How Manufacturers Improve
A Podcast for manufacturers that want to know the strategies, successes, and lessons learned of industry leaders
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Apple
SpotifyFix Problems, Not Just Symptoms with RCA
Helen Swanson
Manufacturers Alliance Podcast Ep. #142
Learn how to fix the root cause—not just the symptoms—with better RCA. This episode explores problem definition, eliminating bias, and mistake-proofing strategies to drive real change in manufacturing.
Marketing’s Role in Manufacturing
Christine Olson
Manufacturers Alliance Podcast Ep. #141
Learn how to align operations, engage teams, and strengthen customer relationships with strategic marketing along with actionable insights to elevate manufacturing processes and organizational collaboration.
Shaping Culture, Talent, and Strategy
Steve Zweber and Russ Soukup
Manufacturers Alliance Podcast Ep. #140
Gain an executive perspective on economic trends, the evolving role of AI in manufacturing, strategies for recruiting and retaining top talent, and implementing operational excellence across teams.
Facilitation Skills from One of the Best
Bob Dummer
Manufacturers Alliance Podcast Ep. #139
In this episode, Bob Dummer shares actionable tips to help you facilitate meetings that drive engagement, encourage participation, and lead to clear decisions and action steps.
Top Takeaways of 2024
Kirby Sneen, Jeremy Blake, and Monica Smith
Manufacturers Alliance Podcast Ep. #138
This week, Kirby Sneen, Jeremy Blake, and Monica Smith share their favorite episodes from the year, biggest lessons learned in 2024, and what you can look forward to from the Manufacturers Alliance in 2025!
How To Speed up Lean Using Data You Already Have
Vivek Saxena
Manufacturers Alliance Podcast Ep. #137
Vivek Saxena, Founder & CEO of Factory Twin walks you through how his small manufacturing clients are leveraging the data already in their systems to drive process improvement and get better results. Learn why the current way of practicing lean is slow, the barriers to going digital, and how you can speed up the pace of improvement.
How to Reduce Conflict by Improving Collaboration
Jody O'Neil
Manufacturers Alliance Podcast Ep. #136
Silos, poor listening skills, and even cultural differences can be some of the bigger challenges any leader in manufacturing faces when trying to get everyone on the same page. In this episode, Jody O’Neil shares how to foster a collaborative environment to counter these challenges and reduce potential conflict in the workplace.
Manufacturing’s Outlook
Laurie Harbour
Manufacturers Alliance Podcast Ep. #135.5
Industry expert Laurie Harbour, partner with Wipfli, delves into the outlook of manufacturing. In this episode, Laurie shares key insights on the current instability in the industry, emerging trends to watch, and the barriers manufacturers must overcome to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.
Removing Variation From Your Process
Matt Evans
Manufacturers Alliance Podcast Ep. #135
Matt Evans, Quality Manager at Unimatic Precision Machining, shares practical strategies for removing variation from your processes. Learn about mistake-proofing, leveraging control charts, and creating accurate standards to improve consistency and overall quality.
The Top 5 Problems CI Leaders Face
Bob Dummer
Manufacturers Alliance Podcast Ep. #134
Gain insights on how to overcome continuous improvement challenges so that you can effectively manage improvements. Explore the top 5 challenges CI leaders face, including resistance to change, sustainment, and access to data.