthingt#t=342) Labor Shortages and the Drive for Automation
- [8:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-04-14-mastering-operational-excellence-and-customer-partnerships-in-ems-with-worthingt#t=498) AI Applications in Manufacturing and Inspection
- [10:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-04-14-mastering-operational-excellence-and-customer-partnerships-in-ems-with-worthingt#t=620) Pick, Place, Podcast as an Educational Tool

## Topics

- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Worthington Assembly (company)
- Pick, Place, Podcast (other)
- Koh Young (company)
- APEX (other)
- IPC (other)
- John Mitchell (other)
- dr John W Mitchell (other)
- AOI (tool)
- SPI (tool)
- SMT (tool)
- CoYoung (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [BONUS: Gaps in the Manufacturing Industry (and what to do about them), LIVE from Fathom's Manufacturing Exchange in Hartland, WI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-11-07-bonus-gaps-in-the-manufacturing-industry-and-what-to-do-about-them-live-from-fat) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [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)
- [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)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-05-12-287-the-art-of-precision-manufacturing-why-humans-still-matter-on-the-factory-fl) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [298: Exploring Massachusetts' Aerospace & Defense Industry, LIVE in Canton, MA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-08-11-298-exploring-massachusetts-aerospace-defense-industry-live-in-canton-ma) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [An Interview with Chris Denney](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-10-15-an-interview-with-chris-denney) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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