Manufacturing and engineering are full of talented, passionate people. Just listen to literally any of these episodes for proof of that. But what is it that keeps people in this space motivated and fulfilled? Ask 10 different people, and you’d likely get 10 very different answers.

For this episode, we posed the question to three guests – Steve Ilmrud, VP of Operations for North America at Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, Jeff Van Horn, Owner & Sr. Project Manager at Industrial Technology Solutions Inc., and Randy Smith, a CNC Programmer & Machinist in the Aerospace and Defense Industries.

We explore the common threads throughout all their careers, paying particular attention to the art of metrology – how we measure things in manufacturing. Without accurate measurement, products wouldn’t make it out the door and manufacturers would be left with a bunch of scrap and route back to square one.

On-the-job training is another big focus of our talk, and we hear why we should prioritize proactive rather than just reactive training, plus how modern tools are shaping both training and production efficiency.

In this episode, find out:

• What is metrology? Jeff, Steve, and Randy give their own definitions in relation to how they’ve used it in their careers
• Why measuring things throughout a fabrication process is critical to reducing waste
• Real examples of how good metrology practice has helped manufacturers build the best products (and what happens when it’s not used)
• Why the right data and statistics are critical for improving reliability
• Leveraging metrology during on-the-job training to be more proactive than reactive to challenges
• How modern tools and technology can help manufacturers be more proactive and productive
• Working smart vs working hard and using the right technology
• The mindset shift that manufacturers need to adopt, both in training and production
• How focusing on the three Ps (people, parts, and process) has helped Steve stay focused and solve challenges
• The common themes that keep Jeff, Steve, and Randy motivated in their careers

Tweetable Quotes:

• "You cannot wait to inspect all your parts, especially in the fabrication shops, when they're done. If you don't catch it during the process, it's going to end up in rework." – Jeff Van Horn
• "Regardless of the parts you're making or what you're doing, real-time inspection and feedback are really critical and it can save you a lot of time and time and aggravation." – Randy Smith
• "It comes down to people, parts, and process – the three Ps. Almost any challenge I've had in my career can be addressed through the three Ps." – Steve Ilmrud

• Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, empowering makers to innovate and create without limit with solutions support optimization throughout the product lifecycle, specializing in metrology, production, and design & engineering
• Leica Absolute Tracker ATS600, the first ever direct scanning laser tracker that can digitally pinpoint and inspect large parts and surfaces that are simply out of range of traditional handheld 3D laser scanners, touch probes, or reflectors