Manufacturers Make Strides

Micro manufacturing businesses operate in a constant balance between flexibility, quality, cash, and people. In this episode, we sit down with Mike Adkins, President of Performance Results Plus, to explore what it really takes to run a small, highly specialised manufacturing business. Mike shares his journey from mechanical engineering and the military through to leading roles in large organisatio...

Manufacturing design collaboration is at its most powerful long before a drawing hits the shop floor. Yet many teams only discover misalignment when designs arrive in production and the problems start stacking up. In this episode, we sit down with Dianna Deeney , quality and reliability engineer and founder of Deeney Enterprises , to explore how early conversations, simple tools and shared context...

Manufacturing process improvement often focuses on what happens on the shop floor, but what if the constant firefighting in manufacturing is actually caused by issues that begin much earlier in the process? In this episode, we sit down with Samantha Benbow , founder of Benbow Consultants , whose career spans heavy steel production, IT and process design across complex organisations, and hands‑on e...

What if resistance to change in manufacturing isn’t the problem we think it is? In this episode, we sit down with Ron Crabtree , a manufacturing transformation expert whose career spans shop floor roles, major improvement programmes and large scale organisational change. Together they explore what really drives successful manufacturing change management and why most improvement efforts stall long...

Manufacturing business growth often slows when everything depends on one person. In this episode, Martin speaks with Adina Fetche , founder of Ellcado Finance , about why running your manufacturing business as if you were preparing it for sale can strengthen it long before any exit is considered. Drawing on her background in commercial banking and consultancy, Adina explains how clearer financial...

Engineering teams often face intense time pressure, and the environment they work in has a direct impact on how clearly they think and how effectively they collaborate. This episode looks at how leadership, communication and team culture shape day‑to‑day engineering work inside fast‑moving technical environments. We’re joined by Marisa Kurimbokus , Head of Engineering at Raeon and IET Young Woman...

Aerospace engineering can be a high-pressure environment, but the way teams communicate often shapes how that pressure is felt. This episode looks at how calm, clear, and collaborative communication supports engineers working inside complex aerospace programmes. We’re joined by Mark Cook, Programme Manager at Triumph Actuation Systems. Mark shares how his career began in pure science academia, bef...

Manufacturing leadership looks different once responsibility moves beyond the role and into ownership.  In this episode of Manufacturers Make Strides, Martin speaks with Larry Dix II, President at Apex Truss, about what it means to lead a manufacturing business when decisions carry long-term weight. Larry shares perspective shaped by decades of building, running, and owning manufacturing operation...

Many manufacturing businesses look busy, yet still feel financially exposed underneath.  Stewart Ervin has seen this pattern repeatedly inside factories where activity masks a lack of control, and where a financially healthy manufacturing business feels harder to define than it should. The conversation centres on what actually creates stability when demand, cash and operations start pulling in dif...

Values-driven manufacturing shows up in who people trust when decisions matter. In this episode, Angelo D’Amico , President of Canada Rubber Group Inc , shares how a people-first approach shaped his path from lean consulting into leading a long-established manufacturing business. Angelo talks openly about trust, succession, and why opportunities tend to flow toward those who reduce risk for others...

Digital transformation doesn’t fail because the tech isn’t ready.  It fails when people aren’t.  In this episode, Ryan Pollyniak , who has spent over 15 years guiding manufacturers through ERP and change programmes, shares how a people-first approach can build trust early, reduce resistance on the shop floor, and help teams feel part of the process from the start. We talk about what makes transfor...

Manufacturing operations touch every part of a business. It’s where cost, quality and day-to-day decision-making come together, and where collaboration can make the biggest difference to performance. In this episode, Floriano Liguoro , Chief Operations Officer of Ital G.E.T.E. , shares how manufacturers can balance cost and value, strengthen supplier relationships, and build a more connected organ...

