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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Mark “Southern Sensei” Preston has been driving change in manufacturing and front office environments for over thirty years using continuous improvement. He’s seen firsthand that workers with the best ideas on the frontline make the most difference in world class companies. But how do you engage those employees? Simple. By solving problems that can come up and bite you, aka, rattlesnakes. Mark talks about holding rattlesnake hunts at the factory as an exercise for empowering safety,...

"Train the workforce first, and then introduce new technology. Otherwise that tech will be sitting in a corner with a tarp over it." Paul Lavoie first fell in love with manufacturing when he worked for Carey, producing catches, latches, and handles for commercial, industrial, and military customers. Years later, he became the Chief Manufacturing Officer of the State of Connecticut, which is the only state to have this role in the executive branch of government. Paul’s uniquely informative...

Miles Free wears many hats as Director of Industry Affairs at the Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA). We sat down with him and were inspired by his passion, expertise, and of course, quotable pieces of industry insight on building a thriving machine shop. You'll learn how to stay globally competitive through the use of best available information and technology.

Find out how Erik Richardson at Intertape Polymer Group and his plant went from the bottom to the top with a practical transformation that started with a focus on process, and eventually layered on technology to accelerate their gains further.

Do your frontline employees know if they’re winning or losing each day? The answer to that question is simple, but not easy. Michael Muilenburg spent 35+ years at 3M building a high performance operational technology strategy and team. Learn his best practices for creating a daily management system that creates a culture of continuous improvement.

The supervisor is the customer of the training. When Vitalii Potapenko of Solar Plastics first shared these words with us, we knew their company was doing something special in the manufacturing space. This organization is an ideal case study about why the person who is doing the training will shape the impression a new employee has of the company for a long time.

When a farm town hits hard times during a down economy, one factory hires college football players to use their skills from the defensive line, to build motorcycles on the assembly line. It sounds like a movie trailer, but it's real life. Kawasaki has been building seemingly ageless sport motorcycles since the early seventies. We sat down with Tim Melvin (Human Resources Manager) and Jake Matheny (Production Manager) about how to tackle open roles by recruiting student athletes.

What was the manufacturing system that helped America build its arsenal of democracy during the war? Join us for a conversation with Patrick Graupp, Vice President & Senior Master Trainer at TWI Institute. Learn how Training Within Industry (TWI) became the human-centric methodology adopted by leading manufacturers worldwide. Hosts Brian Sallee & Michael Muilenburg also debate whether engineers are actually poets.

We've got a new co-host! Fan favorite Michael Muilenburg joins us to bring his 35+ years of experience from 3M as an operational leader. Join us for a fun conversation talking about how he's the Troy Aikman to Brian's Joe Buck, and why he's thinks this is the most exciting time in manufacturing in his three plus decades in the industry.

Kiley Becker has spent the last five years learning the ins and outs of the highly innovative Food & Beverage industry. Join the conversation and learn about strategies to support frontline workers to reduce scrap waste, safety issues, quality issues, and frustrated employees.