158 episodes

Bridging the gap between technical education & the workforce 🎙 Hosted by Matt Kirchner, each episode features conversations with leaders who are shaping, innovating and disrupting the future of the skilled workforce and how we inspire and train up students toward those jobs. STEM, Career and Technical Education, and Engineering educators - this podcast is for you!Manufacturing and industrial employers - this podcast is for you, too!

The TechEd Podcast Matt Kirchner

    • Technology
    • 5.0 • 33 Ratings

Bridging the gap between technical education & the workforce 🎙 Hosted by Matt Kirchner, each episode features conversations with leaders who are shaping, innovating and disrupting the future of the skilled workforce and how we inspire and train up students toward those jobs. STEM, Career and Technical Education, and Engineering educators - this podcast is for you!Manufacturing and industrial employers - this podcast is for you, too!

    How an Industry-Sponsored Model Drives Enrollment in this Technical Program - Dr. Rod Flanigan, President of North Dakota State College of Science

    How an Industry-Sponsored Model Drives Enrollment in this Technical Program - Dr. Rod Flanigan, President of North Dakota State College of Science

    Funding, filling programs, and finding partners in industry - these are three challenges facing technical colleges across the country. And a great solution to all these challenges: industry-sponsored programs.

    North Dakota State College of Science has an incredible Diesel Technology program that partners with the biggest brands in agricultural equipment like John Deere, Case, Komatsu and Caterpillar to offer hands-on, career-relevant learning on the latest equipment being used in the workforce today. Through this program, students are sponsored by a dealer to work through the courses on brand-specific equipment, ensuring a pipeline of skilled talent that's experienced on the right technology for those dealerships.

    In this episode, we sat down with NDSCS president Dr. Rod Flanigan to dive into this program and how successful it's been.

    Discover the power of industry partnerships in building a technical program that benefits the college, learners and employers alike, and get advice for how to launch a similar program in your own institution!

    3 Big Takeaways from this episode:
    Industry-sponsored programs benefit students with career-relevant skills and experiences:The industry-sponsored diesel program benefits students by providing them with valuable hands-on experience, access to state-of-the-art equipment, and opportunities for professional development through internships and sponsorships, ultimately preparing them for successful careers in the field. They get access to the same equipment from the biggest brands they'll encounter in the workforce, and they get assistance from their sponsor while going through their education.Industry-sponsored programs benefit the college with funding, filling programs, and finding friends in industry: With these strong partnerships with industry, colleges can get access to the latest equipment, a pipeline of dedicated students, and the added benefit of having a reputation for career-relevant programming.Industry-sponsored programs benefit employers with a pipeline of skilled workers: When a student is required to be sponsored by a company in order to be admitted into a program, and when they're supported through the program financially and otherwise by that company, and when they're confident in finding employment upon completion of that program, there's a fostering of brand loyalty that just can't be beat. These companies will benefit by having a pipeline of skilled technicians who learned on their specific equipment and are work-ready to add value to the organization.Resources mentioned in this episode:
    Learn more about NDSCS's Diesel Technology ProgramLearn more about North Dakota State College of ScienceConnect with NDSCS
    Facebook | LinkedIn  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  YouTube

    View episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/flanigan/
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    • 32 min
    The Value of Neurodiversity in the Manufacturing Workforce - Peter Rathmann, CEO of Allis Manufacturing

    The Value of Neurodiversity in the Manufacturing Workforce - Peter Rathmann, CEO of Allis Manufacturing

    Peter Rathmann is an advocate for neurodiversity in the manufacturing workforce. As CEO of Allis Manufacturing, he's built a culture that gives these individuals the tools for a successful career. As a father, he's seen his own daughter Emma, who has Asperger's Syndrome, find passion in a manufacturing job.

    Now, Peter joins us on the podcast to shed light on the great value these individuals can bring to the manufacturing workforce.

    If you're a manufacturer who can't find people to fill your open positions, you'll learn about a whole segment of our population that could be a perfect match for your company. 

    If you're a parent or educator, you'll learn all about the career opportunities in manufacturing for neurodiverse individuals, and why this industry has an environment that could be a great match for them.

    In this episode, you'll learn:
    What is neurodiversity? Understanding a term that covers a wide spectrumThe misconceptions of autism and what you should know about itWhy neurodiverse individuals may be perfectly wired for manufacturing jobsHow to build a work culture and environment that sets these individuals up for successAdvice for educators to help raise awareness and pathways into manufacturing careers3 Big Takeaways from this episode:
    Neurodiverse individuals can bring unique strengths to the workplace: The characteristics manufacturing leaders say they want from their workforce (showing up every day, timeliness, paying attention to their work, efficiency, accuracy) are the same qualities that those with autism can bring to the table. Peter shares the success stories of his own neurodiverse daughter and employees and how their unique approach to the world makes them excellent manufacturing employees.Manufacturers must build a supportive work environment that values neurodiversity and creates space for growth and autonomy: There are certainly challenges to hiring neurodiverse individuals, and Peter shares insights into how to build a work environment that enables these people to succeed at their role. He also shares how to create support and awareness for the rest of your workforce and management to lead and work alongside these individuals.There are training programs and support organizations dedicated to helping neurodiverse individuals get the skills they need to work in manufacturing: Hear about The Uniquely Abled Project and the Uniquely Abled Academy at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), which is currently helping those with autism learn to become machinists. Listen to hear about a number of other organizations that provide services to neurodiverse individuals and their families, as well as employers, that help bring more people into successful employment.Resources mentioned in this episode:
    To learn more about Allis Manufacturing, visit their websiteThe Uniquely Abled ProjectUniquely Abled Academy at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC)Think Ability WisconsinMore links and resources on the show page: https://techedpodcast.com/rathmann/
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    • 42 min
    An AI tool to Digitize Drawings and Turn Individual Knowledge into Company Assets - Yushiro Kato, CEO of CADDi

    An AI tool to Digitize Drawings and Turn Individual Knowledge into Company Assets - Yushiro Kato, CEO of CADDi

    What if your company had a digital library of every single drawing, from the newest designs to 100-year-old hand-drawn copies for parts still in use? What if this digital file system was powered by artificial intelligence and could read not just the text on each drawing, but could actually understand all the data (material types, revisions, even identify similar drawings)?

    That's exactly what Yushiro Kato and the team at CADDi have done with their groundbreaking software.

    This AI-enabled platform revolutionizes how manufacturing drawings are managed and accessed, offering a centralized, format-agnostic solution with advanced image-analysis algorithms, significantly reducing procurement costs for manufacturers.

    In this episode, you'll hear about the technology that's revolutionizing procurement in manufacturing, with special insights around the importance of digitizing institutional knowledge.
    3 Big Takeaways from this episode:
    Digitization isn't just about storing data, it's about leveraging data:  Even if you were to digitize every drawing and centralize the storage location, it would still take procurement specialists hours to find the right drawings and the correct revision, and would require knowing the drawing ID. Digitizing assets is more than storing data in digital files. It's about being able to leverage that data to optimize processes. That's why CADDi's technology is truly an Industry 4.0 tool. Learn about the difference between storing and leveraging data, and consider how the latter could impact your organization.CADDi Manufacturing enables companies to source the best supplier for their parts: The application of this AI-enabled technology extends beyond your own company. Hear how CADDi has leveraged their own AI platform to build a network of OEMs and suppliers, connecting companies with the part-maker who can manufacture the part they need at the best possible price.Digitization can turn individual knowledge into company assets: Every manufacturer has employees that have been there for decades, knows every process, every part. What happens when they exit the workforce and take all that wisdom with them? Digitization can help capture the knowledge of these individuals and save it in a way that can be used by future generations of the workforce for years to come.Resources mentioned in this episode:
    To learn more about CADDi Drawer, visit their websiteDiscover more insights on CADDi's blogConnect with CADDi:
    YouTube | LinkedIn  |  Connect with Yushiro on LinkedIn

    View more on the episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/caddi/
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    • 38 min
    Data Analytics and AI are Accelerating Medical Research - Dr. Julie Panepinto, Director of the Division of Blood Diseases and Resources at the NIH

    Data Analytics and AI are Accelerating Medical Research - Dr. Julie Panepinto, Director of the Division of Blood Diseases and Resources at the NIH

    What does the future of disease research look like? How can artificial intelligence help researchers make new discoveries faster? How can medical professionals synthesize the vast amounts of patient data to offer the best, most personalized care possible

    These are some of the questions we explore with Dr. Julie Panepinto, who leads the National Institutes of Health's Division of Blood Diseases and Resources

    In this episode, we dive deep in to the Science part of STEM to learn about the latest advances in medical research, how data analytics and AI are accelerating these efforts, and how education can inspire the next generation of medical researchers

    Hear all about:
    What scientists around the country are researching in the areas of blood diseasesWhy medicine must maximize quantitative and qualitative data together to best serve patientsHow AI will impact clinician's ability to detect and diagnose - especially in medical imagingPredictive risk modeling and the future of precision healthcareThe human aspect of medicine, the importance of face-to-face care, and how data can help doctors develop more customized treatment plans for each individual3 Big Takeaways from this episode:
    Medical research needs quantitative and qualitative data to produce the best results: The healthcare industry has billions of quantitative datasets from millions of patients. Additionally, patient reported outcomes help turn qualitative information about the patient's personal experience into quantitative data. When healthcare providers have access to both quantitative and qualitative data, they can create personalized treatment plans for each individual, a practice called precision healthcare.Data analytics and artificial intelligence enable predictive risk modeling in medical research: All the data just mentioned can be used in predicting and preventing diseases in individuals based on their unique risk factors. Listen as we discuss the generation of algorithms for predictive healthcare, genomic and curative treatments, and why the quality and structure of the data matters when training AI models.The future of healthcare will be data-driven, but it will never lose the human factor: Expect tele-health visits, chatbots, AI helping clinicians detect and diagnose individuals, and automated health plans based on data-driven models. But also know that the face-to-face connection will always remain a key factor to healthcare; for nothing can replace the doctor-patient relationship.Resources mentioned in this episode:
    To learn more about Dr. Panepinto, visit her pageLearn more about the research being done by the NIH Division of Blood Diseases and ResourcesConnect with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute:
    Facebook |  YouTube | LinkedIn  |  X

    Get more resources on the episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/panepinto/
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    • 44 min
    Why STEM Can Future-Proof Private Universities Against the Enrollment Cliff - Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, President of Augustana University

    Why STEM Can Future-Proof Private Universities Against the Enrollment Cliff - Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, President of Augustana University

    Higher education is facing an enrollment cliff. Or, as Augustana University President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin puts it, a "consumption cliff." Not only are there fewer students for universities to recruit, there are also fewer students even considering enrolling in post-secondary education.

    In this episode, we discuss some of the ways private universities can hedge against these upcoming challenges. STEM education - when integrated into a traditional liberal arts model - can play a vital role in attracting students to a university.

    You'll learn:
    Why universities who don't embrace STEM may be closing their doors in the next 5 yearsHow to incorporate STEM without losing the liberal arts coreWhy tuition shouldn't stop families from considering a private university - and what universities should do to dispel these mythsHow higher education leaders can empower the innovators on their teams to discover ways to integrate STEM into strategic planningThe importance of "finding a third way"3 Big Takeaways from this episode:
    Liberal arts universities should integrate STEM fields into their programs: We shouldn't stop teaching liberal arts, but we should find ways to incorporate STEM concepts, practices and technologies into a liberal arts core to provide a well-rounded education and meet the demands of the job market. Hear how Augustana University is doing just this in their STEM Scholars program, through healthcare education and more.Offer the vitamins of education, not just the calories: To thrive in this new era of higher education, universities have to offer more than just four-year degree programs. Learners are looking for certificates, bootcamps, micro-credentials and other short-term programs that will support their lifelong learning efforts.STEM is everywhere; empower your staff to think outside the traditional academic box and innovate higher education: The STEM world moves quickly, and the strictures of academia don't always enable universities to pivot at the same pace. But university leaders can empower the entrepreneurial thinkers on their staff to embed STEM themes into existing programs. Hear how Augustana's music programs have done just this.Resources mentioned in this episode:
    To learn more about Augustana University, visit their websiteRead The Great Upheaval: Higher Education's Past, Present, and Uncertain Future by Arthur Levine and Scott J. Van PeltLearn more about the STEM Scholars programSTEM + Music = Multimedia Entrepreneurship program at Augustana UniversityConnect with Augustana University:
    Facebook |  Instagram  | YouTube | LinkedIn  |  X

    More notes, links on the episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/augustana/
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    • 46 min
    Developing an AI Strategy: Best Practices for Business Leaders - Todd Wanek, CEO of Ashley Furniture Industries

    Developing an AI Strategy: Best Practices for Business Leaders - Todd Wanek, CEO of Ashley Furniture Industries

    Get ready to start your AI journey in manufacturing! We sat down with industry visionary Todd Wanek, CEO of Ashley Furniture Industries, to get his best practices for developing an AI strategy.

    According to Wanek, businesses have 3-5 years to figure out AI, or get left behind.  Fortunately for us, Ashley Furniture - the world's largest furniture manufacturer with 35,000 employees globally - has already started their AI journey. Their efforts have resulted in a 20-30% improvement in product forecasting accuracy for their 23,000 global retail stores. And now you can learn from their example in this podcast episode.

    In this episode, we'll tell you:
    How AI will impact each business unit, from product forecasting and supply chain to creative services and accountingHow to know when to use existing AI platforms and when to build your ownA step-by-step system to get started with AI, from cleaning up your data to leveraging value stream mappingWhy you should have an AI champion in your organizationHow to identify and enable curious employees and give them space to experiment with AI3 Big Takeaways:
    AI doesn't replace the work; it's a tool to make processes more efficient optimized: Think of artificial intelligence as a lean tool - once you identify areas for improvement, these platforms can eliminate waste in your processes, freeing up your people to do more value-added work.Before you can implement AI tools, you need to prepare your data and your team: Before you launch that AI initiative, take these 4 steps to ensure your data and people are ready. (view full show page to get all the details).Curiosity is key to the implementation of AI: It's not always the data scientists or IT experts who will be your AI champions. Todd encourages leaders to look for the curious people. Identify those who are existed about AI and take the initiative to find the tools that can improve their own work - then harness their curiosity as you deploy AI in the organization. At the beginning, it's all about curiosity - reading, researching, experimenting and being okay with failure.Resources:
    If you're a Microsoft user, check out Microsoft CopilotPodcast: Moonshots with Peter Diamandis - "The Rise of Humanoid Robotics w/Brett Adock"Video: "Why the Tesla Bot Will Take Over in 2024!"Video (Tesla): "Optimus - Gen 2"Blog: Peter Diamondis - "Embrace AI or Face Extinction"Connect with Ashley Furniture online:
    Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn


    THERE'S MORE! Access the full list of notes & resources on the official episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/wanek/


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    • 52 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
33 Ratings

33 Ratings

Techiscool414 ,

Awesome Educational Content

I always learn something new and interesting while listening! The TechEd is a must-listen podcast for anyone wanting to know more about what’s going on in the new age of technology.

Morgan-Aly ,

The #1 podcast in TechEd

This podcast is a great resource to keep up with all the exciting changes in the world of manufacturing and technology. Get key insight from industry leaders from the Midwest and around the globe that you won’t find anywhere else. A must listen for anyone interested in how technology is changing the way businesses operate.

MN Technology ,

Excellent

This is great!

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