Embark on an entrepreneurial journey with Allison Budvarson, COO and Co-Founder of Out of the Box, as she recounts the transformative leap from a humble garage startup to a flourishing contract manufacturing powerhouse. Alongside her husband, Allison has not only pioneered a business model that harmonizes the agility of rapid prototyping with the consistency of production for local OEMs, but also steered her firm to become a trusted ally in the aerospace and defense sectors.
Gain valuable insights into how Out of the Box Manufacturing mastered the art of quick product turnarounds, employed meticulous planning, and adhered to key performance indicators to navigate the demanding tides of industry challenges. Allison also sheds light on the resurgence of reshoring, the pivotal importance of safeguarding intellectual property, and the pressing issue of talent shortages—revealing her unwavering commitment to cultivating a skilled, diverse workforce through local educational partnerships and apprenticeship programs.
Discover the impact that diversity and gender parity can have on an organization, as Allison shares the compelling reasons why these factors are not just ethically commendable but are also critical drivers of innovation and performance. Allison's comments showcases the undeniable business advantages that can be harnessed through gender parity and diversity initiatives, while also highlighting the increasing trend of customers inquiring about these practices within companies.
Filmed on location at APEX 2024.
Like every episode of EMS@C-Level, this one was sponsored by global inspection leader Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Adaptable Automation Specialist Launchpad.build (https://launchpad.build).
You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.