# 302: Philly's Answer to the Talent Shortage (LIVE in King of Prussia, PA)

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2026-09-15
- Length: 56m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-09-15-302-phillys-answer-to-the-talent-shortage-live-in-king-of-prussia-pa
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Ashley Watkins of JBM Technologies, Brett Lister of B&B Dynamic Machining (Open Tolerance), and Matt Bruner of American Precision Works discuss the collaborative Philadelphia manufacturing ecosystem, highlighting how sharing equipment and knowledge counters overseas competition. Gregory Thomson and Hannah McGarry detail workforce development strategies, including a skilled trades program within Philadelphia Youth Basketball and defense industry outreach via buildsubmarines.com, to address the talent shortage. The panelists emphasize that hiring from diverse, non-traditional talent pools provides a competitive advantage, with Matt Bruner noting that diverse hiring increases spindle utilization and operational efficiency.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-09-15-302-phillys-answer-to-the-talent-shortage-live-in-king-of-prussia-pa#t=0) Introduction: Live Show Context and Panelists
- [5:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-09-15-302-phillys-answer-to-the-talent-shortage-live-in-king-of-prussia-pa#t=347) The Philadelphia Manufacturing Ecosystem and Open Tolerance
- [17:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-09-15-302-phillys-answer-to-the-talent-shortage-live-in-king-of-prussia-pa#t=1062) Workforce Development: Youth Basketball and DVIRC
- [26:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-09-15-302-phillys-answer-to-the-talent-shortage-live-in-king-of-prussia-pa#t=1598) Strategic Location and Diverse Hiring Advantages
- [35:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-09-15-302-phillys-answer-to-the-talent-shortage-live-in-king-of-prussia-pa#t=2118) Building the Skilled Trades Pipeline and Success Stories
- [45:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-09-15-302-phillys-answer-to-the-talent-shortage-live-in-king-of-prussia-pa#t=2732) Sponsor Segment and Tour Reflections

## Topics

- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- JBM Technologies (company)
- B&B Dynamic Machining (company)
- Open Tolerance (other)
- American Precision Works (company)
- NTMA (other)
- Philadelphia Youth Basketball (other)
- Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center (other)
- buildsubmarines.com (other)
- CliftonLarsonAllen (company)
- MaintainX (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [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)
- [BONUS - IPC President and CEO John Mitchell on Talent Shortages at APEX 2023 - EMSNOW & SCOOP On Location](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2023-02-02-bonus-ipc-president-and-ceo-john-mitchell-on-talent-shortages-at-apex-2023-emsno) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [A New Generation of Craftsmen with Character w/ Dave Hataj](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-07-16-a-new-generation-of-craftsmen-with-character-w-dave-hataj) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [How to recruit talent in a candidate-driven market](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-06-28-how-to-recruit-talent-in-a-candidate-driven-market) (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/2026-09-15-302-phillys-answer-to-the-talent-shortage-live-in-king-of-prussia-pa. 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.