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by Manufacturing Talk Radio
Your Everything Manufacturing Podcast. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just curious about the industry, we’ve got something for you!Manufacturing Talk Radio is led by two dynamic hosts, Lewis Weiss and Amy Nicklaus, who bring expertise and fresh perspectives to the industry. Lewis, with five decades of hands-on experience, simplifies complex manufacturing challenges, offering actionable insights on technology, workforce strategies, and industry transformation. Amy brings an engaging approach, exploring the real-world impact of innovations in technology, logistics, and workforce dynamics. Together, they create a compelling and insightful podcast that keeps professionals informed, inspired, and ready for the future of manufacturing.
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Can artificial intelligence completely replace a manufacturing workforce, and how are massive manufacturing plants adapting to the modern skill gap? In this episode of Manufacturing Talk Radio, host Lewis Weiss sits down with Tanushree Ghosh, the Senior Director leading site operations at Medtronic's Tempe complex. Managing a population of nearly 800 people across a nine-building facility, Tanushree oversees the production of critical cardiovascular, neurovascular, and pelvic health medical devices. Drawing from her PhD background in science and material chemistry—alongside a 17-year career at Intel—she delivers an authentic look into running a complex manufacturing ecosystem. Tune in as Lewis and Tanushree break down the actual reality of AI proliferation on the factory floor, separating the media hype from cost-effective operational constraints. Tanushree shares how large companies effectively manage long-term internship and workforce models to upskill the next generation. Finally, explore her parallel career as an author and the founder of the non-profit Her Rights, where she targets gender parity, workforce diversity, and social activism. Timestamps to Watch: 00:00 – Meet Guest Tanushree Ghosh: Senior Director at Medtronic 02:15 – Inside the Tempe Complex: Medical Device Manufacturing at Scale 03:41 – Addressing the Skill Gap, Obsolete Equipment, and Workforce Realities 05:06 – Developing Long-Term Interships & Mentorship Programs 08:47 – The Real Impact of AI vs. AI Hype in 2026 Manufacturing 13:17 – Capital Equipment Depreciation and the Mathematics of Automation 16:14 – Leveraging AI and Startups for Small to Medium-Sized Companies 19:59 – Social Activism: Founding "Her Rights" and Fostering Gender Equality 21:35 – Authorship & Literature: Navigating Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Social Change 24:54 – Ruthless Efficiency: Work-Life Balance and Finding Personal Success 29:05 – The Struggle of the "Stanford Duck": Being Vulnerable About Mental Health Continued Reading + Resources Queer Chronicles Book: https://mybook.to/queerchronicles Beyond #MeToo Book: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-MeToo-Ushering-Womens-Noise-ebook/dp/B0CN4GJVFN Her Rights Advocacy: https://www.herrights.org/ Thoughts & Rights Platform: https://www.thoughtsandrights.com/ Connect with our Guest Instagram: @thoughtsrightsnimages X: @thoughtsnrights Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is the global manufacturing economy headed for a crash, or is it entering a historic resurgence? In this episode of Manufacturing Think Tank, host Cliff Waldman sits down with top economists Mark Vitner (Founder of Piedmont Crescent Capital) and Jeremy Leonard (Director of Industry Services at Oxford Economics) to break down how the conflict with Iran is transforming the global manufacturing outlook. Despite major geopolitical uncertainty, the U.S. manufacturing sector has shown surprising resilience. Our guests explain the hidden economic forces at play—including massive waves of domestic reshoring, the build-out of massive AI data center infrastructures, and the critical differences in energy independence between the U.S. and Europe. Tune in to discover which sectors are set to benefit from defense replenishment and domestic chemical production, why automotive and consumer durables face heavy demand destruction, and what the ending of the war could mean for the future of global supply chains. Timestamps to Watch: 00:00 – Meet the Economists: Mark Vitner & Jeremy Leonard 03:37 – Is the War Damaging U.S. Manufacturing? 07:44 – Winners & Losers: How Oil Prices Impact Chemicals, Automotive, and Aerospace 12:42 – The Most Impacted Manufacturing Industries 19:52 – Europe vs. U.S.: The True Extent of the Energy Crisis 24:55 – The Structural Reality of Reshoring & Pharmaceutical Supply Chains 34:31 – The Long-Term Geopolitical Fingerprint of the Iran Conflict 41:27 – Global Manufacturing: How the Rest of the World is Responding 45:48 – Federal Reserve Rates, Policy Reversals, and AI Opposition Risks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this exclusive Manufacturing Talk Radio interview, host Lewis Weiss sits down with ISM Services PMI Chair Steve Miller to discuss the pivotal May ISM Services Report the very day it is released June 3rd 2026, breaking down the key data points impacting the services economy. To shed light on the report’s crucial findings, we speak with Steve Miller, a preeminent authority within the services sector. Miller is currently serving as ISM Services PMI Chair and is an accomplished supply chain management executive. His distinguished career includes 40 years of experience in procurement, supply chain management, IT implementation and operations, and operations management consulting at Disney, P.F. Chang’s, Accenture, and Kearney. With 40 years of experience in procurement, supply chain management, IT implementation and operations, Miller offers unparalleled insight into services trends and economic activity. Check out data discussed in this episode here: https://www.ismworld.org/globalassets/pub/research-and-surveys/rob/nmi/fuelrob202605svcs.pdf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this exclusive Manufacturing Talk Radio interview, hosts Lewis Weiss and Amy Nicklaus sit down with ISM Manufacturing PMI Chair Susan Spence to discuss the latest ISM Manufacturing Report released June 1, 2026. The group break down the key data points impacting the global supply chain and what the effects of that might mean. To shed light on the report’s crucial findings, we speak with Susan Spence, a preeminent authority within manufacturing. Spence is currently serving as ISM Manufacturing PMI Chair and is a winner of the J. Shipman Gold Medal Award. Her distinguished career includes serving as vice president of the Sourcing & Procurement group at FedEx Corp. With 28 years of experience at United Technologies Corporation (UTC) in leadership roles across supply management and operations, Spence offers unparalleled insight into manufacturing trends and economic activity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What does the future hold for the 99% of American manufacturing defined as "small business"? In this episode of Manufacturing Talk Radio, host Louis Weiss sits down with Carrie Hines, President and CEO of the American Small Manufacturers Coalition (ASMC). Carrie shares her deep expertise on the vital role of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network—a powerful public-private partnership providing boots-on-the-ground technical assistance across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Discover how MEP centers are driving domestic growth by mapping supply chain risks, accelerating reshoring initiatives, and helping small facilities navigate advanced automation. Carrie also tackles the ongoing workforce crisis, highlighting how modern manufacturing is leveraging AI, video, and gamification to bridge the skills gap and preserve institutional knowledge as Baby Boomers retire. Tune in to find out why the industry is no longer "dark, dirty, and dangerous," and how a career in modern, high-tech manufacturing commands an average salary of over $90,000. Key Takeaways From This Episode:- The Scale of Small Manufacturing: Why businesses with fewer than 500 employees make up 99% of the U.S. manufacturing landscape.- Securing the Supply Chain: How the MEP network works directly with lower-tier suppliers to mitigate risks and transition outsourced resources back home.- Next-Gen Workforce Solutions: Overcoming knowledge loss through community college partnerships, apprenticeships, and AI-driven training.- Accessible Technical Support: Navigating the fee-based, cost-effective consulting services and technology labs available to small and rural manufacturers.Looking to connect with your local MEP center or learn more about the ASMC? Visit smallmanufacturers.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this exclusive Manufacturing Talk Radio interview, host Lewis Weiss and Amy Nicklaus sit down with ISM Services PMI Chair Steve Miller to discuss the pivotal April 2026 ISM Services Report the very day it is released, breaking down the key data points impacting the services economy. Miller is currently serving as ISM Services PMI Chair and is an accomplished supply chain management executive. His distinguished career includes 40 years of experience in procurement, supply chain management, IT implementation and operations, and operations management consulting at Disney, P.F. Chang’s, Accenture, and Kearney. Miller offers unparalleled insight into services trends and economic activity. p> Expansion Trends: The Services PMI recorded a solid 53.6. While slightly down from the previous month’s 54, it marks a period where 14 of 18 services industries are reporting growth—the highest expansion level seen in two years. Inflationary Pressures: A major "danger flag" identified is the Prices Paid Index, which remains high at 70.7. This historically elevated level typically correlates with inflation rates exceeding 5%. Energy and Geopolitics: The team discusses the impact of the Iran war and low oil inventories on petroleum costs, noting that "opportunistic pricing" in gasoline and diesel has been felt almost immediately Sector Performance: While Mining is seeing a high rate of expansion, sectors such as Real Estate, Retail Trade, and Agriculture are currently in contraction territory. The Housing Market: Miller and the hosts dive into the "perfect storm" affecting housing, where high mortgage rates and rising costs for labor and materials (lumber, steel, and copper) are straining the industry. The Latest ISM Reports: Services PMI: https://www.ismworld.org/supply-management-news-and-reports/reports/ism-pmi-reports/services/april/ Manufacturing PMI: https://www.ismworld.org/supply-management-news-and-reports/reports/ism-pmi-reports/pmi/april/ Report Highlights: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Join hosts Amy Nicklaus and Lewis Weiss as they welcome back Harry Moser of the Reshoring Initiative to discuss his organization's critical mission: balancing the $1.3 trillion US goods trade deficit and securing vital supply chains. Harry shares compelling data on how jobs announced coming back to the US have grown exponentially, from 11,000 in 2010 to 244,000 in 2024, proving that reindustrialization is gaining traction. They delve into the underlying problems of currency overvaluation and the highest priority challenge cited by companies: the need for a skilled workforce. Discover how manufacturers can utilize the Reshoring Initiative's free Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Estimator to accurately calculate sourcing decisions and accelerate the return of American manufacturing jobs. Links Discussed in this Episode: Reshoring Initiative: https://reshorenow.org/2026 USA Reshoring Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/USA-Reshoring Total Cost of Ownership Estimator: https://reshorenow.org/tco-estimator/ Harry Moser Honored with 2026 Albert W. Moore AMT Leadership Award: https://www.imts.com/read/article-details/Harry-Moser-Honored-with-2026-Albert-W-Moore-AMT-Leadership-Award/2244/type/Read/1/tab/all-articles?page=1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this exclusive Manufacturing Talk Radio interview, host Lewis Weiss and Amy Nicklaus sit down with ISM Services PMI Chair Steve Miller to discuss the pivotal March ISM Services Report the very day it is released April 6th 2026, breaking down the key data points impacting the services economy. To shed light on the report’s crucial findings, we speak with Steve Miller, a preeminent authority within the services sector.Miller is currently serving as ISM Services PMI Chair and is an accomplished supply chain management executive. His distinguished career includes 40 years of experience in procurement, supply chain management, IT implementation and operations, and operations management consulting at Disney, P.F. Chang’s, Accenture, and Kearney. With 40 years of experience in procurement, supply chain management, IT implementation and operations, Miller offers unparalleled insight into services trends and economic activity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Your Everything Manufacturing Podcast. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just curious about the industry, we’ve got something for you!Manufacturing Talk Radio is led by two dynamic hosts, Lewis Weiss and Amy Nicklaus, who bring expertise and fresh perspectives to the industry. Lewis, with five decades of hands-on experience, simplifies complex manufacturing challenges, offering actionable insights on technology, workforce strategies, and industry transformation. Amy brings an engaging approach, exploring the real-world impact of innovations in technology, logistics, and workforce dynamics. Together, they create a compelling and insightful podcast that keeps professionals informed, inspired, and ready for the future of manufacturing.
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