The Manufacturing Stream Podcast

Welcome back to the Manufacturing Stream Podcast! This week we dive into downtime - and how to beat it with better maintenance strategies. This episode features your host Eric Whitley and Joel Cook, Maintenance and Automation Manager at ChampionX. 

The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, your go-to source for insights into the latest in manufacturing technology and innovation.Hosted by Chris Rost, we're excited to bring you some of the best conversations in manufacturing - from the factory floor to the board room.This episode features manufacturing tech expert Willemijn Schneyder, as she reacts to some of the most profound takeaways from our 2025 Manufacturing Skills Report.We explore AI, Automation, and the needs of the frontline workforce across a number of roles in the manufacturing workforce.

The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, your go-to source for insights into the latest in manufacturing technology and innovation.Hosted by Chris Rost and Eric Whitley, we're excited to bring you some of the best conversations in manufacturing - from the factory floor to the board room. This episode also features manufacturing expert Jim Mayer - Founder of The Manufacturing Connector. Eric and Jim have decades of experience at the manufacturing frontline - today we'll get their takes on data from L2L's new 2025 Manufacturing Skills Report.

The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, your go-to source for insights into the latest in manufacturing technology and innovation.Hosted by Chris Rost and Eric Whitley, we're excited to bring you some of the best conversations in manufacturing - from the factory floor to the board room.This episode features experts Jason Anthoine (manufacturing culture expert and founder of Employee Experienced) and our very own Willemijn Schneyder (frontline advocate and L2L CSO).This episode takes a deep dive into how we should shape our approach to delivering manufacturing tech to those who need it the most - the frontline teams who use it every day.

The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, your go-to source for insights into the latest in manufacturing technology and innovation.Hosted by Chris Rost and Eric Whitley, we're excited to bring you some of the best conversations in manufacturing - from the factory floor to the board room.This episode features experts Jim Mayer - manufacturing culture expert and founder of The Manufacturing Connector -  and our very own Co-Host Eric Whitley.They have a combined 50+ years of experience as leaders in the industry, and together they'll explore how re-thinking employee development can reduce turnover and improve short-term and long-term engagement for the people working at the frontline.

The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, your go-to source for insights into the latest in manufacturing technology and innovation! Hosted by Chris Rost, Creative Content Manager at L2L, we're bringing you cutting-edge discussions from the factory floor to the boardroom.This episode features L2L's very own Mohsin Saeed - problem solver and manufacturing expert with more than a decade in the industry. He'll be talking us through some of the most common causes of expensive line stoppages in manufacturing, and how to fix them quickly and effectively.Here's what you'll learn in this episode:- The most common causes of line stoppages in manufacturing- The impact they have in terms of money, productivity, and morale- How leaders can leverage actionable data to prevent and rectify line stoppages- The positive impact of a CMMS - How understanding the human element of your frontline will reduce stoppages00:00 Introductions and welcome 02:31 Understanding the impact04:43 Common causes 07:39 The human element10:17 Strategies to reduce line stoppages13:20 Examples and anecdotesVisit https://hubs.li/Q03bLgr50 to explore how the #1 connected workforce platform can digitize your daily management processes. Sign up for a free demo today!Like, subscribe, and share for more deep dives into the future of manufacturing!#ManufacturingPodcast #IndustrialTransformation # #ContinuousImprovement #L2L #ShopFloorInnovationl2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

