There’s a lot more coming out of Iowa than corn.
Chris heads to Des Moines for a live conversation with four guests who each know Iowa manufacturing a little differently.
Dominique Hain and Cami Schaefer share how Women in Manufacturing Iowa grew to over 900 members in three years. Denny Williams and Denise Hill take it from there, discussing automation, hiring, and just how deep Iowa’s farm roots run through its factories.
The conversation also uncovers some of the products many people may not know are made in Iowa, including Winnebago RVs.
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3 Quick Things from this Episode
- Small fixes can become entire companies. One Iowa manufacturer traces its roots back to a single farm-made gate latch, now running 38 robotic cells and 10 cobots.
- Iowa’s farm culture is becoming its hiring pipeline. Manufacturers are partnering directly with local schools to bring in workers who already know how to run equipment before they ever set foot in a factory.
- Manufacturing’s gender gap in Iowa is closing faster than most people would guess. A three-year-old chapter for women in the industry has already grown past 900 members, with real backing from local employers.
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Tweetable Quotes
- “I love Des Moines because it’s almost like a well-kept secret of Iowa, or of the US.” – Cami Schaefer, Executive Operations Assistant at BrownWinick
- “We launched our chapter only three years ago, and we’re already over 900 members strong, which is absolutely incredible.” – Dominique Hain, Industry Account Manager at Rockwell Automation
- “With that strong work ethic and farming background, we like to hire young farm kids who know how to work on equipment. They’re not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty.” – Denise Hill, Senior Human Resources Manager at Weiler
Please Scroll Down for Recommended Resources from this Episode
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What We Discuss with Dominique, Cami, Denny, and Denise
- What makes a state better known for agriculture become one of the country’s stronger manufacturing bases
- How Iowa’s farming communities are shaping who gets hired at companies like Weiler
- Which surprising products are actually made in Iowa, from butter braids to basketball hoops
- Why so many Iowa manufacturers trace back to a farmer solving a problem for himself, then his neighbors
- How Co-Line is using robots and cobots to boost throughput without cutting its workforce
- Why finding qualified operators is harder than finding corn in rural Iowa
Recommended Resources
- Fathom Digital Manufacturing, offering more than 25 advanced manufacturing technologies under one roof, from CNC machining to injection molding.
- PTC’s Industrial Newsletter, a quick hit of clarity on how design, manufacturing, and service data can work together for manufacturing leaders looking to modernize.
Connect with Dominique Hain │ Denise Hill │ Cami Schaefer │ Denny Williams
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