Manufacturing Happy Hour

Hosted by Chris Luecke

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Jun 2026

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Welcome to Manufacturing Happy Hour, the podcast where we get real about the latest trends and technologies impacting modern manufacturers. Hosted by industry veteran Chris Luecke, each week, we interview makers, founders, and other manufacturing leaders that are at the top of their game and give you the tools, tactics, and strategies you need to take your career and your business to the next level. We go beyond the buzzwords and dissect real-life applications and success stories so that you can tackle your biggest manufacturing challenges and turn them into profitable opportunities. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

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June 16, 202656 min

292: What Manufacturers Can Learn from Silicon Valley: Mechatronics, Startups, and More (LIVE from San Jose, CA)

Growing your own machinists and orchestrating robots across four continents, is this what the future of manufacturing looks like? This live episode from Hapa's Brewing in the Bay Area features two panels of people who have built careers at the intersection of mechatronics, automation, and industrial innovation. First up, Vinod, Kevin, and Adam get into what it takes to build a skilled workforce from the ground up, talking about apprenticeships, college partnerships, and growing your own talent in-house. Then we get into the bigger picture with our founder panel Kim, Glenn, Nick, and Florian on what Silicon Valley gets wrong about manufacturing, and what manufacturers are missing by not paying closer attention to what's being built there. In this episode, find out: How Vinod bootstrapped an automation company in the Bay Area while raising a family and why his wife had something to do with it What Kevin learned from a 3-year German apprenticeship that he thinks more US manufacturers should be paying attention to How Adam solved his machinist shortage by bringing the training programme in-house and partnering with a local college How Kim thinks about leading companies through inflection points when there are no guardrails or safety nets Why Glenn believes manufacturers who aren't paying attention to what's being built around them won't even know when it's too late How Nick's B2C background completely changed the way he thinks about building software for frontline manufacturing workers Why Florian ignored his investors and opened a public-facing robotics storefront on the main street of Mountain View Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “You don't have that mechanical job anymore that's done by one person. You need support, whether it's software support or you need a robot at your side.” – Kevin Toomer, Product Manager at Sumitomo Drive Technologies “In automation, you don't need a master's or a PhD to be successful. Just getting creative and having that experience in mechanical engineering really helped me in my career.” – Vinod Anandarajah, Co-Founder and CEO at Kanavu Automation ”In Silicon Valley, we tend to love disruption because to us it represents something new and something better. But when you get on a manufacturing floor, they tend to want predictability.” - Kim Losey, Founder and CEO at NextLine Group Links & mentions: Kanavu Automation, bringing value to manufacturing clients via a strategic focus on machine automation and robotics MaintainX, empowering maintenance professionals to reduce unplanned equipment downtime and boost production capacity NextLine Group, architecting what is next in robotics engineering Sumitomo Drive Technologies, providing engineered solutions to industrial power transmission customers Beluga Navigation Systems, building deep tech navigation solutions for vehicle and vessel navigation InOrbit.AI, leading AI-powered robot orchestration platform, driving software-defined operations at scale Hapa’s Brewing Company, craft brewery and taproom located in San Jose, CA Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

June 12, 20261 hr 0 min

BONUS: Factory Orchestration: The Next Frontier of Manufacturing Operations with Harmoni Co-Founder David Caputo

