Manufacturing Stream

In this episode of The Manufacturing Stream, Eric and Phil kick off 2024 with some exciting event announcements from L2L and a topic that’s never been more relevant to manufacturers: Uniting departments around a shared view of factory data.  If job-critical information is locked away in systems like ERP, MES, SCADA, and PLC, shop floor employees — and your plant — are operating with a serious (but...

In this week’s episode, Malcolm Faulds, VP of Marketing at L2L (and Eric’s boss), sits down with Eric and Phil to share his learnings from LNS Research’s Industrial Transformation (IX) Event. From the emergence of digital manufacturing teams to navigating the manufacturing labor crisis, Malcolm discusses important highlights from the event as well as practical takeaways all manufacturers can use t...

In this special bonus episode of The Manufacturing Stream (emphasis on Stream in this episode), Eric, Phil, and a special guest devote an entire episode to their experience fly fishing for Silver Coho salmon in Cordova, Alaska. Enjoy! l2l.com Youtube: @leading2lean l2l.com Youtube: @leading2lean

When we say “L2L was made for manufacturers, by manufacturers,” we mean it literally. L2L was born on the shop floors of our now-customer, Autoliv, where Eric, Phil, and this episode’s special guest Mark Jenkins put their heads together to figure out a better way to track operational availability (OA). That’s right — we’re taking you through a brief L2L history lesson! Learn how the Toyota Product...

We’ve discussed the importance of digitizing Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) on this podcast. Now, we’re excited to share a real-world example of this digital TPM in action! In this special episode recorded for a Plant Services webcast, Mike Brewster of Owens Corning joins Eric Whitley to talk about Owens Corning’s transformation with L2L’s connected worker platform. Learn how Mike and team tac...

Software integration is a challenging but critical step in implementing new software. This is especially true when introducing connected worker platforms in your manufacturing facility. In this week’s episode, Justin Skaggs from Worthington Industries and L2L’s own Corey Olsen join Eric and Phil to discuss the importance of integrating connected worker platforms like L2L with ERP solutions. Using...

So you purchased L2L. Now what?  Typically, implementing digital factory software takes time, attention to detail, and a whole lot of patience. But did you know that L2L can be stood up in a matter of weeks instead of months? In this special episode of The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, Eric interviews L2L’s own Jon Richardson on how quick and simple it is to implement our connected worker platform...

Digital transformation shapes your company culture as much as it shapes your technology. This week, we’re excited to discuss tech-driven cultural change with special guest Keith Holliman, Plant Manager at JELD-WEN! A veteran of the building materials manufacturing space, Keith shares how his plant shifted from relying on traditional, manual processes to embracing a digital-first strategy that make...

The manufacturing labor shortage is far from over. With a new generation of workers entering the shop floor, how can manufacturing leaders improve employee retention? In this episode, Eric, Phil, and Jim Morris discuss the challenges of helping younger employees adapt and thrive in a manufacturing environment and why culture trumps strategy when it comes to attracting and retaining today’s workers...

Total productive maintenance (TPM) is a concept that’s been around for a long time, but it’s recently gotten some buzz as more manufacturers are digitizing their plants. In this episode, Eric and Phil discuss why TPM is going digital and how connected worker platforms like L2L are shaping this technological shift. New features like digital abnormality tags, digital operator checklists, and mobile-...

There’s no sweeter music to our ears than positive customer testimonials. On this week’s episode of The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, we’re excited to share some highlights from Eric’s customer interviews at the Connected Workforce Summit 2023. Hear how customers like Westinghouse, Sonoco, and Worthington Industries have incorporated L2L’s connected workforce platform into their operations — and a...

Manufacturing technology is ever-evolving, but some principles must remain evergreen. Standard work, for instance, is a foundational element of lean manufacturing that will always have a place on the shop floor. In this week’s episode, Eric and Phil discuss the importance of standard work in manufacturing facilities. No matter how “smart” your factory is, your frontline workers will always need a...

Manufacturers are good at applying lean principles to maintenance, production, and even supply chain management. But not so much when it comes to meetings. In this week’s episode, Eric and Phil sit down with special guest and author Jamie Flinchbaugh to discuss his recent Forbes article, “3 Reasons to Kill the 60 Minute Meeting.” If you think you and your team spend too much time in unproductive m...

In this episode, Eric and Phil sit down with Jake Hall, the “Manufacturing Millennial,” to talk about the concept of the connected worker and important manufacturing trends to watch in 2023.  Jake, whose manufacturing experience spans 17 years, shares some key benefits of the connected manufacturing workforce, including process visibility, seamless collaboration, more effective training, and the o...

Got a problem? YouTube probably has a solution. From changing your air filters to replacing a passenger side mirror on a 2018 Toyota Tundra (Eric, we’re looking at you), today’s video platforms are chock-full of step-by-step DIY instructions for solving everyday problems.  In this week’s episode, Eric shares how he potentially saved hundreds of dollars performing a simple repair on his truck by fo...

In this weeks podcast Eric interviews Allison Kuhn from LNS Research where they talk about the future of work, digital transformation and the problems manufacturing is facing to day finding and recruiting new workers. We learn Allisons perspective on where manufacturing is headed and what we need to do in order to solve the problems of the day.  Some great insights to digital transformation and ho...

In this weeks podcast, Eric & Phil have a in-depth discussion with FOXSPORTS NASCAR Analyst and 2 time Daytona 500 Winning Crew Chief - Larry McReynolds.  NASCAR has changed and evolved much like manufacturing when it comes to the implementation of Digital Transformation. This weeks discussion centers on the use of these technologies in NASCAR and how they parallel what is happening on the fac...

In this weeks Manufacturing Stream Podcast Eric Whitley and Phil Anderson review a 2023 report by Deliotte that talks about industry trends to watch for in 2023. The topics range from investing in advance technologies to managing talent and investing in Smart Manufacturing. The podcast also introduces a new feature to highlight new manufacturing being introduced in the United States. In this episo...

In this episode Phil and Eric along with special guest Cara Winter discuss the ever important role of frontline leadership in a manufacturing plant. This includes leading the digital transformation process. The discussion dives deep into how frontline Supervisors can help lead the digital transformation efforts on the shop-floor. Phil, Cara and Eric all worked as frontline leaders early in their c...

Eric and Phil invite special guest Cyrus Shaoul, CEO of leela.ai where the three discuss the new tech found in leele.ai time motion study tool. We learn how leela.ai captures motion on the shop floor and measures that motion through the tool. The discussion also covers where Cyrus believes AI is headed in the future and how it will be applied to manufacturing.  Phil and Eric also discuss  what com...

Special guest Priya Rao, Sr. Director - Information Technologies and PMO at Worthington Industries. Priya was a key principal in launching Digital Transformation at Worthington. Todays discussion talk about what is needed from IT to help with this process, what type of team needs to be established to ensure success as Digital Transformation is implemented. Priya and Phil also discuss the critical...

In this episode, in studio guest Danny Jackson, Digital Transformation Director at Autoliv talks about the importance of the Connected Worker. The Manufacturing Stream podcast coins a brand new word to describe the crazy world of Digital Transformation in manufacturing "Digitalificationtransformatization" You gotta hear the explanation of this one. Listen to the end for a big event annou...

In this episode Eric & Phil discuss why large, expensive, and inflexible business softwares are hurting your companies opportunity to improve. Because inflexible software dictates internal processes, a companies competitive advantage is lost to any other company that has the same inflexible software.  The episode also briefly discusses Japans government initiative to onshore microchip manufact...