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Jeremy Bout Edge Factor Interview

Jeremy Bout Edge FactorShop Floor Automations interviews Jeremy Bout of Edge Factor

Everyone these days has NetFlix, YouTube or Hulu. These platforms provide entertainment, educational programs, “how to” videos, reality programming, and documentaries.

Because of the influence of these platforms, the idea came about to make one for the manufacturing industry. Let’s talk about Edge Factor.

The introduction video to Edge Factor is a great window into what they do. It starts with the point of view of the parent, the educator and the employer.

Manufacturing jobs prove to be the perfect middle ground for the frustrated parent who paid for a child’s education who does not have a job in that career field. It also funnels skilled workers to the employer, while the educator can get the resources they need to teach in this realm.

Edge Factor Edge Factor founder Jeremy Bout was a typical high school graduate with no decisions about his future. When he first experimented with manufacturing via a five-axis machine, he said the experience changed his life.

The first part Jeremy ever built with a machine set him on a path that would change his life and the lives of others. For Disney, it was all started by a mouse – for Jeremy, it all started with an end mill.

“A standard, four flute end mill which looks so simple really became a catalyst for just recognizing that everything is made in using that one tool,” Jeremy says.

“The diversity of things that an end mill can create is shocking and astounding, so for me, the end mill was a gateway to a much, much bigger journey in life.”

Read more after the page break below! 

The goal is to attract young people to all the possibilities that manufacturing provides. Their library has over 40 films with a deep library of accompanying videos and interactive resources available.

This platform can be broken down into three parts. First, EduFACTOR is an educational platform for career pathways, technology and for teachers to talk to students and parents.

Next, Edge Factor Live has over 700 live events covered so far with manufacturing resources. Finally, the EF Agency takes a regional approach with organizations, communities and economic development groups for local manufacturing industries.

Neil Peart RUSHOther than a reality TV-themed program called “Reality Redesigned,” there is also a documentary called “Masters of Resonance” coming soon. 

“If I had to kind of pick that catalyst moment, definitely it had to be with Neil Peart, the drummer of RUSH,” Jeremy said. “His statement was a pretty major one for me, because…after the statement and processing what he said, I realized it was [instead] a film that needed to be completed.”

“What Neil said to me was ‘What could be more transcendent than a musical instrument?’ Really what that meant was that an instrument in the hand of an artist will yield a melody that’s going to become part of the DNA of the listener.”

Anderson CooperJeremy has a wish list of people and places to get publicity from. Anderson Cooper of CNN is one of them! 

“We love storytelling and I guess the attraction to Anderson Cooper for me is because he is often in the thick of a story, and I love that as a storyteller,” Jeremy explained.

“He also deals with some difficult topics, too. It’s not that I like to be serious because I’m pretty light-hearted, but I like that desire to get in the middle of a good story and also deal with tough issues.”

How does Jeremy feel about the changing landscape of the Made in America movement? He says while he has not directly seen the results of the new administration’s policies, we should be preparing for it.

“There is an understanding that if we already had a problem before…then we fully get the fact that the policies in place will make it more difficult for people to work out of the country,” Jeremy explains.

“We are going to be in some significant situations where we’re challenged…If you bring in a lot more of the work back onto American soil, the problem is just going to get deeper.”

Jeremy is confident that if educators and parents use Edge Factor as a tool to reach the new workforce, it will make a significant difference. “If you weren’t already engaged with getting the next generation or the next pipeline of workers coming into your plant, you better be focused on it now.”

Visit Edge Factor’s main site at EdgeFactor.com, as well as to find them on Twitter at @EdgeFactorShow.
The Facebook page for their film “Masters of Resonance” is https://www.facebook.com/MastersofRez/.

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