Claim OwnershipThe Manufacturing Executive
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© Copyright Joe Sullivan
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On The Manufacturing Executive podcast, we’ll explore the strategies and experiences that are driving midsized manufacturers forward. You’ll hear conversations with passionate manufacturing leaders who have compelling stories to share about their successes and struggles. You’ll also hear interviews with B2B Sales and Marketing experts about what’s working on the business development front and how to make these ideas actionable. Episodes will feature topics related to industrial marketing and lead generation, manufacturing sales strategy, technology, and industrial sector innovation.
293 Episodes
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Founder and CEO of Poe Wolf Partners, Renita Wolf, will tell you that exit planning isn’t just a final step before selling your business. It’s something smart owners build toward from the very beginning.
She’ll explain why building transferable value and reducing owner dependency are crucial from the start, setting the stage for higher valuations and a smoother sale when the time comes.
You’ll hear her insights on the most common gaps, deal killers and the practical actions business owners can take now to strengthen their companies.
She’ll also discuss why the hardest part of exiting is often personal, and how to prepare yourself for both the financial and emotional sides of what comes next.
Free resource:
7 Essentials Every Business Owner Must Have Before Exiting (preparing for a high-value, low-regret business transition):
https://www.poewolfpartners.com/seller/
With supply chain disruptions, shifting geopolitical risks and increasing pressure for efficiency, today’s manufacturing leaders face operational challenges that go far beyond simply making parts.
In today's conversation, President and CFO of Associated Metal Forming Technologies (AMFT), Todd Smith, explores the opportunities and complexities of weaving multiple specialized legacy brands into a unified platform to help address those challenges, without losing the trust and expertise that made those brands successful.
Why do so many continuous improvement and lean initiatives start with excitement, only to stall out or disappear entirely months later? What distinguishes organizations that truly embed these principles into their culture from those that just go through the motions?
In today’s episode, COO of Bespoke, Steve Riley, will share his firsthand perspective from decades in manufacturing leadership. Specifically, he'll tell you why visual systems matter, where most lean rollouts go off track and what it really takes to make progress stick.
In this conversation with Gorilla 76 Marketing Director, Peyton Warren, we'll dive deep into five things we believe b2b manufacturers should consider doing to move the needle through marketing in the new year. They are:
1. Events and in-person opportunities
2. Building an audience you own through community development
3. Distribution and reach
4. Streamlined content creation (repurposing and AI efficiency)
5. Clear vision of what success looks Like
What if every skilled worker in manufacturing suddenly became searchable? In today's episode, Founder and CEO of Laborup, Simba Jonga, shares his perspective on how the manufacturing labor gap might be less about a lack of people, and more about a lack of access to those individuals.
He'll talk about why millions of machinists, welders, and technicians remain hidden from traditional job boards, and how his team is working to make them visible and accessible for the first time.
How do you scale a family-owned manufacturing business to $100M in sales without losing the family feel?
From building a culture where employees feel seen and valued, to transforming the customer experience, to raising the bar for operational excellence, in this episode, President of Falcon Plastics, Jenn Barlund, shares what it means to focus on both people and profitability.
You’ll hear why choosing the right partners and sometimes saying no are critical, how transparency shapes trust and why innovation matters in an otherwise stale industry.
What happens when engineers have the space and freedom to actually solve problems their way?
And what does that mean for innovation on the factory floor?
In today's conversation, Chairman and Chief Innovator of Bravo Team, Josh Tarbutton, will get into the real challenges and rewards of giving engineering teams more agency, why trust matters and how even small changes can have a big impact on your culture.
Manufacturers often see government as a nuisance. Or, at best, a rescuer in times of trouble. But my guest today, Founder and Principal of TGS Advisory, Terry Szmagala, will argue that we need to instead think about government as a key stakeholder. Specifically, he'll share his perspective on three ways government can play a role in your business: 1) as a regulator 2) as a funder and 3) as a customer. He'll offer actionable tips for making government work for you, not against you, and explain why your voice matters more than you might realize. Let’s jump into it.
COO of Frontline.io, Gilad Tzori, has spent years inside of manufacturing organizations, witnessing firsthand how complexity, workforce shifts and rapid technological change have upended traditional service and training models.
In today’s conversation, he’ll explain why step-by-step PDFs and classroom lectures are no longer sufficient, and what a new era of immersive training looks like for the manufacturing sector.
He'll also share real-world examples of virtual and extended reality tools in action and discuss how AI and digital twins can transform the way teams learn, collaborate and solve problems on the shop floor.
As the manufacturing sector faces both a generational workforce shift and rapid advancements in AI and automation, today’s conversation reveals the “dirty little secret” behind digital manufacturing, and why human-centered thinking remains the heart of successful change.
My guest today, CEO of Fathom Digital Manufacturing, Rush LaSelle, will discuss the realities of labor shortages, explain what digital enablement really means and share what a future with humanoid robots on the factory floor might look like.
The workforce crisis in US manufacturing isn’t just a challenge – it’s a national security risk. This is particularly true in casting and forging, where today's guest Mike Kubacki has spent two decades. In our conversation, he explores the urgent need to rebuild America’s industrial base, the reality behind modern manufacturing environments and how innovative programs are connecting hands-on learning with next-generation careers. We’ll learn why engaging students early, supporting employee growth and linking frontline work to real-world impact are key to the future of US manufacturing.
Any business owner, CEO or President wants to feel confident that the dollars they spend will produce a positive return. But sometimes focusing on ROI too soon forces you to abandon your long-term business strategy in favor of short-term wins. In this conversation, we'll look at how to measure marketing impact in two different business scenarios: 1) for a manufacturer that needs a short-term sales lift 2) for a manufacturer that's trying to build a sustainable plan for growth. We'll not only explain about how to choose the right KPIs in each scenario, but also, how to know whether you've been successful at achieving them.
As artificial intelligence creeps into so many facets of our personal and professional lives, it's easy to lose sight of when it's actually working in our favor.
In this conversation, Co-Founder and President of SCOPE Recruiting, Friddy Hoegener, discusses the use of AI specifically in the context of recruiting for supply chain and manufacturing roles.
He'll share insights about where and how AI can help, but also where it dangerously dilutes employer-to-candidate touch, and why human judgment is irreplaceable for culture-fit identification and talent selection.
How do you take a boring product in a declining industry and build a powerhouse business around it, all while refusing outside funding? In this conversation, Chairman and CEO of TerraSlate, Kyle Ewing talks through the gritty and sometimes unconventional principles behind his business model – from demanding prepayments, to mastering cold calls, to holding cash reserves. The result? A playbook for profitability and growth when everyone else says it can’t be done.
Relocating manufacturing operations from Asia to Mexico isn’t just about a change in location. It’s a bold strategy shift for manufacturers seeking greater control and speed. In this conversation, CEO of Tinker Tin, Matt Hannula, will explore everything from cultural differences to quality control to legal hurdles. And he'll share actionable insights for any manufacturing leaders considering the move.
Imagine assembling a complex product with only scattered notes and fading tribal knowledge to guide you. In this conversation, we're talking about manufacturing work instructions.
Despite their importance in passing expertise from veterans to new hires, most work instructions are outdated, manual, and hard to keep current – often putting entire production lines at risk.
My guest, Founder and President of Dirac, Fil Aronshtein, will explain why modernizing work instructions matters, and how new tools are helping manufacturers improve how they build.
A widening gap exists between industrial robot deployment in the US and China, even as American manufacturers grapple with rising labor costs and persistent worker shortages.
So why does the adoption of domestic manufacturing automation adoption lag behind – especially among small and medium-sized businesses? And what are the real barriers holding them back?
In this conversation, Co-Founder and CEO of Peer Robotics, Rishabh Agarwal, will discuss practical, brownfield automation solutions that don’t require massive facility overhauls. And he'll spotlight resources and new pricing models designed to lower the barriers to entry.
Today's guest, entrepreneur, speaker, and product leader Radhika Dutt, will challenge a core business belief that many of us have probably held for years – that traditional goal-setting frameworks like OKRs, KPIs, or SMART goals, are the surest path to performance and progress.
In fact, she'll argue that focusing so intently on numbers and targets can actually backfire.
So what instead then?
In this episode, you'll learn about an alternative approach rooted in curiosity, problem-solving, and genuine learning over performance theater.
This approach introduces practical ways to encourage creativity, foster real collaboration, and drive change – whether you’re leading a factory floor or reimagining what effective leadership looks like.
Imagine a factory floor where specialized AI agents tackle real manufacturing roles – from inventory planning to quality inspection, each with their own set of tasks and responsibilities.
Today, CEO and Co-Founder of First Resonance, Karan Talati, will dig into the practical side of agentic AI: how these intelligent systems are moving beyond theory to fill very specific job functions inside modern factories.
You’ll hear concrete examples of how AI agents can streamline workflows, reduce costly errors, and even help human teams focus on higher value work.
We’ll also look ahead at what it means to build, deploy, and organize a factory workforce increasingly made up of both people and purpose-built artificial intelligence.
In today’s conversation, you'll hear from CEO of the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Pete Connolly.
Pete has spent over 40 years navigating the manufacturing landscape – from running divisions at a global defense company to leading a statewide organization dedicated to empowering small and midsize manufacturers.
He’ll break down what the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) network actually does, and why it’s so critical – especially in the face of workforce shortages, shifting supply chains and the ongoing challenge of keeping manufacturing jobs close to home.
You’ll also hear how creative workforce programs, hands-on training tours, and targeted support are shaping the next generation of industry talent.
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