How Manufacturers Improve Podcast

Mar 04 2025 100 ep. 27 mins 11
How Manufacturers Improve Podcast artwork

Welcome to How Manufacturers Improve, a Manufacturers Alliance podcast, where we help everyone who works in manufacturing become a better leader and problem solver so all manufacturers can remain competitive.

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Best in Class One-On-Ones

Mar 04 2025 23 mins  
Want to improve your one-on-one meetings? In this episode, Dan Powley, Senior Production Manager at Intricon Corporation, shares proven strategies for structuring impactful one-on-ones that drive engagement, alignment, and accountability. Learn how to create meaningful conversations, set clear expectations, and ensure follow-through. Whether you lead a small team or a large workfor

Fix Problems, Not Just Symptoms with RCA

Feb 18 2025 20 mins  
Effective Root Cause Analysis (RCA) goes beyond surface-level fixes to drive lasting improvements. In this episode, Helen Swanson, VP of Quality & Engineering at Sportech Inc., shares insights on defining problems, eliminating bias, and using RCA tools like the three-legged 5 Why to prevent recurring issues. Learn how to collect reliable data, engage cross-functional teams, and imp

Marketing's Role in Manufacturing

Feb 04 2025 26 mins  
Learn from Christine Olson, Marketing Manager at Midwest Rubber, as she outlines how manufacturers can integrate marketing to bridge the gap between technical processes and customer relationships. Gain practical strategies to align marketing with operations, utilize customer feedback for continuous improvement, and craft compelling stories that emphasize quality and expertise. This

Shaping Culture, Talent, and Strategy

Jan 21 2025 36 mins  
Gain insights from manufacturing leaders, Steve Zweber, VP of Global Print Manufacturing, Operations & Distribution at Thomson Reuters, and Russ Soukup, President and CEO of Advanced Volumetric Metrics on economic trends, AI, recruiting, and retention. Together, they share their perspectives on economic trends, the evolving role of AI in manufacturing, strategies for recruiting a

Facilitation Skills from One of the Best

Jan 07 2025 19 mins  
Struggling with unproductive meetings that waste time and fail to move your team forward? Learn Facilitation Skills from One of the Best with Bob Dummer, an experienced manufacturing leader. In this episode, Bob shares actionable tips to help you facilitate meetings that drive engagement, encourage participation, and lead to clear decisions and action steps. Learn how to overcome

Top Takeaways of 2024

Dec 17 2024 19 mins  
This week, Kirby Sneen, Jeremy Blake, and Monica Smith share their favorite episodes from the year, biggest lessons learned in 2024, and what you can look forward to from the Manufacturers Alliance in 2025!

How to Speed Up Lean Using Data You Already Have

Dec 10 2024 27 mins  
Vivek Saxena, Founder & CEO of Factory Twin walks you through how his small manufacturing clients are leveraging the data already in their systems to drive process improvement and get better results. Learn why the current way of practicing lean is slow, the barriers to going digital, and how you can speed up the pace of improvement. Visit FactoryTwin Not a Manufacturers Allian

How to Reduce Conflict by Improving Collaboration

Nov 26 2024 30 mins  
Silos, poor listening skills, and even cultural differences can be some of the bigger challenges any leader in manufacturing faces when trying to get everyone on the same page. In this episode, Jody O'Neil shares how to foster a collaborative environment to counter these challenges and reduce potential conflict in the workplace. Download the Leaders Guide

Manufacturing's Outlook

Nov 19 2024 24 mins  
Industry expert Laurie Harbour, partner with Wipfli, delves into the outlook of manufacturing. In this episode, Laurie shares key insights on the current instability in the industry, emerging trends to watch, and the barriers manufacturers must overcome to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.

Removing Variation From Your Process

Nov 12 2024 21 mins  
Matt Evans, Quality Manager at Unimatic Precision Machining, shares practical strategies for removing variation from your processes. Learn about mistake-proofing, leveraging control charts, and creating accurate standards to improve consistency and overall quality. Download the Leaders Guide Not a Manufacturers Alliance member? Request a Demo