Workforce 4.0

In this episode of Workforce 4.0, host Ann Wyatt interviews Lori Harbor, Principal of Wipfli. Lori shares her journey into the manufacturing industry, ignited by her father, and her passion for revitalizing North American manufacturing. They discuss the importance of a strategic approach to HR, succession planning, and building a strong company culture. Lori emphasizes the role of technology and diversity in manufacturing, and the challenges of competing with other industries for talent. They also touch on the significance of community engagement and educating the younger generation about manufacturing careers. Lori highlights insights from her book, 'Tradition Meets Transformation,' and her efforts to raise awareness about the critical state of manufacturing in the U.S.In This Episode:-08:09 Challenges in Manufacturing and HR Integration-14:07 Succession Planning in Manufacturing-28:19 The Impact of Manufacturing on Local Economies-30:27 Challenges in the Manufacturing Sector-37:53 Building a Better Company Culture-44:13 Promoting Diversity in Manufacturing-49:20 Conclusion and Ways to ConnectMore About Laurie HarbourThroughout her distinguished career, Laurie has been instrumental in guiding companies through periods of transformation, leveraging her expertise in lean manufacturing, strategic planning, and organizational development to drive sustainable growth and competitiveness. Her insights into the evolving landscape of workforce management in the era of Industry 4.0 offer invaluable perspectives for businesses navigating the complexities of modern manufacturing. To date, Laurie is the Principal of Wipfli. To learn more about Laurie, connect with her here. The Future of Work (and this Episode) Is Brought To You By Secchi:Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here.

From rocking Warped Tour to rocking the way that we train the next generation of manufacturing talent, Peter Costa, CEO and Founder of Baltu Technologies, has always done things on his own terms. On this week's episode of Workforce 4.0, Peter sits down with Ann Wyatt to share more about how he took inspiration from YouTube and the way that he learned in a classroom setting and developed a unique training platform that is making manufacturing skills accessible for all. We also deep dive into Peter's love for music and physics and how that has shaped his concept of the evolution of the manufacturing workforce. In This Episode:-Peter shares his thoughts on how technology has impacted our daily lives and how the evolution of technology in manufacturing is becoming more embedded into the way that we work (~timestamp 13:05)-Peter shares his own story of how he was inspired by video learning throughout his college career and how he hopes that his shared experience impacts hands on learners of the manufacturing workforce (~timestamp 18:31)-Peter talks more in depth about the shrinking labor pool in manufacturing and how short term training solutions can provide a pathway for a more sustainable manufacturing workforce and local economies (~timestamp 27:59) More About Peter:Peter Costa is the CEO and co-founder of Baltu Technologies. He is a seasoned tech entrepreneur with a passion for employing technology to solve real-world problems. Early on he was exposed to computers, science, and technology, thanks to his father's work in designing and building supercomputers. This early immersion has shaped his professional pursuits and fostered a lifelong passion for innovation. At Baltu Technologies, Peter merges his diverse experiences to accelerate the development of a skilled workforce. As a recognized thought leader, Peter has spoken at conferences across the United States, Abu Dhabi, and China. Throughout his career, Peter's love for building things has evolved into a mission to create technological solutions that better people's lives, making him a driving force in using entrepreneurship and technology to help drive positive social impact. Connect and learn more about Peter here. The Future of Work (and this Episode) Is Brought To You By Secchi:Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here.

Creativity in manufacturing comes in all forms and for Paul Miklautsch, Soloprenuer at BOLDR Project Management, design thinking is a key part of creating strong processes and strong workforces. On this episode of Workforce 4.0, we learn more from Paul on the concept of design thinking and how implementing that strategy to your manufacturing business to build your team can lead to success in building a solid foundation for your workforce. Paul also shares more with host, Ann Wyatt, on what it means to be BOLD in manufacturing and how we can all make positive changes every day. In This Episode:- Paul shares how design thinking has become a must have business tool for not only creating a more efficient business, but also a more empowered and successful workforce (~timestamp 7:29)- Paul shares his own thoughts on how both individuals and businesses can be bold in manufacturing and how we can make incremental impacts through baby steps (~timestamp 12:44)-Paul talks in depth about the power of influence and how everyone in leadership is an industry influencer. He also shares his own tips on what successful influencing looks like and how it impacts your company culture (~timestamp 22:50)More About Paul:Paul believes that every product, every service, every experience should be purposeful and add value to customers. That’s why he works with leaders at B2B manufacturing companies to help them focus and advocate for customers. Through the course of his career, Paul has discovered that the path to better innovation is through strong product management. Paul helps organizations understand the benefit of product management, add the role in their processes, and help professionally develop product managers to a higher standard of excellence. Maximizing your product management capabilities means maximizing the value you deliver customers through more purposeful innovation. Connect with Paul directly here to learn more. The Future of Work (and this Episode) Is Brought To You By Secchi:Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here.

Culture is a hot topic in manufacturing and a topic that is near and dear to TCO Strategies owner and fellow podcaster, Jim Mayer';s heart. On this episode of Workforce 4.0, Ann Wyatt sits down with Jim for a one on one conversation on the impacts that culture has on your organization from a recruiting perspective as well as the financial impacts that poor culture can have on your organization. Most importantly, Jim offers real suggestions on how companies can improve their culture. In This Episode:-We learn more about how Jim helps companies shift their culture mindset and adopt healthy habits to create healthy cultures (~timestamp 16:56)-Jim shares how he works with his clients directly in order to create metrics for healthy and financially stable cultures (~timestamp 19:14)-Jim talks in depth on the value of transparency and how leading conversations through transparency have had positive effects on his client's employees (~27:43)More About Jim:In the manufacturing world, Jim is your go-to guy for turning 'just okay' workplaces into environments where everyone thrives. His journey began over 20 years ago in the skilled trades. Today, as the founder of TCO Strategies, he's all about helping manufacturers craft teams that don't just function but excel. Jim also hosts the very popular podcast, Manufacturing Culture Podcast. Learn more and connect with Jim here. The Future of Work (and this Episode) Is Brought To You By Secchi:Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here.

It all started when Amy Teal and Mike Franz met up for coffee. That's how the origin of ShopFloor Coffee was born. Now, with names like "Red Shop Towel" and "First Shift," ShopFloor Coffee is leveraging their workforce themed coffee and their passion for workforce development to give a portion of their proceeds back to keep fueling critical training programs to fight the skills gap. In this week's episode, join Ann Wyatt as she sits down with ShopFloor Coffee CoFounders, Amy Teal and Mike Franz to hear more about their passion for workforce development, how technology is already impacting the lives of our younger generations and how we can all make an impact in creating a better manufacturing future. In This Episode:-As an industry veteran of 3D printing, Amy gives us her thoughts on how 3D printing and additive manufacturing are going to continue to be a huge part of the future of manufacturing (~timestamp 9:18)-Amy and Mike talk in depth on the importance of their mission for ShopFloor Coffee and how they are continuing to partner with agencies like SkillsUSA, NCATC and Skill Up Arizona (~timestamp 15:17)-Amy and Mike share their thoughts on how we're innovating the way that we train our manufacturing workforce and how that is very different than years past (~timestamp 25:08)More About ShopFloor Coffee:"Not your regular coffee cult." At ShopFloor Coffee, we're more than just a coffee brand; we're on a mission to make a real impact in the world of manufacturing education. Our passion is to bridge the gap between industry needs and education, empowering the next generation of skilled professionals. Every cup you enjoy with us contributes to this mission. A portion of our proceeds is dedicated to supporting organizations committed to advancing manufacturing education. Together, we're shaping the future of this industry through knowledge, skills, and opportunity. Join us in this journey! Connect with our community of coffee lovers who are equally passionate about education and industry growth. Together, we can brew success, one sip at a time. To learn more visit ShopFloor Coffee. Or, connect with Amy Teal and Mike Franz directly. The Future of Work (and this Episode) Is Brought To You By Secchi:Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here.

As the former CEO of BILSTEIN ThyssenKrupp, Fabian Schmahl not only understands the value of stakeholders, but the value of people. Today, Fabian acts as a Managing Partner for Bold Promises Delivered, and continues to advocate for Industry 4.0 and people over process. Join Ann Wyatt as she sits down for a one on one conversation with Fabian to learn more on what it means to win big for people through technology and how those win impact an organization's ROI at scale. In This Episode:-Fabian shares what it means to win as a CEO by explaining the key differences between "shareholder" and "stakeholder" and leveraging relationships between your community, partnering agencies and internal workforce to identify and eliminate lower value tasks (~timestamp 6:55)-We learn more on how Fabian successfully implemented culture changes and how manufacturing organizations can begin to initiate culture changes to improve recruiting efforts and retention rates (~timestamp 11:13)-With all of the buzz surrounding Industry 4.0, Fabian drops his best practices for separating good information from the noise and for manufacturing leadership interested in driving innovation through technology (~timestamp 25:20)More About Fabian Schmahl:Fabian is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of growing business excellence experience in the plastics, rubber and automotive industries. He began his career in 1997 as a Management Trainee at Thyssen Henschel Industrietechnik in Germany, where he quickly rose through the ranks to become Production Manager and Vice President in the United States. After later serving as Executive VP at HF Rubber Machinery, Fabian entered the Tier 1 automotive sector as President & CEO of thyssenkrupp BILSTEIN of America, Inc. where he led the development and manufacture of premium quality, high-performance automotive suspension solutions. During his 15+ year tenure at BILSTEIN, Fabian led the company through 5 major expansions, expanded its workforce by 600+ employees, and facilitated the planning, testing and plant-wide deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies. In 2015, he received the German-American Friendship Award on behalf of the German Ambassador recognizing outstanding service to German-American relations. In 2016, he was named in Cincy Magazine’s 75/71 Business Hall of Fame, and in 2018 he received the Civic Leadership Award honoring Cincinnati leaders for “demonstrated leadership, professional achievement, and continuous, invaluable contributions to their community.” In 2020, he was inducted into the Greater Butler County Business Hall of Fame. Fabian remains committed to the advancement of Industry 4.0/5.0 and firmly believes "you must automate to innovate." Connect and learn more about Fabian here. The Future of Work (and this Episode) Is Brought To You By Secchi:Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here.

It all started in a cornfield. That is the how Mike White, Founder of Secchi.io, began his mission to create a solution that has been haunting the manufacturing HR world for decades- how do we let great workers do great work? On this Season 4 opener of Workforce 4.0, join your host Ann Wyatt as she talks one on one with Mike about the the day to day challenges that manufacturing HR executives are faced with, why that's important to recruiting and retention in our industry and why manufacturing operations should care. In this up front conversation between two people that love people and HR, we learn more about how utilizing gamification, incentives and easy to follow guidelines for our industry supervisors are shaping the way that we work- for the better! In This Episode:-Mike shares his passion for the frontline leader and offers challenges and solutions that allow HR to finally get out of the way of our frontline leadership and let great leaders lead (~timestamp 7:01)-We learn more about Mike's own career journey from playing sports growing up, to getting an early start in tech through a school web club and finally, how Mike ended up becoming the dynamic HR leader he is today- including leading 60+ manufacturing facilities across the globe (~timestamp 17:06)-Mike shares some of the results that he has had through popular HR strategies such as gamification and incentives and how we can improve retention rates and build stronger manufacturing cultures (~timestamp 23:07)More About Mike White:Mike is a Data-Driven Decision Maker who is passionate for data based decision-making utilizing six sigma methodology. His prior work experience includes results in recruitment, labor efficiency, training, consulting, and turnover reduction. As an HR Leadership and Business Partner with the responsibility of 60+ manufacturing facilities globally (including Fortune 500 brands), Mike has led a human resource team, including managers, supervisors, generalists, recruiters, trainers, coordinators, and operations managers. Mike holds a Master’s Degree of Human Resources and Industrial Relations, and is a graduate of the University of Illinois School of Labor and Employment Relations. All of this has led Mike to become the founder of Secchi.io, where they provide clarity for HR professionals and frontline leaders to make data-driven performance decisions, simplified. By tracking more than just discipline, Secchi is a software that provides visibility of team performance, removes the barriers of administrative tasks, and increases productivity. To learn more about Mike, connect with him here.The Future of Work (and this Episode) Is Brought To You By Secchi:Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here.

How is a self described "serial entrepreneur" bringing her passion for business and creative design to the forefront of the robotics industry? This question and more is revealed on this week's episode of Workforce 4.0 as Kim Losey, Chief Growth Officer of Rapid Robotics sits down with Ann Wyatt to discuss the importance of creative design in business and how creativity is shaping the future of the way that we work. Joined by special guest co-host Ryan Treece, we uncover more about Kim's own career journey and more key insights that you don't want to miss! In This Episode:-Kim shares what her favorite use cases for implementing technology like robotics and advice for driving real business value by being genuine in creating solutions (~timestamp 13:34)-Kim talks in depth about her role as a being a creative entrepreneur and how her creative skills have led to her own successful career growth by learning to share the stories of others (~timestamp 25:51)-Kim shares her insights on the future of work and how remote monitoring will one day lead to more flexible work and the greater impact that will have on women in manufacturing and diversity recruiting (~timestamp 37:08)More About Kim Losey:Kim is a catalyst for business growth and impact with a deep appreciation for the power of a brand, She's passionate about leading diverse global teams and demonstrating exponential business growth through creative vision, strong strategic leadership, and insight-based global marketing programs. She's an innovative problem solver, a trusted business partner, and a champion for cross-functional collaboration with proven versatility across teams that span high creative to in-depth technical. With experience leading businesses large and small, across industries and consumer targets, she brings a persistent pursuit of awesome and inspiration to everything she does. Kim currently serves as the CGO for Rapid Robotics. To learn more about Kim, connect with her here. To learn more about Rapid Robotics, visit them here.The Future of Work (and this Episode) Is Brought To You By Secchi:Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here.

When it comes to the transformative power of technology and how tech is shaping the way that we work, Jack Nehlig, President of Phoenix Contact is far from a stranger. Conversely, Jack is quite the innovator in this space just as much as Phoenix Contact is continuing to innovate industrial automation. In this episode, join our host, Ann Wyatt as she sits down with Jack to talk more about how Jack is not only keeping his company's products at the center of solutions driven tech, but also how Jack is keeping his workforce centric to adopting technology day to day. Joined by guest co-host, Ryan Treece, this episode of Workforce 4.0 is one that you certainly don't want to miss!In This Episode:-Listen to how Jack shares how the impact of digitalization has only fueled his own determination in creating internal workforce development programs to up skill employees (~timestamp 22:27)- Jack shares what his inspiration and motivation is behind being one of manufacturing's most well known leaders and a "champion of the people" (~timestamp 30:47)-Learn what skills Jack is always recruiting for and how Phoenix Contact adopts transferrable skills (~timestamp 34:35)More About Jack Nehlig:Jack Nehlig was named President of Phoenix Contact USA in November of 2001. He is responsible for Phoenix Contact’s operations in the United States, comprising the U.S. sales subsidiary and the Group Center of Competence for the Americas. In addition to his U.S. responsibilities, he became a member of the Phoenix Contact Group Executive Committee in 2016. ack serves on the Board of Governors of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). He holds a B.S. in Industrial Distribution from Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y., and an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix in Arizona. To learn more about Jack, connect with him here. See solutions provided by Phoenix Contact here.The Future of Work (and this Episode) Is Brought To You By Secchi:Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here.

How is Augmented Reality going to shape the way that we work in manufacturing? On this week's episode of Workforce 4.0, our host Ann Wyatt sits down with Angela Ortiz to learn more about how work instructions are not only going digital, but impacting recruiting and retention strategies, addressing resource challenges and scaling and the impact that partnerships have on influencing career goals. In This Episode:-Angela shares how manufacturing companies are leveraging AI to assist in finding and capturing their triable knowledge repositories to revolutionize and define work instructions that will enable the next generation of the workforce (~timestamp 12:47)-Angela talks more in depth about how HR is influencing and leading impactful conversations with their manufacturing teams in order to drive and champion digital change for the frontline workforce and how this technology can play a critical role in recruiting, training and development (~timestamp 16:34)-Angela talks about the power of partnerships in manufacturing and how her own career journey in manufacturing has evolved from Business and Project Management into a successful CoFounder (~timestamp 19:36)More About Angela Ortiz:Angela is a strong heart-centered business professional with a passion for helping companies identify and solve their pressing challenges using AR and smart glass technology. Angela and Javier Ortiz created NewForge to be a comprehensive resource for onboarding, training, and implementing new processes and technology solutions for companies of all sizes. To learn more about Angela, connect with her here. This Episode of The Future of Work Is Brought To You By Secchi:Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here.

What's it like to be a robot boss and why is this an exciting new career of the future of work? Join Ann Wyatt as she sits down with Florian Pestoni, Co-Founder and CEO of InOrbit AI to learn more about how manufacturing companies and supply chain companies are utilizing cutting edge cloud technology to enable the workforce of the future. Joined by Ryan Treece as a guest co-host, Ryan and Ann go in depth with Florian to talk more about his experience as a Founder of multiple companies, his advice for the future of the workforce and some hot takes on pizza, music and what manufacturing jobs could look like in the next 10-15 years. In This Episode:-Florian and Ann share their mutual love for working with start up companies and Florian gives his unique perspective for members of the audience interested in what an average day looks like as a Founder (~timestamp 5:42)-Florian shares his top advice for candidates that are interested in working for a startup company and shares what that advice has in common with one of his passions- pizza (~timestamp 11:13)-Florian goes into detail more about what it will be like interacting with robots as our coworkers of the future and shares how that will impact every industry (~timestamp 26:36)More About Florian Pestoni:Florian is an accomplished business leader and author, with hands-on experience bringing innovative products to market. As InOrbit’s CEO and co-founder, Florian leads strategy, fundraising and go-to-market activities. He is passionate about raising awareness around the new category of RobOps, sharing his compelling vision for the evolution of robotics and the future of work. He is also a co-founder of the Robot Operations Group, a community-led organization of experts in scaling robot deployments. Florian is an investor, advisor, board member, and mentor to young startup founders. To learn more about Florian, connect with him here. More About InOrbit AI: InOrbit is the leading provider of SaaS RobOps - DevOps for robotics. InOrbit offers a secure, scalable, cloud-based robot management and analytics platform that enables robotics companies and their customers to develop, deploy and operate smart robots at global scale. Our platform is designed to seamlessly integrate with your existing programs and other services, bringing RobOps to scale. InOrbit's mission is to enable a world where humans, robots and AI work together to drive radical productivity improvements and enable people to reach new heights. Learn more about InOrbit AI here.