What if the biggest efficiency problem in your factory isn't your machines, it's the dead time you waste before you even get to one.Workers queuing at ADP and ERP terminals every morning. A wing rib scrapped at the cost of $18,000 because the wrong work instruction was on screen. A program gone forever when the machinist who maintained it quietly for a decade retired to Poland. David witnessed all of these problems within his manufacturing acquisitions despite them having advanced tech for the time period.Chris sits down with David Caputo, Co-Founder of Harmoni, to get into how his intelligent factory orchestration system connects machines, people, and data for true control across the shop floor.Harmoni fills the gap in the renowned ISA-95 stack that most manufacturers never knew they were missing, supplementing human-intensive operations that make up 99% of the market.Harmoni operates within three buckets with the aim of wasting less time and making less mistakes. The system is designed to cover all bases without interfering with the essential human input needed to fulfil complex tasks. David talks to Chris about the labor automation, process control, and observability that Harmoni brings to the factory floor.In this episode, find out:What factory orchestration is and why David sees it as a distinct category from existing toolsHow David's experience acquiring and running four aerospace and defense manufacturers drove the creation of HarmoniWhy Harmoni's three pillars (labor automation, process control, and observability) address the ISA-95 gap that leaves most human-intensive factories underservedHow the no-titles, pods-based structure at Harmoni works and why David recommends it for companies under around 200 employeesWhat the Harmoni AI Lieutenant (HAL) does on the shop floor versus in the office, and why shop floor AI requires both context and a delivery mechanism to be usefulWhere David sees the 297,000 US manufacturers under 500 employees needing to compete in a world of autonomous factories and vertically integrated supply chainsWhy David advises manufacturers to ask one question before any software investment: how will this tool change what happens on my shop floorEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"What Harmoni's built is a new category of technology. We call this factory orchestration, and there's a very simple goal: waste less time and make fewer mistakes." - David Caputo“Simply having indicator lights to say whether a machine's running is not telling you the full picture. A machine could be running but running very inefficiently. We're giving you the information you need and allowing you to manage your factory in real time.” - David Caputo“Somehow you have to produce more with less, all in the face of autonomous competition and vertically integrated supply chains. Pretty tough position for the 300,000 manufacturers in this country.” - David CaputoLinks & mentions:Harmoni.io, bringing together data from operators, machines, and your shop floor software, all in real-time, to help managers make decisions and spot trends quicklyGreenwich Street Tavern, a different tavern experience that takes a traditional American pub fare menu to the next level located in Tribeca in NYCMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

June 5, 202643 min

BONUS: What Manufacturers Can Learn from Central Wisconsin's Workforce Strategy (LIVE from Wausau, WI)

What happens when manufacturers stop competing for talent and start working together to develop it?In this special LIVE episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Chris travels to Wausau, Wisconsin for a collaboration with the Central Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance (CWIMA) to explore how manufacturers across the region are working together to strengthen workforce development, accelerate innovation, and build a thriving manufacturing ecosystem.The discussion features five manufacturing leaders representing a wide range of industries:Jim Waldron, President of Wausau TileJohn Peterson, Owner & CEO of Schuette MetalsScott Mattmiller, Greenheck GroupLaura Strek, President of Imperial IndustriesTom Felch, J&D Tube BendersTogether, they discuss everything from workforce shortages and apprenticeship programs to automation, mentorship, community engagement, and why collaboration may be the biggest competitive advantage a manufacturing region can have.Make sure to visit ManufacturingHappyHour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

