Makingchips | Equipping Manufacturing Leaders

What is the greatest show on manufacturing Earth? IMTS. Every two years, the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) draws manufacturers from around the world to Chicago for six days. IMTS not only makes a huge impact on the economy in Chicago but also on the manufacturing industry. Peter Eelman—the Chief Experience Officer at AMT— joins us in this episode of MakingChips to share just what that impact is. Because if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM! – Nick Segments [0:13] The Industrial Digital Marketing Services at Thomas™ [2:45] What our new show structure is going to look like [4:35] Manufacturing leadership spotlight: Karyn Ross [6:22] Today’s guest: Peter Eelman at AMT [9:28] What Peter’s been doing since IMTS [13:16] The impact IMTS has on Chicago [22:41] The economic impact on the manufacturing industry [27:02] Does the health of the trade show industry matter? [30:14] What impacted the attendance numbers in 2022? [35:17] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop  [35:55] How ca

I’m Mike Payne, the President and Owner of Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication and the first guest host for MakingChips Seasons. When I first bought my company, I had to take on many of the HR functions. Enter Thrive PEO: Jon Scoggins came into the picture and took a lot off my plate.  So in this episode of MakingChips, Jon joins us to share what a PEO is and how it can not only benefit manufacturing leaders, but help them remain competitive in the workforce. Because if you can’t attract and retain machinists, you’re not MakingChips. And if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM! Segments [1:48] Learn more about the MakingChips Seasons concept [3:14?] Why Mike Payne is our inaugural guest host [6:25] Introducing Jon Scoggins: President & CEO at Thrive PEO [8:08] What is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO)? [12:17] How a PEO can help you with employee onboarding [14:00] How Thrive PEO goes above and beyond a payroll company [15:38] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop  [16:16] A PEO can

Where have we been? Where are we now? Where are we going? These three questions are a simple way to structure how we communicate the vision for our company. But to reach the goals we’ve outlined in our vision, we need a plan. And then we need to work the plan.  During our upcoming annual sales summit, I’ve asked my sales teams to create growth roadmaps for their goals and objectives. In this episode of MakingChips, I’ll share how we’re going to structure our roadmaps and how you can make the process work for you. Because if you don’t plan the work, you’re not MakingChips, and if you don’t work the plan, you’re not making money. BAM! – Nick Segments [3:22] New Segment: Where in the world is Tony Gunn?  [9:10] Jason’s “Where, where, where” structure [10:34] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop  [11:13] The format for our annual sales summit [21:44] Thomas™ supplier analytics dashboard Resources mentioned on this episode Tony Gunn on LinkedIn The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscr

We know that 2023 is going to be a challenge. After all, a recession is being purposefully orchestrated. The Fed is trying to curb inflation. And truthfully, recessions are a normal part of the economic cycle. Will a recession negatively impact the manufacturing industry? Or will we be left untouched? Will a recession actually lead to new opportunities for the metalworking nation? In this episode of MakingChips, we continue with our recession obsession, because if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM!  Segments [0:10] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [1:32] Is a recession being purposefully orchestrated? [3:03] Manufacturing News: 3M cutting 2500 manufacturing jobs [5:53] We share why recessions are normal [8:08] Why is a recession going to happen? [11:07] How is this impacting the manufacturing industry? [13:27] How can you transform your company in 2023? [15:24] Learn about the Industrial Buying Engine (IBE) Resources mentioned on this episode The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop 3M cutting

Reflecting on the past and learning from it helps shape our future decisions as leaders—both personally and professionally. I’ve worked in my family business for 25 years and recently spent some time reflecting on what I’ve learned.  So in this episode of MakingChips, I share 10 things I’ve learned during my time at ZENGERS. You need to learn and grow alongside your team. If they aren’t learning and growing with you, you won’t be effectively MakingChips. And if you’re not MakingChips, you aren’t making money. BAM! – Jason  Segments [0:19] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [3:54] Reflections on 25 years at ZENGERS [5:52] Manufacturing News: Tesla announces $3.6 billion investment [7:30] Why social media is for interacting [8:55] #1: Give your team a reason to wake up in the morning [10:18] #2: Don’t be afraid to blow things up and start a new business model [11:02] #3: Respect your mentors while being yourself [12:40] #4: Leaders need to acknowledge and own their influence [13:54] #5: Do something every day t

As a manufacturing leader, one of the most important things you can do is hire the right people. As I’ve been working through the recruiting process, I started to realize that it closely parallels the sales process. And if you excel as a salesperson, you’ll find it easier to recruit than you think. In this episode of MakingChips, we talk about recruitment in manufacturing. Because if you can't build the right team, you’re not MakingChips, and if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM! Segments [0:15] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [1:37] We’re building a recording space at ZENGERS [3:53] Manufacturing News: GM to Sink Over $900M Into 4 Plants [9:23] The parallels between LinkedIn Recruiter and Sales Navigator [13:27] The list-building and prospecting process is the same [14:14] Prospecting and recruiting are the same grind [17:43] You have to qualify prospects and recruits  [19:33] Prospecting and recruiting are both about building trust [21:20] Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription wit

This is a good time of year to start thinking about your sales pipeline and hunting for new business. Prospecting is one of the most important things you can do to grow your business—but it’s also something that everyone hates—even salespeople. So what is the concept of “Fanatical” prospecting? How do you bite the bullet and get started? We share some tips in this episode of MakingChips. Because if you’re not prospecting, you’re not growing, and if you’re not growing—you’re not MakingChips. BAM! – Nick Segments [0:20] Learn how Thomas™ can work for you [4:45] What’s happening in our businesses [5:42] Manufacturing News: Aerospace Industry Outlook [11:22] Why prospecting is an important piece of the sales puzzle [15:16] The concept of “Fanatical Prospecting” [18:32] Top performers utilize time blocking [23:37] How to start fanatically prospecting  [26:53] Balancing prepwork and numbers  [29:26] Why a recession is the best time to prospect Resources mentioned on this episode 2023 aerospace and defense indust

Are you conducting performance reviews in your business? Have you found a way to structure them to be useful? In this episode of MakingChips, Jason and I talk about how we structure our performance reviews, why we do them consistently, and why they matter. Your teams need to be performing at a high level. Why? If they’re not achieving their goals, they’re not MakingChips, and if they’re not MakingChips, we’re not making money! BAM! – Nick Segments [0:16] Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription with code CHIPS25 [2:33] Jason’s favorite manufacturing memory from 2022 [4:08] Announcing one of our guest hosts for 2023 [8:03] Manufacturing News: U.S. manufacturing needs federal funding [13:51] Implementing a self-review alongside performance reviews [20:10] The #1 thing I learned from our performance reviews [22:28] Making sure performance reviews are a good use of time [25:33] Why peer reviews can be a useful tool to gauge performance [28:23] Start implementing performance reviews in your business Resources

ChatGPT is a chatbot that is making waves in artificial intelligence. It’s not your typical chatbot that produces canned robotic answers. So in this episode of MakingChips, we put ChatGPT to the test. We asked the bot five questions about manufacturing and its answers will surprise you. Plus, we share how this AI can be useful to the manufacturing nation. Because if you're not taking advantage of technology, you’re not MakingChips, and if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM! – Jason Segments [0:20] Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription with code CHIPS25 [3:45] Why Mike Payne is excited about ChatGPT [7:27] MakingChips is alternating guest hosts to bring different perspectives [7:45] Manufacturing News: Statistics about chatbots [9:44] Learn more about ChatGPT, its functions, and its limitations [12:47] Question #1: How do I lead the manufacturing company of the future? [14:52] Question #2: What are the best technologies for automating a machine shop?  [16:50] Question #3: How can robots

Are you looking for a way to give back to your local community? We started MakingChips as a way to serve the manufacturing nation with no strings attached. Mike Payne—the President of Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication—found a unique way to do just that. He and his team started fostering dogs last year as a way to give back to their community. How has it gone? How has it also benefited his team? We share his unique story—and why giving back is so important for manufacturing leaders to embrace—in this episode of MakingChips. Because if you’re not giving back, you’re not MakingChips, and if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM! – Jason Segments [0:17] Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription with code CHIPS25 [3:40] Manufacturing News: Bringing Manufacturing Closer to Home [7:36] Introducing today’s guest Mike Payne of Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication [9:42] Why Hill Manufacturing’s team is fostering hound dogs [13:58] How fostering hound dogs is benefitting Mike’s team [15:58] What hap

