Join Mark Keho and Rob Atkins, veteran general foremen from Kawasaki Engines. Discover their fascinating career journeys from humble beginnings in Iowa and Missouri to leading roles in the machining and die casting departments. Gain insights into their experiences, the evolution of Kawasaki's manufacturing processes, and the importance of continual improvement and mentorship. This episode is packed with industry knowledge, personal stories, and engaging trivia, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in manufacturing. Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation!

Mike Reader, VP of Sales and Engineering at Precision Plus, shares his journey from intern to executive. Mike discusses the evolution of the manufacturing industry, the importance of youth apprenticeships, and the role Precision Plus played in producing ventilator parts during COVID-19. He offers insights into overcoming industry challenges, the significance of family businesses, and the innovative spirit driving modern manufacturing. This episode provides valuable lessons for professionals at all levels, highlighting the dynamic and evolving nature of the manufacturing sector.

In this insightful episode, Jeff Gentry from Shaw Industries shares his philosophy on tackling difficult and often overlooked tasks, emphasizing the importance of stepping outside one's comfort zone and embracing challenges. He encourages listeners to seek out opportunities that others shy away from, as these are often the most rewarding. Gentry also discusses his unique approach to personal management, treating himself like a team and continuously learning new skills to overcome obstacles. His engineering mindset shines through as he advises, "If you run into a brick wall, learn masonry to take it down."

In this episode of the Voices of Manufacturing podcast, we interview Samantha Lawrence, the Learning and Development Coordinator at Johnsonville. Samantha shares her unique career journey from being an English teacher and learning leader in the Sheboygan School District to her current role at Johnsonville. She discusses the joy of supporting diverse member goals, ranging from becoming the best operator to starting a nonprofit. Samantha highlights her certifications in various areas, including mental health first aid and talent optimization, and emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and innovative training methods. The episode also touches on the significance of transferable skills, mentorship, and creating an environment that fosters personal and professional growth.

Allen's impressive career spans from being an automation engineer at Colgate Palmolive to holding significant roles at Walmart, Tesla, and various tech companies. Tune in as we delve into Allen’s journey, starting from his childhood in Long Island, his hands-on experiences in global manufacturing, and his transition into tech leadership as VP of Product at Dozuki.

Starting at the Canada Department of National Defense, Echo worked on aircraft avionics systems and later transitioned to the private sector, becoming an engineering manager and now a senior advisor. She emphasizes a key lesson: ambition doesn’t always equate to capacity. Echo also discusses the importance of mentorship, the challenges of moving from public to private sectors, and her interest in green energy's future.

In this episode of the Dozuki podcast, Andrew Dendis from RTX discusses his experience in a leadership development program, emphasizing the importance of versatility, networking, and dynamic problem solving in manufacturing and aerospace industries.

Thomas has been observing the trends of the manufacturing workforce over the past decade as a training manager. He’s noticed the workforce has changed dramatically over that time. In this episode, Thomas breaks down the modern manufacturing employee and what they want in a job and employer. During this interview with Thomas, we will cover the three big areas that employees are focused on and how manufacturing companies can align their operations to meet these demands.

A seasoned value stream mapping facilitator, Karen Martin, shares insights into effective process mapping for manufacturing companies. The discussion walks through the multi-staged process, emphasizing the importance of the charter phase, defining the present and future state, collecting and understanding data, the role of leadership, and creating transformation plans. Karen discusses the ideal team composition for mapping, how to manage the level of detail, and ways to ensure that improvements are aligned with key business metrics. Throughout the conversation, Karen highlights the necessity of having an outside, skilled facilitator for the successful execution of value stream mapping.

Our insightful discussion covers the dangers of insignificant improvements, the challenges posed by an overload of initiatives, and the drawbacks of rigid processes. Learn how to counter these mistakes by adopting strategic focus, embracing a growth mindset, prioritizing key projects, and maintaining the fundamental processes of your business.

Join Chad Moutray and Anjana Radhakrishnan from The Manufacturing Institute as they delve into the challenges of the current manufacturing labor market. Exploring vital statistics, they unveil insights from a recent study on the pivotal role of company culture and employee engagement. Discover practical strategies to elevate your company culture and stand out in the competitive landscape.

Meet Jared Supalla from Imagine Group. They've adopted a "Quality at the Source" methodology. Instead of traditional end-of-line quality checks, they empower their operators to ensure quality right during production. It's a game-changer, making every employee an active participant in maintaining standards. It's a refreshing take on quality management that's making a real difference in their operations.

A former director and manager of digital training at leading biotech firms Sanofi and Moderna, Chris Policastro shares valuable insights from his experience in the regulated life sciences industry. The discussion covers topics ranging from navigating FDA regulations for systems validation to establishing internal networks to advocate for innovative solutions supporting frontline operations. Chris, who successfully implemented Dozuki at both companies, provides unique content addressing the challenges life sciences professionals face in adopting new technology, particularly with concerns about validation. His practical advice and success stories make this episode essential for individuals in the life sciences industry looking to embrace innovative solutions.

Learn the importance of standards in your 5S program. From visual controls to supply procurement and accountability, standards play a pivotal role in ensuring lean success. Brian and Michael roll solo on this one, so tune in for valuable insights on building a culture focused on standards.

Andrew Murphy was brought into the company to help Norman Noble mature from a job shop with a mom & pop structure to a corporate structure. We discuss how Andrew and his team are implementing lean manufacturing and changing the company culture along with the tools and systems they use.

The theme of this episode is focused on preparing the frontline for digital transformation. We cover everything from how to get the frontline involved during pilots to how to develop the technical skills of the frontline to take advantage of new technologies like VR and 3D printing.

This might be our most tactical and encouraging episode yet! Mark shares how he came into Superior Pak and created systems to create visibility into their manufacturing process. They created a homegrown MES solution using a cheap off-the-shelf forms/checklist app. They used another cheap off-the-shelf app to create a check-in/check-out system for tools and parts. The biggest win was connecting all of these systems to Power BI to bring visibility and reporting to all the production teams and management.

Discover the power of employee engagement in driving company success in this insightful podcast episode. Jon Keiper from MPP Innovation talks about the significance of engaging the whole person, the value of vulnerability in leadership, and the effectiveness of daily management systems. Gain practical tips on improving employee engagement and creating a collaborative work environment. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding of employee engagement in the manufacturing industry and cultivate a motivated and valued workforce.

In this episode of The Voices of Manufacturing, hosts Brian Sallee and Michael Muilenburg speak with LaRuthie Mason, who works at the manufacturing company Shaw. The hosts discuss the use of AI tools and the acceleration of Industry 4.0, and how it's important to train people on these technologies. LaRuthie shares insights into the challenges and opportunities in the manufacturing industry and emphasizes the importance of treating employees as partners in building a successful business.

“Be careful with that silicon wafer. It's worth more than your house.” Rodney Babcock, President of Next Intent, learned this lesson as the quality assurance manager servicing the likes of IBM and other semiconductor behemoths. From his humble beginnings as a machinist programming a lathe to managing supply chain production to become an entrepreneur and leader in the aerospace industry, Rodney has a wealth of experience as both a manufacturing operator and manager. Tune in as we explore a variety of topics related to Next Intent’s expertise with low volume / high precision manufacturing. It’s high stakes and high reward!