The Manufacturing Executive

Founder and CEO of Poe Wolf Partners, Renita Wolf, will tell you that exit planning isn’t just a final step before selling your business. It’s something smart owners build toward from the very beginning. She’ll explain why building transferable value and reducing owner dependency are crucial from the start, setting the stage for higher valuations and a smoother sale when the time comes. You’ll hea...

With supply chain disruptions, shifting geopolitical risks and increasing pressure for efficiency, today’s manufacturing leaders face operational challenges that go far beyond simply making parts. In today's conversation, President and CFO of Associated Metal Forming Technologies (AMFT), Todd Smith, explores the opportunities and complexities of weaving multiple specialized legacy brands into a un...

Why do so many continuous improvement and lean initiatives start with excitement, only to stall out or disappear entirely months later? What distinguishes organizations that truly embed these principles into their culture from those that just go through the motions? In today’s episode, COO of Bespoke, Steve Riley, will share his firsthand perspective from decades in manufacturing leadership. Speci...

In this conversation with Gorilla 76 Marketing Director, Peyton Warren, we'll dive deep into five things we believe b2b manufacturers should consider doing to move the needle through marketing in the new year. They are: 1. Events and in-person opportunities 2. Building an audience you own through community development 3. Distribution and reach 4. Streamlined content creation (repurposing and AI ef...

What if every skilled worker in manufacturing suddenly became searchable? In today's episode, Founder and CEO of Laborup, Simba Jonga, shares his perspective on how the manufacturing labor gap might be less about a lack of people, and more about a lack of access to those individuals. He'll talk about why millions of machinists, welders, and technicians remain hidden from traditional job boards, an...

How do you scale a family-owned manufacturing business to $100M in sales without losing the family feel? From building a culture where employees feel seen and valued, to transforming the customer experience, to raising the bar for operational excellence, in this episode, President of Falcon Plastics, Jenn Barlund, shares what it means to focus on both people and profitability. You’ll hear why choo...

What happens when engineers have the space and freedom to actually solve problems their way? And what does that mean for innovation on the factory floor? In today's conversation, Chairman and Chief Innovator of Bravo Team, Josh Tarbutton, will get into the real challenges and rewards of giving engineering teams more agency, why trust matters and how even small changes can have a big impact on your...

Manufacturers often see government as a nuisance. Or, at best, a rescuer in times of trouble. But my guest today, Founder and Principal of TGS Advisory, Terry Szmagala, will argue that we need to instead think about government as a key stakeholder. Specifically, he'll share his perspective on three ways government can play a role in your business: 1) as a regulator 2) as a funder and 3) as a custo...

COO of Frontline.io, Gilad Tzori, has spent years inside of manufacturing organizations, witnessing firsthand how complexity, workforce shifts and rapid technological change have upended traditional service and training models. In today’s conversation, he’ll explain why step-by-step PDFs and classroom lectures are no longer sufficient, and what a new era of immersive training looks like for the ma...

As the manufacturing sector faces both a generational workforce shift and rapid advancements in AI and automation, today’s conversation reveals the “dirty little secret” behind digital manufacturing, and why human-centered thinking remains the heart of successful change. My guest today, CEO of Fathom Digital Manufacturing, Rush LaSelle, will discuss the realities of labor shortages, explain what d...

The workforce crisis in US manufacturing isn’t just a challenge – it’s a national security risk. This is particularly true in casting and forging, where today's guest Mike Kubacki has spent two decades. In our conversation, he explores the urgent need to rebuild America’s industrial base, the reality behind modern manufacturing environments and how innovative programs are connecting hands-on learn...

Any business owner, CEO or President wants to feel confident that the dollars they spend will produce a positive return. But sometimes focusing on ROI too soon forces you to abandon your long-term business strategy in favor of short-term wins. In this conversation, we'll look at how to measure marketing impact in two different business scenarios: 1) for a manufacturer that needs a short-term sales...

