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Consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies as a whole have not been doing well lately. They're the ones that make your foods and beverages as well as other daily use items like toiletries and cleaning supplies.

But there are winners and losers in the mix. Peter McDonald, founding partner at McDonald's Strategy Partners, joined us to do a deep dive on which CPGs are doing well and which are struggling, and the reasons for all that.

Peter discusses the current state of the CPG industry and highlights the struggles of legacy companies due to decelerated population growth, reduced household income, and the rise of private label brands.

He praises companies like Coca-Cola, Unilever, and Nestle for their growth strategies, emphasizing their global exposure and innovation. He notes the success of emerging brands like Chobani and Fairlife, attributing it to their focus on consumer needs and innovation.

Peter also discusses the importance of value addition in manufacturing and the strategic decisions behind outsourcing.

It's a whole lot of good stuff. Check out the whole thing, and do leave your own ideas and questions in the comments section!

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The inimitable Mike Rowe joined us to talk about his passion for promoting skilled trades, highlighting the significant increase in open positions from 2.3 million in 2009 to 7.6 million today. We chatted about his new partnership with PureTalk, a wireless company, to support veterans transitioning into trades.

All that and a whole lot more!

Mike Rowe's Passion for Promoting Trades

Rowe discusses the increase in open positions in skilled trades from 2.3 million in 2009 to 7.6 million today, emphasizing the need for jobs that don't require a four-year degree.

He shares the establishment of his foundation in 2008, which has awarded $12 million in work ethic scholarships to promote trades.

Challenges and Opportunities in Skilled Trades

Rowe talks about his meetings with governors and Cabinet members to address the skills gap and the need for reinvigorating manufacturing.
Jim Vinoski shares his own experience in manufacturing and the need to promote trades, comparing it to the decline in manufacturing jobs over three generations.

Rowe mentions his offer to President Obama in 2009 to help with the highway infrastructure act and the challenges of attracting a generation not interested in manual labor.

He discusses the double whammy of demographic pressure and societal expectations, exacerbated by the removal of shop class from high schools.

New Partnership with PureTalk

Rowe explains how the partnership started with PureTalk advertising on his podcast and their shared values in supporting American-made products.
He describes his visit to PureTalk's campus in Georgia and their commitment to customer service done in the U.S.

Rowe highlights PureTalk's support for America's Warrior Partnership and their introduction to Medal of Honor recipient Clint Romesha.
Veterans and Skilled Trades

Rowe emphasizes the suitability of veterans for skilled trades due to their soft skills and teachability.

He discusses the need for a reverse boot camp to help veterans transition back into civilian life.

Authenticity and Marketing in Skilled Trades

Rowe and Vinoski discuss the importance of authenticity in marketing and advertising, particularly in promoting skilled trades.

Rowe shares his approach of using satisfied customers and happy employees in his campaigns, rather than traditional storyboards and focus groups.

Personal Anecdotes and Respect for Trades

Jim Vinoski shares his admiration for Mike Rowe's career journey, including his Eagle Scout status, opera singing, and QVC days.

Rowe humorously recounts his experiences, including wrestling Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street and his multiple firings from QVC.

They discuss the respect Rowe has earned from tradespeople and veterans, highlighting the importance of promoting the value of skilled jobs.
Rowe emphasizes the need for societal buy-in to reinvigorate trades, not just for Gen Z but also for their parents.

The Importance of Local Manufacturing

Rowe and Vinoski discuss the significance of local manufacturing and the pride in American-made products.

Rowe shares examples of companies like American Giant and Montana Knife Company, which emphasize the quality and story behind their products.

They discuss the challenges of promoting jobs that are often dismissed as unworthy, highlighting the importance of showcasing the entire supply chain.

Rucking and Veteran Support

Jim Vinoski and Mike Rowe discuss their experiences with rucking, a form of hiking with a heavy backpack, as a way to understand the physical demands of military service.

They discuss the importance of supporting veterans through programs like the Black Horse Forge,

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"Manufacturing jobs aren't coming back to America, because rich nations are always service economies."

Wrong on all counts!

Our esteemed host explains why this oft-repeated statement is flat-out false, and what has really led to the decline of much of American industry.

We're already reshoring, and we can cement that trend and accelerate the recovery of American industry by fixing those root causes:
- Overregulation
- Dumb financial decisions
- Destroying our electric generation infrastructure

Tune in for the whole thing. It won't take you long, and it will be well worth your time.

