Manufacturing Culture Podcast

In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer speaks with Vince Sassano, CEO of Strategic Performance Company, Inc., about his extensive experience in the manufacturing industry. They discuss the evolution of manufacturing culture, the importance of data-driven management, and the need for effective communication on the plant floor. Vince shares insights on empowering frontl...

In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer speaks with Demi Knight Clark, a trailblazer in the construction industry, about her journey from the trades to leadership roles. They discuss the importance of empowering women in trades, the legacy of female pioneers, and the need for more skilled workers. Demi emphasizes the significance of third spaces for community building...

In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer speaks with Ashleigh Walters, former president and current chairwoman of Onex, about her transformative leadership journey. Ashleigh shares her experiences redefining Onex's culture, transitioning to employee ownership, and the importance of storytelling in manufacturing. She emphasizes the need for a people-first approach, the s...

In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer interviews Yushiro Kato, the CEO of CADDi, who shares his inspiring journey from a young entrepreneur in Japan to leading a transformative company in the manufacturing industry. Yushiro discusses his early ventures, the pivotal decision to leave McKinsey, and the evolution of CADDi from a manufacturing platform to a comprehensive...

In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer speaks with Jason Anthoine, a veteran in employee engagement and internal communication. Jason shares his journey from a small town in Georgia to working with major corporations like GE and Coca-Cola, emphasizing the importance of understanding and improving workplace culture. The conversation explores the challenges of communica...

In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer interviews Willemijn Schneyder, the CEO and co-founder of Swipe Guide. Willemijn aims to revolutionize the manufacturing industry by simplifying work instructions and empowering frontline workers. She is also a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion. The conversation explores the need for collaborative working cultures in ma...

In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer speaks with Eric Whitley, the Director of Industrial Transformation at L2L. Eric shares his extensive journey in the manufacturing industry, from his early experiences with his father's work in manufacturing to his current role in digital transformation. The conversation explores the evolution of manufacturing perceptions, the im...

Lynn McMahon, a mechanical engineer turned PLC programmer, shares her journey and insights in the manufacturing industry. She discusses her early influences, career highlights, personal projects, and the challenges women face in engineering. Lynn also talks about advancements in the industry, such as the transition to cloud-based systems and virtualization. She emphasizes the importance of sustain...

In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer interviews Amy Teal, the CEO and co-founder of ShopFloor Coffee. Amy shares her journey into manufacturing, from studying drafting and design to working in project management and 3D printing. She explains how the idea for ShopFloor Coffee came about and how it supports workforce development programs. Amy discusses the importance...

Jesse Casto, the owner of BetterCNC, shares his journey in the manufacturing industry and his passion for continuous improvement. He grew up in his father's machine shop, learning the importance of innovation and problem-solving. Jesse's vision for BetterCNC is to become the most innovative manufacturing company focusing on process efficiency. He started the company to do things better and constan...

Catherine Bitting shares her journey from Philadelphia to Wichita and her passion for the manufacturing industry. She discusses her role as a program manager at WSU Tech and the importance of building relationships and pushing projects forward. Catherine also highlights the need for soft skills in the manufacturing industry and the challenges of bridging the gap between blue-collar and white-colla...

In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, Jim Mayer interviews Chad Spaude and Anne Cotter from Top Floor, discussing how digital marketing can enhance company culture in the manufacturing industry. Chad shares his journey of becoming the owner of Top Floor, while Anne talks about her transition from an external marketing role to the internal sales and marketing team. They emphasize th...

In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer interviews Hallie Haupt, the Director of Marketing at IQ Manufacturing. Hallie shares her journey into the manufacturing industry and discusses her role in developing and executing dynamic marketing strategies. She highlights the importance of translating complex technical information into clear and compelling messages that reson...

Brett Lister and Blaine Radie, co-owners of B&B Dynamic Machining, share their journey in precision manufacturing. Brett started in landscape architecture but quickly realized it wasn't for him and pursued mechanical drafting. He gained experience in tool and die shops and learned CNC programming. Blaine discovered his passion for metal and woodworking in high school and worked his way up from...

Robert Griggs, founder of Trinity Products, shares his remarkable journey in the steel and fabrications industry. He discusses the implementation of open-book management and the power of continuous improvement in driving growth and employee engagement. Griggs emphasizes the importance of giving back to the community and inspiring young people to pursue careers in manufacturing. He also highlights...

Keith Pfeifer, President at Aerobotix, discusses how hardware drives cultural change in the manufacturing industry. Aerobotix is revolutionizing manufacturing by creating robotic solutions that shape a new culture of precision and automation. Pfeifer shares his journey from starting as a controls engineer to becoming the president of Aerobotics. He emphasizes the importance of hiring smart people...

In the Manufacturing Culture Podcast episode, host Jim Mayer interviews Onder Ondemir, the co-founder and president of Ubiros, a company specializing in soft robotic gripper technology. Ondemir shares his journey from a PhD in industrial engineering to leading a startup in the robotics industry. He explains how Ubiros' soft gripper technology allows for the delicate handling of objects with the pr...

Malachi Greb, the founder and CEO of Elite Automation, shares his journey and the innovative projects his company has undertaken in the automation industry. Elite Automation is known for its cutting-edge solutions and commitment to redefining the boundaries of automated systems. Malachi discusses the evolving role of automation in industry and society and its potential to transform education. He e...

In the Manufacturing Culture Podcast episode, host Jim Mayer interviews Jeff Fiala, the co-founder and CEO of Transmission, a software platform that revolutionizes manufacturing communication. Fiala shares his entrepreneurial journey and how he transitioned from working on Wall Street to founding Transmission. He discusses communication challenges in the manufacturing industry and the need for rea...

In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer interviews Akshat Thirani, CEO and founder of Amper Technologies, and Katrina Keys, a visionary in transforming organizational culture. They discuss the role of Amper in revolutionizing how manufacturers track and improve their operations and how it helps transform the culture within their customers. The culture at Amper is chara...

In this episode, Jim Mayer interviews Michael Corrales of 1Factory, a software company that focuses on quality control in the manufacturing industry. They discuss how software can drive cultural change in manufacturing, the challenges in the industry, and how 1Factory's tools can help overcome them. They also discuss the importance of continuous improvement and how 1Factory facilitates it. Some ke...

In this Manufacturing Culture Podcast episode, host Jim Mayer interviews Vivek Kumar, CEO and co-founder of TeamForce AI, an employee intelligence platform. They discuss how software is driving cultural change in the manufacturing industry and the importance of amplifying the voices of frontline workers. Vivek shares his journey from working in the corporate world to starting his own tech company....

In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer interviews Michael Lynch, the founder of Praxi, a company pioneering the future of digital transformation in manufacturing. Michael's journey from Broadway to technology innovation is a testament to creativity and transformation. Praxi aims to solve the problem of ad hoc processes and excessive use of Excel in manufacturing compa...

In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer interviews Ann Wyatt, the founder of Ann Wyatt Recruiting and the host of the Workforce 4.0 show. Ann shares her journey from working in the government to starting her own recruiting business. She specializes in recruiting for the manufacturing industry, particularly metals, pulp, and paper. Ann discusses the skills gap in manufa...

Regan Brewer Johnson, the president of the Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC), shares her journey and the impact of JARC on the manufacturing and construction industries. JARC is a nationally recognized workforce development organization that provides sector-based job training programs, business and workforce services, and support for working families. Regan's background and experiences drive...