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Manufacturers Make Strides is a podcast about people in manufacturing and the paths they’ve taken. Martin speaks with guests from across the manufacturing world about their careers, the challenges along the way, and the strides that keep the industry moving forward. New episodes every other Tuesday
41 Episodes
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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 from purpose, not paychecks. We explore: • How integrity and values drive long-term success in ma...
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, shares his journey from the Royal Engineers to leading advanced manufacturing projects, and why list...
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 in a business to running one, and why celebrating failures is key to growth. We explore: • W...
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 teams without burning them out • Why financial success should be a byproduct, not the goal •...
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 to grow a business without expert-level technical knowledgeWhy machine vision is essential for m...
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 every part of the process. We explore: Why quality is not just the quality team’s jobHow to bala...
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 mindset and treat waste as a resourceWhy a waste audit is a smart first stepWhat the waste hier...
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 case for sustainabilityWhy quick wins like energy tracking still matterWhat data to focus on ...
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 boxHow to make innovation feel manageableWhat manufacturers are doing with dataWhere to find support that actually helps Antho...
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 salesHow to create content that’s actually useful for buyersWhat manufacturers are doing differently with social mediaHow to spot gap...
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 earlyWhat skills manufacturing engineers really need to make change happenHow to quantify and communicate problems in a way the bus...
When implementing any new system into your manufacturing process, there are quite a few elements to consider before you introduce something that doesn’t suit your company’s needs. There’s no question that an MES adds value to any given manufacturing company, but this type of system offers an extensive list of functionalities, which is why you need to establish exactly what they can do and how they can benefit your specific company. Before disrupting your operations by implementing a new syste...
Many components of business have changed over the past few decades. Business culture is a lot more informal, and there is a substantial focus on including various departments in business developments. So, where there used to be a very high level of hierarchy in business, leaders are now starting to leverage all levels of operation to increase productivity and innovation. One of the biggest facets of improving culture, and therefore productivity, is to approach people at a “human” or emotional...
How are you keeping track of and controlling your manufacturing process? And how are you ensuring every single step is monitored and running smoothly? There are many departments running under one manufacturing operation, which means there’s most likely room for error – especially if you’re collecting data and controlling the process manually. Gone are the days where one person can be responsible for sales, accounting, and technical work, while keeping a record of everything. Every process nee...
What safety protocols does your business follow? Safety is an incredibly important part of running a business for both employees and customers. Why for the latter? Because people only trust businesses who follow the correct procedures – and keep a record of them. In our latest podcast, we talk to Safety Evolution CEO, David Brennan, about workplace safety, the most common mistakes people make, and how to implement the right safety protocols in the workplac...
Did you know that by sustaining good manufacturing practices, your company can increase its operational efficiency, reach new clientele, increase your competitive advantage, and even reduce overall costs? You see, you have a choice: To either adopt these so-called sustainable practices for a few weeks or months or implement and follow through in the months and years to come. You need to make good manufacturing practices a part of your company’s DNA! I recently had a sit-do...
Manufacturing travellers are product document packs where every single manufacturing process is recorded for tracking and component purposes. These travellers have always worked well in terms of tracking and quality assurance, but are you perhaps wasting time with duplicate entries? Think about it, if you need to find specific entries or data, you’ll have to sort through all the doubles to finally get to the relevant data you’re looking for. So, what is the most efficient way of completing ma...
Are you in control of your manufacturing capacity? Can your manufacturing process keep up with demand and within customers’ timelines? Businesses are so focused on constantly boosting sales and growing the business, they often forget about ensuring the manufacturing part can keep up with the selling part. In this episode, we’re going to explore six ways you can perform capacity planning in your manufacturing process, to ensure you meet the demands of your customers w...
Control is an imperative part of any manufacturing process, and reducing variation is a big step in ensuring control. Why? Because variation is a clear indicator that your manufacturing process is out of control. A high-quality process means the difference between delivering a good or bad product. And if you do end up stopping the process in its tracks before a potentially bad delivery, it could mean double the work, resulting in double the expenses. The bottom line is this: Reducing variatio...
Many companies around the world lose billions each year due to downtime. Machine downtime is an unintended reduction or halt in a production process or machine. There are numerous reasons why this can happen, but the main question is, how can you reduce or even avoid machine downtime? In this episode, I have outlined five key steps you can take to address machine downtime systematically to ensure your processes run optimally and effectively. Follow this link for tools: https://www.metisautoma...
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