Manufacturing Stream

Cut through the noise. Solve real problems. Transform your shop floor.Manufacturing Stream delivers hard-hitting, actionable insights from decades of shop floor experience. In just 15-30 minutes per episode, hosts Eric Whitley and Chris Rost tackle what's actually dragging down your manufacturing performance - with a laser focus on eliminating costly downtime and accelerating digital maturity.No corporate fluff, no theoretical nonsense. Just proven strategies and real stories from the manufacturing frontline . In each episode, we bring you industry veterans who've been in your shoes and know exactly what it takes to slash downtime, boost productivity, and turn chaos into clockwork through smart digital transformation and (un)conventional wisdom.Whether you're putting out fires as a plant manager or driving digital initiatives from the C-suite, Manufacturing Stream delivers the experience and proven tactics to improve your operations.Subscribe now. Your competition already has.

What Makes A Process Truly Effective? Dive Deeper Into Process Design and More with Tom Williams and Michael Hurd

A good process is... One that involves everyone using it. Seems simple enough, but designing effective processes for manufacturing demands a winning combination of experience, empathy, and iterative thinking. This episode of Manufacturing Stream features Tom Williams, Head of Design and Process Engineering at Pandrol, and L2L CMMS/MES Implementation Consultant Michael Hurd. Both have decades of experience leading teams and improving processes on the shop floor. Here’s what you’ll learn in t...

09-25
44:35

Lean Growing Pains, Fixing Handoffs, and Angry Technicians | We React to the Best of r/manufacturing

From the manufacturing Reddit community to our podcast: we have Lean experts Mohsin Saeed and Eric Whitley react to the best threads from the past couple of months. We explore everything from improving shift handoffs to dealing with overworked maintenance technicians. 🧠 Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: - Effective systems are crucial for smooth handoffs in manufacturing. - Data-driven decision-making is essential for identifying root causes of issues. - How skills gap i...

07-24
48:30

From Reactive to Proactive | Fighting Downtime with Smarter Maintenance

Welcome back to the Manufacturing Stream Podcast! This week we dive into downtime - and how to beat it with better maintenance strategies. This episode features your host Eric Whitley and Joel Cook, Maintenance and Automation Manager at ChampionX. 🧠 Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: - How a proactive maintenance approach can significantly reduce downtime - Why collaboration between maintenance and operations enhances overall efficiency - How to minimize downtime with more effec...

06-05
31:29

Tech Expert Reacts: AI, Automation, and New Skills Data

The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, your go-to source for insights into the latest in manufacturing technology and innovation. Hosted by Chris Rost, we’re excited to bring you some of the best conversations in manufacturing - from the factory floor to the board room. This episode features manufacturing tech expert Willemijn Schneyder, as she reacts to some of the most profound takeaways from our 2025 Manufacturing Skills Report. We explore AI, Automation, and the needs of the frontline workfo...

05-08
39:35

Frontline Experts React: Skills Gaps, Unfilled Jobs, and New Tech

The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, your go-to source for insights into the latest in manufacturing technology and innovation. Hosted by Chris Rost and Eric Whitley, we’re excited to bring you some of the best conversations in manufacturing - from the factory floor to the board room. This episode also features manufacturing expert Jim Mayer - Founder of The Manufacturing Connector. Eric and Jim have decades of experience at the manufacturing frontline - today we'll get their takes on da...

05-01
42:47

Here’s What Your Manufacturing Frontline Really Wants | Better Tech + Better Culture = Success

The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, your go-to source for insights into the latest in manufacturing technology and innovation. Hosted by Chris Rost and Eric Whitley, we’re excited to bring you some of the best conversations in manufacturing - from the factory floor to the board room. This episode features experts Jason Anthoine (manufacturing culture expert and founder of Employee Experienced) and our very own Willemijn Schneyder (frontline advocate and L2L CSO). This episode takes a deep di...

04-16
32:33

Better Employee Development for the Frontline | Solving More Than a Labor Shortage in Manufacturing

The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, your go-to source for insights into the latest in manufacturing technology and innovation. Hosted by Chris Rost and Eric Whitley, we’re excited to bring you some of the best conversations in manufacturing - from the factory floor to the board room. This episode features experts Jim Mayer - manufacturing culture expert and founder of The Manufacturing Connector - and our very own Co-Host Eric Whitley. They have a combined 50+ years of experience as le...

04-03
41:29

Here's how AI is disrupting manufacturing

🎙️ The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, your go-to source for insights into the latest in manufacturing technology and innovation! Hosted by Chris Rost, Creative Content Manager at L2L. We're here to bring you some of the best conversations in manufacturing, from the factory floor to the board room. This episode features David Rogers, AI and ML expert and founder of Exponential Industry, as well as our very own Frontline Advocate and Product Wizard, Willemijn Schneyder. They'll explore h...

03-27
36:15

The Truth About Line Stoppages in Manufacturing - with Mohsin Saeed

The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, your go-to source for insights into the latest in manufacturing technology and innovation! Hosted by Chris Rost, Creative Content Manager at L2L, we're bringing you cutting-edge discussions from the factory floor to the boardroom. This episode features L2L's very own Mohsin Saeed - problem solver and manufacturing expert with more than a decade in the industry. He'll be talking us through some of the most common causes of expensive line stoppages in ma...

03-18
16:00

Unlocking Digital TPM Success: Lessons from 40 Years of Manufacturing Excellence

Welcome to the Manufacturing Stream Podcast with your host, Eric Whitley, Director of Manufacturing Solutions at L2L. In this episode, Eric sits down with his longtime friend and TPM expert, Ellis New, also known as Hillbilly. With nearly four decades of experience in Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Ellis and Eric have trained thousands of manufacturing professionals, implementing TPM strategies in plants across the world. Today, they’re diving deep into what makes TPM work, why maintenan...

02-12
47:46

Revolutionizing Manufacturing: How AI and Data Drive Industry Transformation | L2L & CADDi Insights Episode

In this episode of The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, host Eric Whitley, Director of Industrial Transformation at L2L, welcomes a special guest, Chris Brown, VP of Sales at CADDi. Together, they explore how AI and innovative tools are transforming the manufacturing industry, from reshoring efforts to bridging the skilled labor gap. Chris shares insights into CADDi's cutting-edge technology that integrates rich contextual data into engineering drawings, empowering manufacturers to optimize proc...

12-09
26:58

Why Are People Leaving Manufacturing?

In this episode of the Manufacturing Stream Podcast, host Eric Whitley tackles a critical issue in the industry: Why are talented professionals walking away from manufacturing? To explore this, Eric welcomes a special guest—his son, Brandon Whitley. Brandon shares his journey through manufacturing, from assembling products on the line to becoming a continuous improvement specialist, and ultimately leaving the industry. Together, they discuss: The challenges of driving change in traditional ma...

11-21
31:22

Transforming Continuous Improvement With AI

AI is dominating the thought process within manufacturing. But most of the brain power being spent on this topic centers on how to have a practical application of this technology so that it enhances the Availability, Performance and Quality of the factory floor. In this episode we discuss the practical application of AI and how it can be used to remove wasted time and motion in the day to day lives of factory workers. l2l.com Youtube: @leading2lean l2l.com Youtube: @leading2lean

11-01
17:52

Joe Resko, VP of Ops at Worthington Ent. - Creating a Culture of Communication

Joe Resko, Vice President of Operations for Worthington Enterprises joins Eric as a guest in a new L2L webinar. Eric shares this webinar on this podcast. Joe and Eric discuss the findings of L2L's report on What is Holding Manufacturing Back in 2024 and how Worthington is using L2L and its Connected Workforce solution to solve the the labor crisis facing manufacturing. l2l.com Youtube: @leading2lean

09-30
41:28

L2L Acquires SwipeGuide - Discussion with the CEO's

Press Release: In this weeks episode of The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, Eric discusses that L2L has announced the acquisition of Swipe Guide, a move that brings together two powerful technologies to enhance the connected workforce in manufacturing. Eric is joined by, John Devagian, CEO of L2L and Willemijn Schneider, CEO of Swipe Guide. The two CEO’s discuss that this merger aims to address long-standing challenges in the industry, such as labor productivity stagnation and the loss of skil...

09-04
28:11

Learn How to Be Better - Scott Springer

In this weeks episode of The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, Eric welcomes in as guest Scott Springer from Chelwood Consulting. The discussion this week centers on Scott's approach to improvement and leadership in his career as a manufacturing leader. About our guest: Scott is an accomplished Executive Consultant and President of Chelwood Consulting Group, where he provides strategic leadership to revitalize underperforming organizations and enhance business operations. He specializes in manuf...

08-28
39:57

Maureen Fahey - Working With Dr. Shigeo Shingo

In this episode of The Manufacturing Stream Podcast Eric has Maureen Fahey of Productivity talks about her days when JIT and Lean started in the West. Working as a young assistant to Norman Bodek, Maureen tells stories of the days when Dr. Shigeo Shingo would visit the United States and Maureen was there during these visit. Maureen also expounds on when SMED and TPM were introduced to Western manufacturers in the early days of JIT. l2l.com Youtube: @leading2lean

08-16
34:25

The Future of AI in Manufacturing

In this episode, Eric & Phil welcome into the studio Tyler Whitiker, CTO and Co-founder of L2L, to discuss the future of AI in manufacturing and how companies should be using the technology to solve the labor crisis facing Manufacturing. In recent blog post, Tyler has helped explain how manufacturers should be using technology to free up much needed resources, especiall when it comes to labor utilization on the factory floor. l2l.com Youtube: @leading2lean

06-25
47:24

Food industry COO and VP: Why L2L at Honeyville, Inc?

In this episode Eric interviews Mike Pierce COO of Honeyville Inc and Co-host and new VP of Information Technology at Honeyville, Inc. Phil Anderson as they discuss why Honeyville has chosen L2L as their Connected Workforce Platform and why Mike has chosen L2L to be his system at four separate companies. l2l.com Youtube: @leading2lean

06-04
42:11

James Wells at LNS Research Talks Unified Performance Excellence

In this weeks episode, Eric, Malcolm and James Wells from LNS Research discuss Unified Performance Excellence. Unified Performance Excellence (UPX), is a modern approach to industrial performance management that integrates advanced digital tools and methodologies into traditional operational improvement processes. This framework seeks to enhance operational agility, flexibility, and resiliency by leveraging digital technologies like AI, machine learning, and digital twins within a connected a...

04-23
37:21

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