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Artwork for How Manufacturers Improve

How Manufacturers Improve

Kirby Sneen
Manufacturing
Continuous Improvement
Leadership
Operational Excellence
Employee Engagement
Lean Manufacturing
Six Sigma
Conflict Resolution
Leadership Development
Delegation
Leadership Training
Manufacturing Industry
Marketing
One-On-One Meetings
Communication Skills
Process Improvement
Cultural Differences
Content Creation
Manufacturing Challenges
Root Cause Analysis

Welcome to How Manufacturers Improve, a Manufacturers Alliance podcast, where we help everyone who works in manufacturing become a better leader and problem solver so all manufacturers can remain competitive.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes162Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ManagementBusiness

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Artwork for How Manufacturers Improve

Latest Episodes

Having the best product on the market doesn't guarantee sales. In this episode, Kirby talks with Jen Roth, CEO of Blue Sparq Marketing, about an effective marketing strategy for manufacturers. Jen explains the full-funnel demand generation approach h... more

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In this episode, Betsy Roisen, Senior HR Manager at The Bernard Group, shares how manufacturing leaders can spot the early signs of disengagement, connect daily work to the bigger mission, and give employees the influence they need to stay invested. ... more

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In this episode, Jeremiah Johnson, Global Lean Leader at Boston Scientific, joins Kirby to break down exactly why hard-won gains slowly disappear and what it takes to stop the backslide for good. Jeremiah brings a hard-earned perspective that goes fa... more

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In this episode, Nathan Hole, Continuous Improvement Leader, reveals why manufacturers keep solving the wrong problems, and the mindset shifts that lead to root causes that actually stick.

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Unlock practical tools, tr... more

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Recent Guests

Betsy Roisen
Senior HR Manager
The Bernard Group
Episode: Why Good Employees Stop Caring
Jeremiah Johnson
Global lean leader
Boston Scientific
Episode: Why Your Improvements Slowly Die
Nathan Hole
Lean leader with Renewal by Anderson
Renewal by Anderson
Episode: Why the Same Problems Keep Coming Back
Pete Wolf
President of Robinson Rubber Products
Robinson Rubber Products
Episode: Habits That Manufacturing Leaders Must Master
Steve Chismar
Executive/partner at North Risk Partners involved in risk management for manufacturers
North Risk Partners
Episode: Claims That Cost Manufacturers the Most (And How to Prevent Them)
Zach Upgren
Risk professional at North Risk Partners specializing in loss control and cyber risk
North Risk Partners
Episode: Claims That Cost Manufacturers the Most (And How to Prevent Them)
Rodd Joos
Manufacturing executive
Episode: Project Management for Manufacturers
Curt Gosser
Director of Operations at Farmers Union Industries
Farmers Union Industries
Episode: Capturing Tribal Knowledge
Angie Wittke
CEO of BlueNet, IT managed services focused on manufacturers
BlueNet
Episode: AI Do's & Don'ts

Host

Kirby Sneen
Host of How Manufacturers Improve

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 18 ratings
  • A must-listen for anyone in manufacturing!👍

    It’s obvious Kirby puts extraordinary effort in covering salient manufacturing topics and finding guests who are knowledgeable and truly care about being a positive force in this space - the insights they bring to bear are useful and actionable. Keep up the great work, Kirby!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LisaIsHereForIt
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality discussions with real-world examples and takeaways.
The host curates relevant, actionable topics for manufacturers.
Guests bring practical, on-the-floor insights they can apply quickly.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why the Same Problems Keep Coming Back
Q: How do you ensure that the data you're reviewing is actually accurate?
The approach includes validating data against new baselines, cross-checking with data owners, examining breadth and history of data, and discussing collection methods to establish trust and accuracy before drawing conclusions.
Why the Same Problems Keep Coming Back
Q: Would you bring everybody listening up to speed on your background?
Nathan describes a long career across design engineering, operations management, and a shift toward continuous improvement and lean manufacturing after the pandemic, culminating in a leadership role focused on practical problem-solving and people development.
Why Your Improvements Slowly Die
Q: What is your top recommendation to ensure that improvements are sustained?
Focus on leadership training and cascading the rationale for sustainment so leaders prioritize and enforce deadlines, creating a culture where sustaining improvements becomes standard practice.
Why Your Improvements Slowly Die
Q: How do you get leaders to slow down long enough to do that?
The guest explains it as a leadership development issue: train leaders to understand the why, establish standard work for launching improvements, and ensure ownership and involvement from the start so sustainment is baked into the process.
Habits That Manufacturing Leaders Must Master
Q: How do you help younger leaders establish a foundation for success?
Encourage goal setting with a powerful belief in their ability to achieve, emphasize enjoying work, and balance ambition with meaningful purpose rather than chasing money alone.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About How Manufacturers Improve

What is How Manufacturers Improve about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, leadership-focused show that centers on improving manufacturing performance through people, process, and technology. Across episodes, listeners hear how to address behavioral issues, cultivate on-floor leadership, reduce costly risk, implement structured project management, and break down silos with actionable tactics like standardized coaching, Kaizen events, waste walks, and measurable safety programs. Notably, guests come from manufacturing operations, risk management, HR, and technology, offering ground-level insights and real-world examples that listeners can apply to drive culture, productivity, and profitability in manufacturing settings.

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Which podcasts are similar to How Manufacturers Improve?

These podcasts share a similar audience with How Manufacturers Improve:

1. Morning Brew Daily
2. Planet Money
3. Up First from NPR
4. The Mel Robbins Podcast
5. The Rewatchables

How many episodes of How Manufacturers Improve are there?

How Manufacturers Improve launched 6 years ago and published 162 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on How Manufacturers Improve?

Recent guests on How Manufacturers Improve include:

1. Betsy Roisen
2. Jeremiah Johnson
3. Nathan Hole
4. Pete Wolf
5. Steve Chismar
6. Zach Upgren
7. Rodd Joos
8. Curt Gosser

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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