How Manufacturers Improve

Learn the essential quality tools every manufacturer needs, including control charts, Pareto analysis, and root cause methods. Discover how to distinguish between normal and special cause variation. Do you have team members who need problem-solving and continuous improvement skills?  Click here to learn more about our Professional Yellow Belt Certification.  

Manufacturing leaders who adapt their leadership style see greater team engagement and results. In this episode, Richele Butler, the VP of HR at Japs-Olson Company, shares proven strategies for understanding individual team member preferences, reading non-verbal cues, and creating effective communication approaches. Learn how to focus on what you can control, group similar styles together, and bui...

Manufacturing leaders often struggle with delegation, but mastering this skill is critical for leadership growth and organizational success. In this episode, Jennifer Schwan, Vice President of Operations at CDI Curbs, shares proven strategies for effective delegation. Learn how to identify your "why" for delegating, build trust through alignment rather than process control, and shift your perspect...

Build high-performing HR teams that drive real business impact. In this episode, Kirby Sneen sits down with Dale Fruehauf to explore what HR leaders must focus on to shape successful teams, and how manufacturers should prioritize HR roles. Dale shares his secret to attracting top HR talent, strategies for recognizing and rewarding HR team members, ways to leverage "alumni" for advocacy, and insigh...

What does it take to stay coachable at the highest levels of leadership? In this episode, Steve Murray, Manufacturing Executive, shares powerful lessons on remaining open to feedback, recognizing blind spots, and prioritizing personal growth throughout your career. Whether you're leading a team or aspiring to the next level, you'll gain actionable insights on how coachability can transform your le...

Sustaining 5S is the hardest step—but it's also the most important. In this episode, Gary Olson, Operational Excellence Leader, shares expert insights on why 5S often fails and how manufacturers can create a culture where organization and efficiency become second nature. Learn how leadership commitment, daily habits, and employee engagement can drive long-term success with 5S. Tune in for actionab...

Mistake-proofing is key to reducing defects, improving efficiency, and ensuring quality in manufacturing. In this episode, George Murray, General Manager at Celestica, shares proven strategies for preventing errors, standardizing work, and creating a culture of continuous improvement. Learn how data-driven decision-making, simple mistake-proofing solutions, and team engagement can drive lasting op...

Wondering how to develop a strong manufacturing workforce? In this episode, Mike Franz, Founder & CEO of Shop Floor Coffee, shares Shop Floor Coffee's plans to encourage workforce development as well as actionable strategies for attracting, training, and retaining top talent. Learn how manufacturers can engage the next generation, leverage industry partnerships, and build a sustainable talent pipe...

Process mapping is a powerful tool for improving efficiency in manufacturing. Rebecca Jasper, Supply Chain and Operations Executive, shares how to map workflows, eliminate inefficiencies, and create alignment across teams. Whether you're working to reduce waste, improve lead times, or enhance collaboration, these strategies will help you implement process mapping effectively. Get practical steps t...

Running a successful Kaizen event requires more than just gathering a team—it's about strategic planning, leadership support, and long-term sustainment. In this episode, Kirby Sneen sits down with Robert Dewane, Sr. OpEx Change Agent at Trane Technologies, to uncover the essential elements of impactful Kaizen events. Discover how to secure top-down buy-in, engage the right stakeholders, and implem...

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 workforce, these insigh...

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 implement mistake-p...

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 episode deliver...

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 and retaining top t...

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 common challenges...

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!

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 Alliance member? Request a...

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

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.

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

Gain insights on how to overcome continuous improvement challenges so that you can effectively manage improvements. In this episode, Bob Dummer explores the top 5 challenges CI leaders face, including resistance to change, sustainment, and access to data. Download the Leaders Guide

In this bonus episode, we're sharing a replay of one of your favorites, featuring Eugene Arrington. Learn how to overcome fire fighting, make time for problem-solving, and overcome the tendency to jump to conclusions. Download the Leaders Guide

In this episode, Mathew Yost shares what it takes to sustain Six Sigma improvements for lasting success. He breaks down how metrics, tracking, management support, culture, standard work, and training have helped his team maintain the gains from Six Sigma projects. Gain practical insights and strategies to ensure your process improvements endure. Download the Leaders Guide

In this episode, Sarah Hartung joins Kirby Sneen to explore how lean principles can be effectively applied in the office setting. Discover practical strategies for creating a lean enterprise, streamlining your business systems, and avoiding the pitfalls of sub-optimization.  Download the Leaders Guide

In this episode, we are celebrating three manufacturers for their commitment to developing a culture of continuous improvement and their willingness to share their experiences with their peers. Learn about the biggest accomplishments, lessons learned, and current initiatives of Pallet Service Corporation, Intek Plastics, and LubeTech, all of which are aimed at creating a better future for everyone...