Welcome to the Manufacturing Stream Podcast with your host, Eric Whitley, Director of Manufacturing Solutions at L2L. In this episode, Eric sits down with his longtime friend and TPM expert, Ellis New, also known as Hillbilly.With nearly four decades of experience in Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Ellis and Eric have trained thousands of manufacturing professionals, implementing TPM strategies in plants across the world. Today, they're diving deep into what makes TPM work, why maintenance is more than just a department, and how digital tools are transforming the way companies achieve zero failure reliability.Listen in as they discuss:The true role of maintenance in manufacturing successWhy training frontline workers is critical to reducing downtimeHow data and digital tools are changing the game for TPMThe biggest mistakes companies make when trying to improve productivityLessons from teaching 50,000+ people the principles of TPMIt's a conversation packed with insights, stories, and practical advice for anyone in the industry.Want to learn more about digitizing your TPM program? Visit L2L.com or reach out to eric.whitley@l2l.com.To connect with Ellis New, email enew@centurylink.net or call (864) 929-5899.Hit follow and join us for more conversations on manufacturing, reliability, and continuous improvement.l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this episode of The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, host Eric Whitley, Director of Industrial Transformation at L2L, welcomes a special guest, Chris Brown, VP of Sales at CADDi. Together, they explore how AI and innovative tools are transforming the manufacturing industry, from reshoring efforts to bridging the skilled labor gap.Chris shares insights into CADDi's cutting-edge technology that integrates rich contextual data into engineering drawings, empowering manufacturers to optimize processes, reduce waste, and accelerate timelines. They discuss real-world applications of AI, including shape recognition and contextual search, and how these tools make onboarding easier for the next generation of workers.Key topics include:How AI-driven tools like CADDi and L2L are modernizing shop floor operations.The role of data and digital transformation in improving quality, safety, and production efficiency.Addressing the skilled labor shortage and empowering workers with innovative technologies.The exciting future of manufacturing, including reshoring and automation.Plus, Chris shares his thoughts on how AI supports continuous improvement by eliminating waste and enabling smarter decisions, making the industry more innovative and competitive.

In this episode of the Manufacturing Stream Podcast, host Eric Whitley tackles a critical issue in the industry: Why are talented professionals walking away from manufacturing? To explore this, Eric welcomes a special guest—his son, Brandon Whitley.Brandon shares his journey through manufacturing, from assembling products on the line to becoming a continuous improvement specialist, and ultimately leaving the industry. Together, they discuss:The challenges of driving change in traditional manufacturing environmentsThe impact of pay, culture, and work-life balance on retentionWhy outdated processes and resistance to innovation push workers awayLessons for building an engaged, motivated workforceThis episode offers a firsthand perspective on the challenges and opportunities in modern manufacturing, making it a must-listen for leaders, operators, and anyone passionate about the future of the industry.Brought to you by L2L, the #1 connected workforce platform.

AI is dominating the thought process within manufacturing. But most of the brain power being spent on this topic centers on how to have a practical application of this technology so that it enhances the Availability, Performance and Quality of the factory floor.In this episode we discuss the practical application of AI and how it can be used to remove wasted time and motion in the day to day lives of factory workers.l2l.comYoutube: @leading2leanl2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

Joe Resko, Vice President of Operations for Worthington Enterprises joins Eric as a guest in a new L2L webinar. Eric shares this webinar on this podcast. Joe and Eric discuss the findings of L2L's report on What is Holding Manufacturing Back in 2024 and how Worthington is using L2L and its Connected Workforce solution to solve the the labor crisis facing manufacturing.l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

