The Additive Advantage Podcast

B9Creations
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Business

In today’s volatile markets, organizations face a brutal balancing act: the relentless pressure to innovate faster while maintaining operational excellence. Additive manufacturing (AM) was supposed to be the game-changer. But for many companies, it’s become a slow burn of money, time, and credibility. We’ve seen it up close: $4 million spent, 18 months passed, a dozen engineers assigned—and still no outcomes. Pilots stall. Production doesn’t scale. ROI never makes it to the P&L. If you’re a GM or SVP who championed AM and now find yourself watching money burn while results slip away—you’re not alone. The truth? Most companies treat additive as a technical side project, handed to engineering and isolated from the business, with the expectation it will somehow deliver like magic. But innovation without execution is just expense. That’s where the Additive Advantage Model comes in—and this podcast brings it to life. Hosted by Shon Anderson and Dani Mason, with a combined 20 years of additive manufacturing experience, The Additive Advantage Podcast brings you real conversations with industry leaders who have been in the trenches of transformation. These aren’t fluffy tech chats—they’re straight-talk interviews about what it really takes to make additive deliver.

  1. Sep 24

    EP 20: What If We Rethought Engineering Education?

    What if engineering education were designed around what engineers actually need to do in the real world? In this episode of the workforce series, Shon Anderson sits down with Dr. Brian Tande, President of South Dakota Mines, to explore what engineering education could look like if we moved beyond traditional knowledge transfer and focused more on professional formation, experiential learning, and creating real-world value. They discuss why students need opportunities to work on real problems before they graduate, how AI is changing the role of both engineers and universities, why technical knowledge alone is no longer enough, and how deeper partnerships between industry and academia could better prepare the next generation of engineers.   Dr. Tande also has a challenge for industry: bring universities real problems. South Dakota Mines is looking for industry partners willing to give students meaningful projects with real constraints, uncertainty, and opportunities to create value.  Interested in working with South Dakota Mines and bringing a real-world challenge to its students? Contact Dr. Brian Tande at president@sdsmt.edu About the Show The Additive Advantage Podcast explores what it really takes to turn additive manufacturing into a scalable, performance-driven business capability. Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, the show features real conversations with leaders accountable for outcomes — not hype. Follow & Subscribe Follow The Additive Advantage Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, watch full episodes on YouTube, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on new episodes and insights. Apple | Spotify | YouTube | LinkedIn About the Hosts Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, industry leaders with deep experience in technology and additive manufacturing.

    EP 20: What If We Rethought Engineering Education?

  2. Sep 1

    EP 19: The Workforce Gap Isn’t a Talent Problem. It’s a Partnership Problem.

    The workforce gap is one of the biggest challenges facing advanced manufacturing. But what if we’ve been treating it as someone else’s problem? In the first episode of our new workforce series, our host Shon Anderson sits down with Matt Kirchner, a manufacturing executive turned workforce and technical education advocate, to explore why building the next generation of manufacturing talent requires stronger partnerships between industry, education, and policymakers. Matt challenges manufacturers to move beyond simply asking for people with the right “soft skills” and take a more active role in shaping the talent pipeline. They discuss what meaningful industry-education partnerships actually look like, why companies need to invest in the workforce they already have, and what separates leaders who drive change from those who remain stuck in the status quo. They also explore the role of public policy, why career exposure needs to begin much earlier than high school graduation, and how even small manufacturers and rural communities can take meaningful action. The workforce gap won’t be solved by education, industry, or policymakers working alone. It takes all three—and it starts by changing the conversation from “Where is the talent?” to “What are we doing to help build it?” About the Show The Additive Advantage Podcast explores what it really takes to turn additive manufacturing into a scalable, performance-driven business capability. Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, the show features real conversations with leaders accountable for outcomes — not hype. Follow & Subscribe Follow The Additive Advantage Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, watch full episodes on YouTube, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on new episodes and insights. Apple | Spotify | YouTube | LinkedIn About the Hosts Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, industry leaders with deep experience in technology and additive manufacturing.

    EP 19: The Workforce Gap Isn’t a Talent Problem. It’s a Partnership Problem.

  3. Aug 18

    EP 18: Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution

    What separates groundbreaking innovation from ideas that never leave the lab? Dr. Scott Wood, Founder and CTO of CellField Technologies and Director of Biotechnology Innovation and Training at the University of New England, joins us to discuss the journey from academic research to real-world commercialization. Scott shares how a research question about cell mechanics evolved into a company focused on improving how new therapies are developed, tackling one of healthcare’s biggest challenges: why so many promising treatments fail before reaching patients. The conversation explores the difference between solving an interesting scientific problem and addressing a real customer pain point, why customer discovery is critical to commercialization, and the importance of getting out of the building to understand how people actually work. Scott also shares how additive manufacturing has helped his team accelerate the rate of learning, giving researchers and students the ability to test, fail, iterate, and improve quickly. The discussion draws parallels between biotechnology and manufacturing—from designing technology that is fit for purpose to understanding that new tools don’t have to replace existing ones to create meaningful value. Whether you’re developing new products, leading R&D, commercializing research, or implementing additive manufacturing, the takeaway is simple: fall in love with the problem, not the solution. #AdditiveManufacturing #Innovation #Biotechnology #CustomerDiscovery #Commercialization #Research #Engineering #AdvancedManufacturing About the Show The Additive Advantage Podcast explores what it really takes to turn additive manufacturing into a scalable, performance-driven business capability. Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, the show features real conversations with leaders accountable for outcomes — not hype. Follow & Subscribe Follow The Additive Advantage Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, watch full episodes on YouTube, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on new episodes and insights. Apple | Spotify | YouTube | LinkedIn About the Hosts Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, industry leaders with deep experience in technology and additive manufacturing.

    EP 18: Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution

  4. Aug 4

    EP 17: Why Predictability Is the Missing Piece of Additive Manufacturing

    A failed metal build doesn't just waste material—it can waste days of machine time, thousands of dollars, and delay an entire production schedule. So why are so many manufacturers still relying on trial and error? Christian Rossmann, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of NODiVEC, joins us to explore why simulation is becoming one of the most important tools in modern additive manufacturing. Drawing on more than 15 years of experience in metal additive simulation, Christian explains how manufacturers can identify distortion, cracking, and other build failures before ever pressing "Print"—reducing scrap, improving quality, and building confidence as additive moves into production.  The conversation also explores why simulation has historically been limited to large organizations, how AI is helping democratize engineering expertise through a "co-engineer" approach, and why the future of additive manufacturing depends on smarter workflows—not just better hardware. Whether you're running a service bureau, scaling production, or evaluating where additive fits in your business, this episode offers a practical look at how predictability becomes a competitive advantage. About the Show The Additive Advantage Podcast explores what it really takes to turn additive manufacturing into a scalable, performance-driven business capability. Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, the show features real conversations with leaders accountable for outcomes — not hype. Follow & Subscribe Follow The Additive Advantage Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, watch full episodes on YouTube, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on new episodes and insights. Apple | Spotify | YouTube | LinkedIn About the Hosts Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, industry leaders with deep experience in technology and additive manufacturing.

    EP 17: Why Predictability Is the Missing Piece of Additive Manufacturing

  5. Jul 21

    EP 16: The Additive Program That Printed Everything Right and Still Failed

    What happens when an additive manufacturing program does everything "right"—the printers are running, parts meet spec, engineers are happy—and it still gets shut down? In this episode, we explore one of the most common reasons additive initiatives fail: they succeed technically but never demonstrate meaningful business impact. Through a real-world case study (with details anonymized), we break down how organizations can mistake activity for progress, measure the wrong metrics, and lose executive support despite delivering high-quality parts. We discuss why business outcomes matter more than print counts, how to align engineering with financial and strategic goals, the danger of repeated technology validation across business units, and why communicating value internally is just as important as delivering technical results. Whether you're leading an additive manufacturing program, evaluating a new technology investment, or trying to scale beyond pilot projects, this conversation will help you connect additive manufacturing to measurable business performance—and avoid becoming the next program that printed everything right and still failed. Subscribe for more conversations on additive manufacturing, technology leadership, and building organizations that turn innovation into lasting business results. About the Show The Additive Advantage Podcast explores what it really takes to turn additive manufacturing into a scalable, performance-driven business capability. Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, the show features real conversations with leaders accountable for outcomes — not hype. Follow & Subscribe Follow The Additive Advantage Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, watch full episodes on YouTube, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on new episodes and insights. Apple | Spotify | YouTube | LinkedIn About the Hosts Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, industry leaders with deep experience in technology and additive manufacturing.

    EP 16: The Additive Program That Printed Everything Right and Still Failed

  6. Jul 7

    EP 15: Building the Next American Century

    Advanced manufacturing is about more than technology—it's about the policies, workforce, and investments that determine whether innovation succeeds. In this episode, Congressman Dusty Johnson joins us to discuss what it will take for America to remain globally competitive. From protecting intellectual property and strengthening the defense industrial base to embracing AI, developing the manufacturing workforce, and fostering entrepreneurship, this conversation explores how policy and innovation intersect to shape the future of American manufacturing. You'll hear why China is driving a renewed focus on domestic manufacturing, why AI should be viewed as an opportunity rather than a threat, how startups and small manufacturers fuel long-term innovation, and what South Dakota can teach the rest of the country about building the next generation of manufacturing companies. Whether you're leading a manufacturing business, developing new technology, or simply interested in the future of American industry, this episode offers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities ahead. In this episode, you'll learn: How manufacturing has become a critical component of national competitiveness.Why AI is more likely to create opportunity than eliminate it.The importance of protecting intellectual property and strengthening cybersecurity.How workforce development must evolve for the next generation of manufacturing.Why entrepreneurship and small manufacturers play a vital role in innovation.What policymakers, manufacturers, and technology leaders can do to help build America's industrial future.Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of advanced manufacturing. About the Show The Additive Advantage Podcast explores what it really takes to turn additive manufacturing into a scalable, performance-driven business capability. Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, the show features real conversations with leaders accountable for outcomes — not hype. Follow & Subscribe Follow The Additive Advantage Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, watch full episodes on YouTube, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on new episodes and insights. Apple | Spotify | YouTube | LinkedIn About the Hosts Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, industry leaders with deep experience in technology and additive manufacturing.

    EP 15: Building the Next American Century

  7. Jun 23

    EP 14: Beyond the 3D Print: Why Manufacturing Judgment Matters

    Most conversations about additive manufacturing focus on the printer. Patrick Dobbs believes that's the wrong place to start. In this episode, we sit down with master jeweler, CAD designer, entrepreneur, and manufacturing innovator Patrick Dobbs to discuss why manufacturing judgment—not technology—is often the biggest differentiator between success and failure. Drawing on decades of experience in jewelry manufacturing, digital design, rapid prototyping, and production optimization, Patrick shares practical lessons that apply far beyond the jewelry industry. We explore how manufacturers can use additive manufacturing to improve workflows, create custom production tools, accelerate learning, and drive meaningful business outcomes. Along the way, Patrick challenges common assumptions about automation, AI, and additive manufacturing, arguing that understanding how a product is assembled, finished, inspected, and produced at scale remains a uniquely human skill. About the Show The Additive Advantage Podcast explores what it really takes to turn additive manufacturing into a scalable, performance-driven business capability. Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, the show features real conversations with leaders accountable for outcomes — not hype. Follow & Subscribe Follow The Additive Advantage Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, watch full episodes on YouTube, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on new episodes and insights. Apple | Spotify | YouTube | LinkedIn About the Hosts Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, industry leaders with deep experience in technology and additive manufacturing.

    EP 14: Beyond the 3D Print: Why Manufacturing Judgment Matters

  8. Jun 9

    EP 13: Why the Best Additive Strategies Start with "Why"

    What separates successful additive manufacturing programs from expensive experiments? According to John Kawola, it starts with a simple question: Why? In this episode of The Additive Advantage Podcast, Shon Anderson sits down with John Kawola, CEO of Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF), to discuss nearly three decades of lessons learned from the evolution of additive manufacturing. From his early days at Z Corp to leadership roles at Ultimaker and BMF, John has witnessed the industry's transformation from rapid prototyping to production-ready manufacturing. The conversation explores why the most successful additive initiatives begin with a clearly defined business problem, how companies can avoid common adoption pitfalls, and what it really takes to move from promising pilot projects to repeatable production outcomes. John also shares his perspective on industry consolidation, the changing dynamics between OEMs and distribution channels, the growing importance of application engineering, and why expertise often matters more than equipment. Whether you're evaluating additive manufacturing for the first time or looking to scale an existing program, this episode offers practical insights into technology selection, materials, quality systems, workforce development, and the organizational discipline required to turn additive manufacturing into measurable business value. About the Show The Additive Advantage Podcast explores what it really takes to turn additive manufacturing into a scalable, performance-driven business capability. Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, the show features real conversations with leaders accountable for outcomes — not hype. Follow & Subscribe Follow The Additive Advantage Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, watch full episodes on YouTube, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on new episodes and insights. Apple | Spotify | YouTube | LinkedIn About the Hosts Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, industry leaders with deep experience in technology and additive manufacturing.

    EP 13: Why the Best Additive Strategies Start with "Why"
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5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

In today’s volatile markets, organizations face a brutal balancing act: the relentless pressure to innovate faster while maintaining operational excellence. Additive manufacturing (AM) was supposed to be the game-changer. But for many companies, it’s become a slow burn of money, time, and credibility. We’ve seen it up close: $4 million spent, 18 months passed, a dozen engineers assigned—and still no outcomes. Pilots stall. Production doesn’t scale. ROI never makes it to the P&L. If you’re a GM or SVP who championed AM and now find yourself watching money burn while results slip away—you’re not alone. The truth? Most companies treat additive as a technical side project, handed to engineering and isolated from the business, with the expectation it will somehow deliver like magic. But innovation without execution is just expense. That’s where the Additive Advantage Model comes in—and this podcast brings it to life. Hosted by Shon Anderson and Dani Mason, with a combined 20 years of additive manufacturing experience, The Additive Advantage Podcast brings you real conversations with industry leaders who have been in the trenches of transformation. These aren’t fluffy tech chats—they’re straight-talk interviews about what it really takes to make additive deliver.

Information

  • Creator
    B9Creations
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Additive Advantage Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Additive Advantage Podcast