Factory Futures

Summary This was such a good episode. I sat down with Odell Lavigne to talk about leadership in some of the toughest environments imaginable, and this conversation was packed with practical lessons, strong opinions, and real-world experience. Odell shares lessons from leading through fires, explosions, Covid, layoffs, and toxic workplace cultures. We discuss why he believes a leader's number o...

Links The book : https://gerardwood.com.au/product/only-tradies-improve-reliability/ Gerard's profile : https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerard-wood-146a3212/ Summary In this episode, I sat down with Gerard Wood, author of Only Tradies Improve Reliability , for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had on the podcast about maintenance culture, leadership, and what really drives reliability out...

Summary In this episode, I sit down with Edwin Rodriguez who shares insights on equipment reliability, the impact of organizational culture, and the critical relationship between sales, service, and operations in manufacturing. Discover practical strategies to reduce downtime, foster ownership, and improve communication across teams. Links Edwin's Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwin-r...

Summary In this episode, I sat down with Jim Wilson, Maintenance Manager at Hiland Dairy Foods, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and Industrial Electrical Instructor, to talk about what reliability really means inside a modern manufacturing site. We started by reframing reliability as a risk reduction function, not just maintenance. Jim shared why unplanned downtime isn’t just about repair costs, but ab...

Summary In this episode, I sat down with Loïc Estier to talk about a problem almost every factory has, but rarely talks about properly. We explored how so much of the knowledge needed to run a plant at its best is locked in people’s heads, and what happens when that knowledge isn’t available at the moment you need it. Loïc shared some great stories that really bring this to life, and we dug into w...

Follow Shane: Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-scriven/ Website : https://www.sas-am.com/ Summary: AI is everywhere right now, but what does it actually look like on the factory floor? In this episode, we unpack three practical areas shaping the next wave of AI in manufacturing. We explore how AI-powered benchmarking can help sites truly understand performance, where low-cost AI can de...

In this episode, JP sits down with Marcelo Fariello, Plant Manager at Mars, to explore a powerful idea: reliability isn’t just a maintenance function — it’s a leadership system. Marcelo shares lessons from his journey across digital transformation, operational excellence, and plant leadership, including his time at Danone and now leading a major Mars site in Australia. They unpack why many reliabi...

Episode Summary In this episode of our predictive maintenance series, we take a step back and tackle something many sites skip: defining the problem before jumping into PdM . Before selecting assets, installing sensors, or launching a pilot, maintenance and reliability teams need to be clear on what they’re actually trying to improve . Is the goal to reduce reactive work? Extend inspection interva...

Laith's Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/laithalfaqih/ Connect with Stantec : https://www.stantec.com/en Summary Many organisations invest in asset management programs, new systems, and predictive tools, yet reliability performance often doesn’t improve as expected. Why? In this episode, JP sits down with Laith Alfaqih , Senior Principal and Asset Management Lead at Stantec, to explore organ...

Links Simon's Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/yourmaintenancecoach/ Simon's Website : https://yourmaintenancecoach.com/ Last Year's Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1u6P5ulYwL5Si7VEdLggRj?si=OEk27vxMSaCWXAtwO882jA Summary In this episode, Simon Murray revisits the evolving trends in maintenance and reliability for 2025, sharing insights from recent conferences, communit...

Summary In this first episode of the predictive maintenance series, JP and Tim break PdM down to what actually matters. No theory, no buzzwords, just a clear explanation of what predictive maintenance is, how it works on a real manufacturing site, and why so many people struggle to make sense of it. They start by looking at why predictive maintenance exists in the first place, and where traditiona...

Connect with John on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsewellreliability/ Reach out to John's business : https://jsinsightconsulting.com/ Summary In this episode, I sit down with John Sewell, maintenance strategy consultant and reliability thinker, to unpack why reliability decisions are often harder than they need to be. We talk about why teams so often work on the wrong problems, ho...

Summary In this episode, I introduce Season Three of the Factory Futures podcast, emphasizing a new structured approach to discussing reliability and operations in manufacturing. The season will feature more episodes, a mix of interviews and focused mini-series, and aims to provide practical insights into predictive maintenance and other relevant topics. Listener engagement is encouraged, with a c...

Speak with Cohesive: https://www.cohesivesolutions.com/ Connect with Rob : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-mora-bd/ Attend Maximo Live : https://theeventgap.eventsair.com/maximo-live/ Summary In this conversation, Rob Mora, head of global sales for Cohesive, discusses the critical aspects of asset management and reliability engineering. He emphasizes the importance of transitioning from reactive t...

Get Evan's free tools : https://www.evanpowell.com.au/ Connect with him : https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanpowell90/ Summary In this episode, Evan Powell shares his expertise on spares management, discussing the common challenges faced by reliability and maintenance teams. He talks about the importance of understanding the problem with spares, taking control through a structured framework, and...

Show Links: Julien's Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/julien-maffre-74ba9023/ Amsyst : https://amsyst.com/ Summary In this conversation, we sit down with Julien Maffre to talk through the intricacies of asset management, exploring the importance of a structured approach to asset-centric strategies. We discuss the significance of master data, risk assessment, and the role of AI in enhanci...

📌 Connect with Damien and his team at : https://oepartners.com.au/ 📌 Connect with Damien on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceydamien Summary In this episode, Damian Lacey shares his journey from engineering to consulting, emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement in manufacturing. He discusses his experiences at Toyota, highlights case studies demonstrating efficiency improv...

Summary In this episode, Jean-Philippe Picard interviews Pat Wright, an experienced operations leader with over 20 years in manufacturing. They discuss the importance of continuous improvement, the tools and methodologies involved, and how to engage teams effectively. Pat shares insights on leadership, safety, and the challenges of adopting new technologies in manufacturing. The conversation empha...

Show notes  Get the checklist Jeff mentioned : https://info.peopleandprocesses.com/planning-checklist-podcast Follow Jeff on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffshiver/ Summary In this conversation, Jeff Shiver shares his extensive experience in maintenance and reliability, discussing common mistakes organisations make, effective strategies for improvement, and the importance of planning an...

Summary In this episode, Simon Murray, a maintenance coach, discusses the three stages of maintenance and reliability, the common challenges faced by organisations, and the importance of leadership investment in reliability. He introduces his training programs designed to help organisations improve their maintenance practices and shares insights on common pitfalls in maintenance management. The co...

In this episode of the Factory Futures Podcast, I am joined by Rafe Britton to dive deep into the critical role of lubrication in industrial operations, with a special focus on the food and beverage industry. We discuss the common challenges faced in lubrication practices, the importance of condition monitoring, and emerging innovations in lubrication technology. Rafe shares insights into the freq...

Summary In this conversation, I speak with Cory Pritchard, the MD of Predict Australia. Together, we discuss the critical themes of reliability and data in the mining industry. We explore the economics of reliability, the importance of predictive maintenance, and the ongoing data revolution in mining maintenance. Cory shares insights on how existing data can be leveraged to improve operational eff...

In this episode, we had an insightful conversation with Erik Hupje, founder of Reliability Academy and a widely respected voice in the maintenance and reliability field. With over 50K followers on LinkedIn, Erik is known for consistently sharing high-value content with the industry. The episode is divided into four key parts: Introduction 00:00 - 05:36 : Erik’s background and an introduction to th...

Intro & Summary Welcome to our latest podcast episode featuring Tuulia Ijas. At the time of recording this podcast, Tuulia is between roles, having most recently been in Reliability and Maintenance Manager @ Asahi Beverages. In the episode, Tuulia Ijas shares her journey from production to maintenance and the importance of understanding the customer's needs. She emphasises the need for a h...

In this week's podcast episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Filip Kramer, who has an impressive background in reliability and technical roles. Filip has worked with several large companies across Europe and Australia and spent six years at Amazon. At the time of recording, he was a Senior Technical Program Manager at Amazon, and he has since transitioned to a Technical Manager role at...