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This show is a solo promo for my upcoming book, which went to the publisher last week.

In it, I discuss the book, tentatively titled, "Inspiring American Makers," which profiles 22 American manufacturers to counter the misconception that the U.S. no longer manufactures. I highlight the country's second-place ranking in global manufacturing and advocate for a resurgence in national industrial power. I also emphasize the positive impact of automation on manufacturing jobs, which have evolved beyond the dangerous and dirty tasks of the past. Finally, I address the decline in male workforce participation and the need for education reform to value hands-on trades.

My book aims to inspire and inform about the dynamic and essential role of American manufacturing.

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Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section. And definitely share this with your friends and colleagues!

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Yep, we're right back to discussing the American shipbuilding crisis!

During our January focus on shipbuilding, one of the best articles we used as a resource was one on the Jones Act co-authored by Colin Grabow at the Cato Institute.

Colin joined us to share his broader perspectives on the U.S. shipbuilding situation.

Colin discussed the complexities of shipbuilding, emphasizing the need for free market principles. He highlighted the inefficiencies of the Jones Act, which mandates U.S.-built ships for domestic water transport, noting it has failed to protect U.S. shipbuilding competitiveness. He pointed out that U.S. shipyards build fewer than three large ocean-going cargo ships annually, compared to China's 800. Colin suggested reducing tariffs on steel, attracting skilled foreign workers, and rethinking the Jones Act to allow U.S. shipyards to specialize and compete globally. He also criticized the Ships for America Act for its potential to exacerbate labor shortages in the Navy.

Highlights:
00:00 - Introduction
04:53 - Philosophy on Shipbuilding and the Jones Act
08:14 - Challenges and Failures of the Jones Act
14:47 - Historical Context and Government Involvement
18:36 - Government Regulation and Market Dynamics
22:05 - Comparative Analysis with Other Countries
25:19 - The Ships for America Act and Its Implications
31:39 - Navy Shipbuilding Challenges
33:27 - Recommendations for Improving Shipbuilding

This was an incredibly deep and detailed discussion, folks. Tune in for the whole thing and learn a bunch about not just shipbuilding but lessons that apply to American manufacturing as whole.

Colin's article about the Jones Act: https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa845.pdf

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Too many manufacturers still struggle with effective maintenance management, and still scratch their heads over what they should be doing with AI.

MaintainX has answers for them on both counts. They're leading the digital revolution in maintenance and operations, enhancing the way teams work and collaborate worldwide.

Hugo Dozios-Caouette, CTO and co-founder of MaintainX, joined us to discussed the company's AI-assisted industrial maintenance software. MaintainX focuses on improving maintenance efficiency by reducing paper-based processes and enhancing user experience. Hugo emphasized the importance of starting AI implementations at the field level to build trust and capture critical knowledge. The company aims to automate routine tasks, improve data accuracy, and provide just-in-time assistance to technicians. Future plans include enhancing AI capabilities, improving asset management, and facilitating machine connectivity to optimize operations and compliance.

Here are some of the highlights:
00:00 - Introduction
04:09 - Focus on Maintenance in Manufacturing
08:02 - Consumerization of Enterprise Software
08:43 - Integration of AI in Manufacturing
11:09 - Challenges of Top-Down AI Implementation
14:09 - Importance of Frontline Workers' Knowledge
18:20 - Maintain X's Solutions and Implementation
21:18 - Preparing for Maintain X Implementation
26:04 - Future Directions for Maintain X

This is a meaty episode! Tune in for the whole thing.

MaintainX website: https://www.getmaintainx.com/