Rebuilding America's manufacturing graph for defense

Fascinating conversation alert! 🎙️ LevaData CEO Keith Hartley joined Florian Selch on The Masters of Supply Chain podcast for a deep dive into how AI is transforming direct material sourcing — and how smarter decision-making can shape the future of supply chains. They also discussed Keith’s new book, 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘣𝘺𝘴𝘴, now available on Amazon. 🎧 Tune in to explore the intersection of technology, strategy, and leadership in supply chain innovation.

AI isn’t just transforming supply chains — it’s redefining how decisions get made. Excellent insights from Keith Hartley on The Masters of Supply Chain podcast.

When I first started tracking KPIs at Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication… it was, if I am honest, chaos. Spreadsheets everywhere. Different sources, calculations, reports. No clear story. I realized quickly, the problem wasn’t the data. It was how we used it. In this week’s Buy the Numbers #, I sat down with our continuous improvement coach Brian Karp to talk about how to build a KPI culture that actually drives improvement. Start small. Measure what matters. Better beats perfect every time. 🎧 Listen now on your favorite pod player or the MakingChips website today! Building a KPI Culture That Drives Real Improvement on the Shop Floor (Ep #30) #GrowingValue #DataDrivenDecisions #NumbersMatter #MFGLeader #MakingChips #SaveAShop MakingChips Machine Shop Mastery Buy the Numbers # Lights Out MakingSparks Machine Shop Growth Podcast The Manufacturing Executive Podcast Nick Goellner Paul Van Metre Matthew Nix Casey Voelker Jennifer Dubose Kaleb Mertz Mike Fritz CEO Kirk Phelps David Vuyk Jon Franko Joe Sullivan

Getting access to capital is a topic that is front-of-mind for manufacturing leaders right now. If you can tell a great story that aligns with what's on your balance sheet, P&L, and statement of cash flows, you're putting yourself in a better position to get the capital you need. ...and not just from banks either. Aaron Traut, Erik Skie, and Jon L. Hughes, CPA from CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) share some great tips in last week's episode on how manufacturers can secure capital, including ways they might not have thought of before. Tune into Episode 257 today. I'll share a link to the full interview in the comments. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Some clients just aren’t a fit. And the sooner you admit that, the better. On the last episode of Beyond the Cart, I sat down with Dave Gulas from EZDC to talk about what a real 3PL partnership looks like, and why too many brand-service relationships fail before they start. We’re not here to run your ops for you. A good partner? Yes. A surrogate operator? No. Accountability has to go both ways. Same logic as hiring → qualify slow, cut fast. If you’ve been biting your tongue around the wrong-fit clients, maybe it’s time to start calling it what it is: a liability, not a partnership. This was one of the more honest convos I’ve had on the show. Let’s raise the bar. DM me if you want to talk fulfillment partnerships or growth strategy.

“We move the world.” That’s how Duncan Wright, President of UWL, sums up the truth of global logistics. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t always grab headlines. But without it, trade, and life as we know it, stops. In Episode 51 of Kev Talks Podcast: Real World Global Logistics , Duncan joins us to unpack the noise vs. the future in our industry. 🎙️ From his early days at Sealand to leading UWL today, Duncan shares: ✅ Why supply chains are built on partnerships, not transactions ✅ What AI and digitization actually matter (and what’s just hype) ✅ His 3 rules for the next-gen supply chain playbook: 1.     Protect critical thinking in an automated world 2.     Embrace flexibility as a competitive advantage 3.     Stop contingency planning, build structures that execute seamlessly This conversation is candid, insightful, and rooted in decades of experience across continents. Whether you’re a shipper, service provider, or supply chain leader, Duncan’s perspective will challenge how you think about the future. 🎧 Listen now: YouTube: https://lnkd.in/g5ctTfMB Apple: https://lnkd.in/g2DsCy-J Spotify: https://lnkd.in/g5-vm2TA Amazon: https://lnkd.in/gXWjQTm6 iHeartRadio: https://lnkd.in/gaPTdP35 📺 Watch Duncan’s clip below where he explains why we should wear global logistics as a badge of honor. #GlobalLogistics #SupplyChainLeadership #LogisticsMatters #RealWorldLogistics #TradeWithoutBorders #LogisticsLeaders #GlobalTrade Kevin Parkerson Kevin Higgins KP Global Logistics Consulting LLC

For over a century, the automobile industry was led by names like Ford and Mercedes. Today, Tesla leads the way — driven by research, innovation, and curiosity. 🔍 Those who question the old often create the new. 🚀 The future belongs to the curious and the explorers. Shared by Dr. Nishikant Jha, — Vice Principal & HOD (Accounting & Finance), prolific researcher, award-winning educator, and a mentor Watch the full podcast here: https://lnkd.in/e5JM4Ee9 #EkStoryEpisode4 #EkvityOriginals #Innovation #Research #Leadership #AutomobileIndustry #FinanceBeyondNumbers #Disruption #Learning #BusinessInsights

In the latest episode of Fortune’s #LeadershipNext, Wendell Weeks, chairman and CEO of Corning Incorporated, joined Fortune to reflect on leading one of America’s oldest innovators through constant reinvention. Weeks shared rare stories from his partnerships with visionaries like Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos, revealing lessons on collaboration — and what it takes to build a company designed to last another 150 years. He also discussed Corning’s pivotal role in the iPhone’s creation, its quiet influence across industries from solar to AI, and why true leadership begins with followership. Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/eGQzpwHc

Sikich Principal and Manufacturing Services Leader Jerry Murphy, joined ASSEMBLY Magazine’s #ASSEMBLYAudible to reveal findings from the latest Sikich Manufacturing & Distribution Industry Pulse survey. He discusses how manufacturers are staying optimistic amid inflation, supply chain issues and tariffs, while embracing AI and automation to drive progress. Learn more and listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/g_SsJa-Q #Manufacturing #IndustryInsights #Podcast

If you’ve ever sent parts to heat treat and instantly felt your chest tighten… welcome to manufacturing. Because the moment that part leaves your building… your risk just went up. Quality…timing…accountability… suddenly riding in someone else’s hands. This week on the MakingChips Machine Shop MBA series we sat down with Charlie Hushek from Phoenix Heat Treating … a guy who understands BOTH sides of the fence. Heat treater. Machine shop owner. Veteran of parts falling off trucks. 3 takeaways every shop owner needs: #️⃣ If it leaves your shop, your risk skyrockets…plan like it #️⃣ Clarity beats “per print”…every single time #️⃣ Treat vendors like partners…not people you throw hot potatoes at Want fewer surprises and more sleep? Make your outside processes feel like they’re still inside your shop. 🎧 Listen on MakingChips or your favorite pod player today! #GrowingValue #DataDrivenDecisions #NumbersMatter #MFGLeader #MakingChips #SaveAShop MakingChips Machine Shop Mastery Buy the Numbers Machine Shop Growth Podcast Machine Shop Growth Podcast The Manufacturing Executive Podcast Nick Goellner Paul Van Metre Jennifer Dubose Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication