Iowa employers are rallying to improve national position
Release Date: 05/16/2024
RCS Millwork: Where Creativity Meets Craftsmanship
Iowa Manufacturing Podcast
At RCS Millwork, Joe Keller knew it was time to get out of the way so he could lean into his true role as Innovator. The journey led to displacing his dad from the office, identifying someone to take the role as integrator and unleashing the power of creativity and innovation that had been simmering throughout his almost 200 employee workforce. Joe and his team are firing on all cylinders as they are working with amazing companies all over the country to create millwork beyond anyone's imagination. Utilizing state-of-the-art processes and truly empowering the team, they're making magic...
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At Clow, people are in their seats, Now, TRACTION!
Iowa Manufacturing Podcast
Clow Valve, after almost 250 years is more productive and innovative than ever. After a focused effort on culture, getting the right people in the right seats, Mark Willet and his team decided they needed to rally around a cohesive vision to get everyone aligned on vision. A conversation with Rob Taylor, an Entrepreneurial Operating System implementor, and seeing how well it was working with peers, Mark decided it was time to go all in on the system. Five years later, they are the shining light in the McWane family of brands with more employees and more productivity than ever. Take a listen...
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Iowa employers are rallying to improve national position
Iowa Manufacturing Podcast
The Iowa Business Council, representing Iowa's largest employers dig deep into the annual competitiveness dashboard to gain insights on challenges and opportunities for improvement to maintain Iowa's robust economy. Joe Murphy gets into the good, the bad and the ugly. While our greatest challenge remains a lack of people, we can hang our hat on many other successful initiatives that are helping maintain our status. Ranked 4th in Manufacturing outputs and a leader in workforce preparedness, it's no surprise that we're recruiting and retaining our manufacturers successfully. This episode has a...
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Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, On the Importance of Manufacturing in Iowa
Iowa Manufacturing Podcast
Iowans often believe that the economy in our state is driven solely by agriculture. Interestingly, it is the confluence of manufacturing and agriculture that is the true driving force behind our thriving economy. Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, discusses the synergies between departments at the state that are working together for greatness to recruit, retain and create amazing products in Iowa. Created by farmers tinkering in their barns and sheds during the winter months looking for ways to make their own processes easier, this interview covers innovative ag related products that laid...
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Mastering Union Relations: Strategies with a HR PhD
Iowa Manufacturing Podcast
Pro-union or not, it's great to have a resource that can manage the conversations, communicate effectively without bias and a full understanding of all the nuances necessary. While Iowa is a "right to work" state, several unions operate here productively and effectively. Terry Welker, PhD, Executive Coach and all around HR guru, offers his insights on where unions have productive roles in the workplace and how to convene productive dialogues with all of the stakeholders that result in true progress. Terry's roots in manufacturing, especially in organizations with unions positions him...
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Ag Express - Exponential Growth through Connecting Brands, Devices, and Employees
Iowa Manufacturing Podcast
This honest, forthright conversation with two amazing manufacturing leaders transforming their operation through intentional restructuring, leading to goal setting, accountability and a leadership team equipped to focus on growth and market opportunity. Jim Steinke and Kadee Miller discuss how Ag Express's wire harnesses can be used in applications in limitless industries and situations. The new focus on the future is allowing Steinke and Miller to add service lines, improve market penetration and engage their employees at all new levels. This episode is a must listen for all manufacturers...
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Kreg - A Lesson in Leading through Change
Iowa Manufacturing Podcast
By all counts, Kreg Tool innovates. Not only in their products and market development, but also in their HR efforts. This episode will lead you through their recent journey from corporate headquarter relocation to post-Covid marketing strategies and current recruitment efforts that have transformed the operation. Karee Vernon, VP of HR has spent a lot of time listening to the employees and developing thoughtful resources to meet the current needs in maintaining an engaged and fully developed workforce. See the full show notes here:
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3D Printing Moves Into Iowa Manufacturing Big Leagues
Iowa Manufacturing Podcast
Imagine 3D printing going from a niche hobbyist tool to a game-changer for manufacturers. That's exactly what's been happening in the last five years. 3D printers have become more affordable, user-friendly, and capable of producing high-quality parts. Brandon Hart, with Hart Smart Products talks about 3D printing joining the manufacturing big leagues. Full show notes available here: https://iowapodcast.com/3D-printing-manufacturing-iowa
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MVS Patent Attorneys Celebrate 100 Years Protecting Rights
Iowa Manufacturing Podcast
During their century of protecting inventors’ rights, the attorneys with McKee, Vorhees & Sease attorneys have filed and defended hundreds of patents that have improved lives across the globe. Their service, to innovation, has persisted through World Wars, the Great Depression, the tearing down of the Berlin Wall, 9/11 attacks, the pandemic, and 17 presidents. Groundbreaking innovations have been made during their century, such as the invention of television, computers, the internet, electronic circuits, penicillin, vaccines, gene editing, space travel, and so much more. Join Luke...
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Kemin is Making Life Easier for So Many
Iowa Manufacturing Podcast
In this episode, production team members Guillermo Garcia and Jeff Grenier talk about Kemin's plans for a $28M expansion at its global headquarters, how they are recruiting globally to meet demands in their Des Moines headquarters and globally to become Kemin's and its acquisition of GLF Ingredienti Alimentari to strengthen its position in the EMEA meat industry. As they open their new manufacturing facility in Verona, Missouri, to produce its Proteus® line of clean-label functional proteins, they become the first facility to do so. Jeff and Guillermo talk about global recruiting,...
info_outlineThe Iowa Business Council, representing Iowa's largest employers dig deep into the annual competitiveness dashboard to gain insights on challenges and opportunities for improvement to maintain Iowa's robust economy. Joe Murphy gets into the good, the bad and the ugly.
While our greatest challenge remains a lack of people, we can hang our hat on many other successful initiatives that are helping maintain our status. Ranked 4th in Manufacturing outputs and a leader in workforce preparedness, it's no surprise that we're recruiting and retaining our manufacturers successfully. This episode has a bunch of amazing nuggets to understand Iowa's Manufacturing industry and its innovative nature.
See the full show notes and summary: https://iowapodcast.com/iowa-business-council-joe-murphy