Kayla Konieczny with Erie Bronze and Aluminum
Industrial Talk is onsite at Penn State and talking to Kayla Konieczny, Sales and Procurement Specialist at Erie Bronze & Aluminum about “Manufacturing careers”.
Scott Mackenzie introduces Elevotec, a company offering ERP, EAM, and business intelligence solutions, and highlights the Industrial Talk Podcast’s focus on industry innovations and professionals. Kayla Konieczny, from Erie Bronze, discusses her career path from the food and car industries to her current role in procurement and manufacturing. She emphasizes the importance of hands-on experience and the challenges of material sourcing, particularly the volatility of prices for metals like tin and aluminum. Kayla also highlights the need for more women in manufacturing due to their attention to detail and organizational skills. The conversation concludes with a call to support programs like Penn State’s METAL program to inspire the next generation of industrial leaders.
Scott Kraemer with Xact Metal
Industrial Talk is onsite at MD&M West and talking to Scott Kraemer, Senior Sales Manager at Xact Metal about “Evolution of Additive Manufacturing”.
Scott Kraemer, a seasoned manufacturing professional with over 35 years of experience, discusses his company, Xact Metal, which specializes in affordable 3D printing of metal parts. Xact Metal’s printers, made in the USA, are priced around $160,000 and can handle various materials like stainless steel, Inconel, and titanium. Kraemer emphasizes the importance of educating the youth about manufacturing careers and the potential of 3D printing to revolutionize industries, particularly in tooling and medical applications. He also highlights the company’s nimbleness in adapting to industry needs, such as printing with sub-15 micron powders for intricate details.
Clay Martin with Isla Talent
Industrial Talk is talking to Clay Martin, CEO/Founder at Isla Talent about “Solutions to tap into the skilled Puerto Rico workforce”.
Scott Mackenzie discusses the Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress, scheduled for November 3-5, 2023, and emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity. He then introduces Clay Martin from Isla Talent, a recruiting firm based in Puerto Rico, which helps companies find skilled workers. Clay explains his process of recruiting from Puerto Rico, including auditing client needs, creating job descriptions, and ensuring quality through tests and interviews. He highlights the benefits of recruiting from Puerto Rico, such as no visa requirements and the availability of a skilled workforce. Clay’s firm has placed over 500 workers in the past decade and offers a 45-day replacement guarantee.
Kai Li with Mean Well USA
Industrial Talk is onsite at MD&M West and talking to Kai Li, Production Manager at Mean Well USA about “Power solutions for manufacturing”.
Kai Li, Product Manager at Mean Well USA, discussed the company’s role as a leading power supply manufacturer with over 15,000 standard SKUs. Mean Well specializes in industrial equipment, medical devices, and LED lighting, emphasizing reliability and smaller, higher-protection power supplies. The company has a subsidiary in Kansas City dedicated to providing turnkey solutions. Li highlighted Mean Well’s adaptability, driven by a robust R&D team and long-term supplier relationships. The company is transitioning to a solutions provider, focusing on sustainability and AI-driven power demands. Li also mentioned Mean Well’s extensive training programs for distributors and their reliance on a global distribution network for over 70% of sales.
Victor Okhuysen with Cal Poly Pomona
Industrial Talk is onsite at Penn State and talking to Victor Okhuysen, Professor with Cal Poly Pomona about “Strengthening the future of manufacturing”.
Scott Mackenzie from Industrial Talk discusses the importance of training the next generation of industrial leaders with Victor Okhuysen from Cal Poly Pomona. The Penn State Erie campus hosts the METAL program, which aims to inspire and educate students in metallurgy and manufacturing. Victor, a principal investigator, highlights the program’s hands-on approach, including boot camps and workshops, to expose students to potential careers. The program has conducted four boot camps and ten workshops, using a system called Foundry in a Box. Victor emphasizes the need for skilled workers in an increasingly automated industry and the role of community colleges in providing relevant training.