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Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0604 - Mike Brattain - Systems X

Mike Brattain is an Account Executive at Systems X where he helps leaders in the manufacturing industry understand how to best manage and secure their data.  He has spent his career developing winning business strategies with a common sense approach.  30% of Systems X's manufacturing customer base is part of the DoD supply chain, where having a strong cybersecurity posture is no longer an option.  Mike is a CMMC-AB registered practitioner and works with a team of IT, cybersecurity, and compliance professionals that have over 20 years of manufacturing technology experience.  When he isn't busy fighting the good fight, Mike enjoys family time, seeking the Truth, and working towards his PGA Tour Card.  He wishes... 

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0603 - Brian Holmes - KBHC

F. Brian Holmes, A.Sc.T.(Ret), CMfgE, FSME 

VP / GM at Columbia Plastics Ltd.
He is a graduate of BCIT and has spent his career in custom manufacturing serving industries such as electronics, aerospace, agriculture and medical devices.
six-sigma black belt and lean manufacturing methodology implementation. CMfgE

New technologies including the molding of wood waste products, CAD/CAM, Process Simulation, robotics, metal injection molding, sintering, cast molds for plastic injection molding, and custom real time production monitoring. He also oversaw the implementation of ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 compliant quality management systems.

His experience with the company includes sales, production, operations, quality and general management. His emphasis is on a culture of continuous learning for everyone in the company. 

SME president and chair of the board in 2007.

3 years on the board of the SME Education Foundation.

2012 Class of Fellows of SME for technical and leadership achievements.

Since semi-retiring in 2019 he has been consulting with manufacturers at a strategic level to improve their processes and profitability.

He is currently a Certified Manufacturing Master and a service delivery partner with Tandem Innovation Group.

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0602 - Will Healy - Universal Robots

Will Healy III is enthusiastic about manufacturing, technology and workforce development. A Purdue University mechanical engineer who loves to share his passion for automation, Will is a global leader at Universal Robots and with the Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnership (AMIP) in Cincinnati. He speaks from personal experience about people-centric technology investments, managing culture change in organizations, bridging the manufacturing skills gap and creating value through automation. With more than 17 years of experience in a variety of industries including automotive, packaging, food & beverage, metal fabrication, welding and more; Will is widely published, has been a podcast guest & panelist and has presented internationally at a variety of industry conferences. Follow Will on YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn with the handle WillAutomate.

 Contact Information

Work cell: +1-513-401-2061

work email: wihe@universal-robots.com

Location: Cincinnati, OH 45244, USA

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0601 - Bob Willig - SME

Bob discusses all things manufacturing from workforce and training to smart and the future of manufacturing. 

SME CEO Bob Willig, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the manufacturing industry, has held multiple leadership positions for global divisions within major manufacturing companies, most recently at Stoneridge Inc. where he was president of the Control Devices Division. Prior to Stoneridge, Willig served as president and CEO of Plasan Carbon Composites; before that he was president, Americas, for GKN Driveline, an automotive industry supplier focused on drive system technologies. Earlier in his career, Willig was president of both Power Transmission and Powertrain at The Gates Corp. He has also served on various boards, including Plasan's Board of Directors, GKN's Chief Executive Council and Gates Corp. Asia’s Board of Directors.

Willig has extensive experience leading teams across multiple cultures, languages, locations and disciplines.

Willig earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical systems design from Lawrence Tech University and an MBA from Wayne State University. 

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0519 - Beth Weissenreider-Bennis - Weiss-Aug

Elisabeth Weissenrieder-Bennis, EVP, Weiss-Aug Group, has led the strategic expansion of her family’s business alongside her father and founder Dieter Weissenrieder for the past 15 + years, adding 3 new divisions and over 350 employees.  A current member of the Precision Metal Forming Board of Advisors and NJIT’s NCE Board of Visitors, she is also a passionate advocate for manufacturing.

Elisabeth discusses women in manufacturing and how technology will change the face of Metalforming.

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0518 - Dean Phillips - Link Systems & Longevity Industries

Dean covers Smart Technology including artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, IIoT and all points in between.

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0517 - Matthew Welle - CST Precision

Matt discusses workforce development and engagement and how iot is integrating into ISO certification. Technology in additive manufacturing is opening doors to new business.

President of CST Precision with Extensive experience in complex business transactions, manufacturing and business process engineering, sales, estimating and sourcing of manufactured components, sales, business process re-design, medical device manufacturing, along with hands on leadership coaching and development. Managememt of 30+ person teams. Displays high standards of professional behavior. A unique blend of engineering, operations, manufacturing, sales and training experience with an outstanding record of sound business judgement, expanding responsibility and achievement of success across multiple functions and industries.

Continuous improvement projects utilizing Six Sigma, LEAN, Theory of Constraints, manufacturing cells, and QRM to achieve desired outcomes.

Operational excellence executing standard processes, FDA, ISO 9000, ISO 13485, GMP

Past

Regional Sales Manager, Eastern US/Canada - Putnam Plastics

Leadership Series FacilitatorLeadership Series Facilitator - SME

Director of Projects & Manufacturing Strategy- Tegra Medical

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0516 - Josh Perkins - Piedmont Hoist & Crane

Josh Perkins received his undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Technology degree from Rochester Institute of Technology and his MBA from the School of Business at University of Buffalo. His career in Manufacturing started thirty-five years ago as the sole Manufacturing Engineer at Niagara Machine Tool alongside another recent college graduate named Dean Phillips who was just starting his career in Sales.  Josh’s career has taken him across a variety of different manufactured products, from manufacturing of large weldments & assemblies to the development and launch small micro-electronic assemblies, he even spent a few years in technical sales representing Parker Hannifin corporation. He has worked for a variety of companies including Ingersoll Rand, Timken Bearing, Kewaunee Scientific and Piedmont Hoist and Crane where he is currently VP of Operations. His career has spanned from punch cards to wireless data collection, from 2-axis mills and drills to 15-axis customized machine tools, from Edlin to Microsoft 365. Josh has experience launching new product lines from concept to production including development of new manufacturing processes, global footprint capacity planning and rationalization and production leadership where his true passion lies. He states that his true home is on the floor, with the noise, the smells and the chaos that comes with leading manufacturing organizations, his passion is building and leading teams to achieve new levels and building organizations to provide jobs and futures for all of those within the company

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0515 - Josh Cramer - America Makes

 Josh Cramer joined NCDMM in 2018 as the Education and Workforce Director for America Makes, providing overall program leadership responsibility for all America Makes’ Education and Workforce initiatives.

Previously, Mr. Cramer served as the Director of Educational Programs at the SME Education Foundation, monitoring, promoting, and evaluating all of its major programs. He was also responsible for building a comprehensive portfolio strategy for growth and sustainment of programs. In addition to those duties, he also served for a time as the Interim Executive Director of the Foundation. Other positions Mr. Cramer held during his five-year tenure with the SME Education Foundation also included Director of K-12 Educational Programs and Senior Educational Program Officer.

At the SME Education Foundation, Josh’s duties entailed actively collaborating with manufacturing partners to assess the knowledge and skillset needs to establish strategic plans while building programs to meet the skills gap needs of manufacturers.

Prior to joining the SME Education Foundation, Mr. Cramer was the Director of School Engagement, Eastern Region for Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a nonprofit organization that provides a transformative learning experience for PreK-12 students and teachers across the U.S. Specifically, PLTW empowers students to develop in-demand, transportable knowledge and skills through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science.

2004, Mr. Cramer started his education career as an Applied Engineering Instructor for the School District in South Park, Pa.

Mr. Cramer holds a Master’s in Education and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology and Bachelor of Science in Education from California University of Pennsylvania as well as an Associates Degree in Engineering Education from Penn State University. 

Destiny of Manufacturing- EP 0514 George Moran Flex N Gate
Third generation technician who started his first apprenticeship at 15. George started his industrial journey working in gas plants and steel mills before becoming a nuclear certified technician and welder. His first exposure to large presses came when he was contracted as a supervisor at a large forging plant. After this he moved into automotive and into automotive management. He transitioned from this into my role at Schuler and really honed his craft as a automotive leader and problem solver.
Now he have moved into corporate leadership and am the Corporate stamping engineer for one of the largest privately owned automotive companies in the world.
George has been fortunate to lead projects in the US, Mexico, UK etc and look forward to the future.

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0512 - Brian Peshek - Hiab
Brian Peshek is the Operations Manager for Hiab's Multi-Assembly Unit in Streetsboro, Ohio. He began his career in manufacturing as a Journeyman Die Maker at Chrysler. Certified as a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt by Kent State University , he has, from 2009-2021, held various Continuous Improvement roles mostly in automotive and transportation manufacturing. Having received his MBA from Case Western, and having led a successful Lean Journey at liftgate manufacturer Waltco, and Brian is now the Operations Manager for the parent company, Hiab, at its facility in Streetsboro, Ohio.