As artificial intelligence creeps into so many facets of our personal and professional lives, it's easy to lose sight of when it's actually working in our favor. In this conversation, Co-Founder and President of SCOPE Recruiting, Friddy Hoegener, discusses the use of AI specifically in the context of recruiting for supply chain and manufacturing roles. He'll share insights about where and how AI c...

How do you take a boring product in a declining industry and build a powerhouse business around it, all while refusing outside funding? In this conversation, Chairman and CEO of TerraSlate, Kyle Ewing talks through the gritty and sometimes unconventional principles behind his business model – from demanding prepayments, to mastering cold calls, to holding cash reserves. The result? A playbook for...

Relocating manufacturing operations from Asia to Mexico isn’t just about a change in location. It’s a bold strategy shift for manufacturers seeking greater control and speed. In this conversation, CEO of Tinker Tin, Matt Hannula, will explore everything from cultural differences to quality control to legal hurdles. And he'll share actionable insights for any manufacturing leaders considering the m...

Imagine assembling a complex product with only scattered notes and fading tribal knowledge to guide you. In this conversation, we're talking about manufacturing work instructions. Despite their importance in passing expertise from veterans to new hires, most work instructions are outdated, manual, and hard to keep current – often putting entire production lines at risk. My guest, Founder and Presi...

A widening gap exists between industrial robot deployment in the US and China, even as American manufacturers grapple with rising labor costs and persistent worker shortages. So why does the adoption of domestic manufacturing automation adoption lag behind – especially among small and medium-sized businesses? And what are the real barriers holding them back? In this conversation, Co-Founder and CE...

Today's guest, entrepreneur, speaker, and product leader Radhika Dutt, will challenge a core business belief that many of us have probably held for years – that traditional goal-setting frameworks like OKRs, KPIs, or SMART goals, are the surest path to performance and progress. In fact, she'll argue that focusing so intently on numbers and targets can actually backfire. So what instead then? In th...

Imagine a factory floor where specialized AI agents tackle real manufacturing roles – from inventory planning to quality inspection, each with their own set of tasks and responsibilities. Today, CEO and Co-Founder of First Resonance, Karan Talati, will dig into the practical side of agentic AI: how these intelligent systems are moving beyond theory to fill very specific job functions inside modern...

In today’s conversation, you'll hear from CEO of the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Pete Connolly. Pete has spent over 40 years navigating the manufacturing landscape – from running divisions at a global defense company to leading a statewide organization dedicated to empowering small and midsize manufacturers. He’ll break down what the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) networ...

What separates high-performing engineering teams from the rest? In this conversation, founder of Pipeline Design & Engineering, Aaron Moncur, will talk about the often overlooked drivers of engineering success, from the power of clear communication to the role of psychological safety and trust within teams. He'll explain why technical expertise alone isn’t enough to thrive, and how practical thing...

In today's conversation, Vice President, Asset Lifecycle Management Products and Engineering at IBM, Kendra DeKeyrel, shares how AI is already making a difference on factory floors – from visual inspections that spot defects in real time to smart software that optimizes field service and work orders. But what happens when AI can act autonomously, as an agent, linking workflows and amplifying produ...

In today’s conversation, Vice President of Economic Development for the North Carolina Community College System, John Loyack, will use the success of his home state to illustrate what it takes to become a thriving manufacturing hub today. You’ll hear why the workforce itself must be treated as critical infrastructure – every bit as important as roads or utilities. We'll dig into what’s driving maj...

From a global pandemic to kick off this decade to the tariff rollercoaster of 2025, recent history has created plenty of reasons for American manufacturers to assemble a base of credible, responsive suppliers right here in North America. In today's conversation, Vice President at Advanced Purchasing Dynamics, Mike Wynn, will discuss why purchasing teams – often accustomed to low-cost overseas sour...

In today's episode, senior coach at Lean Enterprise Institute, Mark Reich, dives into a Japanese strategic planning methodology that was born out of Toyota. Known as Hoshin Kanri, this system is focused on building alignment from the executive suite down to the shop floor, and driving meaningful action at every level. In our conversation, we'll discuss the pitfalls that manufacturing organizations...