How Manufacturers Improve

In this episode, Nathan Hole, Continuous Improvement Leader, reveals why manufacturers keep solving the wrong problems, and the mindset shifts that lead to root causes that actually stick. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and...

In this episode, Kirby Sneen & Monica Smith break down why managers avoid addressing bad behavior and the practical steps to act faster, stay consistent, and protect team culture. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statew...

In this episode, Pete Wolf, President of Robinson Rubber Products, breaks down the leadership habits manufacturing leaders must master to stay focused, build culture, and drive consistent results. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pric...

In this episode, Steve Chismar and Zach Upgren of North Risk Partners break down the insurance claims that cost manufacturers the most, and the practical steps to prevent them before they strike. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member prici...

In this episode, manufacturing executive Rodd Joos breaks down how to prioritize the right projects, manage scope, build stronger teams, and use Scrum and Fibonacci sequencing to deliver faster. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricin...

In this episode, Curt Gosser, Director of Operations at Farmers Union Industries, shares how manufacturers can stop losing tribal knowledge and build systems that keep critical process knowledge in the plant. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses,...

In this episode, Angie Wittke, CEO of BlueNet, shares AI security essentials for manufacturers, reveals why automating chaos fails, and explains the foundation-first approach to implementation. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing...

In this episode, Kirby Sneen and Gabii Stehli break down how manufacturing leaders can use recognition, not just compensation, to retain top talent and build a high-performing team culture. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, an...

In this episode, General Manager Josh Erickson breaks down how metrics, language, and incentives silently create silos and the practical moves manufacturing leaders can make to fix them. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a...

In this episode, Heather Stewart, President and CEO of APG Solutions, shares how manufacturers can break down silos by replacing protectionism with curiosity and tying metrics to organizational North Star goals. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital cours...

In this episode, Scott Connor, Senior Manufacturing Engineer at Emerson, breaks down how to run successful Kaizen events, from the weeks of prep work required to maintaining momentum and securing leadership buy-in that drives results. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar...

In this episode, Eugene Arrington, Senior Lean Leader at Starkey Hearing, breaks down how to conduct waste walks that deliver real results, from team selection to systematic observation to action planning with accountability. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library,...

In this episode, operations executive Bart Hoemann reveals his proven strategies for conducting one-on-ones that build trust, drive performance, and develop manufacturing leaders at every level. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricin...

In this episode, Chase McCown, Managing Director of Heartland Partners, and Monica Hamling, VP of HR at Nortek Systems, discuss how manufacturers can strategically manage stress, cultivate a strong culture, and leverage AI. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, d...

In this episode, Kirby Sneen talks with Monica Smith, Member Services Manager at Manufacturers Alliance, about making training a habit and what manufacturing leaders can expect in 2026. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a...

In this episode, Katherine Syverson, former EHS Director, reveals how supervisors can lead safety success through proactive metrics, cross-department observations, and tools that make safety sustainable. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, memb...

In this episode, Jeff Weber, Director of Continuous Improvement and Quality at Graco, reveals how to build accountability without micromanaging, from better meetings to coaching through missed deadlines. 

In this episode, Ashlie Weller, HR Manager at InsurTech , shares how to address difficult behaviors immediately, document incidents effectively, and avoid taking toxic behavior personally on the manufacturing floor. Connect with other HR leaders facing similar challenges and opportunities. Click here to learn more and join the HR Peer Group to share strategies, solve real-world issues, and strengt...

Learn how to improve plant layouts without disrupting production. Discover proven methods for flow optimization, bottleneck identification, and team-driven layout planning that keep customers happy.   Help your team learn and implement Lean the right way with our Lean Practitioner Certification. Click here to learn more and enroll today.

In this episode, Mike Sosnoski from Wilson Tool and Andrew Craig from Prima Power share how they built crisis-resilient manufacturing operations and scaled efficiently through strategic continuous improvement.

In this episode, Shuang Shi, Senior Manager of Supplier Quality Engineering, reveals the biggest Six Sigma mistakes that cause project failures and shares proven strategies for success. Turn your best problem solvers into data-driven improvement leaders.  Learn more about our Six Sigma Green Belt Certification.

Learn how to teach manufacturing teams to identify the 8 forms of waste. Discover why culture beats training and practical tools for waste walks that drive real, continuous improvement results. Manufacturing leaders don't have to figure it out alone. Become a member of Manufacturers Alliance and tap into workshops, tools, and a network of peers who are ready to share what works.  

Learn how manufacturing leaders balance ambitious goals with limited resources without burning out their teams. Discover prioritization strategies and resource management techniques. Transform your top performers into confident, capable supervisors. Master the skills that drive team performance with our Supervision Fundamentals Certification.

Discover how manufacturers are solving the lean training gap for Spanish-speaking teams. Learn why authentic, practitioner-led courses outperform scripted content in developing real problem solvers. Turn your best problem solvers into confident improvement leaders. Learn more about our Lean Practitioner Certification.  

Learn the 8-step roadmap that helped cut costs in half and achieve operational excellence. Discover how to create purpose-driven teams, implement tier meetings, and engage frontline problem solvers. Do you have team members ready to lead improvement projects with data-driven precision? Click here to learn more about our Six Sigma Green Belt