June 2, 202648 min

290: Why Danny Gonzales Thinks Manufacturing Has a Storytelling Problem

Content becomes forgettable when the key message isn't wrapped in storytelling.People don’t retain information anywhere near as well as they remember stories they hear, and this is where manufacturing is missing a trick.Manufacturers are battling false perceptions that the industry is dirty, dingy, not innovative and not creative. But what’s really happening is a failure to communicate the good stuff - the advanced systems and problem solving going on behind factory walls. The things that impact almost everything we touch in our lives.Chris is joined by Danny Gonzales, CEO at IndustrialSage – a video production company focusing on telling those manufacturing stories. Danny noticed that the sector was massively underserved and saw an opportunity to change peoples’ perceptions. Using his background in B2B video production to fill the empty space with tales of meaningful work, and to show them to people in a way that they can receive it as something cool. Not a brain dump of stagnant information.For anyone thinking about how manufacturing companies can better communicate their value, attract talent, build stronger brands or create connections through storytelling, this episode is a look at how media and manufacturing are merging.In this episode, find out:How IndustrialSage was born out of the discovery that the machines, technology and processes happening in factories was both very cool and underrepresented in media.IndustrialSage and Danny’s mission to change the common misconceptions about the manufacturing industry through storytelling and thought leadership.How true opportunity is found in the niches, despite the instinct to gravitate towards the aesthetic and techy industries which are usually overserviced.How Danny’s career has evolved from his college dream of becoming a Hollywood producer, and how an actual Hollywood producer set him on his current path.Why product-user content filmed on an iPhone is outperforming brand films and how leveraging these tools can save time and money while embracing the shift towards authenticity.Why Danny believes the key to creating quality video content is in the strategy and distribution and what companies can do to implement these effectively.Why storytelling is the best way to communicate the value proposition and the psychology behind why it is so effective in overcoming the flood of content.Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“IndustrialSage is on a mission to change the perception of the industry. There are a lot of people that think it's dingy, grimy, not innovative, not creative, and they're dead wrong. We want to show what is going on. We want to do that through storytelling.” – Danny Gonzales “Most people will upload videos, and they just sit there on YouTube, maybe embedded on their website, and that's it. There are so many other use cases – social media, in your trade shows, in your email campaigns.” – Danny Gonzales“For anyone that's going to be a little bit more storytelling driven, there's like an 8X chance that people are going to remember it better when you wrap it inside of a story. That's just how we communicate, and it's easier to be able to transmit.” – Danny GonzalesLinks & mentions:IndustrialSage, industry-leading media company, publishing compelling content for industrial & manufacturing professionalsSierra Nevada Brewing, their Mills River Taproom in Asheville is the Willie Wonka of craft breweriesConnect with Danny on LinkedInMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

May 26, 202656 min

289: Beyond the Hype: How Autonomy Is Scaling Across Critical Industries (LIVE from Pittsburgh)

20 years ago, automation was a pipe dream for industrial workers, 10 years ago it existed in research and development labs. Now it's fully operational in warehouses, production facilities and even mines.The companies driving robotics forwards are going one step further than developing smarter AI. They’re figuring out how to apply that advanced engineering to ‘gritty’ manufacturing – and there are few places that understand that world better than the Steel City.Pittsburgh has become an important ecosystem for developing autonomous technologies, the combination of engineering talent and thriving industrial background has turned it into somewhat of a testing ground for physical AI.Recorded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this was a special live show in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Robotics Network. Chris is joined by three industry leaders to talk about adopting autonomy in critical industries. Brett Phillips is Chief Revenue Officer and General Council at Hellbender, specializing in on-edge AI hardware development. David Griffin is Chief Sales Officer at Seegrid, manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots. Mike Smocer is CEO of Mine Vision Systems, a mining technology company building real-time digital mapping systems for GPS denied environments.They dig into how autonomy is moving beyond one-off projects, and into fully integrated systems. Brett breaks down how the incorporation of sensors and models are shrinking development timelines for autonomous systems and why Pittsburgh’s willingness to ‘get their hands dirty’ is key. David explains how advances in perception and control systems have pushed AMRs beyond basic pallet moves into large, complex material moves through busy logistics environments. Mike shares how Mine Vision Systems support vital underground decision making with millions of dollars of impact by replacing manual mapping and tribal knowledge with accurate digital records.For anyone considering where robotics and AI can create value inside their operations, thinking about the intersection between advanced software and manufacturing, or curious why Pittsburgh has become so strong in robotics and autonomy, this episode is a look at how three industry leaders are managing that change today.In this episode, find out: • About the technological advances that shifted autonomy from isolated deployments to a broader ecosystem covering manufacturing, logistics, mining and warehouse operations.• How David explains the evolution of AMRs within lifting, going from limited pallet moves to an all-in-one technology capable of moving any material to any location.• Why mid-tier manufacturers are becoming a major driver of autonomy adoption due to labor constraints and the positive impact of this in regional production environments.• What mining looks like without the implementation of automated systems, Mike discusses highly intelligent operators still using coloured pencils and paper to capture critical underground data.• Mining as a tunnel building process with the constant balance of optimizing extraction with breakage vs. how much time and cost is spent processing the material caused by that breakage.• How Hellbender utilizes their expertise and capability to provide an end-to-end service inhouse, getting their customers to market in a matter of months rather than years.• The role of sensors, on-edge AI, and manufacturing capability in accelerating the production of perception systems that serve as the eyes and ears of the autonomy stack.• What the conversation reveals about Pittsburgh’s current position as a robotics hub where engineering talent, institutional history and manufacturing culture are allowing them to go head-to-head with the likes of Silicon Valley.Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes: • “At the end of the day, we are a software company. The hardware component of our product is essentially a near commodity at this point. It's the navigation systems, the safety systems, the perception systems, the control systems.” – David Griffin • ”There is a transformation involved. There's change management involved. There are workflows that if you disrupt them just because your cool technology solved one little problem, broke 12... There's an approach to developing your technology so that it succeeds not only now, but in the future.” – Mike Smocer• “What's gonna separate us moving forward is the ability to sort of mash this really high-level, very technical engineering with real-world manufacturing. That is where, uniquely, Pittsburgh stands alone.” – Brett Phillips Do you want to connect with other leaders that are moving the needle in manufacturing everyday?Then make sure to join us in the Manufacturing Happy Hour Industry Community on LinkedIn.Apprentice has developed the first AI Agent designed specifically for manufacturing, not adapted from a general model. It connects across your full tech stack, keeps an eye on operations 24/7, and helps automate the mission-critical workflows your team is handling manually today. This isn’t “set it and forget it” AI. Your team stays in control of every critical decision, because that’s how real manufacturing works.Recommended Resources• Pittsburgh Robotics Network, facilitating commercial business growth and economic development opportunities for the Greater Pittsburgh region's robotics, automation, and vision communities• Seegrid, delivering customized AMR solutions that meet the changing needs of today's manufacturing, logistics, and warehousing facilities• Mine Vision Systems, maximizing efficiency and safety in underground mining operations with real-time 3D mapping technology• HELLBENDER Inc., building mission-critical hardware and software infrastructure for AI-driven perception systems in autonomy, robotics, and industrial applicationsConnect with David, Mike, and BrettDavid Griffin | Mike Smocer | Brett PhillipsMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