Press Release:In this weeks episode of The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, Eric discusses that L2L has announced the acquisition of Swipe Guide, a move that brings together two powerful technologies to enhance the connected workforce in manufacturing. Eric is joined by, John Devagian, CEO of L2L and Willemijn Schneider, CEO of Swipe Guide. The two CEO's discuss that this merger aims to address long-standing challenges in the industry, such as labor productivity stagnation and the loss of skilled workers. Devagian explains that this acquisition aligns with L2L's mission to improve workforce empowerment and efficiency by integrating Swipe Guide's intuitive, mobile-friendly digital tools with L2L's core capabilities in driving availability, performance, and quality.Willemijn Schneider of Swipe Guide, highlights the value of simplifying knowledge transfer and process standardization across manufacturing operations. Swipe Guide's user-friendly platform allows workers to create and share instructions easily, empowering frontline workers and improving training and efficiency. Together, the companies aim to bring a holistic approach to digital transformation on the shop floor.With over half a million users, this acquisition expands L2L's global reach, adding a European headquarters and offering solutions in multiple languages. The combined technologies promise to accelerate productivity improvements, support real-time decision-making, and enhance manufacturing processes, marking a significant step forward in the connected workforce space.l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this weeks episode of The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, Eric welcomes in as guest Scott Springer from Chelwood Consulting. The discussion this week centers on Scott's approach to improvement and leadership in his career as a manufacturing leader.About our guest:Scott is an accomplished Executive Consultant and President of Chelwood Consulting Group, where he provides strategic leadership to revitalize underperforming organizations and enhance business operations. He specializes in manufacturing, logistics, eCommerce, and human resource management, with a focus on long-term performance and profitability. At Petformance, he launched freeze-dried nutritional meals for canines, adding a new revenue stream to his consulting firm. Previously, Scott served as Vice President of Operations at Vital Proteins, achieving over 460% revenue growth. He also led significant projects at Omega Protein, improving production capacity by over 600%. Scott holds an MBA from UC Riverside and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy.l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this episode of The Manufacturing Stream Podcast Eric has Maureen Fahey of Productivity talks about her days when JIT and Lean started in the West. Working as a young assistant to Norman Bodek, Maureen tells stories of the days when Dr. Shigeo Shingo would visit the United States and Maureen was there during these visit. Maureen also expounds on when SMED and TPM were introduced to Western manufacturers in the early days of JIT.l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this episode, Eric & Phil welcome into the studio Tyler Whitiker, CTO and Co-founder of L2L, to discuss the future of AI in manufacturing and how companies should be using the technology to solve the labor crisis facing Manufacturing. In recent blog post, Tyler has helped explain how manufacturers should be using technology to free up much needed resources, especiall when it comes to labor utilization on the factory floor.l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this episode Eric interviews Mike Pierce COO of Honeyville Inc and Co-host and new VP of Information Technology at Honeyville, Inc. Phil Anderson as they discuss why Honeyville has chosen L2L as their Connected Workforce Platform and why Mike has chosen L2L to be his system at four separate companies. l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this weeks episode, Eric, Malcolm and James Wells from LNS Research discuss Unified Performance Excellence. Unified Performance Excellence (UPX), is a modern approach to industrial performance management that integrates advanced digital tools and methodologies into traditional operational improvement processes. This framework seeks to enhance operational agility, flexibility, and resiliency by leveraging digital technologies like AI, machine learning, and digital twins within a connected and intelligent risk management system. At the 2024 Connected Workforce Summit presented by L2L, James will be a guest speaker talking about how UPX represents a significant shift towards integrating industrial operations with digital transformation initiatives, aiming to not only sustain but enhance operational performance through intelligent, data-driven methodologies​l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In recent years, the manufacturing sector has been swept up in the wave of Industry 4.0, a revolutionary movement that promises to meld physical production and operations with smart digital technology, machine learning, and big data. The goal of this movement is to create a more holistic and better-connected process for industrial companies. Industry 4.0 has been hailed as the future of manufacturing, offering the potential for significantly increased productivity, efficiency, and flexibility, there's a growing concern that its implementation is faltering. However, a closer examination suggests that this may be largely because companies have neglected a fundamental principle that has always been at the heart of manufacturing excellence: continuous improvement.In this episode of The Manufacturing Stream podcast Eric & Phil discuss the shortcomings of industry 4.0 and why organizations need to concentrate on continuous improvement to make 4.0 effective.l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

