Abby Smith, President and CEO of Team Pennsylvania, has figured out how to bring together the public and private sectors to move manufacturing forward in her state. She'll talk about exactly what they're doing and how they're doing it. My hope is that some of you listening today will walk away feeling inspired and triggered with ideas for what similar things might be possible in your own region.

When you're leading a manufacturing organization that's thriving (or even growing bit by bit), somewhere along the way you're likely to run into a problem you can't ignore. And that is: We're out of space. In this conversation, Alex Garland and Christopher Yows from Burns & McDonnell will talk about the different layers of complexity involved with manufacturing facility expansions and what you should be thinking about if you know an expansion may be on the horizon for your business. They'll dive into everything from location, incentives and space planning to risk mitigation, automation and labor.

Warehouse management systems. What exactly are they? What's different from the features in your ERP? Or your MES? Who truly needs a warehouse management system? When do you know you'll be ready for one? And how do you choose the right one for you? CEO of Fullstride, Casey Winans, is here to answer all of these questions and more.

Creating an online community can be challenging and far-fetched for many. When it’s done correctly, it can foster communication in a way that creates a feedback loop between you and your customers.  
Joining today are two of Gorilla 76's own strategists, Brendon Forrest and Peyton Warren. In this episode, Brendon and Peyton explain how to apply an online community to a business setting.  
Join us as we discuss:
What an online community is
Examples of thriving online communities in the manufacturing sector
Why creating value must take precedence over pushing products in these settings
What might motivate a manufacturing leader to facilitate an online community  


Additional Resources:
Industrial Marketing Live, an ongoing webinar series designed specifically for marketers in the manufacturing sector

Although the physical labor Boomers can provide in the manufacturing workforce has diminished, we cannot ignore the expertise and knowledge they bring to the table with years of experience in this industry.  
Will Healy III is a founding board member of the Advance Manufacturing Industry Partnership (AMIP), whose mission is to connect manufacturers, educators, and workforce partners to evangelize the positive outcomes of manufacturing careers. Will has more than 16 years of experience in various discrete production industries, including assembly, food and beverage packaging, welding and stamping. In this episode, Will talks about how to retain Boomers in the workforce.  
Join us as we discuss:
Why we should invest in people-centric technology 
How can we keep our Boomers around and empower them 
The importance of diversity in the manufacturing workforce
What actions Will would like to see the manufacturing sector take to shine a light on the great things happening in the space

The narrative around robotics, automation, and industry 4.0 technology are that these technologies are out of reach and require overwhelming investments and change to company infrastructure, but with advancements in technology across the manufacturing sector, this narrative is changing quickly.   
Fady Saad and Mark Martin are General Partners at Cybernetix, a venture capital firm leading the way for investment into early-stage robotics, automation, and AI startups. Fady is also the Co-Founder of MassRobotics, the world's first and largest robotics & AI startup escalator. He led the multi-million dollar fundraising for the organization and architected MassRobotics' corporate partnership program and business model.  
Mark has 25+ years of executive tech leadership spanning industrial, healthcare, automotive, and consumer industries. A former VP of Analog Devices Industrial Automation, Sensors, and IoT division leading a $1B+ business, Mark led multiple acquisitions, strategic investments, and scaled new business ventures. 
In this episode, Fady and Mark break down all of the transformational technology changes that are affecting manufacturing right now.  
Join us as we discuss:
Some of the transformational technologies that are happening in manufacturing right now 
What it takes to get past the fear of change to make or invest in something new 
Mark and Fady's perspective on automation in manufacturing not being an option, but a necessity 
How the current economic climate will affect manufacturing in the near future

It is easy to do the same thing repeatedly, but there is no better time than now to start thinking differently as a manufacturing leader.  
Nikki Gonzales is the Head of Partnerships for Quotebeam, a collaborative marketplace and workflow platform for the industrial automation industry. She helps buyers cut their sourcing time from weeks to days by building partner relationships with distributors and manufacturers in the space. Nikki is also the host of the Automation Ladies podcast, where girls talk about industrial automation. In this episode, Nikki offers her perspective on how manufacturing leaders can begin to shift their mindset.  
Join us as we discuss:
How the Automation Ladies Podcast came to be
Why is manufacturing such a male dominated industry and what needs to happen for that to change
 What is Quotebeam, why it’s important, and what are some of the unique challenges that come with working in a startup
Nikki’s perspective on the supply chain crisis and where it is headed

