Hardware Podcasts

The State of Manufacturing: Nebraska, the Midwest, and Beyond with Michael Johnson and Scott Volk

Manufacturing Happy Hour · 5 Jul 2022 · 42m

What this episode covers

Chris Luecke interviews Scott Volk, COO of MetalQuest Unlimited, and Michael Johnson, COO of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, about the state of manufacturing in Nebraska. They discuss the formation of the Manufacturing Alliance to combat workforce shortages and change the industry's image, emphasizing automation and diversity as key strategies for growth in rural areas.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
MetalQuest Unlimited, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Anheuser-Busch, CED
Also
Central Community College

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 47m

    Starting Young: The Next Generation of Manufacturing & Engineering Talent w/ Meaghan Ziemba

    Meaghan Ziemba, host of Mavens of Manufacturing and owner of Z-Ink Solutions, discusses strategies for manufacturers to address the skilled labor shortage by engaging youth and supporting women in the industry. She advocates for partnering with middle and high schools to inspire students, particularly girls, to pursue manufacturing and engineering careers through tours, donations, and curriculum support. Ziemba also highlights the importance of flexible work arrangements, such as remote work and on-site daycare, to retain female employees and parents in the manufacturing sector.

    Hiring & workforceMaker community & events
    7 chapters

  • Lights Out · 52m

    Inside Conexus Indiana: The Industry Network Driving Manufacturing Tech and Talent | Ep. 46

    Bryce Carpenter, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating and Strategy Officer at Conexus Indiana, explains how this industry-led nonprofit facilitates collaboration among 126 manufacturing, logistics, academic, and public sector partners to drive workforce development and technology adoption. He details the evolution of the industry from viewing automation as an enemy to embracing it as a necessity, highlighting a specific case where automating hated palletizing jobs improved retention. The episode also covers the Manufacturing Readiness Grants program, which has supported over 700 small and midsize shops, and success stories like FiberX and Arcamed, illustrating how strategic peer learning and targeted investments accelerate growth.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringScaling production
    10 chapters

  • Additive Snack · 21m

    The Future of Manufacturing — Special IMTS Edition

    Host Fabian Alefeld moderates a panel at the IMTS+ Creators Lounge featuring Scott MacKenzie of Industrial Talk, Meaghan Ziemba of Mavens of Manufacturing, Mitch Free of ZYCI, Charli Matthew of Empowering Industry, and James Soto of Industrial Strength Marketing. The experts discuss how additive manufacturing enhances conventional supply chains while addressing critical industry challenges, including a projected 2 million job gap by 2030. They emphasize that solving skill shortages requires integrating AI and automation, while attracting diverse talent, particularly women, through storytelling and digital engagement. The panel highlights the role of media platforms in reshaping manufacturing's image and fostering collaboration across the industry.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringHiring & workforce
    6 chapters

  • 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 · 27m

    What Today's Manufacturing Workforce Wants w/ Michael Sullivan

    Michael Sullivan, Senior Recruiter at Miller Resource Group, discusses the evolving motivations of the modern manufacturing workforce, emphasizing that candidates now prioritize purpose, impact, and having a voice over salary alone. He highlights the 'awareness gap' regarding manufacturing careers and advocates for stronger industry-education partnerships, such as First Robotics, to combat outdated perceptions. Sullivan also details how labor shortages have accelerated automation adoption, creating new roles in sales and engineering, while advising companies to streamline hiring processes and offer flexible benefits like unlimited PTO to remain competitive.

    Hiring & workforceDirect-to-consumer & e-commerce
    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.