EMS@C-LEVEL
As Forbes, Entrepreneur, Fast Company and SCOOP writer, Philip Stoten, continues to talk to EMS (Electronic Manufacturing Services) executives he learns more about their individual and collective experiences and their expectations for their own businesses and for the entire electronic manufacturing industry.
EMS@C-LEVEL
How Matric Group is Reimagining US Manufacturing for Tomorrow's Challenges with Patrick Stimpert
Manufacturing excellence demands continuous adaptation, a truth Patrick Stimpert from Matrix Limited embodies as he shares his company's remarkable journey during our conversation at APEX 2025.
Following a standout year, Matric has expanded their manufacturing footprint by 30%, completely resetting their converted school building facility with a strategic horseshoe workflow design. What makes this transformation special isn't just the physical changes, but the cultural buy-in that's emerged. "I'm not having to do it all," Patrick notes with satisfaction, highlighting how team members now drive improvement rather than simply following directives.
Facing today's manufacturing talent shortage head-on, Matric has pioneered a two-track approach: funding higher education for professionals while creating internal pathways for young people seeking alternatives to college debt. "The younger generation just wants to learn," Patrick observes, describing how they've built career development ladders that allow employees to advance as far as their ambition takes them. This forward-thinking approach not only solves immediate staffing needs but cultivates future leaders and innovators.
Despite economic uncertainty and potential tariff complications, Patrick delivers a powerful message for manufacturers: "Doing nothing is worse than doing something." He advocates for proactive planning and decisive action rather than paralysis in the face of change. When asked about AI's role in manufacturing, his answer is practical rather than theoretical – purchasing automation represents the most promising application, potentially eliminating the repetitive "digging ditches" work that occupies buyers across the industry.
EMS@C-Level Live at APEX is sponsored by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Creative Electron (https://creativeelectron.com)
EMS@C-Level is sponsored by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Creative Electron (https://creativeelectron.com)
You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.