Imagine a world without connectors… If we didn’t have connectors, technology and products would simply be cool ideas without that all-important functionality we need. In this episode, we speak to two of HARTING Americas’ team about the importance of connectors in manufacturing and engineering processes.

Casey Spitz, the Vice President of Development and Innovation, and Cory Jenkins, Senior Director of Business Development, weigh in on why connectors should be a part of design processes from the very start, rather than left to the end.

Casey and Cory share insights on the technical details of connectors, the trend toward miniaturization, and the evolution of things like Ethernet over the past few years. We also chat about the project management side of engineering, how HARTING balances growth with everyday processes, and how engineers should think about localization. As industry leaders, they have some great actionable advice on leadership, growth, and the importance of team collaboration. We hear what it takes to build an efficient engineering process that welcomes new ideas to boost innovation.

In this episode, find out:

• What are connectors and why are they so important for engineers
• Why Europe appears to be ahead in the connectors world compared to North America
• How Ethernet has evolved and the lessons we can take from that
• How Cory has successfully led HARTING through a number of technology shifts, including a branch out into semiconductors
• Actionable advice for engineers and manufacturers to execute quickly and adapt to the market
• How Casey created processes that HARTING needed to grow to the next level
• How Casey balanced creating processes for growth with working on the day-to-day priorities
• Advice for building efficient processes into your own business as a manufacturer
• The role of localization in HARTING’s growth, plus advice for others
• Why collaboration is a huge priority for HARTING and how it directly drives innovation
• What engineers should know about connectors and how they should integrate them early in the process

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:

• “The world of connectors is actually pretty niche. There's not a lot of people that have done this before, so we're looking for people that are top notch collaborators, that are very humble and respectful of other people's ideas.”
• “Don't confuse busyness with productivity. And the difference between those two is really being connected to your company's goals.”
• “If you go in every direction, that's not a right answer. But you've got to be listening to every direction.”

Links & mentions:

• HARTING, a connectivity solutions provider that operates worldwide to design connectivity for challenging environments
• Ernst Barre Private Brewery, located in the East Westphalian town of Lübbecke in the north-western German district of Minden-Lübbecke

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.

The difficulties manufacturers face when it comes to finding and retaining top talent is something we often discuss on this podcast, so it’s great to welcome a guest who has an excellent solution. In this episode, we speak with Retired Lieutenant Colonel (USAF), Kathy Lowrey Gallowitz.

Kathy shares her story with us about how she got into the military and eventually the industrial space. She explains what it means to be a veteran champion if you’re hoping to recruit veterans to your manufacturing team, and how you can ensure your organization is veteran-ready. She also provides an enlightening look at the broad skill sets that veterans bring to the table, from nursing to project management to sales, and gives us some tips on tangible ways to become an advocate for veterans in everyday life.

In this episode, find out:

• Kathy shares her favorite type of grilled cheese!
• We hear about what it means to be veteran-ready vs veteran-friendly
• Kathy takes a deep dive into her journey in the military
• Why her adaptability and problem-solving skills drew Kathy to the military
• The diversity of experiences that come out of being in the military
• Kathy shares why she wrote her book, Beyond “Thank You For Your Service:” The Veteran Champion Handbook for Civilians
• What can manufacturing leaders do to increase retention of veterans and improve mentorship?
• Why it’s so important to develop a veteran hiring program
• Kathy tells us about the Veteran Hiring Academy courses in April and September each year

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:

• “My appreciation for the technical aptitudes that service members bring to the workplace is particularly relevant in the manufacturing industry.”
• “I invite you to join the veteran champion movement and be a part of the win because it really is a win when you get to know a veteran, understand their life story, their experiences. So I contend that it improves your quality of life.”
• “’Thank you for wearing the uniform.’ That is super special because it implies that you have some appreciation for what it means to me to take the oath of office, to make that commitment, and the pride and professionalism we feel when we wear the uniform”.

Links & mentions:

• Vanguard Veteran, equipping civilians to become veteran champions
• Beyond "Thank You For Your Service:" The Veteran Champion Handbook for Civilians
• Invite Vanguard Veteran to Speak
• Vanguard Veteran's Employer Consulting and Training
• Complimentary Veteran-Ready Assessment
• O*Net OnLine Military Crosswalk Search
• Women...

What are some of the results of integrating cobots into your production processes and how do you help your employees push past any initial apprehension they feel to fully embrace the benefits?

In this special case study-style episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we welcome Rob Goldiez, CEO of Hirebotics, a company that makes welding cobots for welders, and Justin Montes, CEO of DeAngelo Marine Exhaust, onto the show to talk about the intersection of automation, technology, and human craftsmanship.

We take a deep dive into real-world scenarios of what it looks like when a company adopts robotics, specifically collaborative robots. What factors into the decision making? What are some of the hiccups that happen along the way and what does success look like after a robot is installed?

The conversation also covers leadership, robotics, and trends in the collaborative robot space. Plus, if you like welding, fabrication (or boats!) then you’re going to love this episode!

In this episode, find out:

• The world of DeAngelo Marine Exhaust
• Explore Hirebotics’ revolutionary robotic solutions
• The journey to automation – overcoming challenges with cobots
• Some of the impacts of cobots in the workplace
• How embracing cobots is a game changer in production
• The impact of cobots on efficiency and innovation
• Industry perspectives – reactions to cobots
• Cobots as creative tools
• Ongoing support and results

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 paid off the cobot within an order. One order! So that was done. Now it's just icing!”
• “The consistent thing is companies are struggling to hire and retain key welders. They’re an aging workforce. You see that all over. Can't find welders, can't meet production, struggle to grow the business.”
• “There is a general fear of automation. It's going to replace my job versus it's going to take the dull, dirty, dangerous stuff away so I can be more creative.”

Links & mentions:

• Hirebotics, fabrication cobot solutions for welders
• DeAngelo Marine Exhaust, marine engine exhaust systems
• YOT Bar & Kitchen, voted Fort Lauderdale best for brunch and outdoor dining
• Edley's Bar-B-Que, Nashville style Bar-B-Que
• Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, hot Chicken Sandwich
• Tootsie’s, live musical performances daily and delicious food
• Connect with Rob on LinkedIn
• Connect with Justin on LinkedIn

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.