Manufacturing Tomorrow

On this episode of Manufacturing Tomorrow, we sit down with Richard Barnett, Chief Marketing Officer at Fusion Risk Management, a leading provider of operational resilience software and services. Richard has spent more than a decade working directly with manufacturing and supply chain organizations as their risk exposure has shifted alongside increasingly digitally connected operations. The… Continue reading Richard Barnett, Fusion Risk Management 

Fabian Gerlinghaus, CEO and Co-Founder of Cellares, joins MFG TMW to discuss what it takes to manufacture living cell therapies at scale — and why doing it in America matters. Cellares operates the world’s first Integrated Development and Manufacturing Organization for automated cell therapy, runs Smart Factories in South San Francisco and Bridgewater, NJ, and… Continue reading Fabian Gerlinghaus, Cellares

Manufacturers are connecting more of their plant floors to enterprise systems and the internet — and in doing so, they’re opening doors they may not know how to close. Today’s guest has spent more than two decades at the intersection of industrial operations and cybersecurity, and he has seen what happens when those doors stay… Continue reading Rick Kaun, Rockwell Automation

What does it take to buy a 100-year-old precision manufacturer in the middle of a pandemic — and grow it? Mike Adkins, Owner and Principal of Performance Results Plus (PRP) in Columbus, Ohio, joins host MFG TMW to talk about stepping into an established operation and immediately expanding its reach. PRP’s core business is hydrological… Continue reading Mike Adkins, Performance Results Plus (PRP)

What if a machine could learn your quality standards just by watching your production line — and start catching defects in minutes, not weeks? In this episode of Manufacturing Tomorrow, Milind Karnik, CEO of Elementary, shares how the company’s AI-vision inspection platforms inspect over one billion parts annually across six countries for Fortune 500 manufacturers.… Continue reading Milind Karnik, Elementary

In this episode, we are excited to welcome back Chuck Ridgeway, Automation Technology Manager and Senior Customer Advocate at Horner Automation, a division of Horner APG headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. With more than 30 years of experience in automation and robotics, Chuck is a trusted voice in the field and a dedicated advocate for helping… Continue reading Chuck Ridgeway, Horner Automation

We sit down with Michael Lefenfeld, President, CEO, and Chair of the Board at Hexion Inc., a global leader in adhesives and performance materials headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Since joining Hexion in early 2023, Michael has been leading an ambitious transformation—positioning the company as an AI‑first, technology‑driven materials innovator. From manufacturing and supply chain to… Continue reading Michael Lefenfeld, Hexion Inc.

In this episode, we’re joined by Kyle Ewing, Founder and CEO of TerraSlate—a Colorado-based manufacturing company and global leader in waterproof, tear-proof paper and ultra-durable printed materials. Kyle has grown TerraSlate from a basement startup into a $40 million vertically integrated manufacturing enterprise, serving customers ranging from the U.S. military and NFL teams to Michelin-starred… Continue reading Kyle Ewing, TerraSlate

Prasoon Saxena serves as president of the Global Products Business Unit at NTT DATA. A veteran leader with more than 25 years of experience in digital transformation and global operations, Prasoon has played a pivotal role in helping some of the world’s largest manufacturers harness technology to drive innovation, efficiency, and competitiveness. At NTT DATA,… Continue reading Prasoon Saxena, NTT Data

Charles Cohen serves as president of Fotofab, a Chicago-based specialty manufacturer recognized for photochemical machining and the production of high-precision metal components. Founded in 1967 and later becoming the first company acquired by The Partner Companies (TPC), Fotofab serves critical industries, including aerospace, defense, medical devices, and electronics.  Charles joined Fotofab in 2000 as Chief… Continue reading Charles Cohen, Fotofab

Michael Masser is group product manager at Plex, a Rockwell Automation company, where he leads initiatives in supply chain and smart manufacturing solutions. Since joining Rockwell, he has been responsible for shaping product strategy, guiding roadmap development, and aligning customer requirements with emerging technologies to strengthen supply chain management capabilities. His role includes working closely… Continue reading Michal Masser, Plex

Russ Bukowski is president of Mastercam, the world’s most widely used CAM software. With decades of experience driving product innovation and strategic partnerships, Russ is leading Mastercam into a new era—where AI, advanced automation, and precision programming are reshaping how machinists and shops operate. Under his leadership, Mastercam 2026 introduces powerful new features designed to… Continue reading Russ Bukowski, Mastercam, & Chris Basgall, Catamount Machine Works

Robyn Bolton is founder & chief navigator of MileZero, an innovation consultancy that helps manufacturing leaders turn bold ideas into tangible results.   Robyn began her career at Procter & Gamble, where she led the North American launches of Swiffer and Swiffer WetJet, and shaped strategy for P&G’s $2B Household Needs portfolio at Walmart. She went… Continue reading Robyn Bolton, MileZero

Rosemary Coates is the the founder and executive director of the Reshoring Institute (reshoringinstitute.org), a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding U.S. manufacturing supply chains. She is also president of Blue Silk Consulting, a global supply-chain management consulting firm.  With more than 35 years of experience, Rosemary has advised over 100 companies worldwide on global supply… Continue reading Rosemary Coates, Reshoring Institute

Today’s guest is Jason Corso, co-founder and Chief Science Officer at Voxel51 and professor of Robotics and Electrical Engineering & Computer Science at the University of Michigan. With over 20 years of experience in computer vision and nearly 150 published papers, Jason has been a driving force in advancing AI tools that have become increasingly… Continue reading Jason Corso, Voxel51

Kendra DeKeyrel is the Vice President of Software at IBM, where she leads global strategy for AI-powered asset management and intelligent operations in manufacturing. With a passion for helping manufacturers navigate digital transformation, Kendra focuses on deploying emerging technologies—including AI/ML, generative AI, and automation—to improve efficiency, worker safety, and sustainability. Her work has driven transformative… Continue reading Kendra DeKeyrel, IBM

Dan Konstantinovsky is strategy director at RH Blake, a marketing agency specializing in the manufacturing sector. Dan shares insights from RH Blake’s latest research on industrial thought leadership and discusses how manufacturers can stand out through digital strategy, content marketing, and data-driven storytelling. From building trust in long sales cycles to reshaping public perception of… Continue reading Dan Konstantinovsky, RH Blake

Bill Rokos is the Chief Technology Officer at Parsec Automation and the driving force behind TrakSYS, the company’s powerful manufacturing operations management (MOM) platform. Since 1999, Bill has led the development of TrakSYS, working closely with manufacturers worldwide to design a solution that integrates seamlessly across operations—improving visibility, boosting efficiency, and reducing downtime. His collaborative… Continue reading Bill Rokos, Parsec Automation

In this episode of MFG TMW, we sit down with Melanie Hellwig-White, CEO and owner of Hellwig Suspension Products, a certified woman-owned business known for its cutting-edge suspension solutions for the automotive and RV industries. Under Melanie’s leadership, the company has honored its 79-year legacy while embracing innovation, modernization, and sustainability. A champion for women… Continue reading Melanie Hellwig-White, Hellwig Suspension Products

We welcome Erik Dullea, a partner at Husch Blackwell, who brings over 30 years of experience in government, law, and business. Specializing in cybersecurity and legal issues affecting the manufacturing sector, Erik recently co-authored the Cybersecurity section of Legal Insights for Manufacturing: Outlook for 2025, offering critical guidance on evolving regulations, including cybersecurity rules for… Continue reading Erik Dullea, Husch Blackwell

Hank Holland, CEO of Amaero International, is a leading force in reshoring and expanding U.S. production of titanium alloy powders. Under Hank’s leadership, Amaero has established the nation’s largest capacity for producing these critical materials, strengthening U.S. manufacturing resiliency through advanced manufacturing and additive technologies.  In 2023, Hank led a transformative $55 million investment to… Continue reading Hank Holland, Amaero

Mike Nager is a renowned author and influencer in Smart Manufacturing, consistently recognized among the Top 10 and Top 100 Influencers for Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). As a Business Development Executive at Festo Didactic, Mike co-founded the Solution Center, partnering with colleges to develop Smart Learning Factories that deliver hands-on… Continue reading Mike Nager, Industrial Insights / Festo Didactic

Mariana Cogan is chief marketing officer at Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, a global leader in manufacturing technologies. The company offers precision measurement systems, software, and automation solutions to optimize operations and ensure product quality in manufacturing processes.  Before joining Hexagon, Mariana held key positions in various organizations, including People.ai, PTC, and MathWorks, where she successfully implemented… Continue reading Mariana Cogan, Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence

Daniel Joseph Barry serves as vice president of Product Marketing at Configit, a global leader in Configuration Lifecycle Management (CLM) solutions. With over three decades of experience in telecommunications and IT, Daniel brings a unique perspective on how CLM is transforming the manufacturing industry. Having held technical and commercial leadership roles across global giants like… Continue reading Daniel Joseph Barry, Vice President of Product Marketing at Configit

