How Mike Nager is Closing the Awareness Gap with Kid’s Books on Manufacturing, 452

We’re always looking for ways to build greater awareness of manufacturing, and we believe the conversation needs to start at an earlier age. That’s why we’re excited to speak with people like Michael (Mike) Nager, who shares our passion for bridging the gap. Mike is a passionate advocate for raising awareness about manufacturing through children’s literature. As a long-time industry professional, Mike saw a gap in how manufacturing is presented to younger generations. In response, he created engaging, educational books that introduce kids to the exciting world of manufacturing, from automation to smart technologies. Mike discusses how his books are designed to spark curiosity and inspire future manufacturers by making complex topics accessible, colorful, and fun. He shares why it’s essential for kids, parents, and educators to see manufacturing as an exciting and vital part of our daily lives. We also dive into the challenges of simplifying manufacturing concepts, the positive feedback Mike has received from parents and educators, and how he’s partnering with organizations to expand the reach of his books. Mike’s mission is to close the "awareness gap" and encourage kids to consider careers in manufacturing. After all, we need the next generation of makers, thinkers, and innovators to keep MakingChips. Segments (0:28) Why investing in ProShop is investing in your business (2:40) Why it’s story time on MakingChips (4:02) Mike Nager’s origin story (10:45) Mike explains how he tailored his books for different age groups (13:50) Mike talks about using LinkedIn posts to gauge interest in his books (14:44) Why you should listen to the Machine Shop Mastery podcast  (15:51) A conversation about on-demand manufacturing (19:03) Mike shares stories from parents and educators using his books (22:11) Let’s get Mike’s books to more students around the world (25:57) The importance of raising awareness about manufacturing  Resources mentioned on this episode The Smart Students Guide to Smart Manufacturing  Smart Manufacturing Terms You Need to Know All About Smart Manufacturing Festo Didactic Siemens Digital Industries TITANS of CNC Academy Smartforce Student Summit Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

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Manufacturing is challenging, but if you are connected to a community of leaders, you can elevate your skills, solve your problems and grow your business! MakingChips was launched in 2014 to equip and inspire the metalworking nation. Hundreds of episodes and a million downloads later, it’s an industry-leading source of information, inspiration, and entertainment for manufacturing leaders of all types. It’s hosted by Nick Goellner, Mike Payne, and Paul Van Metre. They’re joined by a rotating panel of expert guests – including Titan Gilroy (TITANS of CNC), John Saunders (NYC CNC), Mark TerryBerry (Haas Automation), and many more. Join us as we tackle the topics that keep you up at night - leadership, operations, technology, growth, workforce development and culture.