Episode 3: Wisconsin’s Workshop: Automation, Innovation, and the Modern Manufacturing Landscape with Buckley Brinkman

Welcome to another episode of the Manufacturing an American Century podcast! In this episode, your host Matt Bogoshian speaks with Buckley Brinkman, Executive Director and CEO at Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing & Productivity. Learn how Brinkman and fellow Wisconsinites are driving the leading edge of advanced manufacturing, especially in the advancement of manufacturer automation to augment the state’s workforce.

📢 Episode Highlights:

From Turnaround Specialist to Industry Advocate: Buckley takes listeners down memory lane, reminiscing about his earlier days in the manufacturing sector. He describes his transition from a hands-on role, turning companies around, to an advocate role, guiding others to make their manufacturing businesses more competitive.

The Manufacturing Cornerstone of the U.S. Economy: Brinkman stresses the undeniable importance of manufacturing to the economy, even in the face of those who once believed a shift to a purely service or tech-driven economy was the future. He uses the auto industry’s evolution and the technological integration in vehicles as prime examples.

Managing Worker Shortages: One of the major concerns that Brinkman touches upon is the acute worker shortage affecting manufacturing in Wisconsin and across the US. With a staggering 150,000-worker deficit in Wisconsin alone, he sheds light on the drastic measures businesses are having to consider.

Embracing Automation: Brinkman describes the role of automation in modern manufacturing and emphasizes how this technological shift isn’t just about compensating for the workforce shortage but also about innovation, making products smarter, and increasing overall efficiency.

The Big Six in Manufacturing: Diving into the ecosystem surrounding manufacturers, Matt shares the concept of the “Big Six.” Two of these, workforce development and operational improvement, are deeply explored, given their pertinence to the present challenges.

Wisconsin Manufacturing Report Insights: Brinkman provides a sneak peek into the unique methodology behind the Wisconsin Manufacturing Report. Instead of traditional surveys, this report garners insights from intensive interviews with manufacturers, providing a richer and more detailed perspective on industry trends.

Thank you for listening to the Manufacturing an American Century podcast. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review to help us continue bringing you thought-provoking discussions and insights. Stay tuned for our next episode as we travel to Pittsburgh to meet with Catalyst Connection’s Petra Mitchell!

AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the pro bono expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike!

Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.