418 episodes

Manufacturing is challenging, but if you are connected to a community of leaders, you can elevate your skills, solve your problems and grow your business! MakingChips was launched in 2014 to equip and inspire the metalworking nation. Hundreds of episodes and a million downloads later, it’s an industry-leading source of information, inspiration, and entertainment for manufacturing leaders of all types. It’s hosted by Jason Zenger and Nick Goellner, two multi-generational manufacturing leaders, and they’re joined by a rotating panel of expert guests – including Titan Gilroy (TITANS of CNC), John Saunders (NYC CNC), Mark TerryBerry (Haas Automation), and many more. Join us as we tackle the topics that keep you up at night - leadership, operations, technology, growth, workforce development and culture.

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders MakingChips LLC

    • Business
    • 4.7 • 108 Ratings

Manufacturing is challenging, but if you are connected to a community of leaders, you can elevate your skills, solve your problems and grow your business! MakingChips was launched in 2014 to equip and inspire the metalworking nation. Hundreds of episodes and a million downloads later, it’s an industry-leading source of information, inspiration, and entertainment for manufacturing leaders of all types. It’s hosted by Jason Zenger and Nick Goellner, two multi-generational manufacturing leaders, and they’re joined by a rotating panel of expert guests – including Titan Gilroy (TITANS of CNC), John Saunders (NYC CNC), Mark TerryBerry (Haas Automation), and many more. Join us as we tackle the topics that keep you up at night - leadership, operations, technology, growth, workforce development and culture.

    Lights Out: Connecting Advanced Machining Strategies to Business Results Part 1

    Lights Out: Connecting Advanced Machining Strategies to Business Results Part 1

    Machine monitoring can give us insights into our machines that can and should change how we’re operating. The end goal is to drive better business results. But how should monitoring be paired with advanced business strategies to help you achieve those results? Mike Payne, Kaleb Mertz and I connect the dots in this episode of MakingChips. Because if you’re not efficiently MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM! 
    – Nick Goellner
    Segments [0:20] Learn more about IMTS 2024 Elevate [2:28] What we listen to at work [7:00] Manufacturing News: Technology Orders Grow [13:08] Latin America Conference at IMTS [15:02] Using ProShop for cutting tool management [16:11] Coaching is more important than monitoring [21:21] Adaptive controls and tooling optimizations  Resources mentioned on this episode IMTS Elevate ChillHop Radio Pop Goes Classical on Spotify Erica Violet on Spotify Manufacturing Technology Orders Grow Despite Sustained High Interest Rates Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

    • 28 min
    Is Work-Life Balance a Fallacy? Part 2

    Is Work-Life Balance a Fallacy? Part 2

    What if your life has little distinction between work and play? What if you’re so passionate about what you do that the time you spend on it is inconsequential? We began to explore the idea of work-life integration in part 1 of this series. 
    In part 2, we dive into the creative ways we integrate our work and personal lives so that we can be fully present whenever possible. Because when we take a break from MakingChips, our business must still be MakingChips to make money!
    – Nick Goellner
    Segments [0:37] Improve On-Time Delivery with ProShop [2:00] Little distinction between work and play [9:43] Switch to NetSuite by Oracle [11:01] You have to love what you do [16:01] Bookending our time off [21:20] Our biggest takeaways [23:38] Come to the MakingChips party!  Resources mentioned on this episode Improve On-Time Delivery with ProShop NetSuite by Oracle Eat That Frog! Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

    • 25 min
    Is Work-Life Balance a Fallacy?

    Is Work-Life Balance a Fallacy?

    Work-life balance. It’s a phrase that’s often thrown around. Many of us struggle feeling like we’ll never achieve some sort of balance. Work usually fills a greater space than we think it should. But what if that’s okay? 
    Everyone’s heard the adage, “Find something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” What if you love your work? What if you don’t mind when work bleeds outside of designated work hours? Is it ever a problem? 
    That’s the topic that Mike and I dive into in this episode of MakingChips. Especially because you have to be MakingChips to be making money. BAM!
    – Nick Goellner
    Segments [3:04] Mike’s family vacation in Colorado  [4:44] Machine Shop Masterclass: Lean Manufacturing  [14:38] Is there such a thing as work-life balance? [19:25] Manage your cutting tools with ProShop ERP [20:33] Life is a series of seasons [25:04] Achieving work-life integration Resources mentioned on this episode 2 Second Lean Get ProShop’s Lean Setup Guide The 5AM Club Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

    • 27 min
    MakingSparks: Using LinkedIn to Drive Leads for Your Manufacturing Business with Preston Hadley, 415

