In the latest episode of our Today in Manufacturing Series, made in partnership with the Georgia Manufacturing Alliance and powered by HLB Gross Collins, Scott welcomes Laura Madajewski, Jason Moss, and John Fluker to the Supply Chain Now studio.

[00:00:05] It’s time for Supply Chain Now Radio. Broadcasting live Supply chain capital of the country. Atlanta, Georgia. Supply Chain Now Radio spotlights the best in all things supply chain the people, the technology, the best practices and the critical issues of the day. And now here are your hosts.

[00:00:29] Hey, good morning. Scott Luton here with you, Liveline Supply chain. Now welcome back to the show. In this episode we’re continuing are today in manufacturing series in conjunction with the Georgia manufacturing alliance. Stay tuned for what I promise will be practical insights, observations and some anecdotes. I’ll certainly raise your manufacturing leadership IQ. We’re very proud to say that our series brought to you by HDB GROSS collins’, a top 25 Atlanta CPA firm specializing in manufacturing, distribution and supply chain operations. The firm has extensive insight in the industry and understands the specific needs these organizations face. So great to have h.l b gross Collins on board. One quick programing note. You can find Supply chain now wherever ever you get your podcast from Apple podcast. Spotify, YouTube, you name it. We’d love to have you subscribe so you don’t miss a single thing. OK. Let’s welcome in my fearless co-host for today’s show. First up, Jason Maule, CEO of the Georgia manufacturing alliance. Jason, how you doing, man, Scott? I’m doing great. Great to have you back. It’s been a busy February.

[00:01:35] It as far as the flu, get me at last month’s. I wasn’t able to come play. But I am so happy to be back.

[00:01:42] You know, the episode is not the same without to just look, you know, I it’s in good hands.

[00:01:47] I mean, between you, Laurie, I just got this. Right. I just did just add a little bit of flavor to that. Right.

[00:01:53] Well, Jason, as you allude to, we also have Laura manages key principle and leader of the manufacturing, distribution and Supply chain practice at HB Chris Collins with US Law. How you doing?

[00:02:03] I’m doing great, Scott. Despite the rainy weather outside. That just seems to never cease.

[00:02:08] Yes. Well, you know, and we had a little rain last week. A lot Maureen, it seems like this week. Traffic slows down in Atlanta, which can be a good thing. However, your trip time seemed to double. But hey, you know, you take the good with the bad, right? Absolutely. You just don’t keep talking about traffic. Right. OK. Well, let’s talk about we’re really excited to have our featured guest in the studio with us today, John Fluker, president and CEO, grins back. John, how you doing?

[00:02:38] I’m doing great.

[00:02:39] A little bit wet, but coming in from the rain but feeling fantastic.

[00:02:43] Well, you know, I really wish I had been running the tape while we were having the pre the preprint conversation. You know, we kind of got a sense of some of your stories already. And we’re going to dove more into these here in just a minute. But great to have you here. And I know you’ve been on a plane, you know, with leading the global organization that is grens of OK, I bet it’s good to be home a little bit on your end, too. Yes. Fantastic. Be back. Be here. All right. So let’s dove right in. We’ve got so much to cover. The Dow is going to go by in a hurry. But, John, as we talked about kind of preshow, first thing we want to do is give our audience the opportunity that we’ve been afforded, which is get to know John Fluker a bit better. So tell us, first off, where you’re from, where do you get born and raise and give us you give us the skinny on your upbringing.

[00:03:30] Ok, great. So, first of all, I appreciate the B here and the opportunity to be a part of this podcast. I am a Georgia boy. Born and raised. Born and raised in a little small town called Waycross, Georgia, about four hours south of this country. We always like to joke that we wrestle alligators down there, but that’s not really true.

[00:03:49] You should go to the Occupy Nooky swamp, and that’s how you prove your manhood. But Warner raised in south Georgia and that’s not far from the Florida line.

[00:04:00] Yes. Yes. So you actually get there, you fly to Jacksonville. You drive about an hour to get up to Waycross. OK. Yes. Not that far from the Florida line. So you got a bunch of family, Waycross, I believe. Yes. So tell us more.

[00:04:12] Yeah, my my father, mother still, still, still down there. My father was the was the mayor of Waycross at one point in time. So the first black elected mayor. We also that’s very proud of him and family still still down awake. Ralston’s still still kicking in. You know, we love we love that part of Georgia.

[00:04:31] And so your family is still actively involved. I believe in the community. Loves. Yeah. Businesses. Yes. They may ruin it.

[00:04:38] They may rename the town Pflugerville. I’m not quite sure about that.

[00:04:44] But you say the name Flitter. Thank you, everybody who was appointed or so I tell you. If you go down there, if you ever get the jam, just say, I know John Fluker, senior. OK. John Fluker, Junior. Then you still see yourself down. I’ll take care of you. Me, you know, my dad will take care of.

[00:05:00] All right, so talk to us about what it was like that grew up in Waycross and especially, you know, now. And my I got some folks from south Georgia. And Ed, I always find it really interesting, especially as global economy is a compare and contrast, you know, that small town upbringing with now an Internet role in international business. Tell us more about kind of what prepared you then.

[00:05:26] So, you know, we grew up in a time in Waycross who was very, you know, interesting. My parents were very involved. My mom was a school teacher. And then my my dad, when I was growing up, was also on the board. But there was organization, Waycross, that was very in let’s say it with the with the strategy to prepare their children, which was me at the time. And some of my friends for not just being Waycross, but to expose us to a lot of different things. We were in an organization called a Summer Institute. And so with our summer institute, you know, they would take us to Washington, D.C. We would we were pages. We would come up to Atlanta, did a lot of travel. So the my parents very much encouraged me to broaden my horizon and not just stay in the town of Waycross itself. Not not to say they did didn’t want me to eventually come back in here and give back to the community. But they also wanted to broaden my rise. And so I love that with that. You know, it was it was very easy for me to to leave, but they actually encouraged it. They didn’t want me to go locally and wanted me to go away.

[00:06:33] And that’s why I ended up going to school in Boston a little bit farther away than they probably anticipated. A few miles, just a few miles away.

[00:06:41] You know, that is so important. As much as we love small town USA, small town world, what have you been able to help kids open up doors of opportunity that they may not think about? And before you know it, it’s what their passion about. Right. And I mean, we’ve we’ve done a lot of work going in the schools, planting seeds. And, you know, if if could just let the rest of us, the kids, they don’t know what they don’t know. Yes. And I love how your folks very deliberately and intentionally. It sounds like to me, hey, if you won’t be here with Waycross. We love it. Yes. There’s big business. There’s opportunities for you. But let’s help you explore. Yes. Yeah. There’s a go world out. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:07:22] Yeah, for sure. You know, my father my parents love the town of Waycross, so they’re very much about helping the town grow and if they’ve, you know, been very much involved in that.

[00:07:30] But they also wanted to give me and my my sister noodle exposure and opportunity. So we both went away for college.

[00:07:37] And, you know, we eventually both came back to Georgia and, you know, maybe not back to Waycross itself. I eventually made my way back home.

[00:07:45] Yeah. Because white girls I mean, it’s my wife is from Whitecross and we talked about that a little bit before the show. And it’s really exciting because I don’t you know, I don’t get to meet a ton of folks that, you know, that it’s from there. I mean, I grew up kind of in hinter County, just south of the south of Atlanta. But you will get get and I spent quite a bit of time. And also we try to as much as we can. And down there, I mean, the industry, it’s either you’re in your pulp and paper or you’re working forever.

[00:08:09] Yeah, exactly. Like the only two things that they really have been like Ralph’s. You’re not work. Well, they used a cigar factory down there.

[00:08:14] Well, then I think recently they’ve also the medical industry has grown quite a bit down. And yeah, it’s become an area would like to se Georgia. So they really like my old elementary school is now a nursing home or something like that. So is that part of the industry has grown quite a bit. So Waycross has definitely grown quite a bit.

[00:08:32] So we’re making a Waycross commercial, right?

[00:08:35] Yes. Aimer is going to be very hard. Hey, man, I’m envious, Walt, whether or not she gets kind of upset when I say that. Yeah. That’s why I have no idea. All right.

[00:08:47] So, John, you’ve mentioned a couple of times school in northeast Boston. Tell us about that. What drew you there? Yeah. And what you major in there?

[00:08:56] So I went to school at M.I.T., Massachusetts Institute of Technology. High falutin.

[00:09:02] High falutin. Right.

[00:09:04] So you’re mighty, mighty red. I was always wanted to be an engineer. Right. At first it was aeronautical engineer because I had a dream that I wanted to go in space in and in and be work for NASA.

[00:09:16] You know, it’s I think we went to Huntsville, Alabama, at one point in time when some institute sort of kind of picked trigger that triggered it for.

[00:09:23] For engineering. But then, you know, when I got to M.I.T., I decided that, OK, maybe I wanted to have a more of a baseline of an engineering degree. So not being aeronautical at that time, but to step back in and become a mechanical engineer. And so that’s what I studied in. That’s what I graduated from in my my engine. My background is engineering. So I’ve done it quite a bit in my life. And I think it’s also helped me in my role at at Greene siplon. I bet.

[00:09:53] Yes. All right. So you say you graduated from one of the finest engineering schools in the land. What was your first job?

[00:10:02] My first job coming out of M.I.T. was a company called Terra Dine. Terra Dine at that point in time was heavy in the semiconductor industry test equipment. I was a manufacturing engineer. Actually, my first job coming out of college and my major responsibilities at that time was to look at designs of our equipment and understand what how was designed and to make sure that it is designed the best way to for the ease of manufacturing. So I worked a lot on the floor. I spent a lot of time on the manufacturing floor building the equipment that was designed. And it gives you a different end, you know, a different perspective. Yes. Because when you have to reach your hand, Iran is cornered to get to the screwed. As hard to get to manufacturing you. That’s not the right way to do this. We have to we have to design is in such a way that for ease of manufacturing. So that was my my first job. And I think that was very impactful for me. And it. Because, you know, at the end of the day. Right.

[00:10:59] You know, as it is, you know, we can come up with the best design possible. But if nobody can build it right now, nobody can build it efficiently or fixation Lu or fix it. Yeah. And so my second job after that was now you talk about fix, it was we called a product support engineer. Right. And so from there, you know, I had to support products in the field. Right. Right. Yeah. And also support my engineering the engineering staff in the field. Right. So when there was a problem, you know, I always joked that I had a always had my bag picked. Right. Because I could come to the office and my bosses be like, hey, by the way, we have a ticket for you to go to Taiwan and say, OK, well, I’m going to the airport here in Taiwan and flew to Taiwan. You know, 24 hours to get there. Twelve hours on the ground fixed a problem with 24 hours home. So, you know, two more time. So that gave you a different perspective, the Lego game. Well, if I’m not the flow all the way to Taiwan and all these places around the world, I want to make sure I want to fix the problem before it gets there.

[00:11:55] And so that gives you a different perspective, proper motivation. John, I will go back just a minute. When you mentioned your first role with terror, Don, and you mentioned kind of being on the on the factory floor and some of the impact it had on you. Talk to us about the people. You know, I think a lot of folks like the folks that maybe haven’t ever been in a plant yet, maybe make certain assumptions about what manufacturing’s like the people or maybe unfortunately, sometimes the people are completely an afterthought. Tell us about what that early experiences for you.

[00:12:29] You know, the people were are amazing Ryder, you know, you know, I was working on a shop floor with these guys and here I am just M.I.T. graduate. Right. It has a certain you know, people have a certain conception. You know, when you get up in there, you’re willing to to build something with the guys. They have a different you know, they give a different respect for you as well. And so I I I learned so much from those guys working on the shop floor. Right. You know, building equipment, understanding, you know, from their perspective, say, hey, guys, you know, these engineers are fantastic to come up with these great designs. But if you did it this way, if you did it that way. If we could speed up the manufacturing process and ultimately you gain a certain perspective for that, these these guys can give you some perspective how to help the company make money. Right. They can help you give direct feedback. And if you listen to what they’re saying and you bring you back to the organization. Right. And you be that I felt it was my job to be that translator. Right. That translator from the manufacturing floor to the engineering, because I could speak both languages and I could help, you know, give their feedback to the organization to be more efficient, to ultimately what will the company want to make money. Right. And so that’s the that’s the goal.

[00:13:40] Love it. I love it. OK. So fast forward. And we don’t necessarily you know, it was there one more role beyond the tarried on and then beyond the second cupping that like Sydney to surprise you with a trip to Thailand or.

[00:13:55] No, no. That was all Trident all tyrannize all Deborah Dull.

[00:13:57] So it’s just a different role. That different, though? OK. Yes. So what was the role? Do you feel really teed you up for now, serving as President Zia?

[00:14:08] You know, this is not one role for me. It was all the different roles that have played a part in my perspective right now. Help me prepare me for the role I’m in today. So when I when I left Paradine, I went into sales. Right.

[00:14:23] And so then it was I had some I had some less a customer perspective when I was at terror. dying and my role as product support, because I have to go to the customer site and get their feedback about what they saw. But, you know, being a sales right hand, I have been having to go to a customer and understand their needs and what they want to accomplish with your equipment. Right. Gave me a different perspective. Right. So now I had to speak to from the shop floor, had to speak to respark the perspective from the guy servicing equipment in the field. And now you get the better perspective.

[00:14:55] What a customer, good customer, really what the customer really wants. I know you think you know. The customer wants I like I know you really.

[00:15:04] We used to really start talking to them, use like, okay, well, that’s not what I thought you want or what?

[00:15:08] That’s not when I would design a piece of equipment in the in my house. And I think this is great. Right. But at the same time, the customer doesn’t need it. Right. It’s near not going to sell it. Right. So that.

[00:15:19] So I think it was those three roles together helped prepare me for where I am today and then moving up into sales rank. So within grunts of Buck, I came to where I am through the sales department. So sales guy, director of sales and V.P. of SALES and CSO and now president and CEO of Principal Corporation.

[00:15:37] So before we talk about what grins back, does how how challenging was it especially giving not taking anything away from engineers because they could do anything that anything world. But, you know, for in I’ve always been curious about the transition of engineers into sales centric roles.

[00:15:55] Yeah. Tell us about that. That is you know, it is very challenging. And, you know, I’m an engineer, right? You know, I was my my engineer to tell you. I used to be an engineer. Maybe. Maybe I’m not anymore. But I you know, I think you have to have the right mentality from an engineer perspective to understand that.

[00:16:14] That what you are creating. You know, you have to be able to receive feedback. Right.

[00:16:20] And so not not all engineers are good at receiving feedback about what they’re designing. Yeah. Right. Listen, listening to the customer, right. Yeah. This is very easy, you know that you don’t you get you creative, right? You know, you have your baby, right? I created. And I love the way I’ve been. This is the best machine in the world. And this is what I think you should do. And you should have these features and they have these features. But if the customer doesn’t want those features or better yet doesn’t want to pay for those features, then you have to have as an engineer, you have to be able to swallow your pride a little bit. OK. I need to design this for the customer. Yeah. And that’s the that’s the biggest challenge. Moving from engineering into sales is to having that that, you know, that not be too prideful to be able to understand that. Ultimately, whatever I’m doing is coffee cup, for example, to handle is not right. And I will not go use a coffee cup and go get another one. Right. Correct. Dan Solla. There’s there’s always options in the marketplace for your customers. Yes. And so. Especially now. Especially now.

[00:17:23] Ok. So so I appreciate you sharing. That was unexpected. Question. I appreciate you sharing. So let’s talk about what grens about that. Tell us about the company and what the company does.

[00:17:33] So we are a global organization. Fifteen hundred people globally headquarters out of Germany. So my responsibility is for the North American market. But globe, so we we focus on the multiple different industries. We call it the glass industry. So the would always say is that nobody realizes how most technology goes into making glass. Right. You know, it’s a lot of technology that goes into making glass. Well, we are, you know, from the material handling and also part of the process, steps of making float glass. That’s one of the major markets. The second major market is what we call a building materials market. That’s your gypsum wallboard. This year of ceiling tiles, party board Hardy Plank. It is one of the one of my biggest customers, James Hardie. Mean a third, let’s say vertical is into logistics.

[00:18:22] And so here we have our fleet of mobile robots. So AEG’s of software platforms. So those are our three major verticals that grunts of Bocuse is playing playing it.

[00:18:33] So on that third. Are you deploying those those that the deck technology into other customers facilities? Yes.

[00:18:40] Ok. Yes. So learns warehouse warehouse automation.

[00:18:43] Oh, yes. Really cool. I came to automation. Yes. And may these guys put on a show, you know, if you ever if you had the opportunity to get in there. I don’t know if that’s opened up. But they did it. They put on a own. Pretty amazing. We.

[00:18:57] Yeah, we have it. We have it every two years. We hosted we have we have it during the September October frame. We call it the automation fest. OK, Octoberfest. So, you know, it really is a whole day that we dedicate to educational to our customer. So we have some of our Keith soap suppliers coming in to give seminars, but then we have our own seminars and demonstration of our technology that is today.

[00:19:21] You know, I put on my little holes and I grab a beer and I have I have three little holes and that is a like I will buy it. I get it.

[00:19:32] So, yes, that was great. It was good. I appreciate you talking about that. It was fun. It was a fun event.

[00:19:37] Siplon. Now we get this a lot of different answers. This next question, because, you know, CEO, the CEO role, just because the title or this is the same course we see CEOs spend their time in a very wide variety of places. Where do you spend your time and what’s your favorite aspect of being in the leadership suite?

[00:20:00] While it’s a great question, so I I I’m still at heart sales guy. All right.

[00:20:06] And so I want to be in front of customers. Not too much. Right. I like to like my sales team be the front. But I still have great relationship. A lot of customers here in North America market. So I guess I spend a lot of time still. Well, when I’m not on Delta, I fly and fly to Iran to visit my customers around the country. So that’s still why I spend a good portion of my time maintaining those relationships with our key customers and our customers that we’re trying to grow for the market.

[00:20:37] But, you know, I am spending more more of my time in our manufacturing facilities, you know, supporting the the team as well, you know, guiding them to where we believe the organization needs to be in the next three years, how we’re transitioning a little bit from where we are today to the future. So I spent a good amount of my time there. So I think it’s pretty much split right now, maybe 50/50 between customers, an internal discussions.

[00:20:58] So it’s got to you ask a great question. Many of you know about what was your transition from engineering to sales. Now to tell us what that to you. What was your transition from engineering to the leadership roles that you have now? I mean, because that’s a that’s a different game. That’s a very important point. Was that what were the things that the people are? Ah, now in that space, they’re about to make that transition. What? What? Got it. Would you get it? I’m still learning. Rod. Thank you. Oh, yeah.

[00:21:20] You know. You know, when you come into the office every day or you visit something every day, you use a different learning experience. I think it’s, you know, transitioning to one of the good things about being an engineer. I have an engineering background coming out of M.I.T.. As that back run, is that it?

[00:21:38] We really, you know, think about how to solve a problem. Okay. Yeah, I guess so. You know, the biggest difference between moving from an engineer to an executive is not so much for me trying to solve every problem. Right. To try to get into the weeds. Right. Because I can. I can go to the nuts and bolts more easily. But. But the transition from the problem, solving it to the vision and so setting the vision for the organization and where we want the organization to be in three to five years. And trusting the team to solve the myriad of problems, to be able to get to the vision and guiding the team. Not so much trying to solve the problems for the team, but to guiding the team to a kid. If we had a roadblock here, okay, we we maybe we have to try a different thing. But ultimately, setting that vision is what I think that’s the biggest challenge for moving from engineering to leadership is moving from the problem solving role to the to the leadership. That’s a visionary role. Yes, that’s the biggest.

[00:22:35] So what are you reading that Naomi Watts, who are some of your favorite authors or mentors or what books are you read? I’m always. I mean, I’m always looking, man.

[00:22:43] Always. I don’t think that it’s a trick question. Right. You know, I you know.

[00:22:48] Well, you know, so there’s the spiritual part, right? I’m very much involved with my church. So there’s a lot of things that that I’m doing from that perspective of learning. You know, my whole spiritual portion of the Bible that I use every day to try to different the different things the read on and to give me different life lessons to it. Then I go down to my my just a kickback. I love Bob Brown, all the things that he’s done with. What’s the book’s name? With Stan Brown, one of my one of my biggest that I like to read right now. So those kind of things that I like to read. Plus, you know, you have your your help books in your, you know, seven, you know, habits, so. Right. Well, I think I did some seminars, some A.M.A. seminars recently that helped me guide me in that direction to of different things like that as well.

[00:23:35] There’s what we’re working on organizationally as Mike McAlary. It’s OK. And he’s written a book. They actually read wrote a book profit first. I read that last year made a huge difference in my business and financially where we’re at as an organization, because just the structure of it, because I’m not to like structure and figuring out challenges, problems. But he’s also written another book called Clockwork, OK, and it’s about putting systems in place internally so that you can do exactly what you’re talking about is like all the pieces and and putting the pieces and the systems in place so that your team can solve the problem. Take you out of that. Yes.

[00:24:11] You know, unless something like catches on fire and want to move to you want to get to that quadrant worn zone or is that back to the visionary to get back to what you a challenge today?

[00:24:20] So I’m going to surprise. So so as we’re asking people our favorite reads and, you know, I don’t say author, but Laura, what what have you found to be a really helpful read here lately for business leaders?

[00:24:31] So, interestingly, you know, I think that the challenge that I face a lot is especially with a lot of new faces that come in and as you’re trying to develop people to that next level, because that’s the way we do it. It’s really you’ve got to develop them internally to grow. So from that perspective, there was a book called The Art of Constructive Criticism. So how to engage them to point out the areas that, you know, are a challenge for them, but not it’s going to be beaten you down here. So they go in the corner and you’re just I just feel horrible.

[00:24:59] Start with you’re a dummy. No, no, no, no, no.

[00:25:04] But it’s about understanding their strengths and how to develop those to offset the weaknesses. Yes. Get them engaged and. Yes. Yeah. It’s kind of that whole mama bird pushing the baby bird out of the nest thing, which I you know, I don’t like pushing people in that direction, actually, literally and asked why I want to engage them. And I feel like that has been really helpful to me from a leadership perspective.

[00:25:26] That just does a good that’s a good point. I think, you know, one things that I’m that we are always trying to learn how to do is right. What are the organizational needs right versus what was skill set to my people have right. And have them make a sure those match as much as possible or I don’t know how Greene want to grow to people do to be able to support the organization as well. So that’s always that’s always interesting. Dynamic and challenge. Right. You know what it now what is the structure of the organization? And do the people I have fit the structure at? Okay. What trainings or what skill sets do we need to give these people to have to be able to do the best to organize?

[00:25:58] Hey, Laura, check this out. Hey, Scott, I will throw this over to you. What are you reading right now? Let’s hear what some of your favorite authors. Let’s let’s go around your space.

[00:26:06] I’ll tell you all some sites that I rely on, especially almost day in and day out. And for me, Fast Company. Like I did it from leadership to technology to workforce, you name it. And like, cool stuff there. Supply chain div- I think is one of the best supply chain news sites available. And then I should say so. Supply chain Digest has been around for a while and they just revamped their Web site. OK. And really it makes easier and more appealing to navigate through and find different news developments interview. So those are three that are all my go-to list, especially if you like Supply chain and Fast Company is kind of as it as the name suggests, is kind of like the cutting edge site. Right? It’s really look forward and it’s very forward looking. And and also they’re they’re very big. ProPurchaser seems like to me a proponent of top three this top five this. And I’m I’m an analyst freak crash. I love my lists. Yes. You’re stupid. Yeah. I mean, that’s just S.R. process information. So. All right. So now we’ve got the curveball question in everyone’s head has to take that. So let’s let’s kind of keep going down this path.

[00:27:17] We’ve clearly we’ve touched a lot of leadership, a lot of workforce, a lot on own career transitioning. A lot of what you’ve spoken to lets you know is wisdom is we broaden the scope, the conversation now and we think of that global manufacturing industry that that you’re smack-dab. Yes. What? One or two issues or trends or developments? What’s what’s on your radar more than others right now?

[00:27:41] Digitalization, right. That’s that is the the big thing that we are focusing on as a company. Right. You know, we know we always joked that the you know, we were German made. Right. That’s ah. That’s all. Montoro always told us this funny story. It was not it was a funny doing the time. But I was at a plant in the desert, the best one. I was at a manufacturing facility once. I’m right. And we were in a meeting. And then all of a sudden the doors popped open because a tornado hit the building. It sucked to paper off of the table. So the horn went off and we all started running. And where do we run? We ran to the grounds of wuk equipment because I knew if if I Humberto, the principal could quick and I’d be safe.

[00:28:23] Right.

[00:28:25] So but that’s the kind of a funny story, right? Maybe a little bit exaggerated.

[00:28:32] But but we are, you know, at our core, we are a manufacturing company that makes high quality equipment that lasts for, you know, float lines. They’ve run seven days a week, 365 days a year for 20 years in a row. Right. So our equipment has to last. Right. So, you know, that’s that’s kind of in our DNA. But now we need to be more in digitization. Right. What the what does that mean? Right. What is I and how does that fit from our customer base and how can we, you know, move in and support our customers in this room? How can we use data and analytics to help our customers eventually be more efficient and profitable? So it’s not just selling our strong German made equipment, but it’s also how can we help our customers business? Right. So that’s where we’re transitioned to as a as an organization on the data side.

[00:29:21] John, I’m curious. I think there’s been such a shift in the industry in general for implementation. Yes. Everybody wants to cool things like robots on the floors and things like that. And they give so much information to the plant managers, the businesses. What are you seeing from like, you know, challenges or successes standpoint there with gathering that data and disseminating it?

[00:29:46] You spoke on a very clearly gathering the data and disseminating. Right. You know, so, you know, what is the platform to do that? Right. Yeah. And so Grimsley, Buzkashi develop the whole platform that fits very neatly into the space because, you know, and we have these larger versions, but maybe they’re too big or too expensive or they don’t quite fit for manufacturing. So Grimsley, Baucau, we developed a whole platform that can be used by like, you know, manufacturing companies because we are a manufacturing company. We know with the you know, we believe retail with, you know, data point.

[00:30:16] You know, the data points are good, right?

[00:30:18] So we want to have that. And we wanted to build a platform that our customers can use to gather his information and actually write their own applications as well. Right. So we have a we have a platform called Seriously, don’t ask me what it means up get we’re contract. But our seriously platform really is this is this is this is this is architecture to gather data. And we have our own applications that we’ve written for the specific industries that we’re in. But we also it is a platform that allows our customers to write their own applications as well. So, you know, bringing that to our customers and ensuring them what it can do and how we can gather data not only from the grunts of book equipment, but from whatever machines or equipment or process steps that they have on the manufacturing floor so they can gather that information and really use it for.

[00:31:04] For business. One of the things that I was so impressed with, the automation fair was the depth of your supplier. Yes. And your partner base. I mean, because there’s one thing I mean, you’re great at doing. You do. But if you align yourself with good partners. Yes. You know, I mean, key people that can provide the resources and knowledge, an area that your customers need, that you don’t need to get off your KBR, you’re you’re focused. Yes. Roll, man. Yeah. That that’s a real. That speaks volumes up.

[00:31:34] I strongly believe in a strong partnership. Ryder media. Nobody can be the expert at everything. Bingara.

[00:31:40] You know, I know I’m not the expert. And if my wife can clearly tell you.

[00:31:47] You know what? Having a strong partner network is what? And looking at what they can bring to the table and not being afraid to bring them in front of your customers. And I think that’s that’s very important. Right. Because your partner never we’re can enhance your overall offerings and can bring things to your customers that you can’t bring. And if you do it, well, all right, then you can overall bring a strong solution to your to your customer base.

[00:32:13] Win-win-win. Yes. It’s about community and the next. That’s magic. OK. So digitization, I would say I have 17 cups of coffee and I still miss that word. That’s front and center, especially for manufacturing, especially for supply chain. You know, all the rage in in in Supply chain, which some people say is dying in the name of circular economy. Right. Round around, around we go. Visibility is so important. Right. And of course, visibility is as a first or second cousin to digitization. What else? So when you think about, you know, global the global manufacturing boom, what else is on your radar?

[00:32:53] You know, not to put too much into politics, the model. I don’t want to dove in that, but distill uncertainty. Right.

[00:33:00] That’s that’s a big thing for us as a global manufacturing company, because we have manufacturing in North America. We have manufacturing Europe. We have manufacturing in China. And, you know, we pray every day for all the thing that’s going on with the Corona virus, Ryder. And so keep all those guys in your prayers. But just understanding, you know, how what are the changes coming from the global community? How does that impact, you know, grens the bucket? How does it impact our customers as well? Right. You know, correct. The trade wars, obviously is very you know, we watched it every day. You know, part of what impact that’s going to have on the on the DVD distort market, not so much as Tharwa, but also the currency. Right. Sure. How does it impact the euro versus the dollar? That’s very much important for me. Right.

[00:33:47] You know, and you know, because we have manufacturing in Germany, in Europe, we have manufacturing for my sister companies there in the understanding because, you know, at this day. Right. You know, for grins, a box. Right. There is not one project that we sell that is manufactured in one location. Each location plays a part to manufacturer to support our customer base. Right. And so the changing dynamics of bringing equipment in from China or from Germany and how that impacts the U.S. customer is very important. Right.

[00:34:18] And people understanding about the Corona virus. I mean, I’ve talked to several of our GM members that are international in scope. And we get a lot of folks that are just GM, Georgia, but yes, meaning and a lot that are just in U.S. but more more were were were servicing and working with international. Yes. And I’ve been surprised by the feedback that I’ve gotten from some of our our manufacturers that are international. And, you know, with the Corona virus there, they’re like, you know.

[00:34:45] Yeah, out of high. No, I mean, it is very much a pact.

[00:34:48] It as you know, we have you know you know, like I said before, we have quite a bit of equipment is manufactured in China. And our Chinese facility is only working at 15 percent capacity. Right. At a time. That’s having a big impact on our on our global customers. Right. So we just understanding that and understand what the impact of that is. And that’s very important.

[00:35:10] So not to be negative, Nancy. Yeah. In the group are negative net. What happened? But Ford, based on my take. All right. Reading the tea leaves, while we all hope and pray that the virus itself has been contained because there’s been a ton of deaths and other situations, obviously. However, the ripple effect throughout the global manufacturing, the global supply chain community, especially automotive and high tech, is yet to be seen as including as we’re talking about preshow the shipping industry. Yes. Ocean shipping industry has already taken a hit with the trade wars. There was there was an article in The Wall Street Journal this past week to speak up. We saw about town this publishers. But five ocean shipping firms are already preparing profit warnings and over 50 sailings have been canceled since late January. Some ships are leaving the dock 10 percent full so that ships already at a loss, even if they if it stops in the U.S. part hit in Europe, is still, you know, it’ll be lucky to be 35 percent full. And so this this. This ripple effect, this ball of effect is still an apex term. Don’t want to be negative, but will. A month or two down the road, we’ll kind of see what the true impact’s gonna be. Yeah, the lessons we all learn in the process, right? That’s right. So we’ll see. But I want to circle back something you spoke to on a much lighter note. OK. Because global organizations like grens about have to really. In order to execute. They have to really. All these teams and different places that that are in different cultures and they’re geared differently. They’ve got to get past all of that. Yes. To make it happen. Yes. So how does that give us a couple of observations on just how great firms like yours are able to to bake that into the culture?

[00:36:56] Yes. You know, this this is fantastic. Always, you know, laugh at my German colleagues right out to say when you come to the U.S.. Right. You know, and I have to tell my my customers in the U.S. when when our German colleagues tell, you know, that’s the German. No.

[00:37:10] Right. That really means that they’re going to go back and think about it and come back with a solution. But it does need some time. Right. Yeah. So that’s that’s that’s a funny stories. My German calls to laugh about that. Not that I’m saying all Germans allowed, but.

[00:37:24] But for me is really, you know, taking advantage. Right. I understand the differences from the cultural that we have in the. We are international company in my. I’m proud to be responsible for our North American market. But, you know, when our executive leadership team. Right. So when I go over to Germany, that was in Germany, you know, last week in meeting with our with my contact with my counterparts over from Germany. And fortunately, our team from my team from China couldn’t make it because of the virus. But, you know, I think when we sit down together, we all have different perspectives. Right. We have both an American perspective. We have a European perspective. You know, we have now of companies from Belgium, you know, and then we have, you know, our global CEO. Sure. Is not from Germany yet. But, you know, overall, I think just coming from those different perspectives I think is fantastic. Right. And it gives us a sense of that we are a global community and each one of us has a very important voice. You know, I represent North America, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t give my input on something that’s going over in Germany. All right. Or even something that going over in China or vise versa. Right. And I think those those being able to be open and work together and have that open communication is very important. We have for a global organization.

[00:38:40] I would I would I would venture to say that that chair and best practices globally, this is even more beneficial. Yes, exactly. I mean, because if they’re finding things and figuring things out in a unique way in Europe that we’re not using yet. Yes. You know, I mean, that’s that’s a that’s a that’s a strategic advantage for it to mock rather than very important.

[00:38:59] There isn’t any point. Right. Because a lot of times it doesn’t matter where do the technology is coming from. Right. Whether the solution was invented in North America but then utilized in Europe or vise versa, I think is our global footprint, because our customers also, as you know, have see different things.

[00:39:15] Right, for our customer base, which allows us to be creative and find different solutions that then may be able to solve a problem that our customers in North America are having. But they didn’t maybe didn’t really focus on it. We could bring to the table, say, hey, have you thought about this for a while yet? I am having a problem. That’s a fantastic solution. Thank you. All right. So that that collaboration that we have multiple global meetings and not just the executive level, we have global HRR meetings. Right. Really? Yes, we have local technology meetings. Right. We have global operations meetings. Right. So from the top of the organization, all the way down throughout the overall organization, we believe in having a global community come together to give best practices and ideas. Love it. Nice. That’s really helped us as an organization grow.

[00:39:58] So there’s so much more I want to dove into. Next time we’re going to you. How can our audience learn more about grens, about the organization?

[00:40:07] So, you know, obviously the easy spot is is grants a book, W.W. Doug krenzel book dot com. You go to our Web site, you can learn all about the company, all about the different technologies. Your main contact points when you want to buy something. You know, we we also have a local part. Jason Lammers is our local sales guy. So he’s I think you can try harder, probably. But if we track him down to learn more about what grins of Bucky do from the local standpoint, too. Right. Because we not only manufacture for our our customers across the country, but we do a lot of we can do a lot of stuff with our manufacturing facilities right down in Newnan, Georgia, for a local local Georgia supply, its local customers, a local area as well.

[00:40:50] So love that. And for our listeners, the grymes about will have the link in the show notes the episode. But it’s for the sake of folks that can’t spell like myself. G R E in Zeti B AC AJC.com. Yes. Now I know you are very active in the community to gather that. Yeah. Are at the Georgia Manufacturing Summit and in twenty nineteen and in whoopsy there at twenty. Jenny, you also will be at Madox. Yes, is when the largest supply chain trade shows in Western Hemisphere. Yes. You’ve got a team that, if I understood you correctly, that they’ll be speaking at the mutex coming up.

[00:41:24] Yes. Yes. We have two gentlemen who will be doing some speaking presentations at the motors that very much involved with MHR Mature. Hurley Institute. David Swabian. And Brian Kiger. OK, so I encourage you all to come out and listen to what these fine gentlemen have to say. And while they’re giving their you know, given their they’re much more explicit, the supply chain. So I rely very much on their own, their expertise. So they will be very much involved with the show. So I encourage everybody to come to Maurice Lewis, to those guys speak.

[00:41:52] So mutex showed calm and is free to attend 35000 of your friends and neighbors from across the world of global supply chain. OK. So before we wrap up, Laura.

[00:42:07] Yeah. There’s so much there. I know. I kept wanting to jump in UPS. Like I don’t want to cut John off. And then Jason Macumba with a great thing. I said, well, I’m gonna have to just hold my head for a moment. Well, so.

[00:42:20] So what’s one thing in your from your purview? I think about global manufacturing. What’s one thing that jumps off the page? And and it’s really got your attention lately.

[00:42:31] Well, basically, I think you touched on several points there, John. You know, the digitalization, actually. So I’m gonna do a couple of things here real quick, Scott, but also the working together, because the biggest part of what I do is, yes, I have a lot of companies here in the U.S. I work with, but most of those companies are actually having parents overseas. Germany on time, UK, Belgium. You know, you name it. Australia. Singapore. And, you know, I’m very fortunate that I get the opportunity to do that, because not only am I continuing to build that culture side of things, but I think, as you mentioned, key point, it’s how do we continue to build off of each other’s expertise. So when you talk about something like the digitalization platform, which I got that we’re out there, Scott, I’ve had my coffee this morning.

[00:43:18] Don’t ask me to say, what is it worth? Just Sheer or whatever.

[00:43:23] But nevertheless, there is a lot of education that’s going on right now. A lot of it not and not even maybe as much, you know, from a flight perspective. Let me get you there in person. But there’s a lot of information sharing through technology. You see some organizations using things like Google Glass, etc. So they’re disseminating that and they’re doing a lot of discussion and changes dynamically right there on the floor for what is happening, how do they incorporate this? And somebody had a great idea over here. It didn’t fail. So we’re gonna try it out over here. So I think those relationships and interconnectedness is really just it’s driving a lot of the successes, especially as you mentioned, Scott. We’re gonna start seeing that tapering off. People got ahead of the Chinese New Year with orders. But, you know, that only goes so far. So what are we going to do to continue to feed the supply chain, feed our customers and make sure that we’re staying at the forefront of all of this? So they shouldn’t feel hiccups? Yes, we should be the ones that feel. Yeah.

[00:44:23] But then my job is to make sure you don’t you know, you speak to something.

[00:44:29] This notion, the islands of excellence with global firms, you might have one plant that is just blown it out. Worldclass. Yep. But sometimes they don’t always share that information. You know, is this like within the four walls mentality? I’m not saying it’s as prevalent as it used to be, because I think just from my observations, the industry is more transparent and more willing to share. And even 5, 10 years ago, from what I see. So companies certainly within their own footprint are getting better at sharing this best practices. And clearly when you do things like you’re doing, it runs about grids, about when you’re your pool in the global H.R. team, the global operations team, you’re facilitating the sharing so that these plants do that. These teams are great at ABC. And these plants that are great at DMF, they’re sharing and asked where to learning.

[00:45:20] Alex Salaciously Well, and interestingly, too, because I saw Granz a bark, it continues to be recognized for its level of involvement in the community and educating that next generation, which kudos to you guys. I mean, we’ve got to be full on front and center on that. So but the sharing of those people, so if they’re trained over in Germany or in China, sending them over for a year over here to North America and vise versa, I think those programs have really the investment, the time and energy has been reaping a lot of benefits. We’re going to continue to see that really start to gear itself up even more so into 2020.

[00:45:56] Yeah, the comment I didn’t that’s remiss, but not comment on that. Right, because no, Greenspeak was involved. One the one of the companies that really pushed was involved in the apprenticeship program, which is based on the German model. Right. So now high school students start in 10th grade, you know, making a choice. Right. Do you know what they want to start to education? Along with the manufacturing firms, love it. We have three high school kids working for us great right now, but in conjunction with our work with the CDC, in conjunction with our intern, with our insert lodha internship program, where we have our German interns coming over and work for six months to a year working in organization. I think we the next generation, we’re very much involved. So I appreciate that comment.

[00:46:35] Yeah. I’m glad you mentioned that tuchus it a mission.

[00:46:38] Something hit off all my just little things like my back.

[00:46:42] But you know, you guys were well, the founding this organization is in a state of Georgia as they launched the German-American pressure program.

[00:46:49] And that’s that’s been a huge success. So I want what I want to do here just in this moment. So so we’re very. We love our global audience. Right? We’d love that. It’s so neat that podcasting and low barrier to entry, you can really get leadership thoughts out, perspective out and it get picked up wherever. Right, wherever folks are hungry for that. So what I’d like for you to do, John, is throw the gantlet down and challenge wine manufacturers, whether they’re here in the states or if they’re in South America or if they’re in China, wherever they are. But it’s all about educating us and making aware of the next generation, right?

[00:47:27] Yeah. You know, we talked to a bit of, you know, Kim, about my personal experience and where that’s led me right now. And, you know, the different exposure that we need to present to our children. Right. To give them different options is so important in manufacturing. And I’m pretty passionate about this. And, you know, companies and particularly manufacturing companies have so much to give and so much opportunities in, let’s say, that we can give for the next generation if we would open up. So I do challenge every company in the state of Georgia to work with your local communities. And I started German American Chamber or apprenticeship programs. So like what we’ve done here in this area, which is really growing in Atlanta area quite rapidly. So I you know, if you want to have some discussions on what that bought that, you know, look us up and we’ll be happy like I’ve gone around and give gave talks to other companies and stuff. And then talking to them about how we did it and how we’re successful here. And, you know, I really challenged everybody to really open up your doors because you may not see, you know, it’s not always but the short term benefit. We have to think about the next generation. We have to think about manufacturing and what it means in North America. And if we don’t if we don’t present these options to our kids, because if they’re sitting around playing video games all day long, like, you know, we’re not doing anything with their hands. They will they will lose that interest. Right. Yeah. And that is harder to it’s harder to get a one year old.

[00:48:53] I’ll give you a real quick short story about involvement in manufacturing and learning about it. I want to hinder County Elementary School MacDonell measure school. And in the first grade they took us to the Ford factory. I was 7 years old. They walked us around the Ford plant. And I was just fascinated. They’re rolling in steel and rolling out cars and really smart people coming up with amazing solutions to tough problems to produce products. And I was just fascinated. And now as an organization, what we do is we take industry professionals and to be able to do that same thing.

[00:49:36] And if I win the lottery tomorrow, if I was to win a lot and I would have three kids who I promise you, I never would make that consideration.

[00:49:46] But but, you know, that’s been able to impact kids and get them to if you can walk them to a factory, it can have a amazing impact on at least like you said, growing up as a child in that program. When you get a kid to walk through a factory, yes. It changes their perspective of the industry as a whole. We as an industry don’t like manufacturing sex. Yes. If we don’t, at least give them the chance. Now, the pushback that I get. The challenge that I have is, you know, running the organization is it’s it’s absolutely impossible to monetize it because kids don’t have 20 bucks to build a plant door. And if it did, most factories had answers.

[00:50:22] Johns Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:50:25] But but the impact on the industry would be phenomenal down the road. But there’s there’s there’s challenges. One is insurance for manufacturers. They have to let kids in. The other is that the interest is there. There’s really cool stuff going out in Douglasville. They’re doing some stuff with high school seniors. But you have to be a senior to be able to be a part of it. But if you take kids in first or second, third grade and let them see what manufacturing can be. I promise you, the results in 10 years will be amazing in and we get to do that with industry professionals. You’re talking five or 10 years ago talking about the collective and the engagement and an openness factors. Ten years ago when I started driving a plant tours, dude, it was almost impossible. People would say, why do you want to come to a bar? Yes. You know, who are you with? What do you want to come see? And it was horrible. Now that we’ve toured hundreds and hundreds of plants, we’ve talked to Coca-Cola and Caterpillar and Gulfstream and Daniel Defense and Grins Boxx and we’ll get the Sea World Class manufacturing. It’s kind of brought that that barrier down a little bit. They trust us. Now they see that we’re not coming in there to do any bad stuff. But it gives us the opportunity, again, to share best practices and to build that relationship. We could do it professionally, but if we could figure out a way to get the kids in their main goal.

[00:51:40] So, John, throwing the gantlet down to a global audience will respond. No doubt you’ll love what you are doing. And Jason, really appreciate where you’re coming from, because, of course, we’re talking about how kids can benefit and how we’re gonna tackle that awareness gap there. But professionals have in many ways the same type of lack of awareness. And then your tackling that. But here, as we start to wrap up, we want to get the GMH update. You talk about a big anniversary coming up. Right. But what’s the biggest? I don’t want steal your thunder.

[00:52:14] So Thursday, I know this might be going a little late, but if it were the 20th, we’re doing our twelve year anniversary. Really excited about that.

[00:52:21] We’re doing it. It Technical College. There were you know, they’re opening up a brand new advanced manufacturing program. And we’re going to celebrate. Catch your name. It didn’t actually they named it after me, but I did get tagged this year to be in the alumni of the year for Gwinnett Tech. And I’m also a breathalyzer. So we’re gonna we’re gonna help promote that program and all the all the proceeds that come in from the event. We’re starting a GM, a scholarship for Best May to Ally. I’m stoked about the fantastic. Yeah, that’s pretty cool. So so that’s what’s coming up in February and September is our George Manufacturing Summit, September the 15th. Cobb Galleria, we’re expecting to have over a thousand people in attendance. We’ve never had our keynotes out this far in advance. I’m really excited. We have Cindy Imadi, Daniel, the CEO and president of Daniel Defense. They manufacture found that in South Georgia, World-Class Firearms at 300000 square feet. Amazing facility. And so so Cindy Martingale share their story about where they came from, you know, working in the garage. You know, in a closet.

[00:53:22] In a garage to build a, you know, employ hundreds of people. You have 300 people, Dan Solla Jordan. They might get some fine firearms, but so we’ve got that.

[00:53:32] And then we also we’ve never had a keynote outside of the industry. But I’ve partnered up with a guy by the name, a Lieutenant Colonel, Waldo Waldman. Great guy, phenomenal speaker, wingman.

[00:53:45] Yeah, he’s right. That’s exactly. Exactly.

[00:53:48] He’s a Hall of Fame keynote speaker, is executive leadership coach. He’s coached, you know, a lot of folks in the Fortune 100 CEOs I’ve engaged in. Believe it or not, is a coaching relationship. And he is he is making some significant impacts in the direction of GSA. And again, New York Times bestseller, Great Gap. So we’ll he’ll be here. He’ll be our lunchtime keynote. We’ll have educational sessions throughout the day. September 15th, September, talk about George Manufactory Summit and the George Manufacturing Awards. So we are taking nominations. That’s open up. You can get a George Manufacturing Award, WSJ.com. There’s no no charge or anything. Just go in and put in your people. We get four different categories. And again, it’s to highlight and showcase the good people that are doing good work. It’s not about the company.

[00:54:32] It’s not about the product. It’s about the people of manufacturing. So we’re docked about that cash. And no shortage of things that GM made does to support in Australia.

[00:54:43] We’ve got about probably 15 other events on the schedule. Last year we did about we had about thirty five hundred people attend events that we hosted. We hosted 120 events around the state. So we’re pretty, pretty active. So if you wanna go check out some cool manufacturing. Go check it out at Georgia Manufacturing Alliance dot com.

[00:55:00] Okay. So good. You read My Man, which my wife says it’s not tough to do.

[00:55:06] No one knows why you’re Georgia manufacturing alliance dot com.

[00:55:10] You can look up Rismark and see Jason’s information because Jason Lammers information is listed at Georgia manufacturing alliance.

[00:55:15] Okay, so Georgia manufacturing alliance dot com. To learn more about all things Jimmy. Correct? Right. And Laura, tell us about how folks got in touch with you.

[00:55:23] Absolutely. Absolutely. Well, you know, I’m definitely having on LinkedIn, so please reach out to me. I’m always happy to connect and talk and see what I can share for value ads and make connections for you. But outside of LinkedIn, my firm is a h.l b gross kollin. So it’s h.l B G.R. o ss c o l l ionesco dot com. That’s our Web site. You’ll find me on there underneath the M DNS segment as well as through other social media sites, Twitter, Facebook.

[00:55:52] I’m sure there’s others that I’m just jerai everyone.

[00:55:54] I’m old school and I hate to admit it, but yeah. Yeah.

[00:55:59] And then also you will also find me under the joining Mine Manufacturing Alliance dot com because I am very fortunate to be the core Metro Atlanta chapter director for GM. So out of those thirty five hundred events, at least 12 of those are over a mile. Office monthly, we bring in manufacturers, industry leaders and experts to share insights and make great connections for people in the community.

[00:56:22] Love is love it. And of course, all of these your LS or mentioning will be as part of the show. So make it really easy for folks to to learn more and connect after the show. Okay. As much as I want to just add one more hour, I know we have a global business responsibility around this table, so we can’t do that. But to our audience, be sure to check out our events and webinar tabs. Supply Chain Now Radio RT.com for some of our upcoming in-person and virtual events that are coming up with partners around the world. Not only will we be broadcasting live at X, so we’ll probably rubbing elbows with grens, Buck and others. But also we just announced this past week we’re gonna be Supply chain USA 2020 up in Chicago with the great folks at EAFE and Warner’s event. So looking forward to that, I think. I’m not sure they’re going to let Gregg out on the floor. Greg White, who’s my partner in crime by believing me, interviewing a lot of law there. Keynotes right there, kind of after their keynote folks. We can get a sense of who they are as people and leaders and whatnot. So really looking forward to that. Okay. Big thanks to our guests here today. John Fluker, president CEO at grens Bock. You can learn more at grens About.com. Yes. And also linked in. Linked in. Yes, yes. Yes. To our social media entrepreneurs out there, please. No more social. We got seventeen thousand.

[00:57:42] We’re good, at least for a couple weeks, right, Laura? That’s right. That’s right.

[00:57:46] But big thanks. Loved John. Really appreciate. Where you coming from? From a leadership perspective and what you are doing to reinvest into the community and the industry. What a great story. And thanks. We’re also the one the gantlet down and challenging other organizations to do the same. Hi, Flora. I’m sure audience enjoy as much as I did. Jason Maule, CEO, the Georgia manufacturing alliance. Great to have you back. Go ahead. Be back and launch it. Really? Yeah, it really was. Yeah. Laura manages ASCII. Appreciate your firm sponsorship of these conversations and great to have you back in studio as well. To our audience, be sure to check out other upcoming events, replays of our interviews, other resources at Supply Chain Now Radio dot com. And again, you can find us where every podcast from Apple podcast, Spotify, YouTube, wherever you get your podcasts from me. Sure to subscribe. So you’ll miss a thing behalf on behalf of the entire team here. Scott Luton. Wish you a wonderful week ahead. We’ll see you next time. On, you know. Thanks everyone.