Manufacturing careers are for everyone, especially creatives! In this episode, we dive into the intersection of manufacturing innovation and the perspectives of the Gen Z workforce. Join Ann Wyatt as she sits down with Jacob Sanchez, the MFGKid, for a dynamic conversation about the roles of creativity in the future of work, what Gen Z values in their career development and how we can continue to make an impact for the next generations.Featuring Ryan Treece as the guest co-host, tune in as we explore how Gen Z is revolutionizing manufacturing. From embracing emerging technologies to advocating for sustainability and diversity within the sector. Whether you're a seasoned industry professional or simply curious about the future of manufacturing, this episode promises to offer thought-provoking insights and inspiration.In This Episode:-Jacob shares his passion for the nonprofit program, FIRST Robotics and how he has seen this robotics competition impact kids of all ages at a deep level (~timestamp 9:44)-Jacob shares his insights on recruiting more members of the Gen Z workforce into the manufacturing industry by expressing what motivates them (~timestamp 18:57)-Jacob shares the one word that describes the Gen Z workforce and how being upfront with people and embracing empathy can help bridge the gap between the workforce generations (~timestamp 39:47)More About Jacob Sanchez:Jacob's passion for changing people's lives, no matter their age or experience, is why he stays connected with his industry and stays engaged with his community. Jacob began his career as an Application Engineer and has successfully grown his own brand to include hosting educational content for MSC, being featured at industry events and working exclusively as a digital creator. Jacob continues to bring his talent and passion for this industry to his clients by developing individualized winning social media strategies that improve company brands and speak to multiple generations. To learn more, connect with Jacob here.About Workforce 4.0: Workforce 4.0 is an industry centric podcast featuring Manufacturing Executives from all industries coming together to emphasize how companies are partnering with technology to give people more meaningful work. As a passion project created by Ann Wyatt, Workforce 4.0 highlights crucial topics such as the increasing talent gap, success stories of real people engaged with the latest manufacturing technology and how the manufacturing workforce can transition into these exciting new roles. Connect with your host, Ann Wyatt | Watch video recordings on YouTube | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode Notes:How many times over the last few years have we heard the words, "supply chain" and what types of jobs can we expect to be trending amongst the future of the supply chain landscape? Join Ann Wyatt as she sits down with Tom Brouillette from OTIS Supply Chain Consulting as they answer this question and tackle some of the other topics related to this rapidly growing industry. In This Episode:-After spending decades in the Supply Chain Industry, Tom shares his thoughts on where the supply chain is heading over the next 10 years in beyond (~timestamp 8:06)-Tom speaks in depth about the importance of product and packaging sustainability and how we're embarking on the age of the circular economy (~timestamp 14:55)-Tom shares some advice for the younger generations of the workforce and how to ensure that you continue to grow personally and professionally (~timestamp 32:27)More About Tom Brouillette:Tom leads professional services and solutions for digital transformation focused on supply chain intelligence through advanced visibility analytics. With over 15 years of experience in supply chain management, logistics, and technology, he has the expertise and vision to help clients achieve their unique business objectives and priorities by developing and implementing resilient and agile strategic roadmaps that deliver value, efficiency, and innovation based on regular evaluation of market and industry disruptions and changing priorities. To learn more, connect with Tom here.More About Workforce 4.0: Workforce 4.0 is an industry centric podcast featuring Manufacturing Executives from all industries coming together to emphasize how companies are partnering with technology to give people more meaningful work. As a passion project created by Ann Wyatt, Workforce 4.0 highlights crucial topics such as the increasing talent gap, success stories of real people engaged with the latest manufacturing technology and how the manufacturing workforce can transition into these exciting new roles. Connect with your host, Ann Wyatt | Watch video recordings on YouTube | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode Notes:When Ryan Treece began pursing his educational path at Western Michigan University, he had a very limited scope of what career opportunities actually existed in the world of manufacturing outside of engineering roles. Flash forward a decade later and Ryan has certainly earned his role as a Business Development Manager of his company, Telit. Join Ann Wyatt as she sits down for a deep dive on Ryan's own career journey through manufacturing on this exciting season 3 opener of Workforce 4.0. Learn more about this self identified "Nerdy IOT Guy's" own personal relationship with how he incorporates data into his health, how he found his calling and how he continues to inspire others. Also hear more about what it means to him to be featured as a top Industry 4.0 Influencer.In This Episode:-Ryan shares how he was recruited out of school for his first manufacturing job and how the allure of selling lasers caught his attention straight away (~time stamp 12:28)-Ryan talks in depth about his personal health journey and how technology has helped him be successful in his career, how he shares that as an Industry 4.0 Influencer and how manufacturers can also think of technology aiding their human workforce in innovative ways (~timestamp 19:28)-We talk briefly about how small and medium sized manufacturers can incorporate their legacy machinery and assets into new and emerging technology (~timestamp 19:28)More About Ryan Treece:Ryan Treece brings 14 years of experience in Industrial Automation & Manufacturing to his role as the Chair of the Cloud & Edge Technical Committee for ISA's Smart Manufacturing & IIoT Division. In addition to his leadership at ISA, he is a Co-Founder of the Industry 4.0 Club, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the technological future of manufacturing. Serving as the Business Development Manager for Telit Cinterion's IIoT Edge & Cloud Software Platforms division, Ryan is a key figure in the implementation of cutting-edge Industry 4.0 solutions. To learn more about Ryan, connect with him here. More About Workforce 4.0: Workforce 4.0 is an industry centric podcast featuring Manufacturing Executives from all industries coming together to emphasize how companies are partnering with technology to give people more meaningful work. As a passion project created by Ann Wyatt, Workforce 4.0 highlights crucial topics such as the increasing talent gap, success stories of real people engaged with the latest manufacturing technology and how the manufacturing workforce can transition into these exciting new roles. Connect with your host, Ann Wyatt | Watch video recordings on YouTube | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts

The year was 2013. Content creators were barely a thing. Blake Shelton and Adam Levine were still pranking each other on "The Voice" and the rest of us were still trying to figure out how to incorporate the power of social media into our branding strategies. That's when the Manufacturing Resource Center in Allentown, PA decided that the status quo of how we reached middle school kids as an industry had to change. This led to a now state-wide movement called "What's So Cool About Manufacturing."If the manufacturing industry had an Emmy's, this is would surely be it. Join Ann Wyatt as she sits down with CEO, Richard Hobbs and Director of Workforce Initiatives, to learn how manufacturing companies are partnering with local area middle school students to create their own content showcasing the future of manufacturing jobs, networking opportunities between companies and the future workforce and bringing a flavor of an entire awards show all at once. In This Episode:-Richard explains to us what is so cool about manufacturing and why this program (tailored for middle school students) is making a larger impact by being unique (~timestamp 10:30) -Richard shares how this program was designed to leverage these student's creativity and how that is shaping this sought after "future of work" skillset (~timestamp 15:43)-Richard explains how What's So Cool is leveraging industry diversity by partnering the students with different niches of manufacturing industries year after year- exposing them to a wide variety of processes (~timestamp 25:14)More About What's So Cool About Manufacturing:Created by the Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) in Allentown, PA in 2013, the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing® contests draw entries from teams across Pennsylvania. The teams of students and teacher coaches receive camera equipment, software, and professional guidance as they learn to script, record, and edit their video stories. The contest’s objective is to change students’ perceptions about manufacturing careers.

Episode Notes:Launched in 2016, KTECH has awarded more than 300 certifications. In 16 weeks KTECH students earn 4 industry recognized certifications to meet the increasing demands of our manufacturing rich community. KTECH is meeting a need in the non-profit sector that no other organization is serving, connecting people to careers. Taking Kids to Love from grassroots to a global outreach has landed Lee on the list of the 500 Most Influential CEO’s in the World. Lee has been named an “Angel in Adoption” by Congress and honored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for her adoption awareness efforts. Kids to Love was named the Women-Owned Business of the year with the Huntsville – Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Lee has also been honored by the Alabama Broadcaster’s Association for her journalistic contributions and was named one of 2017 Women Who Shape The State. 2019 Entrepreneur of the year in Huntsville, 2019 Non Profit Executive of the Year and 2020 Woman of Impact Honoree.In This Episode:-Lee drops her pro tip for those interested in starting their own non profit training program in their local area and credits the power of networking to KTECH's continued success (~time stamp 11:58)-Lee talks about being comfortable being a disruptor in the training space and how KTECH's success story is one for the underdogs (~timestamp 13:02)-In addition to providing advanced technical skills to underserved children, Lee also shares how they incorporate their training initiatives with soft skills development as part of their Life Lab (~time stamp 13:02) More About Lee Marshall:Lee Marshall’s purpose and passion is to advocate for youth living in foster care. Lee was born into foster care and adopted at the age of 2, so she knows firsthand the difference adoption can make. Through her Kids to Love Foundation, which meets the needs of foster children, Lee is changing the trajectory of young lives. Connect with Lee to learn more here. More About Workforce 4.0: Workforce 4.0 is an industry centric podcast featuring Manufacturing Executives from all industries coming together to emphasize how companies are partnering with technology to give people more meaningful work. As a passion project created by Ann Wyatt, Workforce 4.0 highlights crucial topics such as the increasing talent gap, success stories of real people engaged with the latest manufacturing technology and how the manufacturing workforce can transition into these exciting new roles. Connect with your host, Ann Wyatt | Watch video recordings on YouTube | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode Notes:When I first met Mike Yost through the Industry 4.0 Club, I remember being so inspired by his passion for people his commitment to making sure that they're the focus of all digital transformation. After learning more about his work through his own nonprofit, IGBYS and his work regionally, nationally and globally, I can personally testify that Mike Yost is the manufacturing man! Mike's tenure with manufacturing nonprofits exceeds those ventures. He has also been involved with organizations such as MESA and continues to support the work carried out through CESMII. Through all of his endeavors, his main mission continues to be connecting industry experts, solution providers and just people of the manufacturing community and developing connections far deeper than any internet stream.In This Episode:-It's been said many times that your "network is your net worth," and Mike Yost is no exception to this rule. Learn more about how Mike has built and leverage his own network to not only develop his leadership skills, but also to advance the manufacturing industry as a whole. (~timestamp 10:39)-Mike shares why his continued support in the Industry 4.0 Club is crucial to the education and knowledge sharing of the manufacturing industry. Mike goes on to provide key advice in the importance of educating each other and practicing active listening of our network providers. (~timestamp 15:30)-Mike shares his hot take on digital transformation and why the moment for implementing technology with people at the center of this process in more of our manufacturing facilities is critical to the continued success of our industry (~timestamp 16:34)More About Mike Yost:Mike Yost is a trusted IT/OT leader, messenger, advisor with 30+ years of industrial, commercial and leadership experience in Industrial Automation/Software. In short, he grew up with software on the plant floor and help scale its impact throughout the business. Mike is passionate spokesman and speaker, skilled at message creation, adaptation and delivery. Mike is also dedicated to helping manufacturers compete, leveraging modern software solutions to drive performance. Connect and learn more about Mike here.More About Industry 4.0 Club:Industry 4.0 Club is a dynamic, growth-oriented community that brings together professionals from diverse backgrounds to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation within the realm of Industry 4.0.Our members include practitioners, technology providers, consultants, and thought leaders united by their passion for the advancement of smart manufacturing solutions. By hosting engaging events, insightful discussions, and providing a platform for networking, we empower our members to forge connections, learn from one another, and shape the future of sustainable and efficient manufacturing practices. Learn more about the work Industry 4.0 Club is facilitating here.

Episode Notes:It's hard to imagine someone more passionate about technology and workforce development in the manufacturing community than the one and only Will Healy! Will has made his own identity as "Will I Automate" on numerous social platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn and Tik Tok. His dedication to the industry through serving on panels about technology, product marketing and workforce development have also lead to most of us thinking of him as our big bro. Always eager to help and always informative and educational, Will joins our host, Ann Wyatt for in depth look at how investing in technology is driving value as an investment in our manufacturing workforce, too.In This Episode:-Will gives us his industry insights into what he feels like are the biggest technology disrupters for the manufacturing industry and how they are aiding in bridging the workforce talent gap (~timestamp 7:02)-Will shares his thoughts on how manufacturing companies will need to be more versatile and agile in their training techniques (~timestamp 14:31)-Will shares his passion for evangelizing the manufacturing industry and shares tips on how manufacturing industry partners such as NAM, AMEP and other local area organizations are critical to driving success in creating a future talent pipeline (~timestamp 18:52)More About Will Healy:Will is passionate about people-centric technology, helping others find value in automation, building our talent pipeline and working to improve manufacturing productivity. When we work together, Will brings innovative automation concepts, proven solutions and fresh workforce insights that can dramatically change how you work, raising your competitive position. Will does this from the US in the Cincinnati/NKY metro but loves to travel and see how stuff is made around the world. To learn more about Will, connect with him here.More About Workforce 4.0: Workforce 4.0 is an industry centric podcast featuring Manufacturing Executives from all industries coming together to emphasize how companies are partnering with technology to give people more meaningful work. As a passion project created by Ann Wyatt, Workforce 4.0 highlights crucial topics such as the increasing talent gap, success stories of real people engaged with the latest manufacturing technology and how the manufacturing workforce can transition into these exciting new roles. Connect with your host, Ann Wyatt | Watch video recordings on YouTube | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode Notes:This week on Workforce 4.0, we are extremely honored to be hosting Mike Nager, with the Solution Center of Festo Didactic. Mike is not only a 3x published author but a 4x Top IIOT and Industry 4.0 Influencer and has some solid experience in leading the way when it comes to Digital Transformation and smart manufacturing. A champion of workforce development, Mike has long been advocating for diversity in the manufacturing workforce and finding solutions to overcome the impending skills gap.In This Episode:-Mike shares his own experiences working within a multigenerational workforce but gently reminds us all that the key to success is overcoming road blocks by finding new and innovative paths with emerging technology (~timestamp 15:36)-Mike describes the realistic outcome of Industry 4.0 and how we, as consumers, are already experiencing Industry 4.0 manufacturing within our own communities (~timestamp 20:54)-Mike shares his passion for sharing the exciting opportunities offered through manufacturing careers with younger generations by discussing his why behind authoring his children's book, "All About Smart Manufacturing" (~timestamp 22:30)More About Mike Nager:For years Mike worked in Sales and Marketing for some of the most innovative industry controls companies in the world. He has helped manufacturers to optimize their operations, heading towards Industry 4.0 before we had the term for it. He currently enables hundreds of US manufacturers to become more efficient and profitable to successfully compete worldwide against best-of-class competitors. Connect with Mike here, to learn more! More About Workforce 4.0: Workforce 4.0 is an industry centric podcast featuring Manufacturing Executives from all industries coming together to emphasize how companies are partnering with technology to give people more meaningful work. As a passion project created by Ann Wyatt, Workforce 4.0 highlights crucial topics such as the increasing talent gap, success stories of real people engaged with the latest manufacturing technology and how the manufacturing workforce can transition into these exciting new roles. Connect with your host, Ann Wyatt | Watch video recordings on YouTube | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode Notes:If "The Fearless Frontline" is not gracing your bookshelf as a valuable blueprint for frontline workforce design, this episode is sure to be a treat! Ann Wyatt sits down with the nationally acclaimed and top ranked business book, Ray Attiyah to learn more about the origin story for the book's inception and how the #fearlessfactory in Cincinnati, OH brought "The Fearless Frontline" to life.In This Episode:-Ray begins our conversation unpacking what he defines as a "fearless culture" and a "fearless" frontline and shares deep insights into how to nurture that culture within your own organization (~timestamp 5:08)-Ray shares his top tool for jobseekers that are interested in assessing future employment opportunities by critically analyzing design thinking as an HR function (~timestamp 12:45)-Ray shares his absolute trademark for assessing an industry top performer for hiring managers with in the manufacturing industry (~timestamp 30:31)More About Ray Attiyah:Inspired by his desire to train and seek break through improvements Ray founded Definity Partners (formerly Midwest Manufacturing Solutions/MMS) in 1996 and is currently the Chief Innovation Officer. Ray is also an accomplished author having written several articles for various industry journals and having launched his first book in March of 2013 entitled The Fearless Front Line: The Key to Liberating Leaders to Improve and Grow Their Business. To learn more about Ray, connect with him here.More About Workforce 4.0: Workforce 4.0 is an industry centric podcast featuring Manufacturing Executives from all industries coming together to emphasize how companies are partnering with technology to give people more meaningful work. As a passion project created by Ann Wyatt, Workforce 4.0 highlights crucial topics such as the increasing talent gap, success stories of real people engaged with the latest manufacturing technology and how the manufacturing workforce can transition into these exciting new roles. Connect with your host, Ann Wyatt | Watch video recordings on YouTube | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts