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Artwork for How Manufacturers Improve

How Manufacturers Improve

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

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

In this episode, Steve Chismar and Zach Upgren of North Risk Partners break down the insurance claims that cost manufacturers the most, and the practical steps to prevent them before they strike.

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In this episode, manufacturing executive Rodd Joos breaks down how to prioritize the right projects, manage scope, build stronger teams, and use Scrum and Fibonacci sequencing to deliver faster.

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In this episode, Curt Gosser, Director of Operations at Farmers Union Industries, shares how manufacturers can stop losing tribal knowledge and build systems that keep critical process knowledge in the plant.

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In this episode, Angie Wittke, CEO of BlueNet, shares AI security essentials for manufacturers, reveals why automating chaos fails, and explains the foundation-first approach to implementation.

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

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
Josh Erickson
General Manager at NCCO
NCCO
Episode: Breaking Down Silos - Part 2
Heather Stewart
President and CEO of APG Solutions
APG Solutions
Episode: Breaking Down Silos - Part 1
Scott Connor
Senior Manufacturing Engineer
Emerson
Episode: How Kaizen Events Work
Eugene Arrington
Senior lean leader at Starkey Hearing
Starkey Hearing Technologies
Episode: How to do a Waste Walk
Bart Hoemann
Operations executive
Episode: How to Have a Great One-on-One
Monica Hamling
VP of HR, People and Culture for Nortek Systems
Nortek Systems
Episode: AI, Stress, and Retention Executive Panel

Host

Kirby Sneen
Host of How Manufacturers Improve; frequent moderator and strategist focused on cross-functional manufacturing improvements

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 15 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.

Guests are consistently described as knowledgeable and practical, delivering tangible takeaways for plant leaders.
The show is seen as a trustworthy source of practical strategies rather than theoretical framing.
Listeners praise the host for actionable manufacturing insights and real-world guest expertise.
Content is valued for its focus on leadership, culture, and continuous improvement in manufacturing contexts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#132
Israel/Business/Management

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Project Management for Manufacturers
Q: What role does team composition play in project success?
Choose members for a mix of technical ability, challenger/diplomat traits, tenacity, and bandwidth, ensuring the project benefits from diverse perspectives and feasible contributions.
Project Management for Manufacturers
Q: How do you manage scope creep and keep projects on track?
Treat scope as a lever: confirm what matters most—scope, time, or budget—and negotiate with stakeholders to protect the most important constraint while clearly communicating trade-offs.
Project Management for Manufacturers
Q: What are the key factors in deciding whether a project is the right one to pursue?
Beyond ROI or IRR, focus on alignment with company strategy, capacity to deliver, and whether the project advances critical objectives without overstressing the team.
Recognition That Retains Talent
Q: What are we covering today?
Recognition that retains talent and how timely, specific praise can drive engagement and retention; the guest shares practical practices and personal stories about recognition in manufacturing.
How to do a Waste Walk
Q: What happens after the waste walk to ensure follow-through?
An action-plan is built, owners are assigned, due dates set, and the plan is reviewed with the team to ensure a closed-loop that actually drives accountability.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About How Manufacturers Improve

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

A practical, practitioner-focused show for manufacturing leaders that centers on cross-functional collaboration, continuous improvement, and leadership fundamentals. Episodes consistently explore topics like breaking silos, Kaizen and waste reduction, safety culture, and practical ways to implement daily improvements, onboarding, and coaching at scale. Guests range from CI leaders and safety chiefs to HR and operations executives, often sharing concrete playbooks, real-world anecdotes, and how-tos that listeners can apply in their plants or teams. Notable traits include a strong emphasis on actionable tactics (from onboarding concepts to one-on-one leadership practices), a willingness to discuss AI and data-driven decision-making as support... more

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Which podcasts are similar to How Manufacturers Improve?

These podcasts share a similar audience with How Manufacturers Improve:

1. Planet Money
2. The Daily
3. Up First from NPR
4. The Mel Robbins Podcast
5. Purple Daily - A Minnesota Vikings Podcast

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. Rodd Joos
2. Curt Gosser
3. Angie Wittke
4. Josh Erickson
5. Heather Stewart
6. Scott Connor
7. Eugene Arrington
8. Bart Hoemann

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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