Marki Huston serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Viega, a global leader in the manufacturing of pipe fittings and valves for the plumbing and heating industry. Viega is currently building a cutting-edge 220,000 sq ft facility in Northeast Ohio, set to open in 2025. This new facility reflects the company’s strong commitment to clean… Continue reading Marki Huston, Viega

As a pioneer in sustainable manufacturing and CEO of LightManufacturing, Karl von Kries has been instrumental in developing innovative, eco-friendly production techniques, including the breakthrough Solar Rotational Molding process. This technology leverages solar energy to produce plastic products more efficiently and sustainably, with applications already in use by companies and the US Military. In addition… Continue reading Karl von Kries, LightManufacturing

Join us as we dive into a conversation with Berk Birand, co-founder and CEO of Fero Labs, a leader in advancing manufacturing efficiency and sustainability through cutting-edge technology. Under Berk’s leadership, Fero Labs has revolutionized industrial operations by integrating data science with manufacturing processes using their Augmented Intelligence Platform. Before Fero Labs, Berk co-founded Tuuum… Continue reading Berk Birand, Fero Labs

We chat with Randy Carr, the dynamic president and CEO of World Emblem, a global leader in embroidered patches and emblems. Randy’s journey in the manufacturing world started at just 17, and over the past 21 years, he’s turned his father’s business into a powerhouse, crafting over 1 million emblems daily for iconic brands like… Continue reading Randy Carr, World Emblem

John Kevin Koehler serves as manufacturing gofor at KK Tool Company, a custom tooling and parts manufacturer established in 1972 in Springfield, Ohio. KK Tools specializes in contract manufacturing, with a strong focus on tool and die design for the manufacturing industry. Their services encompass prototype design and manufacture, process development, and full-scale production.  John… Continue reading John Kevin Koehler, KK Tool Company

Dave Evans, CEO of Fictiv, co-founded the global manufacturing company in 2013 with his brother, Nate, to simplify sourcing for custom manufacturing. Fictiv offers an intelligent manufacturing operating system that leverages a distributed network of vetted vendors to help teams streamline prototyping and product development cycles. Dave is a distinguished member of the Fast Company… Continue reading Dave Evans, Fictiv

Lieutenant Colonel Kathy Gallowitz, founder and CEO of Vanguard Veteran, is a seasoned 30-year Air Force veteran. In response to 9/11, she designed and led a novel statewide outreach program for the Ohio National Guard to educate and engage civilians in support of troops and their families.   Kathy is the author of Beyond ‘Thank You… Continue reading Lieutenant Colonel Kathy Gallowitz

As Chief Learning Officer at HumanWRKS and Principal Industrial Strategist for Hexagon Asset Lifecycle Intelligence. Brent Kedzierski’s primary roles at both companies are to improve the worker experience by creating a more human-centered approach to digital transformation.   At Shell, Brent served as Head of Learning Strategy and Innovation,  and Global Manager of Manufacturing Learning. He… Continue reading Brent Kedzierski, HumanWRKS

Meghan Kennelly is head of Global Marketing at German Bionic, a robotics firm headquartered in Germany and the US that develops and produces wearable technologies, including connected exoskeletons driven by artificial intelligence.   Under Meghan’s leadership, German Bionic has secured a number of accolades, such as Fast Company’s “Innovation by Design Award,” the CES 2023 “Best… Continue reading Meghan Kennelly, German Bionic

Adam Gluck is CEO & Founder of Copia Automation, building DevOps tools for controls and automation engineers that streamlines operations, reduces downtime, and improves innovation and delivery of applications and services. Copia’s flagship offering provides Git-based source control for PLC programming.  Adam was an early hire on Uber’s driver engineering team and later was the… Continue reading Adam Gluck, Copia Automation

Jay Timmons has served as president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers since 2011 and chairman of the board of the Manufacturing Institute, the NAM’s workforce development and education partner. The NAM is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector.  Since Jay took… Continue reading Jay Timmons, National Association of Manufacturers

Oleksandr Zadorozhniy is CEO and co-founder of CIoEE, which provides companies with SaaS based Industry 4.0 solutions to improve customers’ productivity by increasing production efficiency, improving quality and yield. CloEE also helps companies measure and control carbon emissions to reduce energy consumption and minimize the number of required machine tools. Olexandr’s team has served more… Continue reading Oleksandr Zadorozhniy, CIoEE

Christelle Keefer, Global Product Manager for Robotics Education at ABB Robotics, leads the Global Solutions Center for Education and collaborates with colleagues and educators worldwide to determine the educational products and solutions needed to train the future workforce in robotics and automation. Her current position is informed by her prior roles as Business Development Manager… Continue reading Christelle Keefer, ABB Robotics

