How Manufacturers Improve

In this episode, Heather Stewart, President and CEO of APG Solutions, shares how manufacturers can break down silos by replacing protectionism with curiosity and tying metrics to organizational North Star goals. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statewide network of leaders who share what's working on the factory floor. Links: Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.mfrall.com/hmi/ Become a Member: https://www.mfrall.com/membership/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5orRRXkVgAkbAeUuCj1dP5 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-manufacturers-improve/id1677078610 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfj2OPOknywMeVwzPJX7Ifw

In this episode, Scott Connor, Senior Manufacturing Engineer at Emerson, breaks down how to run successful Kaizen events, from the weeks of prep work required to maintaining momentum and securing leadership buy-in that drives results. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statewide network of leaders who share what's working on the factory floor. Links: Subscribe to the Newsletter:https://www.mfrall.com/hmi/ Become a Member:https://www.mfrall.com/membership/ Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5orRRXkVgAkbAeUuCj1dP5 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-manufacturers-improve/id1677078610 Watch on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@UCfj2OPOknywMeVwzPJX7Ifw

In this episode, Eugene Arrington, Senior Lean Leader at Starkey Hearing, breaks down how to conduct waste walks that deliver real results, from team selection to systematic observation to action planning with accountability. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statewide network of leaders who share what's working on the factory floor. Links: Subscribe to the Newsletter:https://www.mfrall.com/hmi/ Become a Member:https://www.mfrall.com/membership/ Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5orRRXkVgAkbAeUuCj1dP5 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-manufacturers-improve/id1677078610 Watch on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@UCfj2OPOknywMeVwzPJX7Ifw

In this episode, operations executive Bart Hoemann reveals his proven strategies for conducting one-on-ones that build trust, drive performance, and develop manufacturing leaders at every level. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statewide network of leaders who share what's working on the factory floor. Links: Learn more: https://www.mfrall.com Become a Member: https://www.mfrall.com/membership/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5orRRXkVgAkbAeUuCj1dP5 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-manufacturers-improve/id1677078610 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfj2OPOknywMeVwzPJX7Ifw

In this episode, Chase McCown, Managing Director of Heartland Partners, and Monica Hamling, VP of HR at Nortek Systems, discuss how manufacturers can strategically manage stress, cultivate a strong culture, and leverage AI. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statewide network of leaders who share what's working on the factory floor. Links: Learn more: https://www.mfrall.com Become a Member: https://www.mfrall.com/membership/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5orRRXkVgAkbAeUuCj1dP5 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-manufacturers-improve/id1677078610 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfj2OPOknywMeVwzPJX7Ifw

In this episode, Kirby Sneen talks with Monica Smith, Member Services Manager at Manufacturers Alliance, about making training a habit and what manufacturing leaders can expect in 2026. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statewide network of leaders who share what's working on the factory floor. Links: Learn more: https://www.mfrall.com Become a Member: https://www.mfrall.com/membership/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5orRRXkVgAkbAeUuCj1dP5 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-manufacturers-improve/id1677078610 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfj2OPOknywMeVwzPJX7Ifw

In this episode, Katherine Syverson, former EHS Director, reveals how supervisors can lead safety success through proactive metrics, cross-department observations, and tools that make safety sustainable. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statewide network of leaders who share what's working on the factory floor. Links: Learn more: https://www.mfrall.com Become a Member: https://www.mfrall.com/membership/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5orRRXkVgAkbAeUuCj1dP5 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-manufacturers-improve/id1677078610 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfj2OPOknywMeVwzPJX7Ifw

In this episode, Jeff Weber, Director of Continuous Improvement and Quality at Graco, reveals how to build accountability without micromanaging, from better meetings to coaching through missed deadlines. 

In this episode, Ashlie Weller, HR Manager at InsurTech, shares how to address difficult behaviors immediately, document incidents effectively, and avoid taking toxic behavior personally on the manufacturing floor. Connect with other HR leaders facing similar challenges and opportunities. Click here to learn more and join the HR Peer Group to share strategies, solve real-world issues, and strengthen your organization's people practices.  

Learn how to improve plant layouts without disrupting production. Discover proven methods for flow optimization, bottleneck identification, and team-driven layout planning that keep customers happy.   Help your team learn and implement Lean the right way with our Lean Practitioner Certification. Click here to learn more and enroll today.

In this episode, Mike Sosnoski from Wilson Tool and Andrew Craig from Prima Power share how they built crisis-resilient manufacturing operations and scaled efficiently through strategic continuous improvement.

In this episode, Shuang Shi, Senior Manager of Supplier Quality Engineering, reveals the biggest Six Sigma mistakes that cause project failures and shares proven strategies for success. Turn your best problem solvers into data-driven improvement leaders. Learn more about our Six Sigma Green Belt Certification.

Learn how to teach manufacturing teams to identify the 8 forms of waste. Discover why culture beats training and practical tools for waste walks that drive real, continuous improvement results. Manufacturing leaders don't have to figure it out alone. Become a member of Manufacturers Alliance and tap into workshops, tools, and a network of peers who are ready to share what works.  

Learn how manufacturing leaders balance ambitious goals with limited resources without burning out their teams. Discover prioritization strategies and resource management techniques. Transform your top performers into confident, capable supervisors. Master the skills that drive team performance with our Supervision Fundamentals Certification.

Discover how manufacturers are solving the lean training gap for Spanish-speaking teams. Learn why authentic, practitioner-led courses outperform scripted content in developing real problem solvers. Turn your best problem solvers into confident improvement leaders. Learn more about our Lean Practitioner Certification.  

Learn the 8-step roadmap that helped cut costs in half and achieve operational excellence. Discover how to create purpose-driven teams, implement tier meetings, and engage frontline problem solvers. Do you have team members ready to lead improvement projects with data-driven precision? Click here to learn more about our Six Sigma Green Belt

Learn the essential quality tools every manufacturer needs, including control charts, Pareto analysis, and root cause methods. Discover how to distinguish between normal and special cause variation. Do you have team members who need problem-solving and continuous improvement skills? Click here to learn more about our Professional Yellow Belt Certification. 

Manufacturing leaders who adapt their leadership style see greater team engagement and results. In this episode, Richele Butler, the VP of HR at Japs-Olson Company, shares proven strategies for understanding individual team member preferences, reading non-verbal cues, and creating effective communication approaches. Learn how to focus on what you can control, group similar styles together, and build trust through style adaptation. Do you have team members who need leadership training? Click here to learn more about our Supervision Fundamentals Certification.

Manufacturing leaders often struggle with delegation, but mastering this skill is critical for leadership growth and organizational success. In this episode, Jennifer Schwan, Vice President of Operations at CDI Curbs, shares proven strategies for effective delegation. Learn how to identify your "why" for delegating, build trust through alignment rather than process control, and shift your perspective from personal achievement to team development.  Podcast Resources: Digital Course: Watch The Role of the Leader: Trust - What Builds It & What Destroys It  Podcast: Listen to "Best in Class One-on-One's" with Dan Powley Certification: Supervision Fundamentals  Not a Manufacturers Alliance member? Attend an upcoming Webinar as our guest!    

Build high-performing HR teams that drive real business impact. In this episode, Kirby Sneen sits down with Dale Fruehauf to explore what HR leaders must focus on to shape successful teams, and how manufacturers should prioritize HR roles. Dale shares his secret to attracting top HR talent, strategies for recognizing and rewarding HR team members, ways to leverage "alumni" for advocacy, and insights on how HR can use AI to stay competitive.   Whether you're growing your HR function or refining it, you'll find practical takeaways for Building High-Performing HR Teams.