Welcome to a unique edition of The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, where your hosts, Eric Whitley and our special guest co-host Malcolm Faulds from L2L, sit down with the legendary Kyle Petty. Today, we're diving into Kyle's extraordinary journey, growing up amidst the royalty of racing. He shares with us tales from the track and highlights from his biography, "Swerve or Die," offering an inside look at the lives of NASCAR's elites. Join us as we explore the intriguing similarities between the worlds of manufacturing and racing, discussing everything from motivating team members to skill development and leadership. It's a conversation packed with insights, memories, and a shared passion for excellence. Don't miss out on this thrilling episode!l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this episode of the Manufacturing Stream Podcast Eric *& Phil interview Alex Pacheco Director of Operational Excellence and Reliability for Dart Container.  The three discuss Dart's journey to digitize the Operational Excellence  process by moving from a grease-board, paper based system to a digital platform to remove waste in the process and gain greater buy from the shop floor.l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this episode, Eric and Phil discuss L2L ground breaking new feature, the L2L Teamboard. How it can be used by shopfloor teams and managers to seriously reduce the amount of wasted time and motion in planning and executing manually prepared team huddles and tier meetings. Use the link below to watch the live demo of this new product every manufacturing company can use.Teamboard DemoL2L Website l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this episode of The Manufacturing Stream, Eric and Phil kick off 2024 with some exciting event announcements from L2L and a topic that's never been more relevant to manufacturers: Uniting departments around a shared view of factory data. If job-critical information is locked away in systems like ERP, MES, SCADA, and PLC, shop floor employees — and your plant — are operating with a serious (but fixable) handicap. Enter the concept of a “Data Sandwich.” Eric and Phil explain what a Data Sandwich is, why it's important for today's shop floor operations, and how connected workforce technology fills the data “gap” that often separates frontline workers from essential information.  Listen to the whole episode to learn how connected workforce platforms like L2L unify systems on every level to generate a complete view of plant operations.Sign up for the Connected Worker Summit: https://www.l2l.com/cws24https://www.l2l.com/YouTube: @leading2leanl2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this week's episode, Malcolm Faulds, VP of Marketing at L2L (and Eric's boss), sits down with Eric and Phil to share his learnings from LNS Research's Industrial Transformation (IX) Event. From the emergence of digital manufacturing teams to navigating the manufacturing labor crisis, Malcolm discusses important highlights from the event as well as practical takeaways all manufacturers can use to help future-proof their plants. Also covered in this episode is the role connected workforce platforms play in enhancing manufacturing worker experiences — and plant productivity overall. To learn more about the impact of connected work and IX, check out LNS's new report, The Future of Industrial Work.l2l.comYoutube: @leading2leanl2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this special bonus episode of The Manufacturing Stream (emphasis on Stream in this episode), Eric, Phil, and a special guest devote an entire episode to their experience fly fishing for Silver Coho salmon in Cordova, Alaska. Enjoy!l2l.comYoutube: @leading2leanl2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

When we say “L2L was made for manufacturers, by manufacturers,” we mean it literally.L2L was born on the shop floors of our now-customer, Autoliv, where Eric, Phil, and this episode's special guest Mark Jenkins put their heads together to figure out a better way to track operational availability (OA). That's right — we're taking you through a brief L2L history lesson! Learn how the Toyota Production System inspired the creation of Dispatch, L2L's flagship module, and how the product evolved into today's leading connected worker platform. Ever since the early 2000s, the goal behind L2L has remained the same: to engage frontline workers in the pursuit of continuous improvement. Today, we're using AI and machine learning (ML) to drive productivity and efficiency across the end-to-end production process — helping manufacturers get to the root of waste and unplanned downtime.See how connected worker solutions help you slash downtime: https://youtu.be/1gzv4Cnwvisl2l.comYoutube: @leading2leanl2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

We've discussed the importance of digitizing Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) on this podcast. Now, we're excited to share a real-world example of this digital TPM in action!In this special episode recorded for a Plant Services webcast, Mike Brewster of Owens Corning joins Eric Whitley to talk about Owens Corning's transformation with L2L's connected worker platform. Learn how Mike and team tackled their biggest maintenance challenges and built a culture around continuous improvement with L2L's connected worker platform.To learn more about connected worker technology's role in digital TPM, check out our FREE on-demand webinar: https://www.l2l.com/tpm-video L2L.comYouTube: @leading2lean l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

