Zen and the Art of Manufacturing

In this episode, Bryan Sapot and special guest Dr. Paul Snowdon delve into the art of creating transformational shifts within teams. Discover strategies to foster innovation, enhance collaboration, and drive meaningful change. Bryan and Paul share their experiences and insights on overcoming challenges and unlocking the full potential of your team. Tune in to learn how to cultivate a culture of gr...

In this episode of the Zen and the Art of Manufacturing podcast, Bryan Sapot and Jesse DePriest discuss the principles of Lean Management and the OpEx management strategy. They explore the importance of leadership, daily management systems, and the role of data in improving processes. Jesse shares insights on the continuous improvement kata problem-solving method and emphasizes the need for clear...

Bryan Sapot and John Broadbent discuss the challenges and opportunities in the manufacturing sector, particularly focusing on digital transformation, the impact of aging equipment, and the importance of data-driven decision-making. They explore the resistance to adopting new technologies, the necessity of continuous improvement, and how a strong manufacturing culture can lead to significant operat...

In this episode, Bryan Sapot and Tony Kaczmarek discuss the current state of manufacturing technology, focusing on the challenges of data collection, automation, and the importance of building trust within the industry. They explore the role of government programs in facilitating technology adoption, the need for visibility and communication on the factory floor, and strategies for engaging operat...

In this episode, Bryan Sapot interviews JT Badiani, President of Focused Improvement, discussing the impact of tariffs on manufacturing and the importance of lean principles and data-driven strategies to enhance efficiency. They explore how AI can be leveraged in manufacturing processes, particularly in order management and production optimization. The conversation emphasizes the significance of i...

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Manufacturing, we take a deep dive into embracing and adopting new technologies in manufacturing. Bryan is joined by Jason Guss, CEO and Co-founder of Iterate Labs, a wearable tech and computer vision company designed to increase safety and production in the factory in real-time. As many of us know, the adoption of new technologies is difficult in any industry...

Hiring is a hot topic right now. There are many, many manufacturing jobs available, but manufacturers have are having difficulty filling the openings. David Klotz, President of Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) joins us this week to discuss hiring and retaining skilled employees. With over 850 members in the PMA, David is in a unique position, close to the action. His experience provides a...

Too many companies focus on the wrong metrics. Instead, if they were focusing on increasing engagement and reducing turnover, other results like cost savings and increased profits would follow. Allison Greco joins us once more for a discussion on continuous improvement, the importance of soft skills, and how that helps build a competitive advantage.  It’s all about picking the right metric to...

Join us as we dive into the world of continuous improvement. But, instead of a focus on tools, we focus on the why. “We have to be very good at persuading people so we focus a lot on the why.” Why are we making a change? Why now? What’s in it for me? Allison Greco is a continuous improvement guru, having worked for the railroad, various government roles, oil and gas, and now has founded and leads...

“ If we focus on the right things, develop the right habits, give things the right focus, then the results will take care of themselves.” Paul Dunlop joins us for a second time to drill down into lean processes, measurements, effective communication, and daily production metrics. Most manufacturers are too heavily focused on the outcome. Instead, focus on the process and measurements that contribu...

"A process is a process, no matter the industry. Most organizations can apply Lean principles and Lean thinking." Paul Dunlop, Founder of Dunlop Consultants and a world-renowned Lean expert, joins us on this week's episode of Zen and the Art of Manufacturing to discuss all things, you guessed it, lean!  Most industries are more receptive to "dipping their toe in the water" and using Lean prin...

Creating a successful brand is difficult, yet Trevor Crotts, Founder and President of BuddyBrands and CEO of Compel Commerce, has figured out the winning formula. Trevor joins us on this week's episode of Zen and the Art of Manufacturing to talk about all things manufacturing marketing.  Learn why his first trade show after founding Buddy Brands was a disaster yet it led to key insights. Disc...

How do you define what excellence is in an organization? Jesse DePriest, a Lean Transformation Coach and Director of Operational Excellence at First National Bank of Omaha, joins us once more to explore defining, measuring, and solving challenges. He demystifies and pushes aside all of the well-known terminology for a straightforward look at what it takes to continuously improve, no gimmicks.&nbsp...

How do you figure out the difference between data and information? What is going to drive change in your organization? Jesse DePriest, a Lean Transformation Coach and Director of Operational Excellence at First National Bank of Omaha, tackles these questions, giving the listener informative and actionable answers.  There is such a thing as too much data that becomes overwhelming and complex,...

When and how should you move to automatic data collection? Dick Willis, Industrial Digitization Leader at Trane Technologies, a skilled veteran in the digitized factory industry, tells us how to structure data collection and reporting, and do it successfully. A solid structure of collecting and reporting data is essential in manufacturing, but data collection is hard. And, it's hard to do it well....

"By doing these things, you will improve across the board." In the second part of John Broadbent's interview with SensrTrx's Founder and CEO, Bryan Sapot, the two discuss getting started with Industry 4.0 and why it doesn't need to be hard or expensive. According to John, you may need to enact Industry 3.0 first, and that's ok, but at least you're starting somewhere. The concept of a connected, sm...

Industry 4.0 has been around for years. Surprised? You shouldn't be. Industry greats like John Broadbent, Founder of Realise Potential, have been exploring the benefits of a new era of manufacturing technology since the early '90s. Part 1 of Zen and the Art of Manufacturing, features Bryan Sapot, SensrTrx CEO and John Broadbent exploring the history of industry 4.0, how it's expanded throughout th...

Part 2 of Stuart's podcast episode dives into the maintenance metrics that you need to care about, getting operators onboard with maintenance goals, daily meetings involving the entire plant, and working together as a team.  "We're all in this together, and how are we going to get back up and running?," Stuart asks. Essentially, the main idea behind the 2nd half of a "Healthy Maintenance Cult...

What is a healthy maintenance culture? Surprisingly, it doesn't include just maintenance. In this episode of Zen and the Art of Manufacturing, Bryan Sapot sits down with Stuart Fergusson, Director of Solutions Engineering at Fiix Software to talk about measuring the right metrics, involving everyone in the plant with maintenance activities, and listening to your people.  No, not everyone is d...

In part 2, we talk about the specific steps needed to become a better leader while simultaneously improving the plant. Learn why listening skills can be the number one influence of exceptional culture, why good leadership needs to start at the top in order to improve culture, and how both of these things can help improve the performance and processes of the company as a whole. "When a leader can u...

Mike Leigh is the President of OpX Solutions, a performance improvement company that helps manufacturers remove the barriers that prevent them from achieving their goals by developing leaders and improving processes. As such, Mike knows a lot about what makes a good leader.  In this episode of Zen and the Art of Manufacturing, Byran Sapot asks Mike, "What makes a good leader in manufacturing?...

As the VP of Corporate Strategy at Tacony , Nick Hinman's focus is on maximizing the customer experience while ensuring the business continually improves. Over the years, he has become an expert in all things lean, culture, and value. In this episode of Zen and the Art of Manufacturing, Bryan Sapot and Nick sit down to talk about building the house. What does that mean exactly? Well, to build an e...

As the Ambassador of Manufacturing at Cambridge Air, Tony Spielberg builds relationships, guiding business development for the company. With his extensive knowledge and expertise on the subject, Tony sits down with SensrTrx CEO, Bryan Sapot, to talk about workforce development. Why is it important and how do you start? In his previous role as CEO of BCI Packaging, Tony took a special interest in w...

Create calm in the manufacturing environment. Stop the fire fighting. Sound farfetched? It’s not. In this podcast, we’ll talk with manufacturing industry professionals about how they create calm in the plant. We’re bringing together the manufacturing and continuous improvement communities to spread the knowledge. Until now, there hasn’t been anything focused on putting the pieces of the puzzle tog...