May 19, 202621 min

288: Inside the Sisterhood of Trades: Why Women Are Choosing Skilled Trades Careers

For women working in skilled trades, running into someone who knows what the work feels like doesn't happen every day, Sisterhood of Trades was founded to build that connection. Through platforms like Discord, LinkedIn and TikTok, the community is creating a space where women in the industry can connect with peers, share opportunities, find mentorship and grow their careers. Recorded live from The Manufacturing Exchange at ARTISAN works in Rochester, NY, for the second time hosting the podcast, Chris sits down with CEO Nush Ahmed, and Chief Strategy Officer Brooke Laing to talk about how their fast growing community is supporting women working across machining, pipe welding, mechanics, scaffolding, ship fitting and other areas of industry. Together, they run through how an informal and unnamed Snapchat group has evolved into an active network connecting tradeswomen across skillsets and regions. They also talk about the younger generation's approach to networking, and Nush and Brooke explain why sharing the truth of industrial work on social media always lands with a modern audience. For manufacturers thinking about workforce development, leaders trying to better engage women in industry, or those looking to understand how modern trade communities are forming and growing, this episode offers a look at how one fast-growing organization is strengthening connection across the skilled trades. In this episode, find out: Why Sisterhood of Trades was first formed around the reality that many women in trades are still the only woman on their team or in their shop How the early idea grew from a Snapchat group to a structured and organized Discord-based community providing support and connection How the community connects tradeswomen across different roles, skillsets, regions and life stage so they can learn from like-minded people and access opportunities How Nush Ahmed’s path from CNC operating to marketing and enablement shows the career mobility that is promoted through the organization Why Brooke Laing believes showing real life day to day content on social media platforms encourages both participation and retention in the trade industry How taking a modern approach to outreach and engagement performs better than more traditional methods for increasing interest in the trades How mentorship inside the community works, from students making decisions, to career transitions and progression within the skilled trades Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “Our whole thing is that we're the largest interactive group chat for women in the trades by women in the trades.” - Brooke Laing, Chief Strategy Officer “We're trying to show the real side of the industry. We don't sugarcoat anything. If you want people to come into the industry and stay, you have to show them what the real world is really like.” Brooke Laing, Chief Strategy Officer “Our members are really great. They have built their own relationships with each other, and that was the whole goal with our Discord server. It wasn't just to elevate ourselves and talk about what we do.” - Nush Ahmed, CEO “You really have to listen to your people. I think people are sick and tired of seeing the social media posts and not seeing action. When we talk about something to our members, most likely they'll see it in the next week in an article or on a podcast.” - Nush Ahmed, CEO Links & mentions: Sisterhood of Trades, bringing together women in different trades from all over the world to make connections, share advice, and promote stories and experiences Fathom Digital Manufacturing, Precision Manufacturing, Speed & Scalability – All Under One Roof…Leverage the industry’s most comprehensive suite of 25+ advanced manufacturing technologies Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

May 12, 202649 min

287: The Art of Precision Manufacturing: Why Humans Still Matter on the Factory Floor | Live from The Manufacturing Exchange in Rochester, NY (Powered by Fathom)

Full automation and AI on the factory floor are great, but the line still doesn't run without people who can feel a part click into place wrong or hear a tool burn.That space between what technology can repeat and what only an operator can sense is the art of precision manufacturing.Recorded live from The Manufacturing Exchange at ARTISANworks in Rochester, NY for the Rochester stop on the Rust Belt Renaissance Tour, Chris is joined on stage by three guests who think about that space every day. Matthew Bradley is Program Director at Moog Inc., a 75-year-old Buffalo-based motion control company building out a brand-new 150,000-square-foot machine shop. James Greer is Lead Sourcing Rep at X-Bow Systems, the non-traditional solid rocket motor manufacturer. Chris Brown, SVP of Sales, joins from Fathom Digital Manufacturing, one of the largest on-demand digital manufacturing platforms in North America.They talk through where automation creates value and where applying it too aggressively produces scrap. Matt walks through the philosophy his team is using to pull together routings, eliminate setups, and rethink "we've always done it this way" inside Moog's new facility. James shares what he looks for when grading a supplier within 60 seconds of walking the floor, the regional pockets of the US where manufacturing talent is gathering, and why the mix of people on machine shop floors is more varied than people assume.For anyone scaling a precision shop, evaluating suppliers, trying to figure out where the operator ends and the machine should begin, or thinking about the art of manufacturing, this is a look at how three working leaders are navigating that line right now.In this episode, find out:The parts of precision manufacturing that will always need a human, and why feel still beats sensors when tolerances run into the millionthsWhere the art shows up in novel parts and the unfamiliar problems no simulation, CAM program, or AI catches the first time throughWhy Moog calls its experienced machinists a "critical, precious resource" and how that framing shapes the company's plan to double headcount over the next decadeHow a Moog servo valve goes together, and why an interference fit clicking is the cue that something is already wrongWhat Chris Brown means when he says "the human brain is what needs to solve that problem," and where Fathom puts that into practiceWhat outsiders miss about Upstate New York's manufacturing scene, from optics to aerospace to motion controlHow shop culture and the way owners invest in their people decide whether the next generation of machinists staysEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"There's certain things, especially in the precision motion control world, that we just haven't been able to figure out, and frankly, we don't think we're gonna be able to. There is always gonna have to be a human in there to feel and understand what's going on." — Matthew Bradley, Program Director, Moog Inc."If you ask five engineers to solve one problem, there'll be 10 answers in 20 hours of argument. So time box that time, understand that sometimes your gut's Right. Trust it and move forward." — Chris Brown, SVP of Sales, Fathom Digital Manufacturing"What that owner did is he invested in his people. He said, 'I don't want you to go out and get a personal loan and give your money away to some financial institution. I don't want you to go get a mortgage. I'll buy your house.' So he bought all of his employees their homes through their work. He invested in his people. That story stuck with me." — James Greer, Lead Sourcing Rep, X-Bow SystemsLinks & mentions:Fathom Digital Manufacturing, one of the largest on-demand digital manufacturing platforms in North America, providing 25+ advanced manufacturing technologies and support services across additive manufacturing, injection molding, CNC machining, and sheet metal fabrication.Moog Inc., worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision motion control components and systems, headquartered near Buffalo, NY.X-Bow Systems, leading non-traditional producer of solid rocket motors, offering both traditional SRMs and advanced additive manufacturing solutions.ARTISANworks, the art-centric event space in Rochester, NY where The Manufacturing Exchange (and this episode) was held.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

