James Soto with Industrial Strength Marketing

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

Manufacturing, Industrial Talk, James Soto, Manufacturing Extension Partnership, NIST, Advanced Manufacturing, Reshoring, Skilled Labor Gap, Economic Impact, MEP National Network, Funding Threats, Collaboration, Innovation, Regulatory Environment, Community Support.

00:00

Scott, welcome to the industrial talk podcast with Scott Mackenzie. Scott is a passionate industry professional dedicated to transferring cutting edge industry focused innovations and trends while highlighting the men and women who keep the world moving. So put on your hard hat, grab your work boots and let's go all right

00:21

once again. Thank you very much for joining industrial talk. Thank you for your continued support of the number one industrial related podcast in the universe that celebrates you industrial professionals all around the world. You're bold, you're brave, you dare greatly, you innovate, you collaborate, you solve problems each and every day. That's why industrial talk is here for you. You are the hero in this story. Thank you very much for what you do. Now he's been on the podcast before we've done some work together. His name is James Soto. He's back in the hot seat. We're talking about manufacturing. We're talking about resources that are available to manufacturers in this rapidly changing industrial world we live in. Let's get cracking with the conversation. There's his stat card right there. It's chuck full of stuff, industrial strength marketing is the company. He knows more than me. Knows more than most. He's quite passionate about what he does, and he's got a major league focus on helping manufacturers succeed. Love it. He's right right there, right right there, in what's taking place in the world of manufacturing. However, before we get into the conversation, I want to point out some stuff. One, you need to amplify your message. Yes, you do. You need more ears and eyes to what you do? And you need to do it yesterday. I think the world is at a point where it's, it's escalating. You need to, you need to be more aggressive. You need to be doing it with speed and purpose. Industrial talk is here for you. You go out to industrial talk. You collect Connect. You'll connect with me right here, if you're looking out on the video. I'm pointing to me right there, and you connect to me. And then we have this conversation, and we get you on the podcast, and we talk about, what your solution, where you're going, what's your vision? All of that industrial talk is a resource for the industrial world, and you need to be on it. Yeah, absolutely, we're, we're constantly expanding. It is important. You need to be a part of it. All right. On with the conversation, James Soto, Hot Seat, talking about manufacturing, talking about some of the changes that are taking place, talking about the fact that you need to be, you need to be engaged. You can't, you can't, can't just sit on the sideline here. It's just too much at stake. You've got and you got to keep up. You got to keep up with all the innovation that's taking place. So that means you need to educate, you need to collaborate. James Soto, and you need to innovate as much as you possibly can to ensure that you have a business that is resilient. Here's the interview. Well, James, welcome back to industrial talk. You're amazing. I'm looking at your posts out there on LinkedIn, and you're, you're just, you're, you're making waves, good waves, but you're making waves in the world of industry. How you doing today?

03:40

I am well, I love manufacturing, and any day we get to focus on this sector, is a good day.

03:49

Don't you think it's an exciting time for manufacturing?

03:53

Yeah, it's exciting time. And you know, the most exciting times are often the most uncertain times, and that's where there's so much possibility, and you're balancing what the potential and the challenges and the fears that are out there,

04:10

isn't it fluid? It's just pretty cool. I just, I love the energy.

04:20

If we all did?

04:22

Yeah, I just one of the areas that then we'll talk about. And I digress, whatever you know we can do this is this push to reshore near shore, all the stuff and making it and and, and the pursuit of capital to be able to help that along, I think, of people, it's all good. It's all cool. Bring it on back. That's neat, but it's, it's the people side. It's like, yeah, demand on people,

04:54

yeah. It's, it's, I think the most amazing thing about manufacturing, it's the. It's the men and the women, the people of all ages, and how much they represent of the power, the potential of manufacturing to change the world for the better.

05:10

Yeah, yeah. I agree with you 100% solving problems, making things happen, making the world a better place. Most definitely, so that, so that people have not heard you in the past on industrial talk, I'd like for you to just give us a little 411 on who James is, and then we're going to venture into this Manufacturing Extension Partnership and go wherever we want to go.

05:33

11:27

So I'm going to have to try to simplify it, because there's a lot going on. There's a lot of moving parts. It's, it's, it's an exciting program. I get it, but if I'm a manufacturer, I work with this resource, this organization, to be able to introduce these new technology. It allows me to see what's out there is that what's what's the premise for me as a manufacturer. Why do I need to be involved with this organization?

12:00

14:23

I don't see how, and this is just my little brain working here. I don't see how you can ignore a resource like this, if I'm in manufacturing, given the realities of what's taking place in the market and the speed at which advanced manufacturing is evolving, I I need, if I was the manufacturer, I need a resource to keep me as current as I possibly can, to ensure that I have a resilient manufacturing business going. Forward and and that is, again, to your point, I think it's a it's a collaboration model, because you don't have all the answers. And there are so many businesses in these remote areas that need that, that support. How does an organization like MEP prioritize with all of the stuff? I mean, there's just stuff. It's noisy, it's crazy out there in the world of manufacturing, how do they prioritize their focus so that they don't just get running around like a bunch of cats?

