Podcast: 'Everybody in the Building Gives a Darn' - Modern Distribution Management

Log In

Podcast: ‘Everybody in the Building Gives a Darn’

Manufacturing Revival Radio speaks with Jim Hennen of the Braas Company.
manufacturing-revival-radio
Author
Date

\"DreamlandManufacturing Revival Radio is a Dreamland Radio production with hosts Todd Schnick and Todd Youngblood. On this show, we feature the companies, the leaders, the innovators leading the charge and driving the innovation. Through the blood, sweat, and tears of working men and women from here at home, to around the world. Learn more at Manufacturing Revival Radio.

Because the Braas Company is an ESOP – a company owned by its employees – "everybody in the building just gives a darn," according to Jim Hennen, vice president of sales for the Eden Prairie, MN-based distributor of automation components.

That’s just one of the many comments made by Hennen in this episode of Manufacturing Revival Radio that stuck in our heads. Of course, it makes an attitudinal difference when company growth and success is directly tied to the value of your retirement plan.

Another big differentiator is the Braas business model. They have made big, long term investments in developing and maintaining technical expertise. Whether application engineering, robotics, vision, 3D vision or high-end motion control, Braas customers can depend on Braas employees to know more than they do.

That depth of expertise is vital in many situations. Hennen describes how difficult it is, for example, for a medical device manufacturer to get FDA approval for a design change. If even a single component becomes unavailable, sales of that device come to a screeching halt. That manufacturer needs to have LOT of confidence in the tech skills of its supplier.

Our discussion of “the next big disruptive technology” was also fascinating. Collaborative robots can work in and among human beings with little or no safeguarding. They can take over boring, repetitive, dangerous, carpal tunnel producing tasks and enable the people to apply their higher value talents.

Break even for an investment in collaborative robots? Less than a year, maybe as little as three months. Yeah, I’d call that disruptive!

And there’s more.

Click on the play button above to listen to the interview, or download the audio file at Manufacturing Revival Radio.

Share this article

About the Author
Recommended Reading
Leave a Reply

Leave a Comment

Sign Up for the MDM Update Newsletter

The MDM update newsletter is your best source for news and trends in the wholesale distribution industry.

Get the MDM Update Newsletter

Wholesale distribution news and trends delivered right to your inbox.

Sign-up for our free newsletter and get:

  • Up-to-date news in a quick-to-read format
  • Free access to webcasts, podcasts and live events
  • Exclusive whitepapers, research and reports
  • And more!

2

articles left

Want more Premium content from MDM?

Subscribe today and get:

  • New issues twice each month
  • Unlimited access to mdm.com, including 10+ years of archived data
  • Current trends analysis, market data and economic updates
  • Discounts on select store products and events

Subscribe to continue reading

MDM Premium Subscribers get:

  • Unlimited access to MDM.com
  • 1 year digital subscription, with new issues twice a month
  • Trends analysis, market data and quarterly economic updates
  • Deals on select store products and events

1

article
left

You have one free article remaining

Subscribe to MDM Premium to get unlimited access. Your subscription includes:

  • Two new issues a month
  • Access to 10+ years of archived data on mdm.com
  • Quarterly economic updates, trends analysis and market data
  • Store and event discounts

To continue reading, you must be an MDM Premium subscriber.

Join other distribution executives who use MDM Premium to optimize their business. Our insights and analysis help you enter the right new markets, turbocharge your sales and marketing efforts, identify business partners that help you scale, and stay ahead of your competitors.

Register for full access

By providing your email, you agree to receive announcements from us and our partners for our newsletter, events, surveys, and partner resources per MDM Terms & Conditions. You can withdraw consent at any time.

Learn More about Custom Reports

Request a Market Prospector Demo

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.