When someone says “made in America,” it has always been said with a sense of pride. It is a term that has traditionally been associated with quality and reliability. But what does “made in America” mean, and do the benefits of keeping things stateside outweigh offshoring operations? 
In 2013, Brandon Acker purchased Titan Abrasive Systems after spending five years learning the ins and outs of the business. As President of Titan Abrasive, Brandon oversees the design and manufacturing of the company's complete line of blast room and blast Machine Products for industrial applications. In this episode, Brandon talks about what being "made in America" means and the benefits of sourcing components that are made in the USA.  
Join us as we discuss:
The advantages of being fully made in America as a manufacturing operation
What's happening at the US government level to help manufacturers bring manufacturing back to the US
What happened to the manufacturing workforce after the pandemic
Brandon's advice for manufacturers wanting to become a made-in-America business

Innovative organizations have figured out that employee engagement highly depends on the employer-employee experience you provide inside your organization. The changes that covid has brought to the workplace over the last two years have affected the experience businesses can provide to their employees. 
Julie Jeannotte is the Employee Engagement Expert & Senior Researcher at OfficeVibe. With over 15 years of experience in the HR industry, Julie is an expert at helping organizations understand the value of placing their people at the heart of their strategy. Julie's background and experience have given her the ability to know what it takes to build high-performing teams with a people-first approach.  
Join us as we discuss:
How Julie began her journey in the HR industry
The core functions of her company’s employee engagement software, OfficeVibe
Why employee engagement is essential in creating great work environments

Ongoing learning and professional development are necessary for anyone who wants to stay ahead of the curve. And this episode’s guest has constructed his business around this exact idea. 
Tim Wilborne is the owner of TW Controls with his wife, Amber. Tim began working in a machine shop at the age of 12 and eventually found his way into industrial controls. While his wife was eight months pregnant, they started TW Controls with the primary goal of helping you become a better technician. Tim brings us great insights into how he began his journey and why it’s never too late to get started. 
Join us as we discuss:
Tim’s foray into the world of industrial controls 
The common misconception about automation
Why ongoing learning is so critical

MJ Peters joins us two years after her first appearance on our show to talk about the evolution of workforce collaboration among engineers in manufacturing.  
Currently the VP of Marketing at CoLab Software, MJ brings a mix of industrial and SaaS experience to her role. Before CoLab, MJ worked with 50+ venture-backed b2b software companies on their demand generation strategies at Refine Labs. And prior to that, she spent six years working at FTSE 100 Halma PLC, a group of mid-sized manufacturing businesses focused on medical, environmental and safety technology.  
Join us as we discuss:
How the way teams communicate and collaborate (especially engineers) has started to change
How digital transformations are impacting modern manufacturing and engineering
Steps that MJ has taken to uniquely position CoLab in its market

Our guest today sheds light on what future warehouses will look like as robots become more intelligent.  
Michael Perry is the Vice President of Marketing at Dexterity, Inc. Michael's main objective is to help customers and partners understand how AI-enabled robots can grow their operations. Before Micahel's time with Dexterity, he was Boston Dynamics VP of business development, where he led the go-to-market campaigns for the company's first commercial products. Michael was also the general manager of North America and Director of Strategic Partnerships at DJI, where he built the Enterprise Partnership ecosystem and sales channels for the world's leading drone manufacturer. 
Join us as we discuss:
The evolution of robotic intelligence
How robots can help solve problems in the supply chain
A look into the warehouse of the future 

In any manufacturing operation, quality matters.

Andrew Steele, the founder of FactoryQA, is an expert in quality management systems. After starting on the manufacturing floor and years of experience auditing, Andrew brings excellent insights into what quality management systems mean inside a manufacturer's operations. 

Join us as we discuss:
 What does quality mean in manufacturing? 
 How to know if you have a sound quality system in place? 
 The future of quality management in an increasingly digital world

In most companies, experts are hired to do a specific job. Engineering does engineering. Marketing does marketing. Sales does sales. And so on. But what happens when each of those departments does their respective jobs in silos, without a common mission, and in the absence of collaboration? In today's conversation, Jeffrey Abell (engineer) and Adam Beck (industrial marketer) of Cadenas PARTsolutions talk about how to bring together the engineering and marketing functions of a manufacturing organization to drive growth. Because when the silos come down, opportunities emerge.

Over the years, I’ve talked to a lot of manufacturers as a marketing advisor. When I ask them what their ideal customer looks like, I usually get a response saying that they deal with many types of customers in many different industries.  
While there’s nothing wrong with targeting different customers, channeling your marketing energy into lanes where you have the best chances of winning will assure you don’t spread yourself too thin. 
Join us as we discuss:
Making intentional decisions about which audience segments to focus on
Identifying the buying process influencers and what matters most to them
Frameworks for crafting a customer-centric brand narrative

Harnessing the power of technology allows you to do more with less. Mobile industrial apps enable manufacturers to get more done with fewer people by streamlining processes, improving the capture and sharing of data.  
Greg Bohling, the Vice President of Sales and Customer Success at Alpha Software, brings over 15 years of experience in providing digital transformation leadership to manufacturing companies. Greg coaches organizations on how to digitize manual and paper-intensive processes.  
Join us as we discuss:
What is happening in the manufacturing industry today regarding digital vs. analog data entry.
Where manual data entry is happening in manufacturing and how to improve using technology. 
The importance of having strong quality data in your manufacturing business.

Fran Brunelle is President of Accelerated Manufacturing Brokers, Inc., a company specializing in the sale of lower middle-market manufacturing companies. Fran was named one of the most influential women in M&A (mergers and acquisitions) in 2020. She is also the host of the Women and Manufacturing Podcast. Fran helps manufacturing business owners prepare their companies for sale and navigate the sale process to ensure positive financial results. 
Join us as we discuss:
Factors that buyers will look for when when evaluating a potential acquisition
How to plan for your exit, even if it’s many years down the road
How your brand image will affect your valuation
Why right now is a better time than ever to sell

In the manufacturing sector, the person who’s writing the check often isn’t the same person whose attention and trust you need to earn. Instead, the most important buying process influencers tend to be the technical professionals who are trying to solve a problem or achieve an outcome. And in many cases, those technical professionals are engineers. 
Wendy Covey, CEO, and Co-Founder of TREW Marketing, is an expert in reaching those exact people. As host of the Content Marketing, Engineered podcast, author of Content Marketing, Engineered: Build Trust and Convert Buyers with Technical Content, and publisher of an annual study, State of Marketing to Engineers, Wendy is a wealth of knowledge on the subject. 
Join us as we discuss:
 The findings of TREW Marketing’s 2022 study 
 How marketing to engineers can increase the chances of closing a sale
 Where engineers go to collect information to make buying decisions

It appears that we’re heading into a recession. So what does that mean for manufacturers? And how can you deploy (or redeploy) your marketing team to make sure you come out in one piece on the other end of it? 
Today John McTigue, a Freelance Writer and B2B Marketing Advisor at The Customer Journey Maestro, joins us to talk about how marketing can help you recession-proof your business. John brings a wealth of insight with experience as a product marketer and account executive in enterprise software, and a digital marketing agency owner and customer journey consultant.  
Join us as we discuss:
Focusing not only on a go-to-market strategy, but also a go-to-customer strategy
The importance of brand marketing for demand creation
Being a problem solver around what matters most to your audience 

The days of posting a job and watching candidates line up around the corner are now in the past. We’ve quickly shifted into a candidate-driven market and many employers are being affected by it, but most don’t know how to handle it. ` 
Today we talk to Ann Wyatt, founder and agency owner of Ann Wyatt Recruiting. An expert recruiter in the manufacturing sector, Ann shares her insights on what you can do to make your workplace more appealing to prospective candidates.  
Join us as we discuss:
The current state of recruiting in the industrial sector
How the current unemployment rate impacts recruiting and ways around it
Why culture fit is so important, and how a recruiter can make the perfect match between candidate and company

The way our customers collect information and look for products has changed, and in order to keep up with demand, manufacturers have to change the way that they approach sales and marketing.  
Today’s episode is very unique. This is a conversation that was originally recorded on Chris Grainger’s podcast: EECO Ask’s Why.    
Chris Grainger joins us from EECO, an industrial automation and power solutions company. Chris has been running the EECO Ask’s Why podcast for over 2 years and offers valuable insights on manufacturing as well as starting your own B2B podcast. Chris executed a fantastic interview with me on the go-to-market transformation in manufacturing.  
Join us as we discuss:
 How sales and marketing have changed in manufacturing
 How VOC plays an important role in GTM strategy and direction 
 How to clearly define your audience and figure out what matters to them

Marty Groover, Partner and CTO at C5MI, spent over two decades as a Surface Warfare Officer in the US Navy. He didn’t know it at the time, but this time in the Navy helped him see into the future – of manufacturing. 
Marty offers insight into the unmatched benefits of using live data to enhance your processes, product and bottom line, and how pairing people processes with technology will position you to lead the fourth industrial revolution. 
Join us as we discuss:
What the manufacturing sector can learn from the retail industry
How to build operating systems that are flexible and future-proof
Why leading with technology has its limitations

People often worry that technology and automation will replace human workers.  
But what if the most powerful path forward is empowering workers with technology for better effectiveness and efficiency, instead of replacing them? 
In this episode, Dr. Prasad Akella, the Founder and CEO of Drishti, shares his view on the future of manufacturing. A future where video data not only improves the quality of a product, but also empowers workers on the plant floor and strengthens employee retention. 
Join us as we discuss:
 How technology empowers humans to be more effective
 What using data can do for your productivity
 Why using technology leads to better employee retention

Are trade shows worth it? That seems to be a divisive question these days. But here's the truth: Like with many forms of marketing or sales activities, it comes down to execution. 
Today’s guest, Jake Hall, Keynote Speaker and Content Creator of The Manufacturing Millennial, details how to connect the physical world of a trade show with the digital world that exists before, during and after that event.  
Join us as we discuss:
How to create value and content from trade shows
How building relationships with other companies strengthens your marketing
The importance of developing personal brands 

If you were out at a nice dinner with your significant other and you had the choice to be served by whichever waitress or waiter usually services your table OR the owner of the restaurant, who would you choose? In today's conversation, CEO and President of Sentry Equipment Brian Baker talks about the benefits of an employee-ownership culture. As a 28-year leader of an employee-owned manufacturing organization, he's witnessed first hand what's different when those doing the work ALSO have skin in the game. And while employee-owned companies may represent a only a sliver of the manufacturing sector, the lessons he'll share from his experiences are universally applicable.

Our workforce has changed drastically over the decades. The highly desirable and stable manufacturing industry of the past has struggled to retain workers in our modern times. But there is a way to revitalize the manufacturing industry in the US to keep up with the manufacturing powerhouses around the world.  
Today’s guest, Jason Azevedo, Chief Strategy Officer at MRCA, shares his views on the importance of investing in your workforce, how automation keeps workers employed, and what manufacturing companies can do to build stronger communities.  
Join us as we discuss:
What revitalizing manufacturing looks like today
Why employee health and wellness is most important
How automation and robotics benefit the worker
How to empower smaller communities through manufacturing
How to make your company desirable to buyers 

On this milestone 100th episode, the hosting tables are turned. Joe Sullivan is interviewed by Logan Lyles of Sweet Fish Media about his learnings from 100 consecutive weeks of podcasting and six ways it’s impacted his business. 
Joe Sullivan, Founder of Gorilla76, opens up about why he originally wanted to start a podcast and how he made the transition from creating mostly written content to fueling an entire content program. Joe reflects on the six most impactful outcomes, and shares his advice for overcoming imposter syndrome, getting started, and building meaningful business relationships.  
Join us as we discuss:
How to create and repurpose content with consistency
The meaningful path toward thought leadership
How to thoughtfully humanize your brand
How to measure the impact of your podcast

The manufacturing industry has been slow to adopt new technology. But with the continued improvements in technology, updating your systems has become more cost effective, faster to implement, and more flexible for your manufacturing needs. 
Today’s guest, Barry Johnson, President of Digital Manufacturing at Symphony Industrial AI, talks about how to take advantage of digitization, AI, and emerging technologies to increase productivity.  
Join us as we discuss:
What MES is and the purpose it serves in manufacturing
How digitization drives continuous improvement
How AI is changing the future of manufacturing

Are you making the right decisions to optimize productivity?  
Most organizations don’t. Most get distracted by efficiency and ultimately fail to meet their goals.  
Today’s guest, Pavel Kuviarzin, Business Growth Expert at Future State Engineering, talks about the problem solving steps to make a true impact on productivity, profitability, and the success of your business. 
Join us as we discuss:
The difference between “busy” and productive
When to utilize the resources you have vs. when to invest 
How cause and effect thinking will make a true impact
What you can do to avoid supply chain constraints 


Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.  
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.  

Internal marketing employee or marketing agency? Entry level hire or seasoned marketer? Broad range of skill sets or deep specialist in a few core skills? 
Today’s guest, Mary Keough, Senior Marketing Strategist, Gorilla76, breaks down the questions that any manufacturing leader will need to answer for themselves before building a marketing team. Or even before making that first marketing hire. 
Join us as we discuss:
When to hire an internal marketer versus an agency
Budgets for staffing a marketing role
What skills sets to prioritize
The difference between the roles of marketing and sales 


Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.  
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.  

Today’s guest, Tony Lopez, Vice President, Manufacturing & Logistics Services, Pride Industries, provides insight about delivering business excellence with a positive social impact. 
Join us as we discuss:
The hiring and employment hurdles that face the disabled population
How education bridges the gap between employers and the disabled workforce
What the benefits are to hiring disabled workers  


Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.  
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.  

It's never been more costly to watch your people walk out the door.
Today’s guest is Dan Johnston, Co-Founder and CEO, WorkStep
WorkStep is a software platform that empowers companies to find and keep frontline employees for the long run. Dan has seen first hand how workforce retention can make or break a company and I’m thrilled to have him on the show.
Join us as we discuss:
How supply chain disruption and labor shortages are connected
Why the manufacturing labor force looks different today than it did a decade ago
The opportunity cost associated with turnover in workforce populations 


Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

What are the best manufacturing executives doing to combat labor shortages and supply chain issues and thrive in this industry?  
Today’s guest is Dan Burgos, President and CEO, Alphanova Consulting, knows the answer. 
Dan and his team have over 15 years of experience helping manufacturers in various industries, including aerospace injection molding, construction projects, chemicals, fiberglass, furniture, electronics, consumer goods, oil and gas, and medical devices, among others.  
Dan's approach is to partner with leaders to uncover and eliminate the problems hindering business performance, while coaching leaders to create a culture of collaboration. 
Join us as we discuss:
Quantifiable metrics that affect business performance
Leadership when facing labor and supply chain issues
Improving on-time delivery and reducing scrap   


Take Alphanova's Business Self Assessment to receive recommendations for your manufacturing operation here: https://alphanovaconsulting.com/self-assessment-form-manufacturing/
Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website. 
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.  

What if your engineering bonuses were tied to blog post writing? 
Today’s guest, Chris Grainger, Podcast Host and Engineering and Services Manager, Electrical Equipment Company (EECO) believes that content marketing is so important he gives bonuses based on how many blog posts and how- to videos each employee produces. Chris is passionate about content marketing because he knows that it works. 
Join us as we discuss:
How to get your employees involved in content marketing 
The benefits of podcasting as a medium in the manufacturing sector
The long game of content marketing and the snowball effect
Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.  

When most people hear “influencer,” it might conjure up images of YouTube icons and Reality TV stars…
Influencers don’t matter in manufacturing, right?
Well, today’s guest, Eddie Saunders, General of Demand Generation at Flex Machine Tools, thinks that statement couldn’t be any more wrong. He joins the show to share the secrets to shoring up your influencer strategies
Join us as we discuss:
Why influencers still matter in manufacturing
How to pick an influencer to work with
Why there is power in empathy and vulnerability 


Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

In this conversation, Vice President of Product Management and co-founder of Configit, Henrik Hulgaard, talks about moving from a custom-engineered to configuration-based product offering. Specifically, he unpacks the benefits both to the customer AND the manufacturer of making this shift.

How do you convince both reps and execs in manufacturing that the CRM is not a deterrent but a path to next-level improvement?
In this episode, I talked about how to overcome challenges to adopting a CRM with these three standout guests:
Ron Pretzie, Sr. Enterprise Account Executive at Prolifiq
Andy Keehn, Director, Demand Generation at Prolifiq
Dave Sheer, Retired VP/CEO at The Steel Supply Company 


Join us as we discuss:
What a great CRM can really do for a business
Why reps are reluctant and how to persuade them
Pitching a CRM to the C-Suite
Practical tips for getting started 


Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

Underlying supply chain problems, only exacerbated by pandemic disruption, have plagued every industry the past few years.
But our guest today thinks we may be seeing the light at the end of a long tunnel.
And now is the perfect time to shore up weaknesses exposed by the demand spike.
Jim Pratt is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Forsyth Advisors, and an expert at solving sourcing problems and creating operational strategies that work.
Join us as we discuss:
Lingering supply chain challenges
Finding opportunities for savings, automation, and streamlining
Networking to find alternate sourcing
The new normal 


Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

Additive manufacturing technologies are rapidly disrupting the old practices.
The adoption rate is increasing, leading to exciting advancements in performance, GTM, and repair applications.
Melanie Lang is the Co-Founder and CEO of FormAlloy and the Women in 3D Printing San Diego Ambassador, and she serves on the Executive Committee of America Makes.
Join us as we discuss:
- The flexible tech behind directed energy deposition
- The right and wrong time for additive manufacturing
- Determining the right toolbox for your needs
- How 3D printing is the fourth transportation modality
- Her advice for manufacturing leaders  
Check out these resources mentioned during the episode:
- Lou Rassey and Fast Radius 
Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

Welcome to a new era of robotics!
Robots of the past were defined by their tasks. They went through pre-planned motions and they weren’t able to adapt to changes in their environment.
Today’s next-gen robots, however, are hyper-intelligent, able to differentiate between people and objects, and adjust to changes in real time.
Nan Li, Managing Director at Obvious Ventures, has spent a lot of his career watching the evolution of robotics, and in this episode, he explains what this new era of robots means for the manufacturing industry.
Join us as we discuss:
- The differences between the robots of yesterday and the robots of today
- What autonomous vehicles have to do with advances in robotics
- How robot systems are becoming more financially accessible 
Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

The biggest obstacle to renewables is a lack of knowledge on the subject.
But once everyone knows the money they can save while helping the environment…
We’ll be living in an all electric-society.
Today’s guest, Jack Nehlig, President at Phoenix Contact USA, joins the show to discuss these benefits and what the all-electric society means for manufacturing.
Join us as we discuss:
- What people need to know about renewables
- The trends in autonomous vehicles
- How anyone can take advantage of the latest advancements in robotics  
Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

It's never been more costly to watch your people walk out the door.
Today’s guest is Dan Johnston, Co-Founder and CEO, WorkStep
WorkStep is a software platform that empowers companies to find and keep frontline employees for the long run. Dan has seen first hand how workforce retention can make or break a company and I’m thrilled to have him on the show.
Join us as we discuss:
How supply chain disruption and labor shortages are connected
Why the manufacturing labor force looks different today than it did a decade ago
The opportunity cost associated with turnover in workforce populations


Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

Too often, we’re having the wrong conversation about automation ROI.
In a time when simply finding labor is the biggest challenge many manufacturers face, the ROI conversation around automation is now about much more than replacing labor costs.
So says today’s guest, Scot Lindemann, CEO at Mission Design & Automation, who joins the show to explain how to make the conversation around automation a more fruitful one for everybody.
Join us as we discuss:
- The unseen returns of automation
- Why automation is a journey of continuous improvement, not a destination
- Scot’s take on labor on the current state of labor in manufacturing 
Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

It’s no secret why so many companies have sent their manufacturing overseas: It’s to save money.
But are you really saving when the hassle costs you your ability to innovate quickly?
Today’s guest, Martin DeBono, President at GAF Energy, joins the show to share his insights on how colocating R&D domestically can ultimately save you by helping you get innovative products to market faster than your competitors.
Join us as we discuss:
- The difficulties with overseas manufacturing
- Why reshoring (and specifically, colocating R&D domestically) can help address both the supply chain challenges and the labor shortage
- How Martin is putting his advice into practice 
Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

Manufacturers aren’t typically marketing-driven companies.
But they should be.
Because their existing customer bases and referrals aren’t enough to cut it anymore.
In this solo episode, I’ll be covering 8 guiding principles for marketing manufacturing in 2022
I’ll be covering:
- The power shift from seller to buyer
- Understanding who makes up the buying committee
- Creating value to gain attention and trust
- Turning the knowledge of your industry experts into marketing assets
- Capturing demand where it already exists
- Creating demand in the rest of your audience
- Communicating regularly with your sales teams
- Measuring results
Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

Tell me a platform where you can post 15 times and have 40,000 followers.
Today’s guest throws out a TikTok in five minutes before breakfast every morning — and has incontrovertible proof that it absolutely drove 100% of the preorders for a new product.
In this episode, I interview Todd Clouser , Senior Brand Marketing Manager at Refine Labs, about the power of TikTok marketing in the trades.
Join us as we discuss:
- The potential for TikTok videos to educate students and new tradespeople
- Stunning stats and anecdotes of Todd’s TikTok success
- How to cultivate relationships with TikTok influencers
- Advice for getting started on TikTok
Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

Following a few decades of sending manufacturing across seas to drive down costs, big reshoring movements are in full force throughout the American manufacturing sector. But meanwhile in Germany, much of that manufacturing never left in the first place. Through strategies that have included embracing automation, localizing manufacturing operations and focusing on quality, German manufacturing has remained competitive throughout. So what can we learn from the German manufacturing model? Jon DeSouza, the CEO and President of HARTING Americas, a German-based global manufacturer, is here to unpack this topic.

When it comes to improving your company's ethics and compliance…
Any changes you make will only be as good as the culture supporting them.
And today’s guest, Emily Miner, Senior Advisor in LRN ’s Ethics & Compliance Advisory Practice, joins the show to share the best ways to cultivate that culture.
We discuss:
The evolution of E&C
Why ethics and compliance and organizational culture are inextricably linked
The importance of understanding the differences in the experience of culture for various individuals across your company 


Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

Companies that go international are 20% more profitable on average.
For most manufacturers, the only thing stopping them from reaping the rewards of going global is the fear of the unknown.
But with a little guidance, you can make sure your international ambitions don’t get lost in translation.
And there is no better guide than today’s guest, Wendy Pease, Owner of Rapport International, who joins the show to share her tips for going global.
Join us as we discuss:
- How to decide where to do business internationally
- The steps to break into a market in another region
- The value of professional translation — domestically and abroad
Be sure to check out these important resources:
- Exporting readiness checklist
- Wendy’s Linktree, which features all her important links, including a few free chapters of the books and all her socials.
- Global Marketing Show podcast
- Manufacturing Case Study
Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.

Consumers adopt technology faster and adapt their behavior more readily than businesses do. How can we bring those positive consumer traits into manufacturing?
In this episode, I interview Todd Leebow, President/CEO at Majestic Steel USA, about consumerizing the industrial supply chain.
Join us as we discuss:
- Traits of consumers that manufacturing should adopt
- Why convention is the antithesis of innovation
- What changes when we recognize that manufacturing is technology
- Supply chain opportunities exposed by COVID
Subscribe to The Manufacturing Executive on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Manufacturing Executive in your favorite podcast player.