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Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

Written by: MakingChips LLC
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 Manufacturing is tough—but you don't have to go it alone. If you're leading a manufacturing business, you face constant pressure: staying competitive, adopting new tech, managing people, and driving growth. MakingChips helps you tackle those challenges head-on. Since 2014, we've been equipping manufacturing leaders with the knowledge and inspiration they need to succeed. With hundreds of episodes and over a million downloads, MakingChips is a top resource for the metalworking nation—covering leadership, operations, technology, and workforce development. If making chips is part of your daily grind, this is your podcast. Join hosts Nick Goellner, Mike Payne, and Paul Van Metre for real talk on the issues that matter most. Careers Economics Management Management & Leadership Personal Success
Episodes
  • Reindustrializing America: How Zane Hengsperger Is Reinventing the Metal Supply Chain, 510

    Reindustrializing America: How Zane Hengsperger Is Reinventing the Metal Supply Chain, 510
    Feb 23 2026
    What happens when a 26-year-old machine shop kid decides the real bottleneck in American manufacturing isn't machining—it's metal supply? In this episode, we sit down with Zane Hengsperger, founder and CEO of Knox Metals, to talk about building a modern service center powered by AI, automation, and software. Zane's mission is bold: supply every factory in America in under 24 hours at a fair, transparent price. Raised in his father's injection molding shop, Zane grew up on shop floors before pivoting into software, startups, and eventually reindustrialization. After publicly sharing his ideas online, Y Combinator reached out—and within 24 hours, he had funding and a flight to San Francisco. We explore what it takes to modernize the metals supply chain, the friction of accessing domestic mills, the realities of startup logistics, and why focusing exclusively on aluminum plate might be Knox's smartest strategic move yet. This is a conversation about speed, ownership, risk, and the future of American manufacturing—not just at the machine level, but across the entire supply chain. Segments (1:34) Introducing Zane Hengsperger and Knox Metals' mission(2:46) Growing up in a machine shop and learning manufacturing early(3:35) Paperless Parts ad — Secure AI for quoting(4:48) From software startup to reindustrialization(6:48) Early struggles gaining access to domestic mills(8:53) Why Knox is narrowing focus to aluminum plate(10:05) Instant quoting and automated cutting — what makes it different(11:30) Building a hybrid team: industry veterans + software talent(13:05) Potential integrations and vertical integration strategy(16:23) Team structure and rapid early growth(18:26) How Y Combinator found Zane — and funded Knox in 24 hours(20:59) Young founders, machine shop resurgence, and generational opportunity(25:00) How to attract young talent into manufacturing(27:05) MFG 2026 ad — Executive leadership event(29:48) The overlooked opportunities in manufacturing careers beyond the shop floor(30:59) Early lessons: building selection and trying to serve everyone(32:52) Why narrowing their focus created leverage(33:42) How Knox manages inventory, mills, and lead times(36:10) The massive aluminum block story (18,000+ pounds)(39:21) Mentorship, investors, and surrounding yourself with believers(41:46) YC's push into reindustrialization(45:50) Technology vs. tribal knowledge in rebuilding industry(47:24) Has age been an obstacle? Building trust over time(49:59) Biggest wins so far — stacking consistent progress(51:47) Expansion plans: LA, regional giga-factories, and automation(54:19) ProShop ad — Investing in your own shop first(55:56) Where to find Knox Metals and connect with Zane Resources mentioned on this episode NOX Metals Connect with Zane on X and LinkedInZane@NoxMetals.coThe Technological Republic Y Combinator Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.comOn FacebookOn LinkedInOn InstagramOn TwitterOn YouTube
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    58 mins
  • Achieve the Impossible: Inside IMTS 2026 and the Power of Six Days, 509