It’s official: Jim Carr is leaving MakingChips. He’s stepping back to take more time to focus on Carr Machine & Tool. Jim has been an integral part of the success of MakingChips. So in this episode, I’ll share six things I’ve learned from Jim that are impactful in both business and  life. We’ll sure miss our banter, but we’ll keep MakingChips, because if we aren’t MakingChips, we aren’t making money. BAM! – Nick Segments [1:58] A MakingChips farewell to Jim Carr [4:58] Manufacturing news: Automotive manufacturing shifting south [7:14] Lesson #1: If you need time to think about something, take it [11:04] Lesson #2: If you’re gonna do something, do it with top quality [13:09] Lesson #3: Always provide a first-class experience  [15:24] Lesson #4: Dare to be different than other leaders [16:45] Lesson #5: Relationships fuel growth (the community is everything)  [19:04] Lesson #6: You can’t work hard without playing hard [20:54] The new direction MakingChips is going to take Resources mentioned on this episo

In this special episode of MakingChips, we are taking my journey with MakingChips full circle by recording a follow-up episode to our very first episode, “Social Media in Manufacturing,” which aired in December 2014. This episode will cover why we still care about social media in manufacturing and what platforms you should leverage. Because if you aren’t leveraging social media, then you aren’t MakingChips. And if you aren’t MakingChips, then you aren’t making money. BAM! — Jim Segments [5:32] Why am I leaving MakingChips? [8:14] Do we need social media marketing? [9:46] What’s new at AME/Hennig and ZENGERS [13:56] Why should business owners care about social media? [15:42] The three different platforms that are relevant to business [18:45] Why a company page is important on LinkedIn [25:12] Building connections with a personal LinkedIn page [30:31] Don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed with “the rules” [34:10] My final words of wisdom and some big thank-you’s Resources mentioned on this episode Get 25%

Have you read the book, “Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win” by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin? The book talks about the mindset of Navy SEALs and how the techniques they employ in and out of combat can be embraced by leadership. So in this episode of MakingChips, we break down some of the facets of extreme leadership and share how they’re applicable to the manufacturing nation. Because if you’re not taking extreme ownership of your business, you’re not making chips. And if you’re not making chips, you’re not making money. BAM! – Nick Segments [3:02] What the end of the year looks like for ZENGERS and Black [5:33] How Carr Machine & Tool is growing organically [8:40] Manufacturing News: Manufacturing Survey Report [15:59] Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win [17:22] Why do military officers make amazing business leaders? [19:04] The gist of Jocko Willink’s TEDx Talk [20:41] What do you do when you take extreme ownership? [24:17] What should you instill in your culture?  [27:

When do you ask customers to pay their invoices? How do you ask your customers to pay their invoice(s)? Collecting on a debt that’s owed is an art and a science. You have to be careful so you don’t lose a customer. In this episode of MakingChips, we cover a recent frustrating situation I dealt with that should have been handled differently—because they just might lose me as a customer. Don’t miss this episode to hear the whole story! – Jim Segments [3:06] What’s happening at ZENGERS and Carr Machine & Tool [7:12] Using discretion in your collection tactics [9:10] Manufacturing news: Indiana leads nation on manufacturing job growth [15:37] The reason why we’re talking about collection tactics [23:58] How we evaluate our collection tactics [26:51] Who is handling accounts receivable?  Resources mentioned on this episode Indiana is leading the nation on manufacturing job growth Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

We believe that there are three components to running a great manufacturing company: People, process, and performance. And properly managing each of these areas will drive the success of your business. In this episode of MakingChips, we moderate a panel at the CV Manufacturing Conference with special guests Mike Allison and Ryan Howard. We cover everything from finding and retaining top talent to achieving and sustaining high-output results. Don’t miss this special edition of the MakingChips podcast! Segments [1:20] How MakingChips got its start [4:28] Introducing Mike Allison and Ryan Howard [6:42] Strategies to find, hire and retain top talent  [14:05] How manufacturing can make an impact on your family [18:54] How to build on the strengths of your employees [26:32] Using personality tests to identify motivations for employees [30:46] The processes they use to meet customer’s demands [38:50] Key characteristics of a best-in-class supplier [42:20] What Mike and Ryan are doing differently with processes [46:

Do you struggle to sleep at night? Do you lay in bed and think about work and show up in the morning exhausted? Guess what—sleepy leaders are NOT better leaders. I’m going to share why I think that and how manufacturing leaders can get higher-quality shut-eye in this episode of MakingChips. Because if you’re not getting enough sleep, it’s like being drunk on the job. And if you’re drunk, you’re certainly not MakingChips, and you’re not making money. BAM! Segments [3:40] What’s happening in our businesses [6:24] What’s keeping you up at night?  [8:05] Why sleep is important to your overall health [13:17] My tips to help you achieve better sleep [23:42] Jim’s tips to help you sleep at night  [29:16] Some tips that experts recommend  Resources mentioned on this episode How drunk are you without sleep? CEOs: A Sleep Culture at Work Is a Competitive Advantage Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

I met Jamie and Lee Marzilli at ProShop ERP’s happy hour event while we were at IMTS 2022. When I heard how they founded and grew a machine shop as a married couple, I knew we needed to have them as guests on MakingChips. So in this episode, Jamie and Lee share their background in machining and how they built Marzilli Machine from the ground up. Don’t miss hearing about their grassroots success story!  Segments [2:35] A husband and wife team on MakingChips! [5:31] The definition of teamwork (makes the dream work) [6:05] Recruiting and hiring in our businesses [9:12] The Hawkeye Community College visit [10:30] How rising inflation impacts manufacturing [14:37] Introducing Jamie and Lee Marzilli [16:37] How Jamie got started in manufacturing [24:01] Jamie’s temporary stint selling cars [28:05] How Jamie and Lee started their shop [34:40] Navigating a business and a marriage [39:06] The vision for the future of Marzilli Machine Resources mentioned on this episode Michael Watkins and David Capkovitz from EBITD

Kelsey Heikoop and Paul Van Metre met in an entry-level engineering class. They hit it off right away—while simultaneously falling in love with machining. Once they graduated college, they started their own machine shop. How did that lead to founding ProShop ERP? They share the ProShop ERP origin story—full of overcoming challenges to reach success—in this episode of MakingChips!  Segments [2:17] Our aha moments from IMTS [5:49] Manufacturing news: Uptick in production [7:12] Learn more about Kelsey Heikoop and Paul Van Metre [15:54] From growing a custom machine shop to creating an ERP [19:08] Selling the idea of ProShop ERP to a developer [25:44] What helped them overcome their struggles [30:44] Onboarding ProShop ERP with their first customer [34:37] The outstanding success of ProShop Resources mentioned on this episode Connect with Kelsey Heikoop on LinkedIn Connect with Paul Van Metre on LinkedIn Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

How do you make an industry event a worthy investment for your business? Can you prepare ahead of time to see an ROI? What should you avoid doing when you’re attending an event? In this episode of MakingChips—with IMTS fresh on our minds—we talk about the dos and don’ts for industry events. You have to be strategic because if you’re not making chips, you’re not making money. BAM! – Nick Segments [1:09] What’s happening in our lives [4:42] Hear our manufacturing news [9:49] What we’re reading right now [11:37] The ROI of industry events [15:27] Craft a social media campaign [16:47] Set appointments ahead of time [18:12] Prepare specific questions [19:32] Bring a guest with you [21:12] The “don’ts” you need to avoid Resources mentioned on this episode Kiplinger Letter Good to Great The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win Selling the Price Increase The Terminal List ProShop ERP Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagr

I believe if you find your passion you will have a successful and fruitful career. I didn't realize what my true passions were until later in life. In this episode of MakingChips, each of us will break down and share with the metalworking nation what we are passionate about. Because if you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, you’re not living to your full potential. And if you’re not happy with your job, you’re not making chips, and if you’re not making chips, you’re not making money. BAM! — Jim Segments [3:21] The definition of “finding your passion” [3:53] What’s happening in our lives [8:05] Manufacturing News [13:56] What we’re passionate about [22:35] Be realistic about your passions Resources mentioned on this episode Biden signs China competition bill to boost U.S. chipmakers NAM Facts About Manufacturing Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube