Manufacturing Happy Hour

Full automation and AI on the factory floor are great, but the line still doesn't run without people who can feel a part click into place wrong or hear a tool burn.That space between what technology can repeat and what only an operator can sense is the art of precision manufacturing.Recorded live from The Manufacturing Exchange at ARTISANworks in Rochester, NY for the Rochester stop on the Rust Belt Renaissance Tour, Chris is joined on stage by three guests who think about that space every day. Matthew Bradley is Program Director at Moog Inc., a 75-year-old Buffalo-based motion control company building out a brand-new 150,000-square-foot machine shop. James Greer is Lead Sourcing Rep at X-Bow Systems, the non-traditional solid rocket motor manufacturer. Chris Brown, SVP of Sales, joins from Fathom Digital Manufacturing, one of the largest on-demand digital manufacturing platforms in North America.They talk through where automation creates value and where applying it too aggressively produces scrap. Matt walks through the philosophy his team is using to pull together routings, eliminate setups, and rethink "we've always done it this way" inside Moog's new facility. James shares what he looks for when grading a supplier within 60 seconds of walking the floor, the regional pockets of the US where manufacturing talent is gathering, and why the mix of people on machine shop floors is more varied than people assume.For anyone scaling a precision shop, evaluating suppliers, trying to figure out where the operator ends and the machine should begin, or thinking about the art of manufacturing, this is a look at how three working leaders are navigating that line right now.In this episode, find out:The parts of precision manufacturing that will always need a human, and why feel still beats sensors when tolerances run into the millionthsWhere the art shows up in novel parts and the unfamiliar problems no simulation, CAM program, or AI catches the first time throughWhy Moog calls its experienced machinists a "critical, precious resource" and how that framing shapes the company's plan to double headcount over the next decadeHow a Moog servo valve goes together, and why an interference fit clicking is the cue that something is already wrongWhat Chris Brown means when he says "the human brain is what needs to solve that problem," and where Fathom puts that into practiceWhat outsiders miss about Upstate New York's manufacturing scene, from optics to aerospace to motion controlHow shop culture and the way owners invest in their people decide whether the next generation of machinists staysEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"There's certain things, especially in the precision motion control world, that we just haven't been able to figure out, and frankly, we don't think we're gonna be able to. There is always gonna have to be a human in there to feel and understand what's going on." — Matthew Bradley, Program Director, Moog Inc."If you ask five engineers to solve one problem, there'll be 10 answers in 20 hours of argument. So time box that time, understand that sometimes your gut's Right. Trust it and move forward." — Chris Brown, SVP of Sales, Fathom Digital Manufacturing"What that owner did is he invested in his people. He said, 'I don't want you to go out and get a personal loan and give your money away to some financial institution. I don't want you to go get a mortgage. I'll buy your house.' So he bought all of his employees their homes through their work. He invested in his people. That story stuck with me." — James Greer, Lead Sourcing Rep, X-Bow SystemsLinks & mentions:Fathom Digital Manufacturing, one of the largest on-demand digital manufacturing platforms in North America, providing 25+ advanced manufacturing technologies and support services across additive manufacturing, injection molding, CNC machining, and sheet metal fabrication.Moog Inc., worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision motion control components and systems, headquartered near Buffalo, NY.X-Bow Systems, leading non-traditional producer of solid rocket motors, offering both traditional SRMs and advanced additive manufacturing solutions.ARTISANworks, the art-centric event space in Rochester, NY where The Manufacturing Exchange (and this episode) was held.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

What do smartphones, batteries, defense systems, and solar panels all have in common?They all depend on critical minerals like lithium, graphite, gallium, and polysilicon. Access to these resources affects how people, businesses, and governments communicate, generate power, and operate.In this episode, Chris sits down with Representative Haley Stevens from Michigan’s 11th district to discuss her plans for lessening U.S. dependence on the production and refining of these resources from other countries.The conversation digs into the current state of the U.S. supply chain. We look at how innovation shaped the auto rescue during the 2008 recession and how it will continue to influence the success of the American auto industry over the next 25 years.We also unpack why Representative Stevens is passionate about the manufacturing industry, how it continues to shape her career, and the type of legislation changes you can expect from her 100-page proposal.In this episode, find out:How the auto rescue saved 200,000 Michigan jobsThe impact of the manufacturing industry on Representative Steven’s career in CongressHow barriers to entry are costing the manufacturing industry room to innovateWhy it's important to bring the entire supply chain to the U.S.How Representative Stevens plans to lessen U.S. dependence on other countries for critical mineralsWhat needs to change from a federal level to fix supply chain vulnerabilities, lower costs, and create jobsHow environmental concerns fit into legislation plansThe importance of a tax code that empowers manufacturing workers and small businessesWhat will secure the future of American manufacturing for the next 25 yearsEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes: ”Somewhere between 85 and 95% of critical minerals are processed and refined in China. It’s a supply chain vulnerability.”“We need to lessen our dependence on China, invest in loan guarantees and tax credits that will grow this industry here in the United States of America.” “Who will continue to lead the free world in the next 25 years? Well, it's going to be American industry through free market principles that allow for equal opportunity and people to thrive.”Links & mentions:Kennedy’s Irish Pub, a longstanding Irish pub serving up draft brews, cocktails, and casual eats in a funky, upbeat atmosphere in Waterford, MI.Representative Haley Stevens, Congresswoman for Michigan's 11th District.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.Mentioned in this episode:Industrial Marketing Summit 2026The Industrial Marketing Summit is the go-to gathering for marketers working in the manufacturing, engineering and industrial sectors. Built by Gorilla 76 and TREW Marketing, IMS delivers strategic insight, hands-on learning and true community. Whether you’re a team of one, or leading a scaled marketing department, you’ll walk away ready to market smarter, lead stronger and impact your business. Make sure to use the code "happy hour" at checkout for $100 off registration.Industrial Marketing Summit 2026

A lot of manufacturing companies can build insanely complex and intricate things, but far fewer are set up to handle what happens once customers start buying. So, what happens when those products start selling at scale, contracts get longer, and customers get bigger?In this episode, we’re joined by Chris Hale, CEO and Founder at Klear, to uncover a side of manufacturing that often gets overlooked: how money moves through industrial businesses.The conversation explores how money flows when deal cycles are long, customers are global, and planning starts to feel less like spreadsheets and more like a 3D chessboard. Trade finance sits underneath a lot of this activity, shaping how physical infrastructure gets built and how manufacturers grow.We also hear about Chris' experience touring in a band, and how this shaped the way he thinks about coordination, timing, and handoffs, ideas that show up repeatedly in how he approaches financial systems for manufacturers today.In this episode, find out:How Chris Hale moved from touring in a band to working in finance and building fintech tools for industrial companiesWhy trade finance underpins everything from shipping containers to large-scale infrastructure projectsWhat orchestration means in a manufacturing context, and why clean handoffs matterWhy managing money often becomes harder as companies grow and demand increasesHow global volatility, customer behaviour, and innovation shape financial decision-makingWhere financial visibility tends to break down inside fast-growing manufacturersWhy tying money directly to physical execution changes how companies scaleEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“Trade finance as an asset class is fascinating because it’s how the world gets built through money. If you see a boat full of shipping containers, that boat is trade finance. If you see a data center being built, everything going into it is trade finance.”“The board keeps moving. You’ve got government customers, supply chain disruptions, strikes, geopolitics, and it becomes incredibly difficult to plan with confidence.”“Manufacturer are doing all this precision work, but when it comes to their money, they’re doing dead reckoning. They’re looking at the sun and guessing, and that’s where things fall apart.”Links & mentions:Klear Inc., a payment and working capital infrastructure provider that’s designed specifically for modern industrial companies. The platform helps manufacturers gain clearer visibility into cash flow, manage risk across long contracts, and better align financial operations with physical execution.The Trident (Bay Area), a historic waterfront bar tied to Janis Joplin and Bay Area music history.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.Mentioned in this episode:Industrial Marketing Summit 2026The Industrial Marketing Summit is the go-to gathering for marketers working in the manufacturing, engineering and industrial sectors. Built by Gorilla 76 and TREW Marketing, IMS delivers strategic insight, hands-on learning and true community. Whether you’re a team of one, or leading a scaled marketing department, you’ll walk away ready to market smarter, lead stronger and impact your business. Make sure to use the code "happy hour" at checkout for $100 off registration.Industrial Marketing Summit 2026

In this episode, Chris sits down with Troy Ellison of Cloacina to talk about what it takes to build infrastructure that works in the real world, not just on paper. Troy explains what membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are in a way that you and I can understand, then pulls back the curtain on why so many systems fail the people who have to run them.A big theme here is end-user experience. Troy makes the case that operators have been ignored for too long, and that designing systems around spreadsheets instead of humans is why so many projects struggle.We also get into scaling a manufacturing business, what it’s really like growing from a handful of people to well over a hundred, and the highs and lows of being in business with your family.If you’re building something meant to last, whether that’s equipment, a team, or a company, there’s a lot in here worth sitting with.In this episode, find out:What an MBR (membrane bioreactor) is, and why it’s become Cloacina’s core focus.Why Troy compares wastewater systems to race cars, and what happens when operators are handed something poorly designed.How prioritizing the operator changes everything from layout to long-term performance.What scaling a manufacturing business looks like when you’re buying equipment, hiring people, and fixing problems nonstop.Why Cloacina stopped listening to voices that slowed progress and focused on building the right team.How taking on single-point responsibility removes friction instead of adding risk.Where Troy sees the future of MBRs heading.Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“The Cloacina difference is the end user experience. We're hyper focused on that. It's all we care about at the end of the day.”“We were essentially building the airplane as it was on fire and falling out of the sky for many, many years.”“We are on a relentless pursuit for the perfect MBR. But the reason it's relentless is we will never get there; we will never achieve perfection. Perfection is the process, it's not a destination.” Links & mentions:Cloacina - Troy Ellison’s company, focused on membrane bioreactor (MBR) wastewater treatment systemsCloacina Rentals - Rental MBRs for immediate wastewater treatment solutionsMembrane Bioreactors (MBRs) - The core wastewater technology discussed throughout the episodeExtreme Ownership - Leadership principle referenced (popularized by Jocko Willink)Jocko’s - The local bar that Troy referencesMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.Mentioned in this episode:Industrial Marketing Summit 2026The Industrial Marketing Summit is the go-to gathering for marketers working in the manufacturing, engineering and industrial sectors. Built by Gorilla 76 and TREW Marketing, IMS delivers strategic insight, hands-on learning and true community. Whether you’re a team of one, or leading a scaled marketing department, you’ll walk away ready to market smarter, lead stronger and impact your business. Make sure to use the code "happy hour" at checkout for $100 off registration.Industrial Marketing Summit 2026

In true Manufacturing Happy Hour style, we head back to Pittsburgh, PA to drink the region's most iconic beer - Iron City - in an iconic Pittsburgh manufacturing facility. We sit down with Alex Gonzalez, Plant Manager at Pittsburgh Brewing Company. Part of our Made Here Series with the Industrial Solutions Network.Mentioned in this episode:Industrial Marketing Summit 2026The Industrial Marketing Summit is the go-to gathering for marketers working in the manufacturing, engineering and industrial sectors. Built by Gorilla 76 and TREW Marketing, IMS delivers strategic insight, hands-on learning and true community. Whether you’re a team of one, or leading a scaled marketing department, you’ll walk away ready to market smarter, lead stronger and impact your business. Make sure to use the code "happy hour" at checkout for $100 off registration.Industrial Marketing Summit 2026

Manufacturing leadership is more than just charts, tools, and process maps. It requires people who understand the routines, pressures and drivers within a factory, and how to bring out the best in the people behind it. In this episode, keynote speaker, certified leadership coach and business transformation advisor, Kathy Miller returns to the show to share some ideas from her latest book, MORE is Better, a framework built from years of leading operations and studying what drives excellence in manufacturing.Rather than starting with strategy or systems, Kathy begins with the human elements: helping people find meaning in the work they do, creating a culture where problems feel solvable, and building the relationships that make teams stronger and more resilient. Her stories come straight from plant floors navigating Lean initiatives, new technology, talent turnover, and the day-to-day realities of production.For leaders trying to build long-term capability in their teams, Kathy reminds us that the factories that thrive are the ones that invest in both performance and people. In this episode, find out:Why meaningful work matters more than ever, and how to help people see their impactThe difference between autonomy and agency and why agency is what drives pride, ownership, and problem-solving on the plant floorHow optimism becomes a cultural engine, not a personality traitWhere Lean manufacturing and positive psychology intersectHow leaders at every level shape culture through micro-moments of connection that build trust, resilience, and collaborationWhat digital transformation and AI mean for manufacturing workersHow to “do a little more today” with small, practical leadership actions that build stronger workplaces one conversation, one moment, one choice at a timeEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“A key aspect of lean manufacturing is eliminating waste. We don’t want people creating scrap. Who wants to work on something that’s going to end up being waste? Don’t you want to work on the product itself?”“Small choices really build our culture, our performance, and our leadership legacy, and that happens one little shift at a time.”“Optimism is really about that ability to look at when things go wrong and know that you can solve the problem. It's temporary, it's specific, and it's not going to be the end of the world.”Links & mentions:MORE is Better: Leading Operations with Meaning, Optimism, and Relationships for Excellence, by Kathy Miller, a practical handbook for manufacturing leaders, grounded in psychology and real plant experience, focused on building strong cultures that drive performance.More 4 Leaders, Kathy’s website and the home of More Mentor, her AI-powered coaching tool designed to help leaders work through real-world challenges using the principles from MORE is Better.Episode 97 featuring Kathy Miller, our first conversation with Kathy, aired June 28, 2022, where she shares her journey from running global manufacturing operations to coaching leaders through culture, leadership, and transformation.Moxa, delivering the reliable and secure connectivity foundation that advanced analytics and AI depend on, with solutions in edge connectivity, industrial computing, and network infrastructure.  Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.Mentioned in this episode:Industrial Marketing Summit 2026The Industrial Marketing Summit is the go-to gathering for marketers working in the manufacturing, engineering and industrial sectors. Built by Gorilla 76 and TREW Marketing, IMS delivers strategic insight, hands-on learning and true community. Whether you’re a team of one, or leading a scaled marketing department, you’ll walk away ready to market smarter, lead stronger and impact your business. Make sure to use the code "happy hour" at checkout for $100 off registration.Industrial Marketing Summit 2026

1 more event in 2025. Dozens of events ahead in 2026. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.