Manufacturing Talks

Hosted by Jim Vinoski

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Episodes

219

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

There are millions of cool stories in manufacturing. Your host, Jim Vinoski, helps share them by talking to the people who are making them happen. Manufacturing is where the rubber meets the road. There's no hiding. You're either making good products people will buy for enough to keep you in business, or you're not. Meet the amazing folks who thrive in that survival-of-the-fittest world.

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60 recent

August 18, 202648 min

Larry Harrell with Perfect Point EDM on their new way to remove aircraft rivets!

Send us Fan Mail It's always cool to learn about breakthrough new tech, so Jim's discussion with Larry Harrell from Perfect Point EDM was a treat! Larry discusses how Perfect Point uses advanced electrical discharge machining (EDM) to revolutionize aircraft fastener removal. He explains that traditional twist drilling for titanium fasteners is labor-intensive, requiring up to seven minutes of high-force manual work and risking structural damage. The E-drill solves this by using a fly-by-wire EDM process that removes fasteners in approximately 10 seconds with only 12 pounds of force. Larry highlights the shift from aluminum to titanium and composite materials, which has increased maintenance complexity and reduced the available skilled workforce. While automation works in fixed jigs, the flexibility of the E-drill is required for aircraft that flex and bend during service. Drawing from his 26 years at Northrop Grumman, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining a nimble environment for small businesses to foster rapid prototyping. He notes that while large corporations focus on platform procurement, small businesses drive the necessary process innovations. Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction 01:41 - The Fastener Removal Challenge 04:09 - The Impact of Maintenance Requirements 11:13 - Perfect Point EDM Technology 13:45 - Managing Heat and Coatings 15:56 - Training and Workforce Integration 19:48 - Navigating Industry and Government Gaps 32:18 - Lessons from Aerospace Leadership 41:43 - Economic Benefits and Reshoring This is a chat you can really geek out on! Perfect Point EDM website: https://ppedm.com/

August 13, 202612 min

Zamboni is Chapter 1 of American Manufacturing for a Reason!

Send us Fan Mail Your host Jim Vinoski kicks off his series that will highlight each company in turn that he featured in his new book, *American Manufacturing: 22 Tales of Integrity, Ingenuity, and the Modest Heroes Who Built a Nation.* Jim starts out here with Chapter 1 about Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. Jim details the origins of the Zamboni company, founded by Frank Zamboni in California. Originally an ice industry professional, Frank transitioned from selling ice blocks to operating an ice rink. To solve the labor-intensive problem of manual ice resurfacing, he utilized post-war surplus jeeps to develop the first machines. Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction 01:25 - Zamboni Company Origins 05:34 - Evolution and Growth 09:54 - Legacy and Brand Identity There's some really fascinating stuff here. Tune in for the whole thing! Buy the book: https://www.manufacturingtalks.com/ The Zamboni company: https://zamboni.com/

August 4, 202614 min

There's a great new book out you've got to read!!

Send us Fan Mail Jim Vinoski discusses his new book, "American Manufacturing: 22 Tales of Integrity, Ingenuity, and the Modest Heroes Who Built a Nation," highlighting the importance of American manufacturing. He chose 22 companies, emphasizing their deep community roots and critical roles in national defense and everyday life. Jim aims to educate the public and policymakers on the necessity of reindustrializing America, noting the decline in sectors like textiles and steel. He believes the book's lessons on business fundamentals and resilience are crucial for the industry's future. He encourages readers to purchase the book and plans future episodes to delve deeper into each company featured. Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction to Jim Vinoski's New Book 01:15 - Purpose and Inspiration Behind the Book 03:20 - Selection of Companies Featured in the Book 05:30 - Audience and Goals of the Book 09:11 - Business Lessons and Future Plans Here's a link with all your options to get your very own copy! https://www.manufacturingtalks.com/american-manufacturing-book

July 28, 202631 min

Economist Julia Cartwright on energy policies, regulations, and nuclear power

Send us Fan Mail It was great fun to focus on nuclear energy for the second week in a row! Your host Jim Vinoski interviews Julia Cartwright from the American Institute for Economic Research about nuclear energy and regulations. Cartwright, an economist, professor, and deep thinker, discusses the inefficiencies of government intervention in energy policies, citing examples like the Road to Housing Act and the regulatory capture. She highlights the potential of nuclear energy, particularly thorium, which is more efficient and abundant than uranium and plutonium. Cartwright criticizes the U.S. for not utilizing its uranium-233 reserves and advocates for a technology-neutral policy. She also emphasizes the need for regulatory certainty to encourage investment in nuclear energy and small modular reactors. Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction and Background of Julia Cartwright 04:15 - Julia's Views on Government Regulation and Industrial Policy 08:14 - Energy Policy and Favoritism 17:01 - Challenges and Opportunities in Nuclear Energy 25:57 - Regulatory Barriers and Permitting Reform 29:04 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts Julia covered a lot of ground and offered a wealth of useful industry and policy recommendations. Tune in for the whole thing! Julia's articles mentioned in the show: "Ending the Era of Energy Favoritism" - https://aier.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Julia-Cartwright_Energy-Favoritism_v3.pdf Thorium reactor technology - https://azfreenews.com/2026/01/julia-cartwright-america-risks-losing-the-advanced-nuclear-race-to-china/ U-233 - https://www.realclearpolicy.com/articles/2025/09/30/america_cant_lead_on_nuclear_while_destroying_its_own_fuel_1138084.html Julia's page at AIER - https://aier.org/people/julia-r-cartwright/

July 21, 202645 min

Brett Rampal is bullish about nuclear energy!

Send us Fan Mail Your host Jim Vinoski interviews Brett Rampal, a nuclear expert with 20 years of experience, about the current state and future of the nuclear industry. Brett highlights the industry's significant regulatory challenges, noting the need for reform and better project management. He discusses the impact of recent presidential administrations on nuclear energy support and the potential for new projects, including the Trump administration's goal to quadruple the nuclear fleet by 2050. Rampal also emphasizes the importance of advanced technologies and the role of regulatory engagement in driving progress. He concludes with optimism about the industry's future, despite past setbacks. Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction and Guest Background 04:18 - Historical Context and Industry Changes 07:51 - Regulatory Environment and Challenges 12:55 - Recent Developments and Industry Support 17:00 - Project Management and Workforce Development 24:43 - Regulatory Reform and Future Plans 26:33 - Advanced Technologies and Market Demand 36:01 - Positive Outlook and Industry Collaboration 41:06 - Closing Thoughts and Future Prospects Do check out the whole show - you'll be glad you did! Brett's page at the National Center for Energy Analytics website: https://energyanalytics.org/team/brett-rampal

July 14, 202655 min

Aaron Witt on Heavy Industry, Mining, Trades, and Manufacturing

Send us Fan Mail It was very cool to return the favor for Aaron Witt, founder of training platform BuildWitt and host of Dirt Talk, where your host Jim Vinoski appeared a couple months ago. Aaron Witt discussed his mission to promote the construction and mining industries through micro learning and continuous improvement. He highlighted the critical infrastructure workforce shortage, noting 80-85% of contractors struggle with workforce retention. He emphasized the need for innovative training methods and modern tools to attract and retain young workers. Aaron criticized the slow U.S. mine permitting process, which delays projects and increases costs. He also stressed the importance of government support and private sector collaboration to drive infrastructure development and improve productivity. Of course, in keeping with our July focus on red tape, Aaron shared his thoughts on what our hyper-regulatory environment is costing us. Aaron's points about our need for meaning and purpose were particularly compelling. This is such a great, wide-ranging, deeply informative conversation! Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction of Aaron Witt and BuildWitt 02:24 - Aaron's Career path and his Founding of BuildWitt 04:39 - Micro-learning and Continuous Improvement 07:58 - Workforce Challenges in Construction and Mining 11:46 - The Role of Technology and Modern Tools 23:10 - The Impact of Regulations on Infrastructure Development 36:32 - The Importance of Purpose and Meaningful Work 47:18 - The Role of Government and Private Sector Collaboration 51:56 - The Future of Infrastructure and Workforce Development 53:56 - Conclusions and Final Thoughts Be sure to tune in for the whole show! You'll be glad you did. BuildWitt: https://buildwitt.com/ Dirt Talk: https://aaron.buildwitt.com/the-dirt-talk-podcast

July 7, 202629 min

We Need to Cut Red Tape for Manufacturers and Energy Producers Pronto!

Send us Fan Mail Regulations have gotten so bad we mostly don't even talk about them anymore. That's a huge problem, because red tape is the number 1 thing that can derail our reindustrialization efforts, our nuclear resurgence, and our energy independence. Your host Jim Vinoski tackles the problem head-on, discussing the extensive impact of red tape regulations on American manufacturing and energy sectors. He highlights the staggering growth of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which expanded from 130,800 pages in 2000 to over 190,000 pages by 2023. Studies by Mark and Nicole Crain for the National Association of Manufacturers reveal that federal regulations cost the U.S. economy over $3 trillion, with an average annual compliance cost of $277,000 per firm. Manufacturing firms, particularly small ones, bear a significant burden, with costs per employee ranging from $24,800 to $50,100. Jim concludes by emphasizing the need for radical regulatory reform to support reindustrialization and energy production. Links: NAM's summary on the cost of regulations: https://nam.org/issues/regulatory-and-legal-reform/ The full NAM report by Nicole and Mark Crain: https://nam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NAM-3731-Crains-Study-R3-V2-FIN.pdf The American Action Forum's report on nuclear regulatory costs: https://www.americanactionforum.org/research/putting-nuclear-regulatory-costs-context/ Jim Vinoski's recent Substack on the total cost of regulations in industry: https://manufacturingtalks.substack.com/p/the-unseen-costs-of-regulations

June 30, 202651 min

The ATDM is Tackling the Skilled Trades Gap for the Defense Industry!

Send us Fan Mail Here's a superb example of a public-private partnership to help with our desperate need for more skilled trades gurus. Jim Vinoski interviews Jason Wells from the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program, which trains the U.S. defense industrial base workforce. The program, based in Danville, Virginia, focuses on skilled trades like machining, welding, and quality assurance, integrating technology to stay relevant. It has graduated nearly 2,000 students in five years, with a current annual graduation target of 1,000. The program's success is attributed to local, state, and federal funding and collaboration with industry. The initiative highlights the importance of a proactive approach to workforce development and the need for a national perspective on the skills gap. Highlights: 00.00 - Introduction and Overview of ATDM 02:05 - Economic Transformation and Workforce Development 07:07 - Balancing Immediate Needs with Long-Term Vision 14:53 - National Recognition and Federal Programs 19:53 - Challenges and Adaptations in Training 24:21 - Impact and Future of ATDM 32:04 - Government Support and Industry Collaboration 35:10 - Addressing the Skills Gap and Future Outlook 41:02 - Closing Thoughts and Final Remarks The ATDM is just a phenomenal example of what needs to be happening much, much more broadly to turn the tide on our dearth of skilled trades workers. ATDM website: https://atdm.org/

June 23, 202635 min

Samuel Gregg on Industrial Policy: Give It Up by Not Taking It Up!

Send us Fan Mail It was a pleasure to be joined once again by Samuel Gregg, who is President of the American Institute for Economic Research, and joined us to discuss a recent article of his that's right up our alley. Sam and our host Jim Vinoski did a deep dive into his article, "Dear Conservatives: Industrial Policy is a Dead End," which critiques the British and American approaches to industrial policy. He argues that government intervention in the economy, as seen in China and Japan, often leads to misallocation of resources, cronyism, and economic stagnation. Sam emphasizes the importance of market-driven outcomes over government-engineered results. He also highlights the inefficiencies of public sector investments and the need for less regulation to foster innovation and competitiveness. He advocates for a return to the principles of economic liberty and the American founding. The discussion wrapped up with a brief conversation about another of Sam's recent articles, this one about the establishing of our country: "Why the West Needs the American Founding." Sam touches on how the founding principles are relevant to the above discussion. Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction and Overview of Industrial Policy 02:01 - Philosophical Opposition to Industrial Policy 04:05 - China's Economic Transformation and Misallocation of Resources 07:59 - Lessons from Japan's Economic Stagnation 10:33 - Impact of Industrial Policy on Competitiveness 13:53 - Cause and Effect in Industrial Policy 16:41 - Opportunity Costs and Public Sector Inefficiency 21:25 - Defense Policy vs. Industrial Policy 26:02 - Regulation and Economic Dynamism 29:29 - Reflecting on Economic Freedom and Interventionism Links to the articles: https://capx.co/dear-conservatives-industrial-policy-is-a-dead-end https://spectator.org/why-the-west-needs-the-american-founding/

June 16, 202632 min

Tariffs Are Savaging His Manufacturing Business!

Send us Fan Mail It was illuminating to hear from Mike Musheinish, CEO of Detroit Axle, about the effects of tariffs on his aftermarket auto parts-making business. Mike discussed the severe impact of the new tariffs on his business. Initially, tariffs cost his company $25,000 per $1 million in parts, but this rose to $725,000. This forced Detroit Axle to raise prices, affecting profitability and consumer affordability. Mike highlighted the broader economic consequences, including inflation exacerbated by rising energy costs. He criticized tariffs for favoring large corporations and creating a "tariff mafia." Mike advocated for better infrastructure and education to support domestic manufacturing, emphasizing the need for competition to drive down costs and improve quality. He also praised the potential of employing returning citizens. Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction - Mike's Background and Business Model 02:42 - Impact of Tariffs on Detroit Axle 05:34 - Challenges of Tariffs and Market Dynamics 08:53 - Regulation and Competition 12:15 - Positive Actions for Manufacturing 16:26 - Challenges of Producing in the USA 26:18 - Support for Returning Citizens 29:44 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts Tune in and take in the whole show, because this one has a lot of the details of the current reality for the hardworking people on the front lines of American manufacturing. Check out the Detroit Axle website here: https://www.detroitaxle.com/