Links to my relevant Substack articles:

Once Again, the "Rule" that Wealthy Economies Deindustrialize is Inane
https://manufacturingtalks.substack.com/p/once-again-the-rule-that-wealthy

Major Media Narrative of the Day: "Manufacturing Jobs Aren't Coming Back." Don't Believe It For a Second!
https://manufacturingtalks.substack.com/p/major-media-narrative-of-the-day

"Wealthy Nations Become Service Economies" is Just Plain Dumb
https://manufacturingtalks.substack.com/p/wealthy-nations-become-service-economies

America's Bike Makers And the Dell Computer Model: Pending Disaster or a Sound Business Strategy?
https://manufacturingtalks.substack.com/p/americas-bike-makers-and-the-dell

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Noel Joyce, an assistant professor at NYU Shanghai, discussed his open-source adaptive quad mountain bike design. After a mountain biking accident left him a wheelchair user for 20 years, Joyce pursued industrial design. He designed a bike to address the limitations of existing adaptive bikes, which often break down and are cost-prohibitive. Joyce's bike is modular, made from machine parts, and open-source, aiming to make adaptive biking more accessible and affordable. He has built bikes globally and is exploring non-profit models to fund builds. Joyce emphasized the importance of inclusivity in design, benefiting both people with disabilities and the broader market.

Introduction and Background of Noel Joyce

Noel shares his background in industrial and product design, teaching design innovation at NYU, and his involvement in the bike project.

Noel's Journey and Initial Inspiration

Noel recounts his 20-year journey as a wheelchair user after a mountain bike accident, which ended his military career.
He studied industrial design at the Institute of Technology in Ireland and later got involved in startup design collaboratives.
Noel discusses the challenges of finding work as a designer with a disability and his experience with small startups.
He describes his work at a hardware startup accelerator in Shenzhen, China, and his work at NYU Shanghai.

Reconnecting with Cycling and Design Challenges

Noel shares his experience of reconnecting with cycling by using an adaptive hand cycle and exploring local trails.
He describes the limitations of his initial adaptive bike, which led to frequent breakdowns and the need for frequent repairs.
Noel decided to design a more robust and capable bike, reaching out to adaptive bike companies for collaboration but facing rejection.
He eventually found a company in Spain to build a carbon fiber adaptive mountain bike with assistive drive and hydraulic disc brakes.

Designing and Building the Adaptive Bike

Noel explains the challenges of using the carbon fiber bike, including frequent breakdowns and high costs of replacement parts.
He decided to design and build his own bike using machine parts that could be easily replaced and modified.
Noel made the design open-source to make it accessible and affordable for others with disabilities.
He emphasizes the importance of user experience and real-life testing in the design process.

Impact and Future Plans for the Adaptive Bike

Noel discusses the impact of the adaptive bike on people with disabilities, allowing them to experience freedom and independence.
He mentions the potential for the bike to be used in the Paralympics and the importance of designing for the entire spectrum of human conditions.
Noel highlights the potential for the bike to open new markets and opportunities for people with disabilities.
He shares his plans to build more bikes with various organizations and the potential for non-profit collaborations to fund bike builds.

Collaborations and Industry Support

Noel talks about the support he received from the cycling manufacturing community, including help from SRAM and Specialized.
He explains the importance of having a tangible product to show potential collaborators and the challenges of getting initial support.
Noel discusses the potential for manufacturers to gain insights into designing for disabilities and the benefits for the broader market.
He mentions the potential for the adaptive bike to influence the design of regular bikes and other products.

Open Source and Community Involvement

Noel emphasizes the importance of making the design open-source to allow more people with disabilities to learn and contribute.
He discusses the p

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Matt is Head of Reindustrialization at Veryable. We featured them in our early days, when the company's CEO, Mike Kinder, joined us for our Episode 11.

Now, with reindustrialization happening in real time, Matt is here to tell how Veryable is uniquely suited to helping supply chain companies with their labor needs as they grapple with the volatility that new opportunities bring.

Matt is also the host of Veryable's podcast, US Manufacturing Today. Our host Jim Vinoski is appearing with him the same day this show first airs! See the link for his show at the end of these notes.

Here are some of the highlights.

Chapters:
00:00 - intro
02:30 - maximizing uptime and getting workers the feedback and upskilling they're looking for
04:30 - things affecting labor demand: regulatory reform, trade agreements, immigration reform
08:00 - how companies build a labor pool within the Veryable solution
10:50 - worker shortage? More accurate to say worker access
14:30 - what makes Veryable different: balancing worker supply and demand
18:00 - forcing the service economy: "It doesn't work in theory, and it doesn't work in practice."
22:30 - machines are great for physical tasks, but they make worker that's needed more upskilled and sophisticated
27:00 - how regulations just offshore our pollution and injuries
30:00 - opportunities for professionals

And so much more!

Tune in for the whole thing.

US Manufacturing Today podcast: https://www.veryableops.com/us-mfg-today-podcast

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Peace Corps veteran Clay Martin found his calling, and he's now founded company #2 that's focused on helping industry employers find skilled workers who want to come here from Puerto Rico.

In case you weren't previously aware, that is a territory of the United States, so the people there can come here with no red tape and no immigration complications. And there are a whole bunch of trained and eager workers wanting to do just that. Clay specializes in playing matchmaker between them and the companies here in the US that need their skills.

Here are some of the highlights.

Chapters:
00:00 - introduction
06:00 - the nuances that make it work
07:30 - the Puerto Rican economic challenges and effects of Hurricane Maria have made some people there look to the mainland for work
10:00 - no visa needed, no red tape - Clay can get you 12 to 20 workers here in 2-4 weeks
12:30 - Clay helps you deal with flights and housing
17:30 - being available and caring are easy things to say, but Clay believes in delivering
19:30 - Clay is now looking at adding nursing as a skill he recruits for - huge demand here!
21:15 - creating a program - help out as much as needed
23:15 - entrepreneurs: don't overestimate the risk! (Jeff Bezos)
27:30 - overcome your insecurity: connect widely, learn to deal with all different kinds of people

There's a whole lot more too! Tune in for the whole thing, especially if you're struggling to recruit for the skills you need for your industrial business.

Clay's website for Isla Talent: https://www.recruitingpuertorico.com/

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One half of the Energy Bad Boys came back on the show to discuss our electric grids and the good, the bad, and the ugly about them.

Isaac Orr and Mitch Rolling published a Substack last month telling how my home state of Michigan's insane energy policies will likely shut down the last remaining iron mine in the Upper Peninsula, the Tilden mine. Now Isaac is on the show to do a deeper dive into that, the realities for all the states chasing the nonsensical green power dream, and how the Trump administration is trying to help.

Here are the highlights.

Channels:
00:00 - introduction
02:30 - taking always-on power for granted
04:00 - how the monopoly power generation companies benefit from building new stuff - even if it's ineffective
06:00 - Mitch and Isaac's Substack (link down below) - the rising costs for Michigan's electricity and what that means for the Tilden mine
10:00 - how the promises of the green energy activists about falling costs are untrue, and what the actual rising costs mean for consumers and jobs
12:45 - the problem of urban voters ignoring the needs and realities of largely rural mines, manufacturing, and supply chains
16:00 - the difficulty of getting the general public to understand the need for domestic metals and minerals supply chains
19:30 - the need for low-cost and reliable power for manufacturing and data centers
21:00 - the Trump administration's best moves: undoing Biden's bad stuff
22:00 - reconsidering the Endangerment Finding
29:45 - why "all of the above" is a bad energy answer
30:45 - nuclear
32:30 - the problems with Europe

This is a densely packed episode, so it's best to tune in for the whole thing.

Here are a couple of helpful links:
Mitch and Isaac's Michigan energy disaster Substack: https://energybadboys.substack.com/p/a-michigan-iron-mine-will-pay-15
The Always On Energy Research website: https://www.aoenergy.org/

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Chris is with Global Search Network and is Senior Talent Acquisition Leader for Consumer Packaged Goods North America. So he is right there on the front lines of today's tough recruiting game.

Chris joined us to share valuable insights on what he sees every day that can help you no matter what part you're playing: hiring manager, HR, recruiter, or candidate.

Here are the highlights:

Guest Introduction

Chris shares his background, including his initial job at Enterprise Rent-A-Car and his transition to recruitment, emphasizing his preference for the family atmosphere at Global Search Network over corporate life.

Challenges and Market Dynamics

Chris discusses the importance of acquiring new clients to maintain a steady stream of job opportunities, as his core clients often have consistent needs.

He highlights the challenges of a slow market and the necessity of maintaining an active pipeline of both candidates and clients.

Chris describes the current job market as having many openings, with clients sometimes being too selective or taking too long in the interview process, leading to candidates accepting other offers.

He praises Chobani for having an efficient recruitment process and the ability to expedite decisions when needed, contrasting it with other clients who may take longer.

Client Relationships and Recruitment Processes

Chris elaborates on the importance of having a supportive and efficient recruitment process, using Chobani as an example of a client with a well-organized system.

He mentions the role of coordinators in managing the recruitment process, which helps in expediting decisions and keeping candidates updated.

Jim and Chris discuss the benefits of having a supportive and efficient recruitment process, with Chobani being a gold standard in this regard.

Chris shares his appreciation for having Chobani as a main client, noting their growth and acquisitions, and expresses a wish for more clients like them.

Impact of COVID-19 and Candidate Expectations

Chris notes the significant impact of COVID-19 on candidate expectations, particularly the desire for remote or hybrid work arrangements.

He observes that newer candidates prefer not to work on the manufacturing floor and often leave jobs quickly for career growth, unlike older generations who valued stability.

Chris emphasizes the importance of patience and performance in career growth, advising newer candidates to be patient and produce results before seeking promotions.

Jim and Chris discuss the misconception that there is a lack of workforce for manufacturing jobs, with Chris believing that a capable workforce can be found for any job.

Workforce Availability and Job Descriptions

Chris argues that there is always a workforce available for manufacturing jobs, despite the common narrative that there is a shortage.
He believes that if jobs were available in the U.S., the workforce would adapt and fill those roles.

Jim and Chris discuss the importance of detailed job descriptions to ensure candidates understand the requirements and fit for the job.

Chris shares his experience with remote roles and the challenges of attracting candidates who read the job description carefully, emphasizing the need for clear and accurate job postings.

Networking and Job Search Strategies

Chris advises job seekers to network on LinkedIn and connect with employees at companies they are interested in, increasing their chances of success.

He emphasizes the importance of reading job descriptions carefully and ensuring that candidates meet the requirements before applying.

Chris highlights the success of LinkedIn as a job board, notin