Software integration is a challenging but critical step in implementing new software. This is especially true when introducing connected worker platforms in your manufacturing facility.In this week's episode, Justin Skaggs from Worthington Industries and L2L's own Corey Olsen join Eric and Phil to discuss the importance of integrating connected worker platforms like L2L with ERP solutions. Using creativity to solve integration problems, customizing interfaces around the way people work, and the benefits of API-led integration are some of many topics they cover this week. If you're about to purchase connected worker software, this episode is a must-listen!L2L makes integration simple. Here's how: https://www.l2l.com/integration-erpL2L.comYouTube: @leading2lean l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

So you purchased L2L. Now what? Typically, implementing digital factory software takes time, attention to detail, and a whole lot of patience. But did you know that L2L can be stood up in a matter of weeks instead of months? In this special episode of The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, Eric interviews L2L's own Jon Richardson on how quick and simple it is to implement our connected worker platform in customers' plants. In fact, our customer team has been able to get L2L up and running in as little as six weeks. How? Listen to this episode to find out!Curious about our connected workforce technology's impact on real-world manufacturing businesses? Explore our customer case studies.L2l.comYoutube: @leading2leanl2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

Digital transformation shapes your company culture as much as it shapes your technology.This week, we're excited to discuss tech-driven cultural change with special guest Keith Holliman, Plant Manager at JELD-WEN! A veteran of the building materials manufacturing space, Keith shares how his plant shifted from relying on traditional, manual processes to embracing a digital-first strategy that makes everyone feel empowered. Throughout JELD-WEN's digital transformation journey, L2L's connected workforce platform played a crucial role in creating a productive, collaborative shop floor. Listen to this episode for a behind-the-scenes look at how Keith and team navigated this technological—and cultural—shift.Check out our JELD-WEN case study!Download our free Building Materials eBook. L2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

The manufacturing labor shortage is far from over. With a new generation of workers entering the shop floor, how can manufacturing leaders improve employee retention?In this episode, Eric, Phil, and Jim Morris discuss the challenges of helping younger employees adapt and thrive in a manufacturing environment and why culture trumps strategy when it comes to attracting and retaining today's workers. Discover how digital technology, like L2L's connected worker platform, is playing a crucial role in bridging the gap between tech-savvy new workers and product-savvy factory veterans.Learn how L2L can help you connect your workforce.l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

Total productive maintenance (TPM) is a concept that's been around for a long time, but it's recently gotten some buzz as more manufacturers are digitizing their plants.In this episode, Eric and Phil discuss why TPM is going digital and how connected worker platforms like L2L are shaping this technological shift. New features like digital abnormality tags, digital operator checklists, and mobile-first tracking and reporting save manufacturers hundreds of hours of administrative busy work. But the benefits of including connected worker technology in your TPM don't end there — listen to the episode to learn more!In the meantime, check out our recent blog post on TPM.Head over to our YouTube channel @leading2lean for more information on this and related topics.L2l.coml2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

There's no sweeter music to our ears than positive customer testimonials. On this week's episode of The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, we're excited to share some highlights from Eric's customer interviews at the Connected Workforce Summit 2023.Hear how customers like Westinghouse, Sonoco, and Worthington Industries have incorporated L2L's connected workforce platform into their operations — and achieved impressive results year after year. Plus, L2L's own CEO, John Davagian, shares why he's excited about the future of connected work.Check out the Connected Workforce Summit recap!Explore more customer success stories in our case study library.Head over to our YouTube channel @leading2lean for more information on this and related topics.L2l.coml2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