15:42

Yeah, that's a great question. And I think the best, the best way, I think I can explain it as they prioritize based on the distinct nature of any given manufacturing environment. One state, one region, may not be the same as another. And so by having a, you know, in essence, an organization that's there and on the pulse of what's going on in that state. You know, Nebraska and Iowa are going to be significantly different than California and Texas and and so when you, when you really look at that, they, they really kind of help, because if you look at what's happening in Nebraska right now, they're, they really are challenged with labor. You know, there's fear of of of of what's happening with their workforce. And so what's really interesting of how they approach it is they look at the need and they fill it, and they've and the a lot of the MEP centers are very diverse towards the and understand the nature of the issues that their manufacturing communities face. So they're, they're really helpful. So right now, I can't even tell you. I can't, because it's they're just because I follow every single one of them and all the things they're posting about, what they're doing, they're talking about the impact to your question of tariffs and how that's going to impact them. What and what are these? What are these vehicles that may be available or information that could be available to them? So think about this. We need the attention, expertise and resources of people who in manufacturing, for manufacturing and to help each other grow, and their mandate is to help these businesses grow, create jobs. And, and, you know, and, and really, they actually are evaluated on a number of measures when they compete, and they have to demonstrate economic impact. And so, you know, the challenge there is, is that as they're audited, they have to make sure these numbers stand up. So when you look at the case against the MEPs, you know there, there's concern that, okay, well, could this be done better in the private sector? You know, are there? You know, are is this truly the impact that's happening? I think the bigger question is, how much immeasurably is happening for the better than people don't even realize. And in advance, man, and what's interesting is that MEPs have been affiliated, initially with the advanced manufacturing institutes under manufacturing USA, and those are all of these emerging technologies that we're working with academia to bring in this advancing technology and connect the manufacturing community to it, you know, and that could be through research and development grants, that could be lots of different things. So there's just this network, this, this manufacturing network that and community that, you know, there's no answer and there's in the kicker is, there's no answer for it. Yeah, of if it what, if it isn't here anymore, and some will figure out a way to live on, become nonprofits, do different things, but, you know, effectively dismantling that would be devastating.

19:02

Yeah, and I get it. I get that sense. I see a gap among others. This is sort of when, when I was listening to your answer, a couple of things that I think need greater analysis. Is one, the regulatory environment and how it regionally impacts like the regulatory environment in California is different than in Nebraska, it just is. And these organizations, and this would be a huge risk for me as a manufacturer, not knowing the regulatory environment I find in industry, specifically manufacturing, because we're talking about so many entities involved, that a clarity into those regulatory, those those tariffs and others need. To be amplified, because I, if I was a manufacturer, I don't know where I would go for clarity, for sort real, solid insights and accuracy on these impacts.

20:16

23:19

Yeah, I'm back to the manufacturer. I agree with you 100% I go back to the manufacturer. It's incumbent upon these individuals, these manufacturers, across the country, nationally, they provide an incredible service, a solution, employment, impact, all of this stuff, they do that, and it's important for us as a nation to support that we have to do everything that we can within our power to be able to help them succeed, help them continue to create these businesses that will have long term positive impact going forward. What happens if MEP, and if I'm a if I'm in Nebraska, we'll use that again. Where do I go and get answers if that doesn't exist?

24:15

25:53

and I got to tell you, that's a bit confusing. Just FYI. It is a and a confused mind. It doesn't make a decision. I see it. What you just said, If I'm a manufacturer again in Nebraska, and I'm on a journey, I'm on and you are on a journey, it's changing drastically out there, at a rapid pace. So I'm on a journey,

26:17

it's the worst thing is about to start hitting

26:21

Exactly. I think we're just beginning

26:24

the letters are going out

26:28

is I'm looking for somebody, a person, a connection, that I can trust to help me along with my journey, I need that Sherpa, the trusted Sherpa, to do that, because I would imagine, and you, you know, you have the fingers on the pulse out there in the marketplace. There are a lot of people's hanging shingles saying, we can do XYZ, and can they really do XYZ? I don't know, but there has to be some trusted entity out there that helps that, that I can, I don't have to deal with that drama, and I know that I can trust them.