John Brandt, CEO and founder of The MPI Group and the former editor-in-chief and publisher of both Chief Executive and IndustryWeek magazines. He is an accomplished management innovator and an internationally recognized expert on manufacturing and technology. His book, NINCOMPOOPERY: Why Your Customers Hate You—and How to Fix It, is based on groundbreaking research into… Continue reading John Brandt, MPI Group

Gary Bertoline is senior vice president for Purdue Online & Learning Innovation as well as distinguished professor of Engineering Technology & Computer and Information Technology at Purdue University. While serving as dean, he co-founded the Polytechnic Institute and the Indiana Next Generation Manufacturing Competitiveness Center. The author of multiple textbooks in computer-aided design and engineering… Continue reading Gary Bertoline, Purdue University

Glenn Daehn, PhD, is principal investigator and director of a new $52 million National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center called “Hybrid Autonomous Manufacturing, Moving from Evolution to Revolution” otherwise known as HAMMER. The Ohio State University is the lead institution of a consortium that is dedicated to quickly transitioning new manufacturing processes and technologies to… Continue reading Glenn Daehn, The Ohio State University

Jay McCoy serves as Vice President of Manufacturing at Ariel Corporation , the world’s largest manufacturer of reciprocating gas compressors. During Jay’s 17-year tenure at the Mount Vernon, Ohio, based company, he has also worked as Director of Manufacturing – Machine Shop and as Superintendent. One of his previous positions was as VP of Operations… Continue reading Jay McCoy, Ariel Corporation

Jeannine Kunz serves as Chief Workforce Development Officer at SME (the Society of Manufacturing Engineers), where she provides end-to-end workforce and training solutions for communities, companies and educational institutions by leading new partnerships, programs and service offerings.  Prior to this newly created role, Jeannine served as vice president of Tooling U-SME. She is a recognized… Continue reading Jeannine Kunz, SME

Natan Linder, our 100th guest, is CEO and co-founder of Tulip, a manufacturing software company that builds digital applications to bridge the human-automation gap for frontline operations. Tulip’s platforms are based on over a decade’s worth of breakthrough research by world-class experts on technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), human-computer interaction, augmented reality,… Continue reading Natan Linder, Tulip

Bob Willig, executive director and CEO of SME (also known as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers), and John Dyck, CEO of CESMII – The Smart Manufacturing Institute, recently announced a partnership to accelerate smart manufacturing adoption.   Bob joined SME a year ago after more than 30 years’ experience holding multiple leadership positions at global manufacturing… Continue reading Bob Willig, SME; John Dyck, CESMII

Zach Douglas is a North American Product Manager at QleanAir Scandinavia. He is responsible for US product management, including moving the company’s supply chain from Europe to North America and scaling the company to meet rapid growth. Prior to that role, he worked as an Operational Excellence Manager for Outdoor Living based in Columbus, Ohio,… Continue reading Zach Douglas – QleanAir Scandinavia

During her 13-year tenure at Honda, Meredith Reffey, engineering manager at American Honda Motor Company, has worked in various North American manufacturing facility weld departments, creating specifications for weld equipment with a focus on final body welding and construction. After serving as the weld equipment project leader for the 2018 Honda Accord and 2021 Acura… Continue reading Meredith Reffey, Honda

During a recent Materials Week webinar Ned Hill, a faculty associate at the Ohio Manufacturing Institute, spoke about OMI research on digitally connected manufacturing enterprises and what is needed strategically and operationally to support them along the Industry 4.0 pathway. This first segment covers Ned’s presentation on “Lies, Damn Lies and Consultants: What Manufacturing and… Continue reading Ned Hill, Ohio Manufacturing Institute – Part 1

A self-professed Industry 4.0 champion and digital transformation leader, Ted Rozier serves as director of engineering at Festo Didactic North America. The company is a global leader in designing and implementing Industry 4.0 learning laboratories, educational equipment and programs that train people to perform in highly dynamic and complex industrial control and automation environments. Ted… Continue reading Ted Rozier, Festo Didactic North America

Mary’beth Ramey, control systems engineer for the Delrin area of DuPont Transportation & Industrial talks to us about her career path in engineering and the innovative products she has worked on at the Washington Works Site in in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Dupont is a spinoff of the world’s fourth-largest chemical company, DowDupont, and is focused… Continue reading Mary’beth Ramey, Dupont Transportation & Industrial

Brandon Cornuke, vice president, and Alec Simon, director of Startup Services at the Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network (MAGNET) talk about this year’s MSPIRE pitch challenge, which has gone virtual this year. Brandon leads the organization’s efforts to help innovators turn manufactured product ideas into viable businesses. He specializes in strategy development, business model design,… Continue reading Brandon Cornuke and Alec Simon, Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET)