    MakingSparks: Using LinkedIn to Drive Leads for Your Manufacturing Business with Preston Hadley, 415

    There are over 1 billion users on LinkedIn worldwide, 200 million of which are in the United States. Manufacturing is one of the largest industry segments represented on LinkedIn. Interestingly, LinkedIn is rewarding people who create content and share it on their platform. Why? It’s simple—they need more content.
    It’s time for manufacturing and fabrication businesses to take advantage of these facts. But how? In this episode of MakingSparks, Preston Hadley—the President & Founder of Envision Automation & Controls—shares how his content strategy on LinkedIn not only grew his following but transformed his business. 
    – Matthew Nix
    Segments [3:11] Preston’s background in the industry  [2:05] Achieve on-time delivery with ProShop  [2:52] Envision Automation & Controls [6:02] Learn more about ProFab Alliance  [6:45] Casey’s dad joke [8:10] Growing a LinkedIn presence [13:50] Finding a balance with content [19:43] Graduate to NetSuite by Oracle [26:59] How to write on LinkedIn [30:03] Getting started on LinkedIn Resources mentioned on this episode Connect with Preston Hadley on LinkedIn Envision Automation & Controls Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

    • 37 min
    MakingSparks: What’s Keeping You Up at Night? An Update from Matthew and Casey

    MakingSparks: What’s Keeping You Up at Night? An Update from Matthew and Casey

    What’s keeping you up at night? What are you excited about? It’s important to reflect on the good, the bad, and the ugly. Why? First and foremost, to learn from our mistakes. But secondly, to embrace gratitude. Even despite challenges and setbacks, there’s always room for gratefulness and thankfulness.
    So in this episode of MakingSparks, Casey and I sit down to discuss the challenges we’re facing and exciting changes happening in our businesses. We also share why we don’t let worry consume us and instead, practice gratitude. 
    – Matthew Nix
    Segments [2:39] What’s keeping Matthew up at night?  [3:28] How ProFab Alliance can help you [4:11] Issue #1: Safety concerns in the shop [5:37] Issue #2: On-time delivery and customer service [7:24] Why you can’t let worry consume you  [10:31] Using ProShop ERP to manage cutting tools [11:45] Strategic planning for Captivated Content [14:14] Practicing gratitude at all times [15:32] What’s happening at NIX Industrial [19:26] Launching a franchising business Have questions? Want to be a guest? Reach out to us on LinkedIn! We’d love to hear from you. 
    Resources mentioned on this episode ProFab Alliance Man’s Search for Meaning ProShop ERP Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

    • 23 min
    How to Adapt CNC Training for the Next Generation of Manufacturing Leaders - Part 2, 413

    How to Adapt CNC Training for the Next Generation of Manufacturing Leaders - Part 2, 413

    Gamification. Gamification is a highly successful strategy in the world of marketing. It’s used all the time to enhance engagement in children’s education. How can we apply gamification concepts to manufacturing education? 
    Mike Payne, Paul Van Metre, Gabe Kooyers, and Chris Townsend joined me in this discussion and nailed down some incredible ways to leverage gamification. Because if you’re not motivating your students (or employees), then you’re not MakingChips. If you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM!
    – Nick Goellner
    Segments [0:27] Check out the Manufacturing Transformed podcast! [3:04] Introducing Chris Townsend [4:14] The Chip on Nick’s Shoulder: Being “pitch-slapped” [7:02] Chris’s background in engineering [9:46] Creating Eagle Manufacturing  [13:27] Using gamification with students [16:07] Gamifying ProShop [20:00] Graduate to NetSuite by Oracle! [21:26] Simulating a business for education [28:10] Teaching employability skills Resources mentioned on this episode Netsuite by Oracle Get ProShop ERPs free guide TITANS of CNC Academy Connect with Chris Townsend Connect with Paul Van Metre Connect with Mike Payne Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Inc. Olson Custom Designs  Check out the Manufacturing Transformed podcast! Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

    • 41 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
108 Ratings

108 Ratings

@TheYechGuy ,

Great Podcast

This show brings me insight and joy thank you so much

Naton 2 ,

Moved to thank you.

Just finished listening to your episode with Ken Parent. I am still in Northern Michigan and my story sounds a lot like Ken’s! Thanks so much for sharing Ken’s story with Metal Working Nation.

Eldarik11 ,

Highly recommend

That’s the podcasts I wait every week. Awesome vibe by the hosts and great content. A valuable source for someone on the research and academic side of manufacturing (and, especially, if you are international). Thank you!

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