27:07

Yeah, I think, I think it's very simple, and you're right about the acronyms, it's the biggest challenge. I believe that organization faces it. And you know, to the extent that you make things when you when you hear something, it's self explanatory. And one of the things that I think, when you're looking to reach out to folks, you have to speak in a language that gets down to the gets to the point, so like, when you talked about the XYZ program, and, you know, kind of, some of our advice has always been talk about, like, the, you know, more of like, how to reduce your overhead costs, like, exactly like, so, because the way we communicate is really, I think the key thing that when we're looking at where we're going, but I but I think it's ultimately boils down to, I mean, emoji, Scott, you know, like, how do we get to people who we and organizations that have real working relationships with it? And it's not always having every solution, but, you know, I want to help you and point you in the right direction, even if it's not me. That is what I think every manufacturer needs to because we're just caught up in the day to day of all of our businesses. And I think we just have to really realize that, you know, but what are we doing to be connected to this community? And, you know, I think, and being and actually, it's not just that, it's being part of it, and I think that's really where I think this organization shines, and it's absolutely incredible.

28:49

Yeah, I'm, I'm big on three, three things on a stool. I always say it all the time. I i might bore people to death, but I'm pretty passionate about and that's, that's the ability to for successful companies, have the ability to educate, which there's a ton of stuff, and making sure that they continue to educate, collaborate. You have to be able to collaborate, because you don't have all the answers. There's somebody that was on a journey say, Don't do that, or do that. That's always truly valuable. And then there's this, because whether we like it or not, is that innovation, we need to continue to pursue that innovation, and the only way you're going to be able to do that is through a network. There's no other way of getting around it. I don't see any other you can't be an island. What's

29:41

interesting is manufacturing is we have a, a wonderful constraint in this modern world. We literally have to be often where the things are made, because we're making them, you know? And, and I think that's, you know, that's our big advantage. And I also love how the. Major trade associations, like, you know, AMT and FMA. And, can we go with, you know, acronyms again, but let's call it the, you know, you know, AMC and IMTS, like, Hey, we're the, you know, we're the manufacturing technology community where, hey, we're the, we're the fabricators, communicate community Exactly. And I think, I think, once you're in, you know, but I think the key thing is, you have a tribe, and a bunch of tribes out there, and and, and I, I find it hard to believe that, saying, You know what? That's great that community, but I don't need that. And, and I think to the extent that we have, literally, in almost every state, these tribes, and we've got these people, and we've got these shaman and Sherpas that, you know, take you up the mountain and they heal you, the shamans, and you have the wise, you know, the wise person that's been there, done that, and just just, it's so relieving when you're having a big problem as a manufacturer, and someone says, Hey, I feel you did. You know, we got this, this and this. You can go here, here and here. It's like overwhelming, but you're hearing possibilities of solutions and resources and knowledge and really applied work, they go down to the shop floor. That's, that's, that is it. And I think we can't under emphasize that. So, so that, you know when we look at Sparta, Tennessee, you know, when we look at Duluth, when we look across the country, yeah, there's this great organization that all you have to do is reach out, and I guarantee you have found a friend.

31:54

Yeah, see, that's great. I like that. And that's a good segue on figuring out how I can contact James Soto, just because you were hitting home runs throughout the conversation, what's the best way to get a hold of you there? James,

32:07

the best way to get a hold of me is through my business, industrial strength, marketing, our studio, industrial studios. But really LinkedIn, I love that community. That's where I'm working on what's, you know, gonna, you know, I'm thinking about, you know, MEP, rumors, what's going on in this, because this, this is seriously an organization under, under threat, and, and, but there's also, I'm an optimist, there's this opportunity for change, for the better, Kaizen, and, you know, and I like GEMBA Kaizen, you know, you know, going to the place you know, where value is made to affect change for the better, you know. And I think that's where, that's where I think, you know, we stand when it comes to the MEP national network.

32:54

You never disappoint, my friend, it's always an honor to have you on the show. You're amazing. Kudos.

33:01

You're the best man. That's good catching up. You're, you're a byproduct of your wonderful wife.

33:09

Very much. I have to agree with you. I can't, I can't do not. You're asking to say hi for me. All right,

33:15

listeners, we're gonna wrap it up on the other side. We're gonna have all the contact information for James out on industrial talk. So fear not reach out to him. Find out more. You're in the world of manufacturing. This is a must connect individual so make it happen. All right. We will be right back.

33:30

You're listening to the industrial talk Podcast Network.

33:39

Yeah, you go out to industrial talk, you click on the connection to James Soto, and you put this on your priority list to connect with James, have a conversation with them, and I guarantee you you're going to be better for it. He's that good. James Soto, industrial strength marketing is the organization passionate about manufacturing, and if there isn't a topic of conversation that happens on a daily basis, manufacturing? James Soto, all right, we're building a platform dedicated to industrial professionals like you. You want to be on the show. You contact me, you go out to industrial, talk.com you reach out, say, connect, and you'll be talking to me, and then we'll have a conversation. It's just that easy. Your story needs to be told. It's that important. All right. Be bold, be brave. Dare greatly. Hang out with James, and you know, you're gonna change the world. We're gonna have another great conversation shortly. So stay tuned.