Matt Garbarino, Director of Marketing Communication at Cincinnati Incorporated outlines his career at one of the oldest machine tool manufacturers in the U.S., producing press brakes, laser cutting systems, shears, PM presses, and additive equipment. Cincinnati was the first company to use Big Area Additive Manufacturing, or BAAM, technology to print the world’s first 3D… Continue reading Matt Garbarino, Cincinnati Incorporated

Norman Jones, PhD, dean and director of The Ohio State University at Mansfield and Aimee Ulstad, associate professor in Integrated Systems Engineering at Ohio State, talk about the new Bachelor of Science in Engineering Program being offered at the regional campuses beginning this Autumn 2020. We discuss the workforce needs, the types of students, and… Continue reading Norman Jones and Aimee Ulstad, The Ohio State University

For 14 years, Joe Sullivan, co-founder of Gorilla 76, a St. Louis-based industrial marketing agency and his team have helped mid-sized B2B manufacturers identify, attract, engage and drive sales opportunities with customers. The company uses a combination of positioning, content marketing, search engine optimization, website development, and sales enablement, among others. Prior to founding Gorilla… Continue reading Joe Sullivan, Gorilla 76

Kelly Reo, Executive Director of the Center for Operational Excellence at The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, joined the Center in 2018, bringing over 20 years of management and consulting experience with her. She has served as a program and project manager on many strategic initiatives for large organizations across a variety of… Continue reading Kelly Reo, Center for Operational Excellence, The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business

Rosemary Coates is founder and executive director of the Reshoring Institute (https://reshoringinstitute.org), a nonprofit focused on expanding U.S. manufacturing supply chains. As management consultant for 25 years and president of Blue Silk Consulting, she has helped over 80 global supply chain clients and works as an expert witness on legal cases involving global supply chains.… Continue reading Rosemary Coates, Reshoring Institute

Joe Lyden is president of Caster Connection, an Ohio-based manufacturer of casters and wheels with clients that include John Deere, Honda and BMW. The company’s mission is to develop innovative and optimal material handling solutions in order to deliver enhanced ergonomics, safety, and efficiency to their clients. Joe has worked at Columbus Caster for almost… Continue reading Joe Lyden, Caster Connection

Dan Newman, principal analyst of Futurum Research and CEO of Broadsuite Media Group, works with the world’s largest technology brands to explore digital transformation and help enterprises leverage disruptive innovations to gain a market advantage. A five-time best-selling author, including his most recent Human/Machine:The Future of Our Partnership with Machines; and Building Dragons: Digital Transformation… Continue reading Dan Newman, Futurum Research; Broadsuite Media Group

Brad Henry is founder and CEO of EduTechnologic, a company that specializes in augmented reality, cognitive services and wearable solutions for industry. He works to integrate advanced technologies for training, on-the-job support and usability. Brad has more than 25 years’ experience in educational technologies and e-learning environments. Prior to founding Edutechnologic, he was director of… Continue reading Brad Henry, EduTechnologic

Jim Vinoski, Forbes contributor and manufacturing expert, has covered the challenges and opportunities that manufacturers face, highlighting topics as diverse as the role of digital technologies in prosthetics production, generative design, mass personalization and Fiestaware. Jim leads teams for plant and corporate manufacturing and supply chain initiatives. He has been a site leader for Midwest… Continue reading Jim Vinoski, Forbes

Phil Winkelmann serves as continuous improvement manager at Plastic Packaging Technologies. After a rigorous lean journey, the Columbus, OH-based facility now has the distinction of being named a 2019 IndustryWeek best plant finalist. The flexible packaging manufacturer produces innovative packaging solutions for customers in food, snack and beverage, health and medical, lawn and garden, pet… Continue reading Phil Winkelmann, Plastic Packaging Technologies

Ben Marsh is CEO of Scout Systems, a manufacturing software company that supplies Machine Learning, human and process solutions to manufacturers. Their technology increases plant productivity, reduces defects, and includes an interface that reduces worker training time. Before Scout Systems, Ben held a number of manufacturing, mechanical, and applications engineering roles, including at RedDOT Seattle,… Continue reading Ben Marsh, Scout Systems

Art Barter is not only owner and CEO of Datron World Communication, he founded the Servant Leadership Institute from his experiences rebuilding his company’s culture. Datron World Communications is a 30-year-old, privately owned company located in Vista, California, that manufactures tactical military and public safety radio equipment to a diverse worldwide customer base in over… Continue reading Art Barter, Datron World Communication

Matt Long, vice-president of continuous improvement and John Miller, engineering manager at Herman Miller, offer up lessons learned during their journey toward their version of Lean, the Herman Miller Performance System (HMPS) during this episode. Herman Miller is a 108-year-old furniture and home furnishings manufacturer based in Zeeland, Michigan that garners more than $2 billion-a-year… Continue reading Matt Long & John Miller, Herman Miller

Greg Paulsen is director of Applications Engineering at Xometry, an innovative industrial engineering company that specializes in CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, 3D printing, urethane casting, and injection molding services. They offer a 24/7 online quoting platform and a network of partner manufacturing facilities. Greg has also directed Xometry’s molding and new manufacturing technologies, applications… Continue reading Greg Paulsen, Xometry

Mick McCormick, Robotics Business Leader at Yale Materials Handling Corporation, has worked in the material handling field for 30 years. He has experience in automated guided vehicles (AGVs), robotics, lift trucks and distribution management. Before his term at the Hyster-Yale Group, he served as director of product management, robotics, business intelligence and information solutions at… Continue reading Mick McCormick, Yale Materials Handling Corporation

Ben Redwood is director of business development at 3D Hubs, headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Founded in 2013, 3D Hubs offers parts prototyping and production to manufacturers using 3D Printing, CNC Machining and Injection Molding. Ben has also served as the director of supply chain, where he grew the 3D Hubs global supply chain across all… Continue reading Ben Redwood, 3D Hubs

Vasil Hlinka CEO of AwareAbility Technologies, an Internet of Things technology company. In addition to consulting with customers on their data capture investments and needs, they produce hardware that can operate in ultra low-power and no-power environments. Before AwareAbility, Vasil held a number of consulting and leadership positions at a number of technology and IT… Continue reading Vasil Hlinka, Awareability Technologies

Teresa McMahon, Executive Director of the Iowa Lean Consortium, is a leading authority on change management and organizational performance. She helps members of the Iowa Lean Consortium to increase their proficiency with Lean tools and share best practices to improve their bottom line. Prior to ILC, Teresa was deputy director of the Iowa Department of… Continue reading Teresa McMahon, Iowa Lean Consortium

Steve Phillips is the owner of Phillips Precision, located in Boyleston, MA. Founded in 1997, Phillips Precision has grown its machining capabilities and expanded its offerings to rapid prototyping, laser marking, 3D printing and precision milling and turning. Steve is the inventor of the Pitbull Clamp workholding device and Loc-N-Load quick-swap fixture plate system. Prior… Continue reading Steve Phillips, Phillips Precision

Ritch Ramey is the engineering technologies coordinator at the Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative, or RAMTEC, which provides training to high school students and incumbent workers on industry-standard facilities and equipment. RAMTEC is located at the Tri-Rivers Career Center Advanced Manufacturing facility in Marion, Ohio; other training sites are now located at most… Continue reading Ritch Ramey, RAMTEC

Will Zell, CEO and Founding Partner of Nikola Labs leads a wireless power company with a far-field technology that converts radio frequency (RF) energy into direct current (DC) power. One of their products that may interest those in manufacturing is a transponder and predictive sensor system that provides predictive maintenance on machines by monitoring temperature… Continue reading Will Zell, Nikola Labs

Ron Burton is executive vice president of the Transportation Research Center, the largest independent vehicle test facility, research and development, and proving grounds in the U.S. A 32-year veteran, Ron has program management oversight in injury biomechanics, vehicle crash worthiness and biomechanics, advanced crash-avoidance technology, and human factors programs. Ron has been a member of… Continue reading Ron Burton & Avery Caughenbaugh, Transportation Research Center

Bob Mick, Director of Professional & Distance Education Programs at The Ohio State University College of Engineering, leads the online Masters of Global Engineering Leadership program,a professional degree for practicing engineers who want to increase their management acumen and leadership skills along with their technical expertise. The degree is delivered completely online and can be… Continue reading Bob Mick, Masters of Global Engineering Leadership

We have a special treat for our podcast listeners! Luconda Dager, President of Velvet Ice Cream Company, at the headquarters located at Ye Olde Mill in Utica, Ohio is the fourth generation of her family to lead the 103-year-old company that distributes more than five million gallons of ice cream each year. Before joining Velvet… Continue reading Luconda Dager, Velvet Ice Cream Company

The Ohio Means Internships & Co-ops program in Central Ohio that is funded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education is focused on providing students with work experiences in advanced manufacturing. The following two segments capture two OMIC programs from this autumn. The first event you will hear is at an Engineering Career Fair offered… Continue reading Ohio Means Internships and Co-ops Program

Bob Graff, Senior Sales Manager of STEM Education & Workforce Development at Yaskawa America. Yaskawa Motoman, located in Miamisburg, Ohio, produces robotic automation for industry and robotic applications, including arc welding, clean room, coating, material cutting, materials handling, and spot welding. Recently, they have become well-known for their collaborative robot, or co-bot, line. Before Yaskawa,… Continue reading Bob Graff, Yaskawa America

Nate Strum, executive director of Grow Licking County, joined GROW Licking County Community Improvement Corporation in 2015, three years into the CIC’s existence. As executive director, Nate serves as the primary point of contact for business and industry attraction and expansion inquiries about Licking County. Prior to Grow Licking County, Nate served as project manager… Continue reading Nate Strum, Grow Licking County

Bronson Jones is CEO and owner of Banner Metals Group in Grandview, Ohio. Founded in 1921 as a tool and die company, Banner Metals Group has expanded its offerings to metal stamping, fabrication, welding, CNC machining, laser cutting, and engineering services. Banner Metals manufactures metal products for industries throughout the world, including aerospace and automotive.… Continue reading Bronson Jones, Banner Metal Groups

Stephanie Kovach, who is an employee development specialist, and Amy Nelson, who is a manufacturing talent program development specialist, discuss their innovative approaches to workforce development practices at Crown Equipment Corporation. Located in New Bremen, Ohio, Crown Equipment is the fourth largest material handling manufacturer of powered industrial forklift trucks in the worldwith almost $3… Continue reading Stephanie Kovach and Amy Nelson, Crown Equipment Corporation

A household name, Stanley Black & Decker is a Fortune 500 American manufacturer of industrial tools, household hardware and security products. As Vice President of Breakthrough Innovation for Stanley Black & Decker’s Innovation Accelerator team, Bob Welsh’s focus is to improve and advance SBD’s global innovation processes and impact. Additionally, his team is responsible for… Continue reading Bob Welsh, Stanley Black & Decker

Dr. Barbara Trautlein, PhD, is a leadership strategist, keynote speaker, host of the Women and Manufacturing Podcast, and founder of Change Catalysts LLC. She has worked with leaders in manufacturing and steel industries, among many otherindustries, to facilitate successful and sustainable change at all levels. Some of her company clients include: Ford Motor Company, Abbott… Continue reading Barbara Trautlein, Change Catalysts, LLC

While working for Systems and Materials Research Consultancy, Anjan Contractor, CEO and co-founder of BeeHex, invented NASA’s 3D food printer system for deep space missions.The system can “print” dishes using layers of food powders that will have a shelf life of three decades.For the first time, astronauts mayenjoy space pizza while meetingthe agency’s strict nutritional… Continue reading Anjan Contractor, BeeHex

Dan Rockwell is CEO and co-founder of Big Kitty Labs, a rapid prototyping digital agency based in Columbus, Ohio. The company was founded in 2009 after a series of events that led him to realize that building things should be easier, and that prototypes provide a ready foundation. Building Big Kitty was an act largely… Continue reading Dan Rockwell, Big Kitty Labs

Sundar Veeraraghavan, PhD, manages emerging products at UES Inc., a Dayton-area science and technology firm and an R&D 100 Award winner. At UES, he focuses on helping to mature and bring to market the cutting-edge technologies that his colleagues develop in materials science, surface engineering, power and propulsion, lasers and photonics as well as bio-… Continue reading Sundar Veeraraghavan, UES Inc.

John Brandt, CEO and founder of The MPI Group, is an internationally recognized expert on manufacturing and technology with more than two-decades experience devoted to studying leadership in effective, purpose-driven organizations as well as how companies can adapt themselves to today’s new markets, corporate structures, and customer demands. John’s work at MPI Group has produced… Continue reading John Brandt, The MPI Group

Jeff Berrie, PhD, is vice president and division manager at BerrieHill Research, a Division of Applied Research Associates. BerrieHill offers expertise in the design and development of antennas, computational eletromagnetics and RF measurements. Previously, Jeff worked at Mission Research Corporation (now part of Orbital-ATK) for 13 years, leading the Signature Exploitation Group of their Electromagnetic… Continue reading Jeff Berrie, BerrieHill Research

Robert Handfield is the Bank of America University Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain Management at North Carolina State University and director of the Supply Chain Resource Cooperative. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor with the Supply Chain Management Research Group at the Manchester Business School. Robert is the consulting editor of the Journal of… Continue reading Robert Handfield, Supply Chain Resource Cooperative

