Manufacturing Greatness | Productivity | Retention | Profits | Continuous Improvement | Safety | Workforce Development | Labor Challenges | Skills Gaps | Industry 4.0 – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

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In this episode, Brian Herriot shares insights on manufacturing leadership, productivity, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

Brian brings a practical, human-centered approach to help manufacturing leaders rethink work, leadership, and scheduling so they can build stronger teams without burning people out or lowering standards. You'll hear why traditional shift models are breaking down, how "time freedom" shows up on the shop floor, and what leaders can do right now to improve engagement, retention, and ownership amid labor shortages and skills gaps.

This conversation connects soft skills with operational results, showing how curiosity, authentic leadership, and better communication skills directly impact manufacturing culture, workforce retention, and daily productivity.

02:10 – Frontline leadership must acknowledge that traditional manufacturing management models no longer align with modern workplace culture or employee engagement in manufacturing.

03:30 – Gen Z expects leadership in manufacturing plants to adapt to their lives, not the other way around

06:55 – Great manufacturing culture comes from seeing teams as humans first, not just labor inputs on the production line

09:10 –Employee ownership models and open-book management strengthen trust in leadership, manufacturing relationships, and accountability in manufacturing

11:25 – Manufacturing retention improves when leaders focus on team engagement in manufacturing rather than just output and efficiency

12:45 –Frontline leaders must recognize that many employees juggle multiple jobs and need coaching in manufacturing that supports life beyond the plant

14:10 – Flexible schedules, job sharing, and project-based roles can close the showing up gap while improving manufacturing innovation and retention

15:35 – Time Freedom as a Leadership Strategy
Leadership transformation happens when manufacturing leaders design roles that allow experienced workers to scale back without fully exiting

18:55 –Helping employees understand their financial future reduces anxiety and strengthens employee engagement in manufacturing

22:35 –Deeper conversations about money, time, and work build emotional intelligence, vulnerability in leadership, and a stronger coaching culture

Connect with Brian Herriot

Learn more about Time Freedom

Pre-order Time Freedom and use the code Trevor to get free access to the audiobook

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

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How do you turn a one-machine operation into a thriving business?

Find out in this episode with Ken Handsaeme, founder of On Time Precision. Ken's unique journey started as a machinist, but when he decided he wanted a better retirement plan, he started his own business, initially operating out of a barn with a single machine. It eventually grew into a thriving manufacturing company serving military, aerospace, and medical customers  and helped Ken fulfill his retirement dreams.

In this episode, Ken shares the lessons he learned throughout his career, ranging from the importance of intentional leadership and the root causes of common operational problems to how curiosity-driven conversations and trust-building behaviors drive retention, accountability, and long-term performance. He also shares stories from his own career, giving a practical look at what it really takes to build a manufacturing business that can grow, endure, and succeed beyond the owner.

02:00 – Operational challenges on the shop floor often signal leadership and communication gaps rather than process problems alone

04:15 – Shifting from working in the business to working on the business enables leaders to focus on production leadership and long-term operational excellence.

05:30 - Protected time for quoting is essential to production flow, customer trust, and employee stability

06:45 – Connecting the top to the shop creates shared accountability

08:55 – To accelerate growth, leaders must balance hiring, retention, and capacity planning in manufacturing plants.

10:10 - Structured one-on-one conversations are a powerful tool for supervisor development and deeper team engagement in manufacturing.

11:30 - Curiosity-driven leadership conversations outperform traditional performance reviews in building trust and accountability.

14:00 – To reinforce trust, respect, and leadership credibility, prioritize employee conversations like customer meetings

16:40 –Involving operators in problem-solving and process improvement builds ownership and continuous improvement culture.

17:55 – Have transparent discussions on transparency in manufacturing management, including sharing expectations without overwhelming teams with financial complexity.

20:30 – Self-awareness, vulnerability, and trust in leadership are foundational skills in modern manufacturing environments.

21:50 - Consistent leadership behaviors create workplace culture that supports retention and manufacturing excellence.

23:10 – To prepare for succession, you need to build systems, people, and leadership beyond the owner.

Connect with Ken Handsaeme

Connect on Instagram: @kenhandsaeme

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

When you're dealing with disengagement or low morale on the manufacturing floor, a motivated team can feel like a myth. But with the right leadership mindset and workplace culture, you can improve engagement, productivity, and performance.

In this episode, Jim Pancero,sales and leadership coach with over 40 years of experience working with manufacturing, warehouse, and distribution teams shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

Jim explains what truly motivates teams and how positive communication, trust building, and clear expectations drive retention and accountability. You'll learn practical strategies to reduce negativity, strengthen culture, and create a manufacturing environment where people want to show up and perform at their best.

1:43 – You can't always motivate people, but you can create an environment for self-motivation
3:30 – Build self-worth, recognize contributions, and create a culture where people are comfortable to engage
6:23 – Offering meaningful benefits can drive retention and a sense of belonging 
8:15 – The balance between positive and negative feedback directly influences motivation
12:27 – When you focus on problems rather than solutions, it hurts motivation
14:48 – Through positive affirmations, you shift the tone and drive a positive environment 
18:03 – Immersive onboarding helps new team members foster connection and builds empathy across teams
19:32 – Be curious and separate system issues from personal blame in your daily plant operations 

Connect with Jim Pancero
Connect on LinkedIn
Visit his websites at https://pancero.com/ or https://www.advancedsalesuniversity.com/ 
Find his videos on YouTube

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

Sometimes a chance meeting leads to powerful conversations.

After a random breakfast with W. Kevin Ward of WKW Consulting Services, I invited him onto the podcast to talk about manufacturing leadership, growth mindset, and authentic leadership for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

Kevin shares practical steps for getting off autopilot, seeking wisdom, and reconnecting to vision and core values. We also discuss how intentional leadership, clear communication skills, and strategic thinking help improve morale, strengthen culture, and drive better results on the shop floor.

2:40 – Growing wise is the attention process

4:35 – We all tend to operate on "autopilot"

6:36 – Any role where you're teaching and influencing others is a leadership role

10:09 – It's all about finding a healthy level for yourself and taking intentional steps to manage yourself

10:49 – A big part of being a leader is leading by example

11:55 – The biggest challenge of being a leader can be listening to your own lessons and applying them

13:22 – If something goes wrong with your team, the first step is looking at yourself

16:00 – One big reason people feel like they're on autopilot is that they haven't given good consideration to their own vision

17:50 – Your vision should be a driving force in your life

18:39 – Once you find your vision, communicate it and surround yourself with people with a similar vision

19:34 – If it's something you can do yourself, it's not a vision!

20:04 – What's the difference between a vision and a goal?

20:53 – The pursuit of vision is rarely a straight line

24:56 – If you express your vision well, others will want to be involved

27:28 – A core value is something that you cannot be talked out of

27:56 – There's a need for more love and care in high-stress industries like manufacturing

29:03 – The beauty of wisdom is that when you see it, you gain many other things as a result

Connect with Kevin:

Website

 LinkedIn

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

Welcome to part two with John Raymer, a longtime manufacturing leader who now helps others revitalize their leadership and careers.

In this episode, John dives into integrity, empathy, and challenge, and how Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors can strengthen these traits to improve manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and team morale.

We talk about why integrity builds trust, how empathy shapes authentic leadership, and why leaders must invite honest feedback. John also shares practical insights on growth mindset, accountability, and how showing genuine care directly impacts engagement, efficiency, and performance on the shop floor.

12:18 – To be effective, invest in your relationships with people

18:17 – You never know what trials other people are going through

19:40 – Even if you do care, your empathy might not always show up through your behavior

23:00 – The final characteristic of great leaders is "challenge"

24:00 – Leaders who act tired, defeated, or like they're not fully on board aren't inspiring

24:39 – If employees don't feel engaged or challenged, they will not step up in their role

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

People see who you are, even when you don't.

In this episode, John Raymer, longtime manufacturing leader and former Toyota Motor Manufacturing professional, joins the podcast to talk about manufacturing leadership, humility, and authentic leadership for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

In part one of this two-part conversation, John shares how teams learn everything from their leaders, both good and bad, and why practicing humility helps improve communication skills, build trust, and make employees feel valued. We explore how emotional intelligence, accountability, and growth mindset directly impact culture, engagement, and performance on the shop floor.

0:43 – "Serve the person you once were."

