The manufacturing landscape is continually evolving, bolstered by innovative solutions and driven by passionate individuals who envision a future where technology and manufacturing converge in remarkable ways. Callye Keen and Russell Waddell explore the changing dynamics of manufacturing, collaboration, and reshoring.
Emergence of Innovative Manufacturing
Innovation in manufacturing has emerged as a crucial theme, with a growing emphasis on developing new solutions and systems. The best engineers, those leading the future of manufacturing, usually have hands-on experience. They may have worked in a shop or participated in innovative projects like Formula Student (FSAE) teams or solar race teams. The crux is the passion for building and creating that transcends the conventional understanding of a job and moves into the territory of personal commitment and relentless innovation.
Manufacturing: A Team Sport
Indeed, the conventional notion of manufacturing as a monolithic process has been turned on its head. Manufacturing is a team sport now. The industry's evolution necessitates the involvement of individuals from various skill sets, creating an ecosystem that thrives on collaboration. Whether it's engineers, business people, sales teams, product managers, logistics people, or IT professionals, modern manufacturing requires a confluence of skills and knowledge. It's not just about creating more powerful tools; it's about ensuring seamless communication, information flow, and collaboration across different teams.
The Power of Collaboration
The collaboration economy is more efficient than vertical manufacturing. Keeping a strict limit on employee numbers while aiming for an ambitious revenue goal necessitates a reliance on strategic partnerships with other manufacturers. This way, an innovation-based business can ensure it doesn't get bogged down in the operational intricacies of managing a vast range of processes, from pick and place line operations to handling injection molding and die-casting.
In the face of evolving markets, a push towards hyper-local manufacturing, and compressed project timelines, the necessity of having a collaborative network in place is greater than ever before. Companies can focus on their core competencies while leveraging the strengths of their partners, thus maintaining a lean and flexible operation. As the conversation transitions to sourcing, the sentiment remains consistent; the source of the product does not necessarily need to be in-house, as long as it is reliable and efficient.
Looking to the Future: Reshoring Initiatives
The conversation closes with a nod to the future, as both Callye and Russell discuss reshoring initiatives and the potential impact of these on the manufacturing industry. The CHIPS Act, aiming to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to the U.S., is one such initiative that is generating significant interest. While the semiconductor industry is complex, the ancillary requirements around robotics, plant support, and tooling present a host of opportunities.
Russell's future plans include entering the automation installation field, serving factories and industrial customers, an area expected to boom with reshoring initiatives. Keen also expects significant growth in the collaborative environment built to support the manufacturing needs of the future.
Conclusion
Manufacturing is undoubtedly changing, driven by innovation, collaboration, and reshoring. There is a palpable shift from monolithic to more flexible and collaborative manufacturing processes, recognizing the need for a diverse skill set. As reshoring initiatives like the CHIPS Act gather momentum, the manufacturing industry stands at the cusp of exciting transformations, creating a future full of opportunities and potential growth.
In the words of Russell, "Let's go build some stuff.” The future of manufacturing seems to be precisely about that - building, innovating, collaborating, and reshaping the way we perceive and execute manufacturing processes. The idea of growth is no longer synonymous with merely expanding the workforce or adding more equipment. Today, growth in the manufacturing sector looks more like enhanced communication, improved collaboration, and strategic utilization of resources through partnerships.
As the manufacturing landscape is rapidly changing, staying on top of these transformations and leveraging them effectively will be the cornerstone for successful businesses. It's clear that a business model that enables collaboration and synergy among various skill sets, from engineering to logistics, will define the industry's future. Keen's words resonate, "If I can work with 10 people who are making cool stuff, I can make 10 times as much stuff." This simple yet potent idea captures the essence of the emerging manufacturing paradigm.
As we look ahead, it's essential to remember the primary goal of manufacturing - to make stuff. The future will likely revolve around making that process more efficient, reliable, and collaborative. It's a team sport, after all. The shifts in manufacturing trends also remind us that progress is not just about vertical growth or maintaining an extensive in-house operation. Instead, it's about recognizing and capitalizing on strengths, whether they come from within the organization or strategic external partnerships.
The key takeaway from the conversation between Keen and Russell is the potential that lies in reshaping the way we approach manufacturing. From fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration to exploring opportunities in reshoring initiatives, the manufacturing sector is poised for substantial evolution.
Interested in the entire episode with Russel Waddell? Listen as host Callye Keen interviews him on episode 010 of The Startup Defense podcast. Available on all podcast platforms.
About Russell Waddell
Russ Waddell is a freelancer supporting manufacturing and software development companies on product development, operations, marketing and product management, and digital transformation. After supporting sales and marketing functions for machine tool builders as an industry economist, he moved into software and controls. He managed the MTConnect Institute, a standards development organization working on machine-to-machine communication, then worked as a community manager at Tulip Interfaces until the beginning of 2023. He’s most at home supporting engineers and software developers in heavy industry and manufacturing, with customers in aerospace and defense, oil & gas, and contract machining/job shops.