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0513 - Kyle Riegel - Schunk Carbon Technology

Kyle Riegel is the Product Manager for the Current Transmission Division within Schunk Carbon Technology LLC.  He has spent his career involved with Electrical Carbon Products with an emphasis on the Wind Industry with several designs being used in the industry today.  In his career he has spent time as a design engineer, R & D engineer, and Field Engineer as well with a background in Electrical & Mechanical Engineering.  Kyle is involved in Advisory Roles with The University of Northern Iowa and Loras College, where he completed his undergraduate degree.  He also has served as a mentor, judge, and coach for FIRST Robotics on multiple levels and is a board member for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Education Foundation.

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0511 - Matteo Dariol - Bosch Rexroth

Matteo Dariol is a lead innovation strategist for Bosch Rexroth, intrapreneur, technologist, AI and IIoT expert. Currently located in Bosch’s innovation and co-creation space, the Chicago Connectory, his activities revolve around the intersection between R&D and product development, with the goal of harnessing new technologies and explore new business models in the manufacturing space.

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0510 - Erin bishop - Machine Inbound

ERIN (RAPACKI) BISHOP
Angel Investor, Serial Entrepreneur, CoFounder Spatial sim
Spatial Sim is simplifying safety certification and risk assessment for
behavioral machines (AI). Unlike field testing where dangerous or edge-case
scenarios are impossible to duplicate reliably, Spatial Sim enables robot code
updates to be verified and validated across thousands of procedurally
generated scenarios in Unity, Unreal, or Nvidia ISSAC Sim
Before Spatial Sim; Erin has worked at DEKA, iRobot, Adept, Industrial
Perception (acquired by Google), Sense Photonics (acquired by Ouster), and
consults with robotics companies at various stages

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0509 - Bob Iossi -

Bob has 40 years of experience in the Industrial & Commercial Machinery Automation and Robotics Business. He started with Caterpillar where he gained his machine knowledge and expanded his experience in Electrical/Electronic Engineering with Allen-Bradley/Reliance Electric, now Rockwell Automation for 25 years of starting as a Field Engineer, Applications Engineer, Systems Engineer, Project Management, Engineering Manager and then Business Operations Director. After building their Systems Integrator Business to $50M Bob took an early retirement offer.  

He then joined PICO Tool Automotive Line Supplier to commercially engineer and manage the Ford Jellybean to 500 model and then to the Taurus in Chicago for 3 years. Bob then took up the idea that he could help Systems Integrators with their sales efforts in the Chicagoland Area, so he started working with multiple different Systems Integrators with different expertise for the last 12 years in the Chicagoland Area and now Better by Design, LLC in Delavan, WI for custom machines and automation as their Technical Sales Engineer. Bob is also currently the Chairman of SME in Chicagoland.

Unique Projects I have been involved in during my 40 year career:

• Caterpillar RNC/DNC Communication Project for CNC’s to talk directly to the ERP and transmit directions to and from the Production Floor, serial 4-20ma
• John Deere Harvester/ESAB Heath Flame Cutting – Engineered first flame cutting CNC system. Designed kerf compensation to control flame pitch for welding.
• W.A. Whitney/ Allen-Bradley Richland Center, WI CNC Punch Press for Sheet Metal Facility Integration
• Inland Steel, East Chicago, IL – Commercial Lead/Project Manager/Engineer - Galvanizing Hot Dip 48" Continuous Steel Processing Line using A-B High HP AC Drives and PLC's
• McClain/Lockheed/Boeing – Wichita, KS R & D F22 Strike Fighter – Proved Robot Anti-reflectant wing material (stretched) Concept – stretching  consistency of a wet potato chip
• Harley-Davidson, Kansas City, MO – Sold, Engineered and Project Managed Robotic and Vision Frame Welding System
• Maytag/Whirlpool, Herrin, IL – Sold, Designed, Delivered Stamping Press Tending Material Handling Automation on old mechanical Presses using Robot Tending
• McDonalds/Schreiber Foods – Monet, MO - $2.25M + Project Ronald Clean-Label Continuous Natural Cheese Line – Process, Slicing, Packaging and Cold Warehousing

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0508 - Dewayne Lowe - Transition Energy Group

A little about me and my background.

