Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

Tooling Management for Success Using Your ERP System

26 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The key to being a good salesman is to add value wherever you can for your customers. I want to be able to talk with ZENGER’s customers about integr...

Will You Find Your Next Manufacturing Customer, or Will Your Next Customer Find You?

19 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you rely on inbound marketing, outbound marketing, or a combination of both, sourcing new customers can be a hassle. But it’s how you grow y...

What Can a Skills Gap Analysis Do for Your Manufacturing Business?

15 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why is a skills gap analysis helpful? How can it make your company more efficient? What does the process look like? In this episode of MakingChips, we...

Levers to Pull to Double the Value of Your Manufacturing Company

05 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What can you do to double the value of your manufacturing company and increase your likelihood of selling it exponentially? In this episode of Makin...

How One Manufacturing Leader Closed the Skills Gap with Incredible Results

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Many manufacturers are facing a common struggle: Their team members are retiring. Even worse, they’re struggling to replace them. Matt Carr—the Pr...

AS9100 Credentialing in 4 months? One Man's Success Story, 316

22 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

AS9100 is a standardized quality management system for the aerospace industry. If a manufacturer wants to work in this field, they have to be AS9100 ...

Our Sales & Marketing Pet Peeves and What to Do Instead

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do you struggle with any pet peeves? We’ve compiled a list of three sales and marketing tactics that people utilize that drive us crazy: misusing le...

Finding Your Niche: Right Customer—Right Seat, 314

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Gino Wickman and Jim Collins popularized the term, “Right people, right seat” in reference to getting the right employees in leadership positions....

Time Management for the Manufacturing Leader

18 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do you struggle with time management? Do you find yourself overwhelmed and exhausted at the end of the week with an endless backlog of things to do? A...

Manufacturing Lessons from King Richard

09 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

“King Richard” is a movie about Venus and Serena’s dad, Richard Williams. I remember watching their rise in tennis and was fascinated by this mo...

Implementing 5S: Simple Tips to Get You Started

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

5S is a methodology that I decided to implement when Carr Machine & Tool moved to a new location. We were meticulous about each decision we made so ...

Get It Before It’s Gone! How to Extract Wisdom from Your Colleagues Before They Retire

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There’s so much wisdom my generation needs to extract from our older colleagues before they retire. Many young people in this industry are naive bec...

What the Heck is a Samurai CNC Machinist?

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do gaming, programming, and the world of a machinist look intersect? In this episode of MakingChips, Steve Courchane—the CNC Samurai—shares hi...

Can You Scale Rapidly After 100 Years of Slow Growth?

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If your business has been slow-growing or stagnant, can you ramp up your growth? Matthew Nix would know—he’s grown his family business by a 100x m...

“People, Process, and Performance" A Special Live Event Interview

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode of MakingChips is recorded at a special LIVE Tri-State Manufacturing Alliance (TSMA) event in conjunction with the Evansville Region...

Why is Travel so Important for Manufacturing Leaders? A Special MakingTrips Episode

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’re on a five-hour drive to a speaking event for the Tri-State Machining Association (TSMA) so we thought, why not do an episode on the importance...

What to Do When an Employee Leaves

18 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do when an employee resigns? How do you handle their departure in a dignified way? What do you do when you have to let someone go? You hav...

Bonus Incentive Plans to Drive Action

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What do you expect from your employees? Do you expect them to think like an owner? Or just clock in and get their work done? Are they compensated for ...

Does My Shop Need Middle Management?

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As our team begins to grow at Carr Machine & Tool, I believe it’s time to hire for a middle management position. But what is middle management? Wh...

Keeping the Culture High in a Virtual World

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you keep corporate culture alive when your workforce is completely remote? How do you focus your company on your values, mission, and goals? Wh...

Getting a Grip on Workholding Automation and Leading your Elders

14 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is the labor shortage accelerating automation? Why is there a perception that automation is both risky and complex? How do you lead your elders with a...

What is the Future of MakingChips?

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

MakingChips is NOT a cult of personality. We want MakingChips to be about the Metalworking nation. We want to interview you. We want to talk about you...

Doubling Down on Your People and Culture in 2022

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Your people are the most important part of your business. If they’re not, they should be. When you hire someone, it’s always with the hope that th...

How Manufacturing Leaders Can Have Better Meetings in 2022, 298

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What are the things you HATE about meetings? Moving into 2022, would you like to have better, more productive meetings that don’t waste time and act...

What Annual Goals Do For You - Not Just Tips and Tricks, 297

10 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This is NOT another goal-setting podcast episode. You know, the kind that explains how to effectively set goals for the year… this one is about WHY ...

Growing Your ESOP to a New Level, 296

27 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In our previous conversation with Jeff Taylor (episode 292) we introduced the idea of ESOPS (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) as a way to give true own...

What the Great Resignation Means for Manufacturing, 295

20 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The “Great Resignation” as it’s been called, has created a wide variety of circumstances that have impacted the American workforce. 55% of worke...

Are We Losing Legacy IP at Our Shops?

13 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There is a paradigm shift happening in the industry: many skilled machinists are retiring. As these long-term skilled machinists are leaving, they’...

Finding Solutions to the Supply Chain Chaos

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Finding Solutions to the Supply Chain Chaos, #293 What is the root cause of the supply chain crisis? How can manufacturing businesses mitigate those r...

Should Your Shop be an ESOP?

29 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What is an employee stock ownership plan ESOP? How does it work? How can it transform the buy-in of your team and lead to revenue growth? Jeff Taylor—...

Have You Defined Your Hiring Process?

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What does your hiring process look like? Do you even have a hiring process in place? In this episode of Making Chips, we walk through what each of our...

How Do You Forecast the Future of Your Manufacturing Business?

15 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What factors should you consider when forecasting? What questions do you need to ask to determine your next steps? Who gets to make those decisions? W...

Beware of the Looming Recession

08 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nick jokes that I have a recession obsession—and it’s true. Recessions are painful. I want to make the experience less painful when a recession c...

Why Titan and His Team Moved from California to Texas

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In round three with Titan Gilroy, we talk about why Titan decided to move his entire business from California to Texas. Was it a smooth transition? Wa...

Retaining and Training Top Talent with Titans of CNC Academy

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Making Chips, we dive back into the conversation with Titan Gilroy. This time, we talk about how Titan’s TV show, “American Bui...

How Defeat and Success Has Shaped Titan Gilroy, #286

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode takes you (and us) to Texas to speak with Titan Gilroy. He calls himself an advocate for advanced manufacturing, and that’s a huge unde...

Will the Supply Chain Woes Get Better Anytime Soon?

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

According to a recent article in Reuters, “The ISM said its index of national factory activity inched up to 59.9 last month from a reading of 59.5 ...

Are Your Data Requirements Driving Your Employees Away?

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do your employees feel like they’re a means to an end? I think a lot of team members don’t realize—or believe—that we care about them. Some fe...

What Can Manufacturers Do about this Crazy Labor Market?

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. labor market is still struggling despite record numbers of job openings. Businesses aren’t able to hire as quickly as they need to. What’...

Do I Need a Designer for My Shop Floor? 282

06 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I wanted to differentiate myself among other machine shops in the area with the new Carr Machine & Tool location. The shop floor is where we make our ...

Can Networking Change Your Manufacturing Business?

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone is familiar with the concept of networking. But how many people actually implement it to grow themselves and their businesses? In this episod...

Getting Dirty on the Factory Floor: What Does it Mean and Why Does it Matter?

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Cabernet, Coffee and Cancer: A Family Story

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part of being a machine shop owner—and a business owner in general—is that every day there’s a new challenge to navigate. A machine might break ...

What Is CMMC And Why Should You Be Concerned?

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What is the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)? The DOD is implementing the CMMC to normalize and standardize cybersecurity preparednes...

Selling Your Machine Shop

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Making Chips, Jim and I chat with Paul Van Metre—the Co-Founder of ProShop ERP—about the process of selling his machine shop. W...

276: RE-RELEASE: Evolutions in the Workholding Process with Alvin Goellner

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Find all things MakingChips at www.MakingChips.com 

Is Your Shop Protected From Being Hacked? (Cybersecurity Basics)

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s episode of MakingChips, hosts Jim Carr and Jason Zenger bring in Federico Sciammarella, the President & CTO of MxD, to discuss the ba...

Behind the Scenes with the Product Manager of Methods Machine Tools

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s episode of MakingChips, hosts Jim Carr and Nick Goellner talk with Nick St.Cyr, a Product Manager at Methods Machine Tools, about his...

10 Steps To Simplify Your AS9100 Credentialing

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of MakingChips, hosts Jim Carr and Jason Zenger meet with Paul Van Metre of ProShop ERP to discuss 10 things to consider when going th...

IMTS 2022 - What's New For You?

22 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of MakingChips, hosts Jim Carr and Jason Zenger talk with Peter Eelman, Vice President and Chief Experience Officer of AMT, about IMTS...

3 Easy Data Points to Learn From Your Machine

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

MakingChips hosts Jim Carr and Jason Zenger sit down with Akshat Thirani, the CEO and Co-founder of Amper Technologies, Inc., and Charles Morley, the ...

Product Management vs Sales Management at a Manufacturing Company

04 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hosts Nick Goellner, Jim Carr and Jason Zenger are joined by Mark Cunningham and Kim Akimoto from CLEAR Solutions Sales Consulting to discuss the diff...

Retirement: Yes, No or Never?

29 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of MakingChips, Jim Carr, Jason Zenger and Nick Goellner discuss  Retirement: Yes, No or Never. This could be a step in evaluating yo...

Intro to the R&D Tax Credit for Manufacturing

21 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of MakingChips, Jason, Jim and Nick discuss the R&D Tax Credit.  This could be a huge saving for your manufacturing company, but plea...

Why You Need to Consider These New and Low-Cost Employee Benefits

11 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In episode of #267 MakingChips, host Jim Carr and Jason Zenger discuss Why You Need to Consider These New and Low-Cost Employee Benefits"   Connect w...

25 Trends Affecting the Future of Manufacturing in 2021 and Beyond.

04 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In episode #266 of MakingChips, host Jason Zenger and co-host Jim Carr Discuss 25 Trends Affecting the Future of Manufacturing in 2021 and Beyond. Con...

How to Create a Diverse Community in the Workplace to Solve Challenges in Manufacturing with Equity Machine Works

22 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In episode #265 of MakingChips, host Jim Carr, Nick Goellner and Jessica Peterson discuss How to Create a Diverse Community in the Workplace to Solve ...

When to Say No to an Opportunity

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s episode of MakingChips, Jason Zenger discusses 4 reasons to say no to an opportunity.  Manufacturing leaders may need to say no more...

6 Communications Tools for the Manufacturing Leader

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s episode of MakingChips, hosts Nick Goellner and Jason Zenger discuss 6 Communications Tools for the Manufacturing Leader. Segments: ...

How Do You Communicate Change at Your Manufacturing Company?

31 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s episode of MakingChips, host Jason Zenger and Nick Goellner discuss tips for effectively communicating to your team in the workplace ...

Workholding Evolves with Great Partnerships Featuring Eric Nekich of 5th Axis

10 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode of MakingChips, hosts Nick Goellner and Jim Carr are joined by Eric Nekich, a Sales Manager at 5th Axis, to talk about workhold...

Marketing with a Tommy Gun with Metalworking Influencer Tony Gunn

02 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode the MakingChips hosts talk with metalworking influencer Tony Gunn and his career in the manufacturing industry. Segments: 0:00 ...

The Power of the Production Meeting

23 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of MakingChips the hosts discuss sections to include in their production meetings, and how they can benefit their shop and team's prod...

Tom Brady and Manufacturing on the Moon with DARPA

17 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, the MakingChips hosts discuss the career of NFL star Tom Brady, and how his personal keys to success are also applicable to the manuf...

Can You Be Successful Running a Small Machine Shop?

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's MakingChips podcast, Jim and Jason discuss if you can be successful running a small machine shop, with Jim offering tips based on his o...

How to Manage Your Triggers and Habits

02 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the newest MakingChips podcast, the hosts discuss how to use triggers to create new habits and systems for your business and your personal life. Se...

Talking About Talking About Politics

26 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode of MakingChips, Jim and Jason discuss how and when to talk about politics in the workplace, and why it should never affect busi...

How Does Your Manufacturing Company Go To Market?

19 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Jim, Jason, and Nick talk about the different sales channels that you can utilize for your manufacturing company, and their st...

Lessons Learned While Running a Manufacturing Company During a Pandemic

12 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As we move forward into 2021, the MakingChips podcast hosts look back at 2020, the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and share more lessons they lea...

Committing to Details and Tap Testing with Guest John Miller (Part 2)

04 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of this 2-part series continues the interview with special guest John Miller, founder of Way of the Mill, an education platform for CNC milling...

Milling Advice from Apple with Guest John Miller (Part 1)

28 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 1 of this 2-part series, the MakingChips hosts welcome guest John Miller, founder of Way of the Mill, an education platform for CNC milling. I...

Estimating in a Digital World

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the 250th episode of MakingChips, the hosts discuss new factors and trends in the estimation process, especially when utilizing an ERP system. Jim ...

Leading, Learning, and Lessons From 2020

14 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's podcast, hosts Jason Zenger, Jim Carr, and Nick Goellner share the new leadership principles and processes they adopted during 2020 to ...

Is Imposter Syndrome Limiting Your Growth as a Manufacturing Leader?

07 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, we share our experiences with imposter syndrome and discuss what it means. We talk about how it affects different generations ...

Listen In: MakingChips as Guest Speakers at DMG MORI National Sales Meeting

23 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, we share our experience as guest speakers at DMG Mori's sales conference this year. We touched base on the evolving sales proc...

A digital destination for a connected manufacturing community

18 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's podcast, hosts Jason Zenger, Jim Carr, and Nick Goellner invite guest Peter Eelman, Vice President & CXO at AMT to discuss how IMTS piv...

Wraparound Blankets for the small manufacturer

27 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's podcast, hosts Jason Zenger and Jim Carr invite guest Jenn Ryan, SVP of Global Network Operations at Xometry to discuss how they pivote...

Changing ERPs will change your company culture

20 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's podcast, hosts Jim Carr and Jason Zenger invite guests Paul Van Metre, Co-Founder of ProShop ERP, and Matt Gawlik, President of 3D Indu...

What is Your Legacy?

08 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's podcast, hosts Jason Zenger and Jim Carr discuss the process of building the right legacy you want to leave behind as a Manufacturing L...

Wisdom + Technology/ Strategic Ideas for Reducing Machine Set Up Time

02 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, we get a look into Carr Machine's setup process. Hosts Jim Carr and Nick Goellner invite guests Ryan Carr, Operations Manager ...

Rapid Fire/ Old School Machining Tips that Never Get Dated

28 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's podcast, hosts Jim Carr and Jason Zenger discuss old school manufacturing tips that still equip & inspire their team on the shop floor....

How to Use Lean Manufacturing Concepts to Connect Marketing Strategy with Execution

15 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the MakingChips podcast, Host Nick Goellner, Jim Carr, and Jason Zenger discuss the Agile Marketing Process and how to have a marketing p...

Prototypes to Production/ Tips on How CARR Made the Move

09 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the MakingChips Podcast, Jim Carr shares 6 tips on what CARR Machine & Tool has done to pivot from prototypes to becoming a full producti...

The Secrets of Motor City Marketing Success on LinkedIn that Generates 5 Leads Per Day

26 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week's guest, Ted Ladzinski from Motor City Spindle Repair joins co-hosts Jim Carr, Jason Zenger, and Nick Goellner to discuss ways to increase y...

Solving the Diversity Gap by Manufacturing a Fruit Salad

18 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Co-host Jim Carr, Jason Zenger and Nick Goellner are joined by Andrew Crowe, Ranken Technical College Instructor and Senior Machinist at Seiler to dis...

A Year With No Manufacturing Trade Shows

11 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A year without IMTS, FabTech, etc. have you wondering what comes next for industry tradeshows? In this episode, Jim, Jason, and Nick talk all about th...

How’s the Health of your Entrepreneurial Operating System

04 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What exactly is EOS, and what is an L10 meeting? This week on the MakingChips podcast, co-hosts Jim Carr, Jason Zenger, and Nick Goellner share their ...

Effective Communication for Manufacturing Leaders

28 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Are you communicating with your team effectively? Step up your communication skills this week as Jason Zenger shares 10 effective tips to improve your...

Setting the Standard for your Manufacturing Brand

21 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, MakingChips hosts, Jim Carr, Jason Zenger, and Nick Goellner interview MakingChips Agency Director Jessica Peterson about what it mea...

How to Get Your Sales Management in Order

14 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to managing a sales team, it’s important not to confuse efforts with results. In this episode, co-host Nick Goellner draws on his expe...

How to be a Change Agent for your Business with Robin Johnson

07 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Times are changing and as manufacturing leaders, we need to adjust with these times. "In business, if we don't change, we don't grow and we don't surv...

Losing a Manufacturing Leader

30 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In business and in life we all experience pain we can’t control. Jim Carr reflects on the recent death of his parents and gives practical advice on ...

Leading through Fear

16 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Co-hosts Jim Carr, Nick Goellner and Jason Zenger talk about their past experiences with fear in business, including navigating recession, unemploymen...

Manufacturing Creates Careers

09 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Guest Steve Schubert, Chief Operating Officer at Advanced Machine & Engineering Co., talks with co-hosts Jim Carr, Nick Goellner, and Jason Zenger abo...

Resharpening Drills and End mills - When and Why

27 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to your cutting tools, how do you know when it's time to resharpen or recycle? This week on the MakingChips podcast, hosts Jim Carr, Jas...

Quick Response in Crisis Your Community As Your Customer with Noah Goellner

12 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s tempting, in rapid response, to abandon procedures or suspend protocols in order to solve immediate crisis situations. This week’s guest, Noa...

Cannabis on the Shop Floor - In the "Weeds" with Employment Law Expert, Jim Griffin

30 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

MakingChips guest Jim Griffith, an employment attorney for HR Source, answers timely questions about individual state and federal marijuana laws, and...

Manufacturing Numbers on COVID-19 from NAM's Chief Economist - Chad Moutray

24 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Chad Moutray, chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), talks with MC hosts Jim Carr, Nick Goellner, and Jason Zenger to pr...

PANDEMIC CRISIS - MakingChips talks with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle

13 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In a timely interview, Jim Carr, Nick Goellner, and Jason Zenger sit down with Cook County IL Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle, who ...

Automation Goes Viral During a Pandemic

31 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Are there any positives in this pandemic? With social distancing, working from home, schools and businesses closing, and travel being restricted, the ...