# 193: Discussing the Skills Gap over a Beer: Live from Founders Brewing in Grand Rapids, MI (Powered by SwipeGuide)

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2024-07-09
- Length: 49m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-07-09-193-discussing-the-skills-gap-over-a-beer-live-from-founders-brewing-in-grand-ra
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Ann Wyatt of Ann Wyatt Recruiting, Ryan Lillibridge of Mission Design & Automation, and Willemijn Schneyder, CEO of SwipeGuide, discuss strategies to close the manufacturing skills gap. They argue that companies must lower barriers to entry by prioritizing attitude and aptitude over rigid degree requirements and extensive experience. The panel emphasizes that technology, such as SwipeGuide, acts as a catalyst to capture frontline knowledge and facilitate upskilling, but only when paired with a supportive culture that values the existing workforce.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-07-09-193-discussing-the-skills-gap-over-a-beer-live-from-founders-brewing-in-grand-ra#t=0) Introduction: Panelists and the Skills Gap Context
- [5:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-07-09-193-discussing-the-skills-gap-over-a-beer-live-from-founders-brewing-in-grand-ra#t=352) Panelist Introductions: SwipeGuide, Mission Design, and Ann Wyatt Recruiting
- [9:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-07-09-193-discussing-the-skills-gap-over-a-beer-live-from-founders-brewing-in-grand-ra#t=558) The Changing Stigma of Skilled Trade Jobs
- [12:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-07-09-193-discussing-the-skills-gap-over-a-beer-live-from-founders-brewing-in-grand-ra#t=727) Redefining Hireability and Lowering Barriers to Entry
- [22:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-07-09-193-discussing-the-skills-gap-over-a-beer-live-from-founders-brewing-in-grand-ra#t=1353) Outdated Requirements vs. Essential 2024 Skills
- [28:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-07-09-193-discussing-the-skills-gap-over-a-beer-live-from-founders-brewing-in-grand-ra#t=1739) Upskilling, Reskilling, and Technology as a Catalyst
- [37:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-07-09-193-discussing-the-skills-gap-over-a-beer-live-from-founders-brewing-in-grand-ra#t=2246) Proactive Steps for Future-Proofing the Workforce

## Topics

- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- SwipeGuide (product)
- Mission Design & Automation (company)
- Ann Wyatt Recruiting (company)
- Founders Brewing (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Learning Factory: Closing the Skill Gap Starts with Education w/ Mike Nager](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-11-16-the-learning-factory-closing-the-skill-gap-starts-with-education-w-mike-nager) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Diversity in the Manufacturing Sector w/ Andrew Crowe and Justin Sherman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-07-27-diversity-in-the-manufacturing-sector-w-andrew-crowe-and-justin-sherman) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [The NFL Draft, The NBA Draft and... The Manufacturing Skills Draft? w/ Dr. Jason Scales](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-08-10-the-nfl-draft-the-nba-draft-and-the-manufacturing-skills-draft-w-dr-jason-scales) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [How to Solve the Manufacturing Recruitment Puzzle w/ Patrick O'Rahilly](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-01-26-how-to-solve-the-manufacturing-recruitment-puzzle-w-patrick-orahilly) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Finding Manufacturing’s Invisible Workforce w/ Simba Jonga](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-12-16-finding-manufacturings-invisible-workforce-w-simba-jonga) (The Manufacturing Executive)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-07-09-193-discussing-the-skills-gap-over-a-beer-live-from-founders-brewing-in-grand-ra. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Manufacturing Happy Hour.