1:00 – How your land with other people don't always match your intentions

2:18 – There has never been a time where manufacturing leadership is more important than it is today

3:41 – Without people skilled in manufacturing and others trades, we're at risk of our whole economic engine fall apart

5:03 – True efficiency requires great leadership

5:59 – To find out why you organization is the way it is, look closely at yourself

6:17 – People learn everything, both good and bad, for leaders in their organization

8:40 – If someone is performing poorly, their leadership and who trained them is a big factor

9:00 – The people you're in charge of will only perform as well as they see you performing

10:45 – People perceive who you really are, even when you don't see it yourself

10:53: What's the different between mistakes and lessons?

12:08 – Change to the whole organization comes from the top

14:43 – When people feel like their contributions aren't valued, they're more likely to leave the organization

15:17 – Humility is an important foundational skill for leaders

16:06 – "Problem employees" can often be the ones with the most valuable insights

17:35 - The biggest mistake that a leader can make is to run over, talk over, or dismiss the opinions of those that work for you. 

20:34 – Apologies and humility go a long way

22:44 – Most people remember the best leaders in their lives and the very poor ones, but not the ones in-between

24:59 – When you own your mistakes, people respect it

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

Even with ongoing labor shortages, women in manufacturing remain a largely untapped workforce.

In this episode, executive coach Nicole Provonchee from Bright Blue Consulting joins the podcast to discuss manufacturing leadership, workforce development, and authentic leadership for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

Nicole breaks down common barriers women and other minorities face on the shop floor and shares practical strategies leaders can use to shift mindset, improve communication skills, and strengthen inclusion. You will learn how curiosity, trust building, and intentional leadership can help cultivate female leadership while supporting engagement, retention, and long term team performance.

2:54 – A lack of flexibility is a big challenge facing female manufacturing employees

3:58 – We need to address how we can help people live the lives they have while still flourishing in the workplace

6:19 – Workplace environments need to be accommodating for women and other primary caregivers

7:25 – By starting dialogues with their female employees about issues like flexibility, workplaces can reach the most productive outcomes

9:11 – Employees also need to have a level of accountability in order to create an open dialogue

12:58 – How can we lead differently to get more women into leadership positions in manufacturing?

13:81 – Even in female-dominated fields like healthcare, women and other minorities struggle to move up to leadership roles

14:54 – The best way to get women into leadership roles is to recruit them early

15:11 – Women can become better self-advocates and articulate what they need from their workplace

16:44- Generally, women only apply for jobs when they're between 60% to 80% confident they will get the position

17:55 – People in leadership positions can encourage women to apply for higher-up jobs

19:25 – Women often hold themselves back out of the misguided belief that they must be experts before they can move forward to a higher role

20:49 – To invest in female leaders, companies should look at their recruitment tactics

22:22 – Cultural systemic change must also take place over time

Contact Nicole:

Bright Blue Consulting

Email

LinkedIn  

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

What's the secret to retaining talent and building a healthy manufacturing culture? According to Jon Finch, Senior Vice President at Milwaukee Tool, it starts with giving back.

In this episode, Jon joins the podcast to share insights on manufacturing leadership, employee engagement, and accountability for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

We talk about building strong company values, delivering on mission, and creating opportunities for employees to contribute beyond the shop floor. Jon also shares how workforce shortages, changing talent expectations, and compensation pressure are forcing leaders to rethink retention strategies, communication skills, and culture to sustain productivity and long term performance.

7:09 – Get people rallied around a purpose, value, and mission

8:57 – Every business has a "why" statement and something that really matters to them

9:37 – Test and try your ideas and know that it won't be perfect the first time

10:15 – Values are particularly important to Gen Z Employees

13:32 – Find a way to give people who are connected and interested a way to help give back

14:36 – People like to be associated with organizations with positive values

17:41 – Give your employees and leadership a chance to connect to something that really matters

18:59 – Employees who feel like they've had a chance to give back will provide additionally efforts and have greater engagement

19:24 – By treating employees holistically, we see great thing happen and that's why flexibility and perspective are so important

20:29 – When you give to others, it grows your own mindset

22:45 – It's all about delivering stories that everyone wants to be a part of

26:04 – The team that you have at the beginning of the process is a good indicator of how the entire organization will look

27:04 – You can't figure out a company's culture just from an interview

29:12 – It's important for employees to search for accountability

32:37 – Through engagement, you'll see value

Contact Jon:

Linkedin

Milwaukee Tool

Careers at Milwaukee Tool 

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

Is it really okay to lose it sometimes, or are we just making excuses?

In this episode, Sara Westrook joins the podcast to talk manufacturing leadership, emotional intelligence, and accountability for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

We go deep on owning your behavior, building communication skills, and treating emotions as a leadership skill. Sara shares practical strategies to shift mindset, strengthen self awareness, and show up with authenticity so you can improve trust, engagement, and performance on the shop floor.

1:45 – Leave your emotions at the door like a backpack, NO they are still coming in with you, so how do you move with and through them in a healthy way

3:02 – Do not want to make an emotionally based decision, can lead to regret

4:15 – Allowed to sit with that emotion, not going from emotion to choice, allow it to have room, move with and through, and have your own character based choice, bounce back and move forward

6:13 - emotional awareness, emotional management, and ultimately emotional resilience 

8:00 – teams want to be emotionally intelligent, yet they do not know how, like going to the gym, how do you build those muscles?  Not by watching videos, by putting things into action, habits 

10:57 – first exercise has the end in mind, what's the circumstance, or what are circumstances that you feel hold you back or really trigger you, and what emotion comes out of you 

13:08-learn to think and act beyond emotion to honour that the emotions there, but to start to use the emotion as information and even motivation 

16:08-how we engage other people matters, the art of communication and that takes being very emotionally aware 

19:15-why are emotions sometimes hard to talk about, you could have one group of people say well they're hard to talk about because I feel like i'll be seen as weak and another because of being seen as dramatic 

20:13-self care starts to take a big plummet it also can decrease company morale you know just keep shoving emotions down pretending they're not their 

20:30-breaking down the boxes, shifting a greater role for women in manufacturing 

24:12-when you can start to see emotions is information your brain now knows that oh it's something that I can do something with it doesn't completely have to overwhelm me 

26:40-sometimes you have to lean into that discomfort

27:05-doesn't mean you're an anxious person, it means you're a person that's experiencing the emotion of anxious and that's uncomfortable and awkward but it's part of the journey 

28:48-emotions are a reason for a behaviour, not an excuse 

30:00-Sara's company 3E Emotional Development  is about really honing in skills on emotional awareness, emotional management and emotional resilience

Connect with her here;

Instagram: @iamsarawestbrook

Twitter: twitter.com/SaraWestbrook

LinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/sarawestbrook

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3Asvqps

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

What happens when you put others first, work hard, and become a true bridge builder? You build a legacy.

In this episode, LaVerne Roberts shares her journey to becoming a Director of Operations in a traditionally male dominated manufacturing environment. We explore manufacturing leadership, authentic leadership, growth mindset, and resilience for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

LaVerne reflects on decades of research and development success, the leadership mindset that fueled her progression, and how trust building, communication skills, and accountability shaped her impact. You will walk away with practical insights on leading with confidence, strengthening culture, and paving the way for the next generation in manufacturing.

3:20 – building a network, not even realizing I was doing it, relationships

5:05 – any doubts came from within, Vice President support and getting surrounded by great people

7:00 – you must work hard, learning the fundamentals not so much the leadership skill, like going to school

8:05 – not asking for help, self imposter syndrome(for more science on this, check out  Adam Grant's book Think Again)

10:00 – self-doubt more common, men verses woman may be different

12:00 – one on one coaching, identified my leadership style flexes from leading from behind and leading at the front

13:00 –leading from behind suggesting to the team, supporting them

13:55 – in the beginning, you may need to lead from the front, create the vision, help the team see what we wanted to look like

15:30 – Jim Collins, Good to Great, I or we, how LaVerne allows the team to take direction

16:30 – do more with the kernel, how it is received, will determine the next steps

17:54 – husband Scott says LaVerne is a bridge builder, not for LaVerne, for the excitement of what is going to happen when the connection is made

19:10 – when people can see you are not in it for yourself, people ask more questions about you

20:20 – finding the sweet spot-on building trust, finding the common ground, something we connect with

21:55 – you also must be a good listener, you can with enough ambition and desire achieve great things, and chart your journey, we are a lot stronger and smarter than we think