EP 15: Building the Next American Century

EP 15: Building the Next American Century

Advanced manufacturing is about more than technology—it's about the policies, workforce, and investments that determine whether innovation succeeds. In this episode, Congressman Dusty Johnson joins us to discuss what it will take for America to remain globally competitive. From protecting intellectual property and strengthening the defense industrial base to embracing AI, developing the manufacturing workforce, and fostering entrepreneurship, this conversation explores how policy and innovation intersect to shape the future of American manufacturing. You'll hear why China is driving a renewed focus on domestic manufacturing, why AI should be viewed as an opportunity rather than a threat, how startups and small manufacturers fuel long-term innovation, and what South Dakota can teach the rest of the country about building the next generation of manufacturing companies. Whether you're leading a manufacturing business, developing new technology, or simply interested in the future of American industry, this episode offers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities ahead. In this episode, you'll learn: * How manufacturing has become a critical component of national competitiveness. * Why AI is more likely to create opportunity than eliminate it. * The importance of protecting intellectual property and strengthening cybersecurity. * How workforce development must evolve for the next generation of manufacturing. * Why entrepreneurship and small manufacturers play a vital role in innovation. * What policymakers, manufacturers, and technology leaders can do to help build America's industrial future. Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of advanced manufacturing. About the Show The Additive Advantage Podcast [https://additiveadvantagepodcast.com/] explores what it really takes to turn additive manufacturing into a scalable, performance-driven business capability. Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, the show features real conversations with leaders accountable for outcomes — not hype. Follow & Subscribe Follow The Additive Advantage Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, watch full episodes on YouTube, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on new episodes and insights. Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-additive-advantage-podcast/id1868835205] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4isrlYkytygWM4Zq86RgoQ] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@AdditiveAdvantage] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/additive-advantage] About the Hosts Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, industry leaders with deep experience in technology and additive manufacturing.

EP 14: Beyond the 3D Print: Why Manufacturing Judgment Matters

Most conversations about additive manufacturing focus on the printer. Patrick Dobbs believes that's the wrong place to start. In this episode, we sit down with master jeweler, CAD designer, entrepreneur, and manufacturing innovator Patrick Dobbs to discuss why manufacturing judgment—not technology—is often the biggest differentiator between success and failure. Drawing on decades of experience in jewelry manufacturing, digital design, rapid prototyping, and production optimization, Patrick shares practical lessons that apply far beyond the jewelry industry. We explore how manufacturers can use additive manufacturing to improve workflows, create custom production tools, accelerate learning, and drive meaningful business outcomes. Along the way, Patrick challenges common assumptions about automation, AI, and additive manufacturing, arguing that understanding how a product is assembled, finished, inspected, and produced at scale remains a uniquely human skill. About the Show The Additive Advantage Podcast [https://additiveadvantagepodcast.com/] explores what it really takes to turn additive manufacturing into a scalable, performance-driven business capability. Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, the show features real conversations with leaders accountable for outcomes — not hype. Follow & Subscribe Follow The Additive Advantage Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, watch full episodes on YouTube, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on new episodes and insights. Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-additive-advantage-podcast/id1868835205] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4isrlYkytygWM4Zq86RgoQ] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@AdditiveAdvantage] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/additive-advantage] About the Hosts Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, industry leaders with deep experience in technology and additive manufacturing.

EP 13: Why the Best Additive Strategies Start with "Why"

What separates successful additive manufacturing programs from expensive experiments? According to John Kawola, it starts with a simple question: Why? In this episode of The Additive Advantage Podcast, Shon Anderson sits down with John Kawola, CEO of Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF), to discuss nearly three decades of lessons learned from the evolution of additive manufacturing. From his early days at Z Corp to leadership roles at Ultimaker and BMF, John has witnessed the industry's transformation from rapid prototyping to production-ready manufacturing. The conversation explores why the most successful additive initiatives begin with a clearly defined business problem, how companies can avoid common adoption pitfalls, and what it really takes to move from promising pilot projects to repeatable production outcomes. John also shares his perspective on industry consolidation, the changing dynamics between OEMs and distribution channels, the growing importance of application engineering, and why expertise often matters more than equipment. Whether you're evaluating additive manufacturing for the first time or looking to scale an existing program, this episode offers practical insights into technology selection, materials, quality systems, workforce development, and the organizational discipline required to turn additive manufacturing into measurable business value. About the Show The Additive Advantage Podcast [https://additiveadvantagepodcast.com/] explores what it really takes to turn additive manufacturing into a scalable, performance-driven business capability. Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, the show features real conversations with leaders accountable for outcomes — not hype. Follow & Subscribe Follow The Additive Advantage Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, watch full episodes on YouTube, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on new episodes and insights. Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-additive-advantage-podcast/id1868835205] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4isrlYkytygWM4Zq86RgoQ] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@AdditiveAdvantage] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/additive-advantage] About the Hosts Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, industry leaders with deep experience in technology and additive manufacturing.

EP 12: Pilot Purgatory — What It Really Takes to Scale Additive

Manufacturing leaders everywhere are trying to move additive manufacturing beyond prototypes and pilot programs — but scaling additive successfully takes far more than buying another 3D printer. In this episode of The Additive Advantage Podcast, we sit down with Adam Simons, Head of Sales & Applications for North America at ATLIX (formerly TRUMPF Additive Manufacturing), to unpack what actually separates scalable additive programs from “pilot purgatory.” Adam shares practical insights from the front lines of metal additive manufacturing, including why repeatability matters more than printing one impressive part, how post-processing and machining impact real-world economics, and why workforce readiness and operational discipline are becoming the true differentiators in additive success. The conversation explores how manufacturers should evaluate additive opportunities through a business lens first — focusing on measurable outcomes, scalability, and long-term operational impact rather than simply asking whether a part can be printed. Adam also discusses the growing maturity of laser powder bed fusion technology, how organizations can avoid common implementation pitfalls, and what executives should realistically expect when investing in additive manufacturing capabilities. If you’re responsible for manufacturing strategy, operations, engineering, or innovation, this episode offers a grounded and practical look at what it actually takes to industrialize additive manufacturing and turn it into a sustainable competitive advantage. About the Show The Additive Advantage Podcast [https://additiveadvantagepodcast.com/] explores what it really takes to turn additive manufacturing into a scalable, performance-driven business capability. Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, the show features real conversations with leaders accountable for outcomes — not hype. Follow & Subscribe Follow The Additive Advantage Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, watch full episodes on YouTube, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on new episodes and insights. Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-additive-advantage-podcast/id1868835205] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4isrlYkytygWM4Zq86RgoQ] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@AdditiveAdvantage] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/additive-advantage] About the Hosts Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, industry leaders with deep experience in technology and additive manufacturing.

EP 11: From Islands to Outcomes: Making Additive Work at Scale

In this episode of The Additive Advantage Podcast, Shon Anderson sits down with Andre Wegner, CEO of Authentise, for a wide-ranging conversation on workflow orchestration, contextual data, AI, and the future of scalable additive manufacturing. Andre shares how Authentise evolved from focusing on IP protection and distributed manufacturing into building systems designed to connect the entire additive workflow — eliminating the “island approach” that continues to limit scalability across the industry. Together, Shon and Andre explore why disconnected machines, software, and data systems create unnecessary friction and why the future of manufacturing depends on continuity across design, engineering, production, and quality. The conversation dives into agile factories, reverse engineering at scale, automation in aerospace and defense, and the growing importance of capturing the “why” behind engineering decisions. Andre also explains why context will become critical for AI-enabled manufacturing systems and why manufacturers need strategic partners instead of simply searching for the next machine. Along the way, the two discuss lessons learned from building companies in additive manufacturing, why curiosity may become one of the most important workforce skills of the future, and how manufacturers can begin thinking differently about additive as a strategic capability rather than a standalone tool. If you’re interested in where additive manufacturing, automation, AI, and digital workflows are heading next, this episode delivers an honest and forward-looking conversation from two leaders deeply involved in building that future. About the Show The Additive Advantage Podcast [https://additiveadvantagepodcast.com/] explores what it really takes to turn additive manufacturing into a scalable, performance-driven business capability. Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, the show features real conversations with leaders accountable for outcomes — not hype. Follow & Subscribe Follow The Additive Advantage Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, watch full episodes on YouTube, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on new episodes and insights. Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-additive-advantage-podcast/id1868835205] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4isrlYkytygWM4Zq86RgoQ] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@AdditiveAdvantage] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/additive-advantage] About the Hosts Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, industry leaders with deep experience in technology and additive manufacturing.