May 5, 202648 min

286: Why Local Execution Drives Regional Manufacturing Success: Live from Cleveland, OH

American manufacturing’s next chapter is being written one region at a time, and Northeast Ohio is one of the places setting the standard. In a region like theirs, the institutions and programs are moving in sync, and that builds into something bigger than any plant could pull off alone. That’s why we’re hitting the road on the Rust Belt Renaissance tour to find more places where modern technology and industrial innovation are helping to revive the area. On the first stop, we’re live from Collision Bend Brewing in Cleveland with seven leaders from across the Northeast Ohio manufacturing community, working out how a region of 7,700 manufacturers turns local action into national impact. We split the conversation into three short parts: Matt Duplin (Manager, TransDigm Advanced Manufacturing Center, Cleveland State University), Kyle Zeller (NSF Engine), and Adam Artman (Executive Director, Manufacturing Works) open with what regional action actually looks like on the ground, covering the role of public universities, federal programs like the $160 million NSF Engine award, and the peer-to-peer learning behind the Manu Future program. Greg Schumacher (Director of Manufacturing, NOVAGARD) and Mike Yost (Manufacturing Excellence Program, Manufacturing Works) turn the theory into a case study, walking through the CESMII Smart Manufacturing Roadmap that Greg’s team finished in six weeks at zero cost. Jillian Kupchella (Director of Marketing, CESMII) and Jonathan Wise (Chief Technology Architect, CESMII) close the conversation with what comes next nationally, including the three technology needs that every digital project should think through. This episode is for any manufacturer wondering how to make the most of the resources closest to them. In this episode, find out: What ‘regional action’ means in a manufacturing ecosystem and why local organisations like Manufacturing Works act as the connective tissue between manufacturers, universities, and workforce providers How a public university with an 80% local student body and a dedicated advanced manufacturing centre creates a homegrown engineering pipeline that stays in the region What an NSF Engine award is, what it takes for a region to compete for one, and how Northeast Ohio became one of fifteen teams in the running for $160 million in federal funding Why peer-to-peer learning through the Manu Future programme moves the needle on technology adoption far more than any vendor pitch The ‘secret ingredient’ each panellist credits for Northeast Ohio’s manufacturing density of 7,700 manufacturers, from collaboration to history to location How CESMII is exporting the same toolset and language to other regions including Western Pennsylvania, Maryland, Los Angeles, and upstate New York The three technology imperatives Jonathan Wise lays out for any manufacturer deploying new tech – modelling data, contextualising data, and making data interoperable through tools like CESMII’s I3X Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: "We're a public university, and so we should be servicing the public and the manufacturers in our region. The advanced manufacturing center is that space." — Matt Duplin "Something like this doesn't just get spun up overnight. It's the result of years and years of work together. It speaks to the confidence that our federal government has in our region to compete on a global scale." — Kyle Zeller "What's unique about Northeast Ohio, every time I meet with someone, is always the same. It's this willingness to share. It's the willingness for the sum to be greater than the parts." — Adam Artman "We have connected our PLCs, and that data — real time, in engineers' hands, in operations' hands — we have unleashed the data. We are making decisions faster, smarter, with the right information." — Greg Schumacher "We talk about smart manufacturing like a destination. It's really just a tool for the leaders to lead. The leaders are the ones that own it and drive it." — Mike Yost "I feel very fortunate to live in a region that is so put together. From a national scale, we're hoping to implement things like this across the nation." — Jillian Kupchella "Technology is an enabler. It's a means to an end. It is not the end. Just buying technology isn't gonna solve your problems." — Jonathan Wise Links & mentions: Manufacturing Works, the membership-based organisation that serves as the connective tissue across Northeast Ohio’s manufacturing ecosystem CESMII, the Smart Manufacturing Institute and national authority on smart manufacturing, behind the roadmap toolset and the I3X interoperability framework NSF Engine, the federal place-based innovation programme behind the $160 million regional award Northeast Ohio is competing for ManuFuture, the peer-to-peer manufacturing learning programme developed in partnership with Purdue University TransDigm Advanced Manufacturing Center at Cleveland State University, the research-oriented, public-university partner serving the Northeast Ohio engineering pipeline MAGNET, the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network supporting manufacturers across the region Tri-C (Cuyahoga Community College), source of the grant that fully funded NOVAGARD’s Smart Manufacturing Roadmap NOVAGARD, silicone adhesives, sealants, and PVC foam manufacturer featured as the case study Fathom, sponsor of the Rust Belt Renaissance tour and a network of seven regional manufacturing companies Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