My name is Dewayne Lowe and I am the owner and president of Transition Energy Group LLC located in Birchwood TN. I have a BS in mechanical engineering and an MS in engineering management both from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. I am a certified energy manager (CEM) from the Association of Energy Engineers. I have 30+ years of experienceprimarily related to facilities engineering management, maintenance and energy management. 26 years of that time was spent with Maytag and then Whirlpool in Cleveland TN.

I am also a US Army veteran.

I am married to my loving and patient wife Lee Ann Lowe. We have 2 wonderful adult children Ashley and David and their spouses Shawn and Hannah respectively and 1 grandchildGracie.

What I enjoy doing most is helping folks with improving their operations so that they get the best value for the least cost.

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0507 - Rodney Grover - InStride

VP, Corporate Partnerships Global Industrial Market InStride

Joining InStride in 2019, Rodney is responsible for leadingdevelopment of InStride’s workforce education and skills strategies in the Manufacturing and Industrial vertical. Rodney supports InStride’s manufacturing partners’ leadership in their journey to build, grow and maintain askilled workforce through “an emotional connection to talent.”

Rodney began his career as a welding engineer and machinist on the plant floor of a third-generation family business. Since then, he has progressed to lead strategic manufacturing operations for companies serving the automotive, aerospace, and durable goods markets, while building industrial workforce strategies through his volunteer leadership and his work at InStride.  

2001 Rodney began volunteering as a mentor to the next generation at SME. 2011, joined the SME Education Foundation where he led the launch of P.R.I.M.E - Partnership Response in Manufacturing Education. Today, his work influences more than 100,000 high school students annually and leverages relationships with major manufacturing companies throughout North America.

Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE), Sandler Sales Certified, Pacific Institute Certified, and has served on the board of National Heritage Academies as Board President. He is currently the Board Chair of CHAMPION now

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0506 - Devin Fidler - Rethinkery

Devin Fidler is the Founder of Rethinkery, a research and consulting center focused on developing and using group intelligence to explore the emerging issues and technologies that are changing the way we get things done. He has worked with senior leaders at dozens of large organizations to chart shifts and to leverage their potential.

Prior to founding Rethinkery, Devin has worked with a number of other foresight organizations, including founding and directing future of work and learning programs at Institute for the Future. Having lived and worked in several countries throughout his career, he brings a global perspective to all his projects.

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0505 - Bill Hickey Jr - Lapham-Hickey

​Bill Hickey is chairman of Lapham-Hickey Steel Corp.  Lapham-Hickey Steel Corp. is a steel service center founded in 1926.  This family owned and operated company has 11 locations with approximately 700 employees.  Lapham-Hickey is currently ranked as one of the top 50 service centers in the United States.

​Bill has been employed with Lapham-Hickey Steel Corp. since 1975.  He has held several positions within Lapham-Hickey Steel Corp.  Since January 1, 2018, Bill accepted the position of Chairman as the management structure transitions to the fourth generation of the Hickey Family.

​During Bill’s career, he has been active in the MSCI, holding chapter and national leadership positions in that organization.  He currently is a member of the Chairman’s EmeritusCouncil.

​Bill was appointed a position to ITAC-7. ITAC-7 is an advisory committee to the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative. He held the position of Chairman of the Committee for 4 years.  He remains an active member.

​Bill is a former Trustee for the PMA Educational Foundation.

Bill remains active in the Illinois Manufacturer’s Association. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors and served a 2-year term as Chairman (2016-2017).   He has held other officer positions on the board of directors.

In June of 2020 Bill was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award – the institute’s highest honor.  Bill was then inducted into the MSCI’s Hall of Fame for being such an icon within the metals distribution industry along with his significant leadership and service within the greater business and civic communities.

The Association of Steel Distributors named Bill as its 2019 Steel Executive of the Year.

In 2014 Bill was the recipient of the Richard L. Duchossuis Alumni Award for Integrity and Values from Morgan Park Academy.

Metal Center News named Bill as the 2012 Service Center Executive of the Year.

Destiny of Manufacturing EP 0503 - Dean Phillips - LINK Systems

Dean Phillips - Sales Engineer LINK Systems, Provides a unique look at our Destiny of Manufacturing taking a look at our entire Smart Manufacturing Transformation.

An International Director for SME and an advisor to the Smart Mfg Advisory Committee

Advisor to the PMA Safety Committee and contributor to the PMA training and educational materials.

28 years in Forming and Fabricating