Hardware Podcasts

Hire Diverse Talent or Risk Going Out of Business Featuring Equity Machine Works Founder Justin Sherman

Manufacturing Happy Hour · 7 Dec 2021 · 47m

What this episode covers

Justin Sherman, founder of Equity Machine Works, explains why manufacturing companies risk going out of business by failing to hire diverse talent, citing a shrinking labor pool and a 95% male demographic in skilled roles like machining. He details his journey from a CNC machinist to launching a social enterprise that provides subsidized support (housing, food, transport) and registered apprenticeships for disadvantaged populations. Sherman argues that shifting from command-and-control leadership to person-centric, hybrid work models is essential to attract Gen Z and diverse candidates, noting that diverse companies show up to 35% better performance.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Equity Machine Works, Orion Industries, Skills Inc., Pioneer Industries, KLW Manufacturing and Design, Intellectual Ventures, Concept Systems
Also
Hiring for Diversity, Arthur Woods, Quinn's Pub

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 58m

    Diversity in the Manufacturing Sector w/ Andrew Crowe and Justin Sherman

    Andrew Crowe, founder of the Elevate Institute of Advanced Manufacturing, and Justin Sherman, founder of Equity Machine Works, discuss how manufacturing companies can address the skilled labor gap by prioritizing diversity and inclusion. They argue that the industry's traditional, 'old school' culture and lack of representation are driving away younger and diverse talent, while also highlighting the financial benefits of diverse teams. The guests provide actionable advice for shop owners, such as offering housing assistance, modernizing digital presence, and adopting servant leadership to attract and retain workers.

    Hiring & workforceLeadership, teams & culture
    6 chapters

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 42m

    The Real Reason Manufacturers Are Missing with Gen Z w/ Jacob Sanchez

    Jacob Sanchez, a Gen Z advocate for manufacturing and founder of MFGKids.com, explains why industrial companies are failing to recruit young talent by ignoring existing pools of interest like FIRST Robotics. He argues that manufacturers must move beyond passive visibility to active engagement, offering autonomy and clear growth paths to retain Gen Z workers who often leave due to poor onboarding or toxic environments. Sanchez also details his new platform, MFGKids.com, designed to centralize resources and curriculum for automation and CNC machining, while emphasizing the importance of personal branding and mental health awareness for career longevity.

    Hiring & workforceIndustrial & consumer product design
    8 chapters

  • The Manufacturing Executive

    Finding Manufacturing’s Invisible Workforce w/ Simba Jonga

    Simba Jonga, founder and CEO of Laborup, explains how his AI-powered platform addresses the manufacturing labor gap by making the 'invisible' blue-collar workforce searchable through voice-based AI screening rather than traditional resumes. He argues that the shortage is a liquidity issue, where skilled workers like machinists and welders are hidden because they lack digital profiles or computer access. Jonga details how Laborup uses conversational AI to build rich candidate profiles and discusses the industry's shift toward hiring 'hybrid technicians' with blended skills to solve immediate staffing shortages.

    Hiring & workforceAI & machine learning
    8 chapters

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 36m

    A New Generation of Craftsmen with Character w/ Dave Hataj

    Dave Hataj, founder of Craftsman with Character and president of Egerton Gear, explains how his pre-apprenticeship program addresses the manufacturing labor crisis by pairing high school students with mentors to build character and technical skills. The initiative, which has secured a $2 million, three-year agreement with the U.S. Navy to scale nationally, focuses on hiring for character and integrity to transform shop floor culture and reduce turnover. Hataj details the program's success in turning around at-risk students and creating a pipeline of loyal, skilled workers for suppliers in the submarine industrial base.

    Hiring & workforceLeadership, teams & culture
    8 chapters

  • EMS@C-LEVEL · 14m

    EMS@C Panel: Navigating the Resurgence of European Manufacturing, New Challenges, and Opportunities with KATEK Group and Zollner

    Dr. Marc Achhammer of KATEK Group and Xaver Feiner of Zollner discuss the talent constraints facing European manufacturing and strategies to attract younger, diverse workers. They highlight the need to promote the industry's appeal by showcasing complex projects in aerospace and medical fields, while also addressing gender diversity and retaining older workers. The panelists emphasize that automation and AI are essential for growth, requiring EMS providers to bridge the gap between equipment suppliers and customers to drive digital transformation.

    Hiring & workforceAI & machine learning
    8 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Manufacturing Happy Hour. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.