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Shop Talk with Jim Mayer

In this episode, the discussion focuses on why manufacturing companies must hire for values, not just skills. Jim explains that culture is deeply individual, and misalignment leads to turnover, disengagement, and lost pride in the work. By hiring people who share the organization’s values, companies can build stronger teams, healthier cultures, and a more positive industry narrative overall.
09 Dec 2025
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09 Dec 2025

The Manufacturing Exchange – Human-Centered Manufacturing: What Surprised Our Visitors Most

In this video, Meaghan and Jim share their candid reactions to touring Fathom’s Wisconsin headquarters, reflecting on the servant leadership, people-first culture, and employee empowerment they witnessed on the shop floor. From autonomy and problem-solving to genuine engagement, clean and inclusive workspaces, and a team energized by strong leadership, their experience highlights why manufacturing needs a renewed focus on humans, not just automation. Their conversation underscores how culture, trust, and values-driven leadership are essential to inspiring the next generation of makers.

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09 Dec 2025

Shop Talk with Jake Hall

In this episode, the conversation shifts to the real backbone behind today’s AI boom: precision manufacturing. While AI gets the spotlight, our guest highlights how chip and wafer production starts on the shop floor, where machine shops build the critical components that make advanced semiconductor equipment possible. It’s a reminder that the path to innovation begins long before the data center.

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16 Dec 2025

Fathom HQ Facility Tour

Get an inside look at our 120,000-square-foot manufacturing facility just outside Milwaukee, WI. Explore the advanced equipment, expert teams, and production flow that power some of the most complex prototype and production programs in the country. See how Fathom delivers precision, speed, and white-glove support under one roof.

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Transcript - Shop Talk with Jim Mayer

Transcript – Shop Talk with Jim Mayer

Start hiring based on alignment of values. You can teach skills, can’t teach values, right? And that’s one thing that I’ve shared with you on your show, Chris, is that realization that culture is very individualistic. There’s no right way to culture.

What is healthy to me may be super unhealthy to Jake or Chris or Megan, and vice versa because we are individualistic in our values. So if we continue to just hire the first warm body that walks in the door, we’re gonna continue to have turnover. We’re not going to have those positive conversations going out into third spaces about the industry and about the work that we’re doing, the pride that comes with it. If we hire better as an industry, hire people that fit us individual as an organization, we’re going to be able to do all the things that the four of us talk about every freaking day.