Solving Labor Shortages with Cobots
Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders
Release Date: 12/18/2024
Reviving the Trades: Santiago Rivera on Tough Love, Structure, and Second Chances
Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders
Most welding instructors teach technique. Santiago Rivera teaches transformation. From learning to weld left-handed for a car… to surviving addiction… to rebuilding a welding program that changed hundreds of students’ lives—Santiago’s story is one of grit, redemption, and unwavering purpose. In this episode, Santiago opens up about the journey that shaped him, the students who motivate him, and the leadership philosophy that’s helping revive the trades for the next generation. It’s not just about welding. It’s about building people. In this episode, you’ll learn: How a...
info_outline
Character Over Competency: Why Blue Collar Leadership Starts with Vulnerability
Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders
Most leaders in manufacturing are focused on performance, process, and technical competence. But when a team is underperforming, the root cause often has nothing to do with skills or processes like Lean—it's about character. In this essential episode, the hosts sit down with Mac and Ria, founders of Blue Collar Leadership, live from the Fabtech show floor. Drawing from 20 years on the factory floor and extensive work in the Lean methodology, Mac shares why the most critical investment a company can make is in the personal growth and character development of its frontline employees. ...
info_outline
Why Showing Up Still Matters in Manufacturing
Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders
Most people see Fabtech as just a trade show. But for those in the fabrication world, it’s where the entire industry comes together — to connect, learn, and see what’s next. In this episode, Casey Voelker sits down with Rick Snyder of Multipress and Matt Crosby of Pacific Press live from the Fabtech show floor. Together, they talk about what it’s really like exhibiting, the value of showing up in person, and why networking matters now more than ever. It’s not just about machines and demos — it’s about people, partnerships, and perspective. In this episode, you’ll learn: What...
info_outline
From Hands-On to High-Tech: The Real Future of Fabrication
Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders
Most people think automation replaces welders. Graham Williams thinks it saves them. In this episode, recorded live at FABTECH, we sit down with Graham Williams of Vectis Automation to talk about how cobots are changing the game for small and mid-size shops — not by cutting people out, but by helping them do more, learn faster, and stay longer in the trade. From breaking the stigma around automation to using AI for smarter workflows, Graham shares how the best shops are blending tech and talent to create the next generation of fabricators. It’s not about robots replacing humans. It’s...
info_outline
Culture Under Fire: Building Values That Survive Growth Jesse Kleiman Part 2
Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders
Most shop owners talk about culture. Few actually put it into practice. In Part 2 of our conversation, Jesse Kleiman shares how he’s building JR Metal Works on values that stick — from making hard work “cool again” to leading with “simple scales, fancy fails.” This isn’t theory. It’s how a fast-growing fab shop operationalizes culture, keeps people bought in, and builds a team that can scale. It’s not just about welding or leadership. It’s about what happens when you decide values aren’t posters on the wall — they’re how you run the business every day. In this...
info_outline
Grow Fast or Go Broke: The Truth About Scaling a Fab Shop
Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders
Most fab shops dream of growth. Few are ready when it comes. Jesse Kleiman didn’t just grow JR Metal Works — he scaled it from a garage startup to a 70-person team taking on enterprise-level contracts. In this episode, Jesse opens up about the reality of rapid growth: the cash flow crunches, the leadership pivots, and the culture shifts that come with scaling faster than you planned. It’s not just about welding or expansion. It’s about what happens when your business outgrows you—and how to stay intentional through it all. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to know when it’s...
info_outline
The Hanna Golf Story: Building with Grit, Craft, and American-Made Pride
Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders
Most golf brands take the shortcut: outsource, import, slap on a logo. Jared decided to do it the hard way. ⠀ In this episode, we dig into the Hanna Golf story — how a sales guy became a maker, bought a CNC, and built a boutique putter brand rooted in grit, craft, and American-made pride. From betting on himself to cutting through the noise of big brands, Jared shows what it really takes to build something that lasts. ⠀ It’s not just about golf. It’s about what happens when you actually make the thing you sell. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to stand out in a crowded industry...
info_outline
Trial by Fire: How Leadership Finds You on the Shop Floor
Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders
In this MakingSparks episode, Casey and Matthew talk with Keith — a leader whose career has been shaped by both running a fabrication shop and now serving as General Manager at Fabrication Solutions & Technologies (FST). Keith’s path started with welding in the blazing heat, learning from old-school fabricators, and grinding his way up to shop management. Today, he uses that first-hand production experience to help shops across oil & gas, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and more choose the right equipment, design smarter workflows, and maximize ROI. From process flow...
info_outline
Clueless CEO or Culture Genius? When Curiosity Beats Credentials
Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders
What happens when a self-proclaimed “mechanically deficient” leader takes the reins of a 170-person fabrication business? For Brandon Stanchock, it meant leaning into curiosity, asking “dumb” questions, and spending a week in every department—boots on the ground, in the heat of summer. In this episode of Making Sparks, Brandon joins Casey and Matthew to talk about: How imposter syndrome shaped his leadership style Why asking the right questions beats having all the answers His mission to turn culture into a competitive advantage Practical ways he’s using AI and AR to improve...
info_outline
Your Process Is Only as Good as Your People
Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders
What do you do when your fab shop isn’t broken—but you know it could be better? In this episode, Alfonso Aramburo joins us from Southern California to talk about the work he does turning around underperforming manufacturing companies. But his approach isn’t about flashy strategy or instant fixes—it’s about people, process, and product, in that order. Alfonso breaks down the three core problems most shops face, why culture is the engine that drives real improvement, and how small, consistent action wins out over big, clunky systems every time. This episode is for the shop owners...
info_outlineWe also discuss the differences between cobots and traditional robots, the evolution of automation technology, and Hirebotics’ mission to make robotics simple and accessible. Whether you're a shop owner, welder, or just fascinated by innovation, this episode has something for you.
Timestamps:
[00:01:15] Meet our guest: Matt Bush of Hirebotics
[00:04:10] What makes cobot welding different and safer
[00:09:25] Addressing labor shortages with automation
[00:15:30] How Hirebotics is simplifying robotics for shops
[00:19:45] Final thoughts: Solving labor challenges with cobots
Resources Mentioned: