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Welcome to EECO Ask’s Why – A podcast that dives into industrial manufacturing topics and spotlights the heroes that keep America running. On this podcast, we do not cover the latest features and benefits on products that come to market. Instead, we focus on advice and insight from the top minds of industry because people and ideas will be how America remains number one in manufacturing in the world.
268 Episodes
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Submarines, airplanes and supply chain...oh my! In this powerful hero episode Karen Blackburn shares about her amazing journey through manufacturing. Having over 40 years of hands on experience in multiple procurement roles led to a conversation full of wisdom and truth. Karen started out working for a company that manufactured submarines for the US Navy. She speaks to many of the lessons learned there and how they served her well in future positions. From the deep water ...
"I like to connect people to what it is they need so they can accomplish what it is that they set out to do." - Ayoka Gay That quote summarizes the powerful conversation we had with our hero Ayoka Gay. She is driven to serve others and help them understand the many options that exist for the future. Her story is amazing and began at Lockheed Martin where she was an integral part of the F-35 project. She shares the feeling of watching the blood, sweat and tears come to frui...
Does your curiosity lead you to wondering how to make things around you better? Our hero Amanda Prochaska is driven by her personal curiosity and forged an amazing path that she shares in this fun conversation. When Amanda is serving others she is completely in her happy place! She has a passion for procurement and that world has evolved greatly over the years. When she decided to take the entrepreneurial leap she found her stride and the value that Wonder Services delivers is ...
Ovens, tomato sauce, crusts, cheeses, meats, veggies and even fruit - these are all components to making an amazing pizza! Knowing how to arrange these items to make perfect pie is a visualization of manufacturing. Now - what if you wanted the best pizza available how do you do it? Prabhjot Singh breaks down how you can analyze the manufacturing process and make the adjustments that will leave Digiorno in the dust! He has dedicated his career in helping manufacturers bette...
Data is not a cost - it is an asset! The surge of data available to industrial manufacturing has been moving at an exponential rate. Industrial 4.0, smart manufacturing and IIoT can make the best engineers feel like they are drinking from a fire hydrant. Robert Cooke is on a mission to help people connect with data in a meaningful way. In this thought provoking conversation Robert shares how he founded 3 Forge with the idea of building a full stack platform that puts the most i...
Chris Roche forged an amazing path that started with his love of soccer. Starting back in his elementary days in England he always found himself pursuing an entrepreneurial journey. Since coming to the US he has taken on some incredible challenges and currently is the CEO of Catalyst Consulting. His knowledge of marketing and demand generation put him at the forefront of helping SaaS and B2B companies connect better with their customers. Marketing is a long-run game and he empha...
Electric motors are the lifeblood of industry and knowing how to properly select them is critical. It is easy to get overwhelmed if you have never sourced an electric motor before and this conversation will take all the stress away. Mike Rathbun is an expert in all things power related and electric motors is one of his specialties. He shares practical tips that everyone needs to know to make the best decisions when it comes to electric motors. Mike reviews: Nameplate basics...
The customer experience impacts us all. When you enter a store the journey begins. Everything from how you find the items you are looking for to the actual purchasing process, every step makes an impression on how you evaluate a business. This reins true in the industrial manufacturing sector as well as the markets are more competitive than ever so any opportunity to remove friction should be capitalized. Paula Courtney knows the importance of a fluid customer experience and shar...
This is the incredible conclusion to Micah Miley and Mike Rathbun's amazing modernization case study. It began by them working together to get their ducks in a row. Then it moved into actual project management which basically meant they were dialed in with each other at all times (this is how trust and friendship is built). In this episode they review the moment we have all been waiting for - delivery and commissioning!! This part of the story had many twists and t...
For those that have walked a modernization project from cradle to grave you know success lies in the details and planning. Showing up on gameday doesn't work for a NFL team and neither does success in a project of any size. In part two of this powerful story Micah Miley and Mike Rathbun unpack how they were able to work together to ensure the project would have a successful outcome. They explore areas such as how communication flowed between all parties in the heat of planning.&n...
Paula Courtney has an amazing journey that is full of inspiration for others to learn from. As the CEO of Verde Group she is leading the way in improving the customer experience by providing insightful market research consultation services. Paula shares about her entrepreneurial journey and how taking risks was something she always leaned into and the results have been incredible. She take time to unpack several items that are sure to aid others in their journey including: What i...
What if you could look at your operations holistically and marry your energy data to the production data? Welcome - you just entered the world of energy intelligence! Natalie Birdwell is leading the way in this sector and helping industrial users everywhere make an impact with the energy they are already consuming. In this conversation Natalie unpacks items such as: How to move from energy monitoring to energy intelligenceAreas of low hanging fruit to get a quick win and build a...
At the core of who Tanuj Thapliyal is a desire to help people. That has driven him to great lengths and ultimately founding Spot AI. Tanuj put in the work to learn the skills needed to serve others so much so that he completed a double masters program at Stanford. Having a passion for entrepreneurship he has great advice for those wanting to pursue their own path. Some of his advice included finding those that are a few steps ahead of where you are to help push you to achie...
Do not leave culture to chance because it influences everything! David Friedman literally wrote the book on how to design company cultures that make an impact and he shares some of the insights he's learned over the years that are sure to help you move forward. David leaves no ground uncovered and reviews areas such as: How culture can drift and what to do to correct itWhat a "culture plan" is and why most organizations miss this Eight step framework for creating a winning ...
Every journey is unique and what makes Bob Meads so special is the passion in which he unpacks his creation story that led him to the amazing world of augmented reality. Beginning with his career in the Navy, Bob always had a passion for technology. That love for technology presented many opportunities for him to grow his skillset which included items such as computer and PLC programming. From C++ to Java he never backed down from the challenge of mastering these platforms...
To create visibility for your business you must be able to position yourself and your company as expert resources. Through that process you can earn attention, trust and visibility. But how is that accomplished? Welcome to the party industrial marketing! In this idea episode Joe Sullivan from Gorilla 76 breaks down ways that manufacturers can take the lead and be in control of so much of their destiny in the future. Joe covers many areas including: Knowing your audien...
As the industrial world evolves more and more attention is centering around data. These days the plant floor has access to more data than ever before. But it's not enough to simply have data - you have to use that to make better business decisions. Enter the world of industrial analytics! In this episode Matt Hussey unpacks ways in which those in the industrial sector are acting to make more informed decisions and ultimately improve their processes. He covers i...
Entrepreneurship, video and ministry - this hero episode covers it all! Jeff Long is absolutely crushing it at True Focus Media and he stopped in to share his story and encourage others to pursue their passions. As a fresh graduate from a Bible College Jeff quickly learned that his calling would be in digital marketing and he has never looked back. He is a natural problem solver and shares how stair-stepping an entrepreneurial journey helps you grow as your confidence and ...
Get ready for serious truth as Mike Weinberg shares his insight on how to simply sales for industry. Mike is a consultant, sales coach, speaker and author on a mission to simplify sales. His specialties are New Business Development and Sales Management, and his passion is helping companies and salespeople win more new sales! Forbes named Mike a Top Sales Influencer and other publications list him as the #1 Sales Expert to follow on Twitter. Mike has spoken and consulted on five c...
The skills gap is a real issue in industry and there is a great opportunity to improve by encouraging and supporting women to join this sector. To help explore this idea we brought in a power house panel of ladies to listen and learn from. Mayuri Dahibhate, Alexus Hancock and Meaghan Ziemba are all EECO Asks Why Heroes and they brought a ton of wisdom and insight into what they see first hand and what should be considered in the future. They unpack many areas including: Wh...
Guests: Mary Bruce Clemons - Industrial Controls Technician @ TW Controls Taylor Smith - Creative Marketing and Sales Specialist @ PSNERGY Linda Freeman - Industry Manager @ Rockwell Automation EECO Asks Why is still celebrating the incredible women of industry! This week we discuss the families. There is a tremendous impact that industry has our family. We brought in three heroes to unpack how they feel that impact firsthand. Mary Bruce Clemons, Linda Freeman and Taylor Smith sh...
Whoever said "It's a Man's World" needs to pull up a chair and listen to these heroes of industry! Libbie Harrison and Stephanie Brantley tackle the topic of "It's a Man's World" head on and their candidness, insight and wisdom is something we all can learn from. They unpack many items including: ☑ Their general perception of how women are viewed in industry. ☑ The biggest headwinds women face. ☑ Some of the biggest moves forward in the recent years for women in industry. ☑ Tips and advice ...
Get ready for one of the most impactful conversations ever on EECO Asks Why! In 2020 we had a series that focused on Women in Engineering and those stories resonated with so many people. In 2022 we wanted to serve you by bringing panels of women together to share their insight on topics that are critical to industry. The panel featured in this episode focused on the topic of leadership and their insight was nothing short of spectacular. Joining the panel we had return...
The world of business is constantly changing and as technology has evolved the importance of video to serve others has risen. Jeff Long is a leader in industry by helping manufacturers create valuable content that engages potential buyers as they evaluate available solutions. With nearly 70% of the buyer journey being completed before sales is contacted it is becoming more and more critical to have valuable content ready to serve when the questions arise. This can be a daunting s...
The best way to learn about the next generation of heroes is by talking to them directly. Michael Wilborne is well on his path to a future leader of industry and already has some incredible experiences that he unpacks. Growing up around automation and controls provided him a unique opportunity to see first hand the amazing paths that exist for his future journey. He is an Industrial Sorcerer in training and his dad Tim hold the title now. Michael explains how his high scho...
Video technology is right at the center of many Industry 4.0 initiatives. However, many industrial owners struggle with implementation in a way that makes a meaningful impact to the business. Tanuj Thapliyal unpacks how any manufacturer could start this process and it is as easy as utilizing existing equipment. He explains that the key to getting these initiatives moving is by lowering the barrier of entry and finding wins early to build advocates. Video can be the u...
Talk about passion for your career!!! Allie Donnelly is our hero and we are convinced that she will quickly become yours as well. Allie's passion for her trade pours out of her in this conversation. As a young apprentice electrician she recognizes the amazing future that lies ahead and walks us through some of the steps she's taken along the way to pave the path. Allie always had a high level of curiosity and she shares how her mother always had her around trades which...
So many industrial companies are struggling with their industrial network especially with the increased demand on data for process improvement. Ron Thompson shares the experience he had at Lampe & Malphrus Lumber Company as he led a massive overhaul of the complete network. Their needs started to include areas such as video and the infrastructure that existed simply could not support the demands. We've all seen the "network closet" and Ron shares how that too was a reality when the...
Our hero Michael Manzi loves a challenge. From serving our country in the Navy working in nuclear submarines to designing world class MIS systems his journey will have you on the edge of your seat. He shares story after story of how he had challenges land at his feet and the methodical way he approached them all to reach the ultimate solution. He offers advice for those wanting to pursue a career in industry and he leads with you should always be an advocate for yourself.&...
Augmented reality is no longer chasing around Pokémon! It has made it to the plant floor and we unpack how you can start utilizing this technology in your facility immediately. Bob Meads shares a ton of insight on the evolution of augmented reality technology and how he is helping industrial users leverage it in their everyday operations. Bob reviews the impact technologies such as this can have on the culture of a company and the best approach for desired results. He explores pract...
Learning, doing new things and helping other people is how our Hero Jonathan Noren describes his Why. From determining how electromagnetic fields behave inside a rail gun to industrial networking his journey has been anything but conventional. He found his passion helping industrial manufacturers implement and build solutions that connects data and leads to better decisions. Jonathan offered great advice for those new to industry and spoke openly about the importance of mentorshi...
We are excited to release the first episode of our Industry War Stories. The feedback has been pouring in and this is a first taste of some of the amazing stories we have collected. Remember we want the good, the bad, the funny, the stories you will tell at dinner parties and around the family dinner table. We believe our heroes of industry have amazing things happen all the time and this is the way we can all unite as a community and celebrate the wins, lessons learned and ...
From the great state of Texas to leading the way at ndustrial.io Natalie Birdwell has an amazing journey that she unpacks in this insightful conversation. She knew early on that her love of STEM would be prevalent in her journey and quickly started to make an impact when she entered industry. She offered sage advice to those in industry that are dealing with issues such as transferring knowledge and how the workforce transition is impacting everyone. Her recognition in the...
We brought in Michael Manzi to hit head on the topic of IT/OT convergence. He brought a ton of wisdom and insight around this ever growing area that is impacting manufacturers everywhere. Michael explains the general structure of these systems and how the priority of the system owners differ. He unpacks how OT networks have an insistent need to always be available and how the massive amounts of data being moved must be taken into consideration. When dealing with oper...
"I like helping people, learning and leaving things a little better than I found it." That sums up our hero Chester Burke and he shared his inspirational journey in this hero conversation. At the core he loves to create new things and he provided great insight to how the world of engineering and manufacturing provides so many opportunities for that to happen. When he is faced with an opportunity to improve a process or engineer automation he loves how that allows him to use his un...
In this Straight Talk With Chris episode he unpacks his internship journey at EECO that was 20 years ago. The three areas that he remembered the most were the opportunity he had to explore and learn about distribution. He also recalled how open everyone was and willing to teach him about the industry. He concludes with the importance he had with his mentor and how he guided him and truly cared about his path. Internships are an incredible way to bring new people into indus...
So Chris got on a roll with this one and spoke to how features and benefit days are over. He stresses the importance of understanding the problems that are trying to be solved. Another area he suggests is to be succinct in your solution. The quickest to the answer these days is the one that provides the most value. Finally he speaks to the power of listening with intent to understand instead of to respond. Maybe this is the year you challenge yourself and others around you ...
Our heroes always stress the importance of networking. Chris wanted to provide some tips he's learned as you work on building your professional network in your career. He discusses areas such as social media, the importance of sharing ideas and how impactful groups can be. Networking has shifted in many ways and there are some nuggets of wisdom here that can help you break past the wall and start building meaningful connections in the future. Connect with us on LinkedIn an...
With a new year comes a new opportunity to build good habits that will help you bring the best version of you at work. Chris talks about the importance of starting your day off right, the importance of boundaries and how using PTO is in place to help everyone rest and recharge. Here's to a fresh new year of ideas and heroes that make industry great! Host: Chris Grainger Executive Producer: Adam Sheets Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower Industry War Story Submission: Send us a ...
In the first "Straight talk with Chris" episode he breaks down some of the craziness of 2021 that he saw. No doubt the supply chain issues hit everyone hard and made it a challenging year. His points of communication, patience and the need for more manufacturing in America are areas that will bring us together moving forward. Happy New Year from the EECO family and many blessings for you all in 2022! Host: Chris Grainger Executive Producer: Adam Sheets Podcast Edito...
In this special hero episode we are flipping it around on Chris. In true EECO Asks Why fashion we are staying true to our love of families and Chris has his daughters lead the interview. They have a blast talking about his past and learned some new things about their dad along the way. Listeners know that Chris is a proud girl dad and it was fun to see him light up when sharing stories with Chloe and Ava. From the Rock, to the Robertson's, to fun memories as a child...
95 guests strong and each season gets better on EECO Asks Why! We had a blast with our Holiday's with our Heroes and have some new plans for 2022. You will start to see some "Straight Talk with Chris" episodes dropping over the next few weeks and be sure to check out the special Hero conversation is episode 177. Thank you for staying with us for another amazing season and remember - Keep Asking Why! Host: Chris Grainger Executive Producer: Adam Sheets Podcast Editor: Andi ...
Our hero Amos Purdy is leading the way and helping many in industry reach their new goals when it comes to technology and data! He holds master degrees in both electrical engineering and business and they help him connect the dots for many on both sides of the aisles. He loves helping others realize the insight that is available with the latest IOT and IIOT devices and how better data driven decisions are key to the next evolution of industry. Amos got specific on how young engi...
"Give me a complex problem, let me own it and let me try to solve it." That sums up our hero Sandy D'Souza and how he is leading the way at Fiix Software. Sandy's journey starts at his roots in Toronto and he has many lessons learned along the way that is sure to help others in the pursuit of their personal best. He gives great insight to what change management looks like for those in industry and how the evolution of technology is disrupting the game in a good way. Th...
Our hero Hussain Al-Khalaf has an amazing journey and his passion for life is incredible. His path has included time in Iraq, Beirut, Abu Dhabi, Canada , Washington and Georgia. Going from Abu Dhabi to Canada was quite the culture and temperature shock which he embraced. He shares amazing advice for the next generation of engineers and how manufacturers could act to showcase the multitude of opportunities that exist. Hussain has such a positive outlook on everything ...
Richie Fortenberry is leading the way in helping industrial end users enhance their safety and security as a consulting engineer at Prism Systems. His journey through engineering actually started with his love of music. As an avid musician he had an interest in audio engineering and that has led him down a fantastic journey in learning. He has a passion for security systems and provides insight to what he is seeing everyday as the Industry 4.0 revolution is unfolding befor...
Buckle up for this hero episode where Daniel Herrington shares his amazing journey. He is a proud NC State Wolfpack alum and the first professional race car driver to be on EECO Asks Why. Daniel completed his graduate work at Duke University and is now the CEO of Voxel Innovations which is located on Tarheel Street in Raleigh - he's all over the place and having a blast! Daniel shares about his passion for pulsed electrochemical machining and how he's taking that industry he...
Claire Stevens summed it up with her "why" when she said she loves finding solutions to problems. From her early childhood days where she analyzed the angles on her smore's around the campfire to her collegiate studies at Duke University she loves challenging her thinking and learning how items work. You did read that right - Duke University - and she works at NC State so that can create some fun work dynamics which bleeds over to her family where her father attended NC State and her si...
Paul Van Metre learned at an early age that he has a passion for building things and that led him down an amazing journey. His love for cars grew exponentially when he entered a program that let him design, build and even race open wheel cars. He actually owns the car he designed and it was through all of that where he fell in love with machining. With six partners, 2000 square feet and one machine his career began. From there it has blossomed and now at ProShop ERP he...
From her roots in Eastern Tennessee to leading the team at Onex Ashleigh Walters has an amazing journey! She shares about how she has been able to lead her team through two major crisis at Onex and the lessons learned along the way. As the author of "Leading with Grit and Grace" she opens up about the process she put in place to complete the book and how she learned so much along the way. Ashleigh is big on helping the next generation learn about the many possibilities that exis...
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