Welcome to Clocking In—Voices of NC Manufacturing, your host Phil Mintz, Executive Director of NC State University Industry Extension Services (IES). We will be interviewing some of the manufacturers who have made North Carolina manufacturing the powerhouse it is today.
Episodes
Jan 4, 2023
Jan 4, 2023
20 min
NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions’ (IES) North Carolina Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (NC DMCSP), creates opportunities for smart textile innovators.
As our lives become ever connected through smart phones, tablets and other devices, the way we interact has changed dramatically and that even applies to textiles. Textiles come in a wide variety of forms, from clothing to bedding to household items. Smart textiles include the next generation of wearable technologies. They combine textile design with advanced sensing capabilities. This new class of materials promises to revolutionize the future of wearable computing.
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Dec 1, 2022
Dec 1, 2022
18 min
Sanford, North Carolina-based company emerges as one of North Carolina’s leading precision machined components manufacturers.
Precision machining is a manufacturing technique where parts or components are cut into precise shapes using high-speed cutting tools such as drills, lathes, milling machines and other types of machine tools. The term ‘precision’ refers to the exactness of the final shape produced by these processes.
Nov 1, 2022
Nov 1, 2022
18 min
Central Carolina Community College strives to teach relevant skills needed in today’s technology and artificially intelligent-driven workforce.
Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) is an annual national event, coordinated by The National Association of Manufacturers and The Manufacturing Institute, on the first Friday of Manufacturing Month – October. It’s a day designated to highlight manufacturing careers and their impact on our lives.
Oct 10, 2022
Oct 10, 2022
22 min
Dr. Jenni Harris discusses the value the North Carolina Department of Commerce - Workforce Solutions Division provides to North Carolina workers.
North Carolina has long been a great place to live and raise a family. The state ranks high in quality of life, economic opportunity, and educational attainment. Despite these positive trends, North Carolina continues to lag behind neighboring states regarding employment rates.
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Oct 10, 2022
Oct 10, 2022
20 min
Youngsville-based manufacturer Sirchie Corp works to transform law enforcement equipment.
Law enforcement officers are often required to carry out their duties in dangerous situations. They provide surveillance, investigate crimes, and support security at public events, and must be prepared at all times.
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Aug 2, 2022
Aug 2, 2022
17 min
An Asheville, North Carolina-based business boasts a 60% rate of repeat customers because of their excellent customer relations.
How often do you hear companies talk about customer success? You’d be surprised to learn that customer success is a relatively new concept.
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Jul 1, 2022
Jul 1, 2022
9 min
Burlington, North Carolina-based fabrics manufacturer, Fairystone Fabrics, has earned its reputation for technical expertise.
North Carolina has long been known for its textile production. From the early days of cotton production through the Civil War era, North Carolina was a major producer of textiles. Today, North Carolina produces over half of the nation’s cotton and more than 40 percent of the nation’s woolen fabric. The state also produces more than 50 percent of the nation‘s rayon fabric and 25 percent of the nation‟s linen fabric. Fairystone Fabrics has been a part of contributing to North Carolina’s booming fabric industry for 50 years.
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Jun 27, 2022
Jun 27, 2022
10 min
Local community colleges are built to provide North Carolina businesses with sustainable solutions.
In 1957, the North Carolina General Assembly adopted the first Community College Act and provided funding for community colleges. By 1966, there were 43 institutions with 28,250 full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollments. In 1969, there were 54 institutions with 59,329 FTE. The system had grown very rapidly, exceeding ten percent annually nearly every year until the late 1970s. The number of colleges has not increased since Brunswick Community College became the 58th in 1978. The North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) through its Customized Training Program is one of the ten partners of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP).
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Jun 13, 2022
Jun 13, 2022
13 min
North Carolina Manufacturing Extensionship partner, East Carolina University strives to assist businesses across North Carolina.
Founded in 1907, East Carolina University (ECU) has made quite the name for itself. According to U.S. News and World Report’s 2021 best-ranked colleges, ECU is one of the top five public universities in North Carolina. East Carolina University isn’t only helping North Carolina businesses by cultivating educated and talented young people for the workforce, they also offer continuous improvement services to everyday manufacturers in all 100 North Carolina counties.
Apr 11, 2022
Apr 11, 2022
26 min
Chapel Hill-based CPAP manufacturer Bleep Sleep is a breath of fresh air in the CPAP industry.
CPAP masks have been a long-standing nightmare for sleep apnea patients. Many CPAP masks on the market tend to leak, are too loud and can even result in the breaking of hair and bald spots due to headgear. On this episode of clocking in, I talked to a CPAP manufacturer who — through innovation — has eliminated many of the problems that are stereotypically associated with CPAP masks.
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