Manufacturing collaboration is helping UK businesses escape the feast-or-famine cycle, build trust across the supply chain, and grow without relying on expensive marketing.  In this episode, Richard Patch, co-founder of the Manufacturer’s Hub, shares how manufacturers can connect, support each other, and stay visible in a competitive landscape. We explore: • Why feast-or-famine cycles persist in U...

Sustaining improvement in manufacturing takes more than introducing new processes. It’s about making change last, empowering people, and balancing consistency with progress. In this episode, George Pesansky, President of My Blended Learning and author of Super Performance, shares how manufacturers can stop firefighting, build systems that last, and create lasting performance across their teams. We...

Finding fulfilment in manufacturing is about more than climbing the career ladder. It is about aligning your work with your values, building integrity into every decision, and knowing when to shape your own path. In this episode, quality consultant Samantha Shelley shares her journey from being the first woman in her apprenticeship to supporting MedTech startups, and why career fulfilment comes fr...

Manufacturing innovation is about more than new machines. It is about leadership, resilience, and building the right teams. In this episode you will hear how military discipline shaped Martin Jewell’s approach to leadership, why culture determines whether a project succeeds or fails, and what bold moves are needed for the future of UK manufacturing. Martin, Co-founder and CTO at Rapid Fusion, shar...

Building a career in UK aerospace does not have to follow a straight line.  In this episode you’ll hear how apprenticeships can open doors, why culture matters as much as technical skills, and what the future holds for the aerospace and space industries. Chris Woodhams, Co-founder of Lat51 Space Systems , shares his journey from apprenticeship to leadership, the challenges of moving from working i...

Kate Davies, transformation consultant and founder of Rufus Wren , brings two decades of experience in engineering, manufacturing, and industrial change. In this episode, she shares her perspective on sustainable leadership in manufacturing and why fixing culture is essential for long-term success. We explore: • What sustainable leadership looks like in real factories • How to lead high-performing...

Automation, machine vision and AI are changing manufacturing. In this episode, you’ll hear how one founder used them to stay competitive and build a thriving business. Paul Wilson , founder of Scorpion Vision , shares how he pivoted from military life to manufacturing. He took a leap into unknown tech and built a business that now leads innovation in AI-powered factory automation. We explore: How...

Quality is not just a department. It is a mindset that should be part of everything a manufacturer does. In this episode, Suresh Babu explains why the most successful manufacturers treat quality as a shared responsibility. Drawing on decades of experience in manufacturing, software, and medical devices, he shares how to simplify systems, engage teams, and build a culture where quality supports eve...

Waste is often seen as a problem, but what if it could be a valuable resource instead? In this episode, Greg Logelain shares how manufacturers can rethink waste management and find opportunity in what used to be thrown away. From chemical recycling to waste-to-resource partnerships, Greg explains why now is the time to take a closer look at what’s going in the bin. We explore: How to shift your mi...

Sustainability is no longer just about cutting emissions. For manufacturers, it can be a smart way to reduce costs, protect margins, and stand out in a changing market. In this episode, Eszter Haberl shares how businesses are embedding sustainability into operations, working cross-functionally, and turning compliance pressure into commercial advantage. We explore: How to build a solid business cas...

SMEs face no shortage of challenges. Tight budgets, limited time, and too many tech options. But you don’t have to figure it out alone. In this episode, Anthony Walker shares how SMEs are getting real support through innovation partnerships, practical tech adoption, and simple ways to make smarter decisions. We explore: Why SMEs don’t need Industry 4.0 in a box How to make innovation feel manageab...

If your marketing still feels disconnected from sales or like it’s not doing much at all, you’re not alone. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. In this episode, Jennelle McGrath shares how manufacturers can get better leads, work more closely across teams, and make marketing feel more useful day to day. We explore: Simple ways to make marketing support sales How to create content that’s actually...

Most manufacturing teams are stuck reacting to problems instead of preventing them. In this episode, Craig Higton shares how better collaboration, earlier influence, and sharper skills can help manufacturers fix issues before they hit the factory floor. We explore: Why so many teams don’t know if they’re winning How to influence design and supply chain decisions early What skills manufacturing eng...