May 1, 202645 min

BONUS: Purpose-Built AI for Manufacturing: How AI Agents Are Transforming Workflows on the Factory Floor with Apprentice CEO Angelo Stracquatanio

General-purpose AI can answer almost anything, but that flexibility becomes a liability on the factory floor.In this bonus episode, Chris sits down with Angelo Stracquatanio, CEO of Apprentice, a purpose-built AI company for manufacturers and the creator of A1: The AI Agent for Manufacturing Teams.Angelo has spent 12 years building software for the people on the shop floor, starting in the pharma manufacturing suites where a 200-page paper binder sparked the idea for the company.The conversation covers the origin story of Apprentice, the ‘Predict and Prepare’ framework behind its biggest pivots (including the COVID response that helped produce 300 million vaccine doses), and what it looks like to become AI-native as a business. Angelo also tells the story behind A1, the AI Agent for Manufacturing Teams.This episode's for any manufacturer trying to separate AI hype from AI that can be trusted in production.In this episode, find out:Why Angelo named the company ‘Apprentice’ 12 years ago and why the meaning has only become more relevant in the AI eraHow the product evolved from AR headsets and Google Glass into a full ISA 95 manufacturing stackWhy stacking AI inside a single manufacturing system traps it behind four walls, and what a new layer above the stack can do differentlyAngelo’s personal path from writing every line of code himself to CEO leading the company through multiple pivotsThe ‘Predict and Prepare’ framework behind the team’s COVID response, and how it has guided four or five major business movesWhat Angelo has learned over 12 years about building a leadership team around complementary weaknessesWhy a custom-trained model and a constrained workflow engine are what give manufacturing AI the precision and trust it needs for production useEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“In manufacturing in particular, humans still need to be the driving force. And AI is just a tool to help support them.” “The hardest thing that I had to learn was not software. It wasn’t even the entrepreneurship or the CEO stuff. It was building trust and credibility with our customers.” “If we’re gonna use AI in manufacturing, it’s gotta be precise. Otherwise, no one’s gonna trust this thing.” Links & mentions:Apprentice, a purpose-built AI company for manufacturers and the creators of A1: The AI Agent for Manufacturing TeamsLaico’s, long-running, brick-lined nook offering an array of Italian cuisine, cocktails, and wine in Jersey City, NJMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

April 28, 202653 min

285: Why Offshoring Looks Cheaper (But Isn’t): The Real Math Behind Reshoring with Harry Moser

For years, reshoring was a fringe idea. Now, it’s one of the most talked-about topics in manufacturing.Even though the conversation is now in vogue, there’s still a challenge. Many companies are still making the same mistake when deciding where to manufacture. They’re looking at price, not total cost of ownership (TCO).In this episode, Chris sits down with Harry Moser – Founder of the Reshoring Initiative – to break down the real math behind reshoring…and why getting that math right could unlock millions of jobs and fundamentally reshape U.S. manufacturing.Make sure to visit ManufacturingHappyHour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty. Mentioned in this episode:Mfg Happy Hour's GOLDEN STATE TAKEOVER TourDon't miss Manufacturing Happy Hour on tour this May 2026 as we head across the state of California. We'll be hitting the Bay Area on 5/19, Modesto on 5/20, and Los Angeles on 5/21. Live podcasts and parties in every city. Get your tickets today.Manufacturing Happy Hour on Tour

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