Manufacturers Make Strides – Details, episodes & analysis

Sustaining improvement in manufacturing takes more than introducing new processes. It’s about making change last, empowering people, and balancing consistency with progress. In this episode, George Pesansky, President of My Blended Learning and author of Super Performance, shares how manufacturers can stop firefighting, build systems that last, and create lasting performance across their teams.

We explore:
• Why most improvement programs fail to sustain results
• How to balance people and process for long-term success
• Practical ways to create a culture of ownership on the shop floor

George shows that sustaining improvement isn’t about adding more tools. It’s about reducing the leaks, empowering your people, and focusing on what really drives performance.

📍 Connect with George on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deliberateimprovement/

📍 Learn more about Super Performance: https://georgepesansky.com/

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 manufacturing careers
• Why fulfilment, not money, is the real measure of career progress
• What managers can do to grow their teams while supporting individual goals

Samantha shows that finding fulfilment in manufacturing is about more than titles or salaries, it’s about aligning your career with what matters most.
 
📍 Connect with Samantha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleysamantha/

📍 Visit Shelley Quality Management: https://sqms.org.uk/

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 sales
• How to create content that’s actually useful for buyers
• What manufacturers are doing differently with social media
• How to spot gaps in your process that might be slowing things down

Jennelle is the CEO of Market Veep. She’s worked with hundreds of manufacturers to build practical, people-first marketing that gets results.

📍 Connect with Jennelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennellemcgrath/

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 early
• What skills manufacturing engineers really need to make change happen
• How to quantify and communicate problems in a way the business can’t ignore.

Craig brings a rare, full-lifecycle view of aerospace and defence. He explains how manufacturers can move away from firefighting and take control earlier in the process to build smarter.

📍 Connect with Craig on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-higton-74250314/

Meet Bhavik Shah: Driving Innovation in Vehicle Electrification

Bhavik Shah, Business Growth Manager at Unipart Automotive, has over 30 years in automotive manufacturing and a decade in vehicle electrification. In this episode, we discuss the future of vehicle electrification, critical factors for transitioning businesses, and the evolving EV supply chain.

Bhavik shares insights on fostering innovation, the role of mentoring, and integrating energy systems in manufacturing. He also addresses challenges faced by SMEs and large corporations, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness in boosting creativity and productivity.

Gain valuable knowledge from an industry leader. Don’t miss Bhavik’s expert advice and inspiring journey. Listen now!

Martin Griffiths,
Co-Founder
Metis Automation
https://www.metisautomation.co.uk/

Meet Mark Whitten: The Mastermind Behind Spartanburg Steel 2.0

There’s a difference between being a business owner and being a true entrepreneur; the latter has a passion, a spark, a hunger to drive their legacy forward and make a lasting difference in their industry. Mark Whitten is one such individual. His commitment to not just his company – but the people and culture behind it – is truly inspirational.

I was lucky enough to get the chance to chat with Mark, President & CEO of Spartanburg Steel. Mark took over this 40-year-old ship two years ago, and it was clear that change was urgent. After ending up in manufacturing by accident, Mark found it his responsibility to conquer SSP’s recent hardships and transform it into the 2.0 powerhouse it is today.

In this exclusive interview, Mark reveals his best-kept secrets behind what goes into building a successful team – which is his number one priority and the driving force behind his business’s success. He also exposes his thought processes behind true performance, along with the value of hard work and determination, explaining how he grew from an hourly employee in a manufacturing facility to the industry authority he is today.

Mark truly has some invaluable insights to share, including the monthly habits he and his team implement to sustain the success they’ve worked so hard to build. This is not an interview you’ll want to miss out on. Hit the button to check it out right now!

Martin Griffiths,

Co-Founder

Metis Automation https://www.metisautomation.co.uk/

Just as there’s a storyteller behind every novel, every car on the road is made possible by the manufacturers of steel and aluminium. But not every manufacturer is created equal…

Led by Arun Thandapani, Hirschvogel is a pioneering steel and aluminium part supplier that’s changing the face of the sector as we know it. Arun and his team are taking the technological side of manufacturing to the next level, leveraging the manpower-freeing potential of automation to meet evolving industry demand.

In this eye-opening interview, Arun reveals how he and his team are going where no metal manufacturer has gone before – connecting data points to reality. By deriving meaningful insights hidden behind data, Arun and his crew are bringing the industry better results than ever before.

Listen to Arun's story here!

Martin Griffiths,

Co-Founder

Metis Automation https://www.metisautomation.co.uk/

The way we move never stays the same for very long. Humans have transitioned from foot to carriage to car, and now, P.J Tezza is escorting mankind into the next generation of mobility – ModVans – the result of 1000+ hours of work and an unrelenting refusal to take no for an answer.

In this fascinating interview, P.J reveals how he turned his background in physics and software engineering into a powerhouse manufacturer that configures 10 vans a week – a number they plan to shoot up to 100 in the not-so-distant future. And to think – it all began with P.J configuring his own van for himself, made to maintain luxury, comfort, and convenience on the open road.

As an intrinsic problem-solver, P.J wanted to give America a way to move, work, and play in one multi-purpose family vehicle that’s beautiful, functional and redefines the word “modular”. No matter the nature of the van before them, the ModVans' team have the knowledge, experience, and self-taught grit to transform it into something America has never seen before.

Listen to P.Js' incredible journey here!

Martin Griffiths,

Co-Founder

Metis Automation https://www.metisautomation.co.uk/

E-vehicles were once considered the future of mobility. Now, it’s solidly a present reality for drivers around the world. Countless drivers are now hopping into electric or hybrid cars, trucks, and buses instead of their fossil-fuelled powered counterparts. 

However, what is the future for e-vehicles? Tony Sufler, the VP of Ops and MD at Momentum Dynamics, might just have the answer. He’s the developer of a new, innovative way to wirelessly charge electric vehicles of all shapes and sizes. His pioneering idea might just be the step towards electric vehicles that can be operated for 24 hours a day!   

If you want to find out more about how Tony started his career at tier-one automotive suppliers, and worked himself up to VP at one of the leading innovators in the EV market, tune in now! We’ll talk electric vehicles, charging changes, and the future of driving.

Martin Griffiths,   

Co-Founder   

Metis Automation https://www.metisautomation.co.uk/

Automation is one of the hottest topics in the engineering and manufacturing industries. The speed, efficiency, and potential hurdles of automation are the points of discussion on every agenda.   

Today we’re talking to the co-founder of an online platform that’s making job accessibility in the age of automation a very real and very lucrative opportunity for automation engineers in America.  

Hear what Tony Wallace has to say about why automation is happening at break-neck speeds, how automation engineers and PLC programmers can stay ahead of the career game, and how America is joining the conversation.  

If you’d like to learn more about Tony’s career from contractor to co-founder of Automateamerica.com, then listen to our podcast as we talk about career moves, online platforms for programming professionals, and thoughts on automation as the future of America.  

Let’s get right into it!  

Martin Griffiths,   

Co-Founder   

Metis Automation https://www.metisautomation.co.uk/