In manufacturing, we always strive for constant improvement.  Which makes it easy to get preoccupied with what’s wrong. But we shouldn’t lose sight of everything going right every day.  And recognition for the people putting in the hard work for those successes is a skill every leadership team should have.  It’s so important that our most recent guest, Kevin Snook, CEO of Saxagon Limited, devotes a whole chapter to it in his book, Make It Right, which outlines the 5 essential steps to building a world-class leadership team.  ..read more

Practice makes perfect, right? Well, not always…  Often, the process you’ve practiced longest is what’s holding you back. That’s why Ethan Escowitz, Founder at Arris Composites, is championing specific design — a simple design philosophy that unlocks a world of potential.  What we talked about: How specific design is changing the rules of manufacturing Why the approach may be the key to reshoring How specific design helps you deliver value to your customers   #Growth series, Todd Hockenberry cohost: This #Growth episode is hosted by Todd Hockenberry, Consultant, Advisor, & ..read more

There is a lot you need to learn to be successful in sales. But contrary to what some people believe…  Sales can be taught. Just ask Abby Hockenberry, a senior at Stetson University studying sales and — as the last name may have given away — my daughter.  Abby has a unique insight into the current state of sales in the classroom and I invited her on the show to share what she’s learned pursuing a sales education.  In this episode, we discuss: Misconceptions about sales Why you need to do your homework How to tackle awkward conversations This #Growth episode is hosted by Todd H ..read more

More organizations are looking to reduce their carbon footprint. Solar energy is leading the pack when it comes to renewables…  But how much return can you expect on your investment? In this episode, I catch up with Tyler Kanczuzewski, VP of Marketing & Sustainability at Inovateus Solar, to find out. We discuss: How COVID-19 is impacting the solar business Finding return on your solar investment Solar and your environmental impact   #Growth series, Todd Hockenberry cohost: This #Growth episode is hosted by Todd Hockenberry, Consultant, Advisor, & Coach for industrial manufa ..read more

The world changed overnight with COVID-19.   Some companies played it safe…    But the ones who are thriving got aggressive.   Just ask Tom Lefaivre, President/CEO at Anchor Harvey. When he saw the changes coming, he doubled down on aggressive marketing tactics.    And Anchor Harvey aren’t just surviving — they’re thriving.    In this episode, Tom explains: Why aggressive marketing is paying off Why reshoring may become a long-term trend Why everything Anchor Harvey does is data-driven This #Growth episode is hosted by Todd Hockenberry, Consultant, Adv ..read more

It’s pretty obvious 2020 has changed the world.  COVID-19 exposed weaknesses we didn’t know we had… Especially when it comes to supply chains. Our guest today is Gregory Paulsen, Director of Application Engineering at Xometry, a company that may help change how we look at supply chains.  Xometry is a custom manufacturing marketplace designed to make the procurement process easier for domestic buyers and suppliers.  What we talked about: How Xometry is taking the pain out of the procurement process How large marketplaces like Xometry can help with re-shoring efforts.  The c ..read more

In the current climate, we all need digital success. And a lot goes into achieving it. You need to understand the buyer journey, provide great customer experience and have unparalleled employee engagement. But it all starts with alignment — with the market, within your organization, with your teams and with your customers. That’s one of many pieces of wisdom Jonathon Hensley, CEO & Chief Creative Officer at Emerge Interactive, shared on today’s show. He also covered: Why digital initiatives fail Why believing you’re customer-centric doesn’t make it so How to understand (and utilize) your ..read more

The ease-of-use of new technology is great for the metals industry but can be detrimental at the same time. Positive material identification (PMI) techniques like handheld XRF, handheld LIBS, and laser OES have become so convenient that they’re being misused. In this #MastersofPMI episode, Chris shares: The current landscape of the PMI testing field and how to get into it. Why so many professionals misuse PMI analyzers. Why PMI inspection training is so crucial for the metal supply chain. How to find the best PMI inspection training for you and your business. Find more on the MAG Industrial ..read more

When it’s because of Iron Man, it’s awesome. Buildings coming down in fiery explosions! Ok, but no one’s popping popcorn over the catastrophes that occur when PMV isn’t being practiced (unless you’re a horrible person). That’s why we have Recommended Practice 578. It’s designed specifically to prevent the destruction of large assets. In this episode I cover: The relationship between RP578 and MVP How is this practice enforced? The training needed to comply with RP578   The #MastersofPMI series is hosted by Chris Carolan of the Metal Analysis Group. To hear this episode and more like it ..read more

In 2014, the average company had six competitors. In 2019, the average company had 54 competitors. (HubSpot) Maybe your product or service has really cool features. But if you’re not prioritizing great customer experience, the rest isn’t going to matter. HubSpot and Inbound guru, Dan Tyre, shares how to create a meaningful B2B sales experience for any industry in this #Growth episode. Plus, Dan and Todd chat about: Why the customer experience is so critical for any B2B company today How to create and target buyer personas How treating people like human beings will help you scale your business ..read more