Why We’re Proud to Be Manufacturers & Engineers

The Manufacturing Executive · 3 Aug 2021 · 38m · Episode 60

What this episode covers

Tony Gunn, General Manager at MTDCNC Global and founder of Your Tea of Life, shares his unconventional journey from being expelled from three colleges to becoming a manufacturing leader. He details his career progression through various machining roles, including working with precious metals, steel, and micro-machining at Air Turbine Technology, emphasizing that technical skills and tech school can offer a viable, high-paying alternative to traditional college. Gunn advocates for the pride and societal value of manufacturing, highlighting how engineering creates life-changing medical devices and stabilizes economies, while also discussing his natural healing company and its partnership with Hippocrates.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 38m

    CNC, Hip Hop, and Turning Manufacturers into Heroes with Tony Gunn

    Tony Gunn, General Manager at MTDCNC Global, discusses his journey from a machinist working with precious metals to a media creator and podcast host. He explains how his background in hip hop gave him the confidence to speak publicly, enabling him to highlight the authenticity of modern manufacturing professionals. Gunn shares tactical advice on using unique hashtags for LinkedIn branding and details his upcoming national tour aimed at inspiring students to enter the industry and close the skills gap.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 46m

    196: The Skills CNC Machinists Need that You WON'T Learn in Trade School!

    Chris Luecke interviews Christopher Zappettini, Nushrat Ahmed, and Danny Hill Jr., three CNC machinists who bypassed traditional trade schools to build their careers through alternative paths like engineering degrees, NASCAR tech programs, and on-the-job determination. The guests discuss critical skills for success, including aggressive self-advocacy, problem-solving methodologies, cleanliness, and the enduring value of manual machine skills. They emphasize that frontline leadership requires balancing immediate production needs with long-term process improvement, often described as 'manufacturing triage.' The conversation highlights that continuous learning and taking ownership of one's development are essential for advancing in the manufacturing industry.

  • Being an Engineer · 1h 11m

    Tony Kelbert | Authenticity, Engineering, and the Business of Manufacturing

    Tony Kelbert, a mechanical engineer and manufacturing strategist at AeroGrowth, discusses his career path from defense vehicle design at Oshkosh Defense and medical oxygen systems at Gulfstream Aerospace to his current work helping precision manufacturers win aerospace and defense contracts. He shares insights on the challenges of small machine shops, the importance of diversifying customer bases to avoid reliance on single large OEMs, and the cultural differences between engineering firms and family-run manufacturing businesses. Kelbert also explains his approach to LinkedIn content creation, emphasizing authenticity and humor to build genuine professional connections, and discusses his interest in open-source hardware and community-driven engineering education.

  • Being an Engineer · 1h 00m

    S5E45 Andy Wells | Touching Lives Through Engineering (Rerun)

    Andy Wells, founder and CEO of Wells Technology, shares his journey from a poverty-stricken upbringing to building a successful manufacturing business in Minnesota. He discusses the early challenges of starting Wells Tech with only $1,300, the pivot to pneumatic tools, and the critical importance of design for manufacturability (DFM) and tolerance management in CNC machining. Wells also details his social engineering initiative, which trains individuals with felonies or from disadvantaged backgrounds, transforming them into skilled technicians and loyal employees.

  • Being an Engineer · 59m

    S2E18 Side Hustles, Asking Dumb Questions, & Not Compromising Your Values | Nate Post

    Nate Post, a New Product Introduction Manager at Edwards Lifesciences, discusses his career in medical device manufacturing and his side business, Blue Collar Blades, where he handmakes artisanal cutlery. He explains how his non-engineering background allows him to ask 'dumb questions' that lead to innovative solutions, such as modifying high-voltage tanks and creating cleanroom enclosures for noisy equipment. Post also details the operational challenges of scaling his knife-making process from 25 hours to under 7 hours per unit and his commitment to maintaining personal values over corporate compliance in previous roles.

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