Helen Muga, PhD, is founder of Pacific Water, a business that provides innovative water products and services. She developed Pacific Water as a way to expose her students to the business world of water, and to show them how to build a business from the ground up. She and her students design and build residential… Continue reading Helen Muga, Pacific Water

During this podcast, two members of the MAGNET Incubation Center talk about their new and growing companies. Lisa Oswald is owner of Kay Chemical. For over 50 years, Kay Chemical has been a Cleveland-based, family-owned company that manufactures high-quality industrial hand cleaners. The products, including K-GARD hand cleaner, are praised by mechanics, artists, and other… Continue reading Lisa Oswald, Kay Chemical and Mike Dougherty, SmartMulch

Brandon Cornuke is VP of Startup Services at the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network – otherwise known as MAGNET. The Incubation Center he leads helps innovators turn manufactured product ideas into growing businesses, specializing in strategy development, business model design, and lean innovation. He also teaches MBA students as an Adjunct Professor of Design and… Continue reading Brandon Cornuke, MAGNET Incubation Center

Carla Bailo, assistant vice president for Mobility Research and Business Development at The Ohio State University, helps the university accelerate sustainable mobility and transportation innovation. While integrating related research and education across Ohio State’s academic units, she also helps coordinate Ohio State’s involvement as the primary research partner for Smart Columbus, a $140 million program… Continue reading Carla Bailo, Ohio State Assistant VP for Mobility

David Levine is co-founder and president of Wireless Environment an innovative lighting company based in Mayfield Village, Ohio, that produces LEDs, power sources and controls under the Mr. Beams and SwitchSense brands. Exceeding $20 million in revenue in 2016, Wireless Environment produces off-grid, energy-efficient lighting with integrated power sources for light bulbs and fixtures. In… Continue reading David Levine, Wireless Environment

Tom Lix, founder and CEO of Cleveland Whiskey, a company that uses a proprietary process to accelerate the aging of whiskey from 6-12 years to 24 hours. Cleveland Whiskey also creates a series of unique finishes with woods such as Apple Wood, Honey Locust Wood, and Hickory Wood not traditionally used for barrel production. Needless… Continue reading Tom Lix, Cleveland Whiskey

Enjoy the second of a two-part series from Ohio State’s Center for Operational Excellence’s Leading Through Excellence summit. Even though the event was sold out, you can benefit from four of the breakthrough leaders who presented on best practices and industry leading research. In this session, Eric Olsen, Director of Central Coast Lean, Professor and… Continue reading Center for Operational Excellence Summit, Part 2

Enjoy the first of a two-part series from Ohio State’s Center for Operational Excellence’s Leading Through Excellence summit. Even though the event was sold out, you can benefit from four industry leaders offering best practices and the latest research. In this session, Derek Browning, VP of sales and marketing at LeanCor Supply Chain Group outlines… Continue reading Center for Operational Excellence 2017 Summit, Part 1

Ashley Thompson, co-founder and CEO of 50 Strong, a blow molding manufacturer in Lima, Ohio, that produces water bottles and bicycle accessories; these products are distributed to Walmart stores nationwide. 50 Strong was formed in 2012 when Ashley and her husband Brendan launched the business. The company is a division of Precision Thermoplastic Components, a… Continue reading Ashley Thompson, 50 Strong

Today we are speaking with Cheryl Hay, Director of Project Talent Acquisition at JobsOhio. Cheryl is responsible for the challenging work of developing a skilled advanced manufacturing workforce for Ohio’s firms. Before JobsOhio, she served as deputy chancellor with the Ohio Department of Higher Education and focused on strategies to help Ohio’s higher education system… Continue reading Cheryl Hay, JobsOhio

Cindi Marsiglio, vice president of US Sourcing & Manufacturing at Walmart, is responsible for delivering Walmart’s $250 billion commitment towards additional US manufacturing in the next ten years. In that role she leads the company’s mission to facilitate opportunities with current and new suppliers and accelerate making US-made goods available to Walmart customers She is… Continue reading Cindi Marsiglio, Walmart

Today’s podcast is a series of flash interviews with manufacturers and service providers participating at [M]Power, a gathering of Northeast Ohio manufacturing leaders sharing best practices across keynotes and workshops. MAGNET, the Cleveland Engineering Society and Crain’s Cleveland Business sponsored this event that convened more than 450 participants in Cleveland.

Chris Caplice, PhD, is executive director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Transportation and Logistics. He created and leads the MITx MicroMaster’s Program in Supply Chain Management – the first online credential offered at MIT with 100,000 students from 180 different companies participating. In addition to founding the MIT FreightLab – a research… Continue reading Chris Caplice, MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics