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

Manufacturing Happy Hour · 7 Nov 2025 · 42m

What this episode covers

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.

Most relevant to

large enterprises, early-stage companies and companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Fathom Digital Manufacturing, Milwaukee Tool, Rockwell Automation, AMI Metal Fabrication, New Berlin Plastics, Clearpath Robotics
Tools
AutoCAD
Also
PLC 5, ControlLogix

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • EMS@C-LEVEL · 12m

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

    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.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 27m

    Back to the Future: The Manufacturing Edition

    Marty Groover, Partner and CTO at C5 MI, draws on his 21-year career as a US Navy Surface Warfare Officer and his time at Caterpillar to explain how live data and modular systems drive manufacturing efficiency. He argues that manufacturers must converge people, process, and technology rather than leading with technology, citing Rivian’s modular skateboard platform and Amazon’s logistics as examples of future-proofing. Groover warns against 'best and breed' IT strategies, advocating instead for a common operational picture and distributed manufacturing to overcome supply chain fragility and inflation.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 37m

    Smarter Manufacturing in an Evolving Ecosystem w/ Chris Lupfer

    Chris Lupfer, Director of Indirect Channels at Bosch Rexroth, discusses the critical shifts in manufacturing for 2025, emphasizing the move toward reshoring and the integration of automation to address labor shortages. He highlights the importance of flexible workflows, digital twins for process optimization, and upskilling the workforce to handle collaborative robotics. Lupfer also explains how digital configuration tools and e-commerce platforms are streamlining the B2B buying process for complex industrial solutions.

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.