MFGMonkey Episode 10 with Will Zell & Michael Bernhard: manufacturing the Future with Vero

MFGMONKEY Episode 10: Will Zell Co-Founder & Michael Bernhard  Solutions Architect of Nikola – Bringing technology into manufacturing.

Nikola was founded in 2014. Started from working with wireless electricity in the beginning with things such as hearing aids and smart homes to then grow into the manufacturing world. 

We discuss the development of technology into the manufacturing world. Will and Michael break down their process of the first phone call to how they are able to successful help manufactures monitor their machines/companies. Expanding into how COVID-19 and how it has affected the manufacturing world and how it is going to make it better in the future. 

Please check out the Nikola process: Vero Online Demo

Chapter I: 2015-2017

Nikola Labs started as a pure wireless power company, developing core hardware technology that can enable wireless power in low-power electronic devices. 

This chapter included great technological development, such as the launch of the INDRA chip. Developed in partnership with Skyworks Solutions and Texas Instruments, INDRA is the first single-chip solution that incorporates RF to DC conversion and power management. Its small form factor is ideal to be designed into low power sensor devices. While developing INDRA, Nikola pursued and built relationships with companies across many industries interested in incorporating wireless power into their products, which led to the second chapter.

Chapter II: 2017-Beyond

Nikola Labs was introduced to the application of condition monitoring for manufacturing equipment in 2017. As part of the Industrial Internet of Things, sensor-based condition monitoring enables the prediction of machine breakdown before it happens, and proactive maintenance to address problems and prevent unplanned downtime. 

The stars aligned so strongly on this application that it led Nikola to focus solely on this application and begin to transform from a wireless power hardware provider to a full solution condition monitoring provider.

This transformation resulted in the late-2018 launch of Vero and the buildout of the service model in 2019 to create a fast-growing organization that serves global manufacturing organizations to help reduce unplanned downtime and save millions of dollars per year.

If you have any questions, comments, or topics you just want to hear about let us know. 

Contacts us at: info@mfgmonkey.com

www.mcmillancomfg.com

Subscribe today & help fabricate the future.

MFGMonkey Episode 6.3 with Jordan Butler & Rich Brown: Payroll Protection Program Revisited

Welcome to MFGMonkey Episode 6.3 Jordan Butler and Rich Brown are back with new Information on the PPP(Payroll Protection Program). This week we talk about the issues companies are facing regarding unemployment  

• PPP money is now gone
• how sole props, independent contractors, and eligible self-employed individuals can use the money and get forgiveness
• growing realizing I have that those companies with employees being laid off on what they think is a temp basis who make $25 per hour or lower (Could be higher than that for some), who take unemployment benefits AND the CARE Act $6000 weekly for 4 months may have zero desire to return to work for 4 months. They will make more siting on their couch playing the latest games and watching Netflix.
• What is the rule for compensating employees whose salary is to remain above the $100,000 annual pay level for the measured 8 week period ($15,385 = 8 weeks of pay at $100K rate)? 
• Is higher pay allowed? 
• Tracking of payroll and expenses once in the 8 week cycle and how to maximize the forgiveness opportunity to convert the loan to grant by keeping payroll over 80 percent of the applicant average level to avoid penalty.
• utilizing all allowable expenses up to 25 percent to reach the total of the loan i(Which is 2.5 months of average payroll)
• Growing realizing I have that those companies with employees being laid off on what they think is a temp basis who make $25 per hour or lower (Could be higher than that for some), who take unemployment benefits AND the CARE Act $6000 weekly for 4 months may have zero desire to return to work for 4 months. They will make more sing on their couch playing the latest games and watching Netflix.
• Funding was just today exhausted on PPP loans approved. There is no more cash until  congress allocate more.

If you have any questions, comments, or topics you just want to hear about let us know. 

Contacts us at: info@mfgmonkey.com

Subscribe today & help fabricate the future.

Episode 9 - Responsible RestartOhio - What does this mean for Ohio Manufacturing?

Responsible RestartOhio

Manufacturing, Distribution, and Construction

https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/responsible/Manufacturing-Distribution-Construction.pdf

Contacts us at info@mfgmonkey.com

Employees, Distributors, & Guests

Mandatory

• Ensure minimum 6 ft between people, if not possible, install barriers
• Employees must perform daily symptom assessment*
• Require employees to stay home if symptomatic
• Face coverings must be worn at all times
• Require regular handwashing
• Stagger or limit arrivals of employees and guests
• Personnel should work from home if possible

Recommended Best Practices

• Provide stipend to employees for private transportation

Shift Pattern

Daily disinfection of desks and workstations • Change shift patterns (e.g. fewer shifts) • Stagger lunch and break times

Recommended Best Practices

• Split into sub-teams, limit contact across sub-teams
• Reduce pace to allow less FTEs per line

Physical Spaces / Workstations

• Ensure minimum 6 ft between people, if not possible, install barriers
• Daily deep disinfection of high-contact surfaces
• Space factory floor to allow for distancing
• Regulate max number of people in cafeterias/ common spaces
• Establish maximum capacity (e.g. 50% of fire code)

Recommended Best Practices

• Close cafeteria and gathering spaces if possible, or conduct regular cleanings
• Daily deep disinfection of the entire facility

Confirmed Cases

• Immediately isolate and seek medical care for any individual who develops symptoms while at work
• Contact the local health district about suspected cases or exposures
• Shutdown shop/floor for deep sanitation if possible

Recommended Best Practices

• Work with the local health department to identify potentially infected or exposed individuals to help facilitate effective contact tracing/notifications
• Once testing is readily available, test all suspected infections or exposures
• Following testing, contact the local health department to initiate appropriate care and tracing

*Daily symptom assessments should include taking your temperature with a thermometer and monitoring for fever. Also, watch for coughing or trouble breathing.

www.mcmillancomfg.com

www.mfgmonkey.com

MFGMonkey Episode 8 Eric Barge: Diploma V.S. Certificate

Today we talk with my good friend Eric Barge. We discuss what skills kids are getting at career tech Schools V.S. traditional high school.  We also delve into "College for All" being falsely advertised to our kids we talk about how schools are doing a disservice  to students by not focusing on information Literacy, Financial Literacy, and Computer Science Literacy. Then following all that up with New College vs Old College -2-year / 4-year certificates V.S. Associates V.S. Bachelor. 

Eric Barge, Engineering and Architectural Design Instructor

Education 

• UPPER VALLEY JOINT VOCATIONAL SCHOOL – Piqua, Ohio
• Tech-Prep: Pre-Engineering Program PIQUA HIGH SCHOOL 
• WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON – Dayton, Ohio: Education 
• EDISON STATE COLLEGE – Piqua, Ohio: Mechanical Engineering Design
• THE UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON – Dayton, Ohio: Mechanical Engineering 

If you have any questions, comments, or topics you just want to hear about let us know. 

Contacts us at: info@mfgmonkey.com

Subscribe today & help fabricate the future.

MFGMonkey Episode 7: Matt Guse - Fail Fast, Fix Fast, Forget Fast.

Matt Guse

President and Owner

MRS Machine and Tool

mguse@mrsmachiningco.com| 

www.mrsmachiningco.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-guse-3aa35914/

Episode 7 - Building a Job shop in high School and getting youth involved in Manufacturing.

Matt discusses the 3 F’s for us Fail Fast – Fix Fast – Forget Fast. An what that means to building people up and building an amazing culture in his shop.

We also discuss how he built his shop in high school and how he is so successful getting youth involved in manufacturing at a young age and how he maintains a youthful team in a small town of 1,500 people in Augusta, Wisconsin. 

If you have any questions, comments, or topics you just want to hear about let us know. 

Contacts us at: info@mfgmonkey.com

Subscribe today & help fabricate the future.

MFGMonkey episode 6 part 2: Economic Disaster Loan with Jordan Butler and Rich Brown

Jordan Butler

Attorney at Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP

Jordan Butler JCButler@cpmlaw.com

614.628.0797

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanbutler1/

https://www.cpmlaw.com/people/jordan-butler/

Episode 6.2 series PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) – EIDL (Economic Disaster Loan)

In this follow up significant episode this series, we discuss PPP (Paycheck Protection Programs) and the EIDL (Economic Disaster Loan), SBA Disaster & CARES Act Loans.

Jordan helps us dig into the specifics and understanding how this act was written. Each day and each hour there are more updates.

SBA’s FAQ was updated yesterday and today.  Today’s update came out after the podcast.  Link is below.  In terms of what we care most about, this is the key addition: 

20. Question: The amount of forgiveness of a PPP loan depends on the borrower’s payroll costs over an eight-week period; when does that eight-week period begin?

Answer: The eight-week period begins on the date the lender makes the first disbursement of the PPP loan to the borrower. The lender must make the first disbursement of the loan no later than ten calendar days from the date of loan approval.

https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Paycheck-Protection-Program-Frequenty-Asked-Questions.pdf

Jordan Butler focuses his practice on tax advice and planning, business transactions, real estate transactions, and other commercial matters. He has experience with drafting and negotiating asset and equity purchase agreements, real estate purchases, income tax settlements, lease agreements, and a variety of other business contracts. Jordan also has experience with entity formation, governance, operations, and some business litigation.

EDUCATION

Jordan received his undergraduate degree (B.S.) from Miami University, his law degree (J.D.) from Capital University Law School, and his Master of Laws (LL.M) in Taxation from University of Miami School of Law.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

Jordan is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and the Columbus Bar Association. He has been admitted to practice before the State of Ohio, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, and U.S. Tax Court. Jordan serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Powell Area Chamber of Commerce.

PUBLICATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Jordan’s article titled; “Protecting the Manufacturer: Limiting Obligations Through Indemnity Agreements” was published in the Ohio State Bar Association’s Legal Basics For Small Business, 2013 Edition. Jordan has spoken on various business and regulatory matters before many different continuing education seminars.

sba.gov/updates

SBA Columbus office:   614-469-6860

401 N. Front Street  Cols 43215

David Townsend – key contact

Jill Nagy-Reynolds  -  614-940-8124

http://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/

http://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources#

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans

SBA Funding Paycheck Protection Program: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program-ppp

SBA Coronavirus Guidance: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

BioOhio tools – Great comprehensive list: https://www.bioohio.com/covid19/

disastercustomersservice@sba.gov

If you have any questions, comments, or topics you just want to hear about let us know. 

Contacts us at: info@mfgmonkey.com

Subscribe today & help fabricate the future.

MFGMonkey Episode 6 part 1: Rich Brown - Paycheck Protection Programs

Rich Brown

Compass Tech International http://compasstechintl.com/

Contacts us at: info@mfgmonkey.com

Episode 6.1 series PPP (Payroll Protection Programs)

In this significant episode, we discuss PPP (Paycheck Protection Programs) and what it means for you now, and more importantly, what this program or these programs mean for you and your company’s future. We dive into this topic from a user’s standpoint. Now that you have read all of the emails and information you can find; HOW do you apply, and how do you use this program. What are qualified expenses, and what are now qualified expenses? Rich and I discuss this not from a banker, accountant, or attorney point of view. But an owner’s perspective in the manufacturing world and how we are strategically planning to capture talent now that just a month ago would not have been available.

Rich sent me this message two days before our podcast, and I couldn’t agree more. 

“The need to project business impact and plan financially for survival and a strong re-entry into a very different market when the economy is re-started is critical. Assuming the underlying economic strength before the pandemic allows a true V-Shape rebound, the competition will be feeble. Thus there is an opportunity for growth for companies strong enough and strategic enough to come through stable and with a plan to serve clients well and with new models and tools.   

sba.gov/updates

SBA Columbus office:   614-469-6860, 401 N. Front Street  Cols 43215

David Townsend – key contact

Jill Nagy-Reynolds  -  614-940-8124

http://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/

http://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources#

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans

SBA Funding Paycheck Protection Program: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program-ppp

SBA Coronavirus Guidance: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

BioOhio tools – Great comprehensive list: https://www.bioohio.com/covid19/

Just released from SBA:

https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-newsroom/press-releases-media-advisories/sbas-paycheck-protection-program-small-businesses-affected-coronavirus-pandemic-launches?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

disastercustomersservice@sba.gov

Next up – PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) vs EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster Loan)

If you have any questions, comments, or topics you just want to hear about let us know. 

Contacts us at: info@mfgmonkey.com

Subscribe today & help fabricate the future.

MFGMonkey Episode 5: Aaron Saltsman - Fabrication Start-up Shop-talk

MFGMonkey Episode 4: Bryan Driscoll Company Culture and Evaluation

Welcome to MFGMonkey This Friday we have a chat with our good friend Bryan Driscoll from Driscoll Learning. We discuss evaluating future employees and their compatibility with your company along with many other interesting topics. so sit back have a listen and enjoy. 

Go check him out @ linkedin.com/in/bryandriscoll and driscolllearning.com

If you have any questions, comments, or topics you just want to hear about let us know. 

Contacts us at: info@mfgmonkey.com

Subscribe today & help fabricate the future. 

MFGMonkey Episode 3: Chris Dakin - Indian Creek Metal Fab.

Welcome to MFGMonkey This Friday we have a great episode for you. We have Chris Dakin from Tipp city at Indian Creek Metal Fab.

If you have any questions, comments, or topics you just want to hear about let us know. 

Contacts us at: info@mfgmonkey.com

Subscribe today & help fabricate the future.