    Achieve the Impossible: Inside IMTS 2026 and the Power of Six Days, 509
    Feb 16 2026
    Recorded live from McCormick Place in Chicago, this episode marks the official kickoff of the MakingChips journey toward IMTS 2026. With nine months to go, we sit down with two leaders helping shape the show itself: Michelle Edmondson, Vice President of Exhibitions for IMTS, and Bonnie Gurney, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Industry Relations. What unfolds is a behind-the-scenes look at how the largest manufacturing technology show in North America is built — from campaign strategy and theme development to visitor planning, education tracks, emerging technologies, and student engagement. This year's theme, "Achieve the Impossible," paired with the campaign message around "Six Days," reflects what IMTS is really about: momentum. It's not just about buying a machine this year. It's about seeing where the industry is heading five years from now. We explore how exhibitors should define ROI, why attendees need a strategy before walking the floor, what's new in 2026 (including the Industrial AI Arena and the 20th anniversary of the Emerging Technology Center), and how young people — including our own kids — can get plugged into manufacturing through Smartforce and the Student Summit. Whether you're an exhibitor, an attendee, or still on the fence, this episode is a practical roadmap for how to get the most out of IMTS — and why it matters more than ever in today's manufacturing climate. Segments (0:00) Live from Chicago: Exhibitor Workshop energy and early IMTS planning(2:17) Hennig's evolving booth strategy and bringing real machines to the floor(3:43) Why you need to be at the MFG Meeting 2026(4:38) Introducing Michelle Edmondson and Bonnie Gurney from IMTS(7:04) The power of long-term partnerships and IMTS' impact on careers(8:58) Defining ROI for exhibitors: Setting measurable goals before the show begins(11:16) Planning IMTS as an attendee: short-term shopping list vs. long-term vision(13:21) IMTS 2026 theme: "Achieve the Impossible" and the Six Days campaign(14:52) How real visitors shape the ad campaign and messaging(16:07) Student Summit and engaging the next generation(17:40) Family business, succession, and getting kids into manufacturing(21:55) Common exhibitor mistakes — territory gatekeeping and lost opportunities(23:48) Factur: Building consistent pipeline systems for manufacturers(24:54) Behind the scenes: how IMTS develops its theme and campaign strategy(29:25) 20th anniversary of the Emerging Technology Center(30:04) Launch of the new Industrial AI Arena and AI conference(30:59) Education tracks, co-located conferences, and specialized programming(33:56) MakingChips live podcast studio plans at IMTS 2026(35:47) Rockford IMTS summer party and nonprofit partnership(37:35) Smartforce, Student Summit, and how schools can get involved(39:12) What visitors should be doing right now to prepare(41:19) Housing deadlines and avoiding scam hotel vendors(43:24) Hire MFG Leaders: Recruiting leaders who understand manufacturing(43:52) Will IMTS 2026 be the best show ever? Why optimism is high(45:53) Young founders in manufacturing and the entrepreneurship tailwind Resources mentioned on this episode Connect with Michelle EdmondsonConnect with Bonnie GurneyIMTS 2026IMTS Smartforce Student SummitIMTS Show PlannerUSMTO Report Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.comOn FacebookOn LinkedInOn InstagramOn TwitterOn YouTube
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    48 mins
  • Workplace Safety Is Non-Negotiable: Addressing Violence, Harassment, and Responsibility in Manufacturing, 508

    Workplace Safety Is Non-Negotiable: Addressing Violence, Harassment, and Responsibility in Manufacturing, 508
    Feb 12 2026
    This episode of MakingChips is different from most conversations we have on the show, and it needed to be. In late 2025, the manufacturing community was shaken by the murder of Amber Czech, a welder who was killed by a coworker after reporting harassment multiple times. That tragedy forced many of us to confront an uncomfortable truth: workplace violence and harassment are not abstract issues. They are real, ongoing, and present in the trades today. In this episode, Paul Van Metre is joined by Nush Ahmed, CEO of Sisterhood of Trades, along with two national experts who work directly on workplace violence and gender justice. Jessica Stender of Equal Rights Advocates and Anna Van Balen of Futures Without Violence bring decades of experience working with employers, workers, and policymakers to help address harassment, escalation, and prevention in real workplaces. Together, we talk candidly about how harassment often becomes normalized in the trades, why underreporting is so common, and how unchecked behavior can escalate into violence. We also discuss what shop owners and leaders can do today, not just to comply with the law, but to build workplaces that are genuinely safe, respectful, and welcoming. This conversation is about responsibility. It's about leadership. And it's about recognizing that culture, policies, and daily behavior all play a role in preventing harm. For owners, managers, and anyone who cares about the future of manufacturing, this episode is a call to take workplace safety seriously, before another tragedy forces the issue. Segments (0:54) Introducing Nush Ahmed and her work advocating for women in the trades(2:44) Why the murder of Amber Czech prompted this episode(4:56) Introducing Anna Van Balen and the work of Futures Without Violence(6:26) Introducing Jessica Stender and Equal Rights Advocates(7:28) What Nush hears daily from women in the trades about harassment and safety(10:12) Why workplace culture must be addressed alongside physical safety(12:35) The data on harassment prevalence in skilled trades(15:14) What shop owners can do to begin protecting their teams(19:14) Why "check-the-box" training fails and what effective training looks like(21:38) How harassment escalates when early behavior goes unaddressed(22:50) Why reporting is so difficult and fear of retaliation is real(25:42) The reality of repeated HR reports and system failure(28:48) The responsibility of owners to investigate and act, even in small shops(32:16) Safety planning, allyship, and the role of bystanders(36:16) Building ally communities and encouraging men to engage constructively(39:41) What leaders can say and do proactively to create safer workplaces(41:53) Why respectful workplaces benefit everyone, not just marginalized groups(42:50) Reviewing policies, audits, training, and reporting structures(48:50) Practical resources available to employers and workers(52:10) Sisterhood of Trades resources and community support(55:06) How to connect with Jessica and Anna's organizations(56:38) How to engage with Sisterhood of Trades and Next Gen MFG(58:03) Closing reflections on responsibility, culture, and speaking up Resources mentioned on this episode Connect with Anna Van Balen and Futures Without ViolenceConnect with Jessica Stender and Equal RightsSexual Harassment Response Training and ToolkitSexual Assault Response Training and ToolkitHow to create workplace policiesWorkplaces Respond National Resource Center The California Civil Rights Department Email: workplacesrespond@futureswithoutviolence.orgTradeswomen Task Force Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.comOn FacebookOn LinkedInOn InstagramOn TwitterOn YouTube
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    1 hr and 1 min
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