Manufacturing technology is ever-evolving, but some principles must remain evergreen. Standard work, for instance, is a foundational element of lean manufacturing that will always have a place on the shop floor.In this week's episode, Eric and Phil discuss the importance of standard work in manufacturing facilities. No matter how “smart” your factory is, your frontline workers will always need a frame of reference for how to do their jobs well. Connected worker platforms like L2L help manufacturers digitize and simplify standard work — SOPs, manuals, training guides, and more — and make it accessible to workers when and where they need it.To learn more, check out this example of digital standard work in action: https://www.l2l.com/blog/can-standardized-work-methods-apply-in-maintenanceL2L.comYouTube: @leading2lean l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

Manufacturers are good at applying lean principles to maintenance, production, and even supply chain management. But not so much when it comes to meetings.In this week's episode, Eric and Phil sit down with special guest and author Jamie Flinchbaugh to discuss his recent Forbes article, “3 Reasons to Kill the 60 Minute Meeting.” If you think you and your team spend too much time in unproductive meetings, you're not alone. Jamie breaks down the time and resource-draining effects of 60-minute meetings on manufacturing organizations, how to decide whether a meeting is worth your (and your team's) time, and practical tips for conducting efficient and effective meetings.Remember: Time is money. You'll be surprised at how much you'll get back once you “lean” out your calendar.You can check out Jamie's article at https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2023/03/27/3-reasons-to-kill-the-60-minute-meeting/?sh=29e1f37d37b4. l2l.comYoutube: @leading2leanl2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this episode, Eric and Phil sit down with Jake Hall, the “Manufacturing Millennial,” to talk about the concept of the connected worker and important manufacturing trends to watch in 2023. Jake, whose manufacturing experience spans 17 years, shares some key benefits of the connected manufacturing workforce, including process visibility, seamless collaboration, more effective training, and the opportunity for workers to see when they're “winning” on the shop floor. He also discusses why technology is the key to capturing and sharing the expertise of retiring workers with new workers coming into manufacturing.Plus — we're announcing the winner of our free registration giveaway to the L2L Connected Workforce Summit!To learn more about the impact of connected workers on the future of manufacturing, check out this recent L2L article: https://www.l2l.com/blog/the-role-of-connected-work-in-a-sustainable-workforce-strategy l2l.comYoutube: @leading2leanl2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

Got a problem? YouTube probably has a solution. From changing your air filters to replacing a passenger side mirror on a 2018 Toyota Tundra (Eric, we're looking at you), today's video platforms are chock-full of step-by-step DIY instructions for solving everyday problems. In this week's episode, Eric shares how he potentially saved hundreds of dollars performing a simple repair on his truck by following a step-by-step tutorial he found on YouTube — and how this principle applies to manufacturing. Eric and Phil discuss the money and time-saving power of detailed, accessible digital how-to content and why it's so important for manufacturers to leverage it in their facilities. From enhancing training programs to accelerating mechanical troubleshooting, simple visual tools like YouTube videos can go a long way in a busy plant. Why? Because this is how today's workers access information and communicate in their daily lives.Learn how L2L's connected workforce platform helps modern frontline workers leverage digital tools to streamline maintenance, repairs, machine setup, and other technical processes: https://www.l2l.com/why-l2l l2l.comYouTube: @leading2lean l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this weeks podcast Eric interviews Allison Kuhn from LNS Research where they talk about the future of work, digital transformation and the problems manufacturing is facing to day finding and recruiting new workers. We learn Allisons perspective on where manufacturing is headed and what we need to do in order to solve the problems of the day.  Some great insights to digital transformation and how LNS customers are approaching this transformation and some of the problems they are seeing in the journey.l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this weeks podcast, Eric & Phil have a in-depth discussion with FOXSPORTS NASCAR Analyst and 2 time Daytona 500 Winning Crew Chief - Larry McReynolds. NASCAR has changed and evolved much like manufacturing when it comes to the implementation of Digital Transformation. This weeks discussion centers on the use of these technologies in NASCAR and how they parallel what is happening on the factory floor and in manufacturing organizations everywhere.  From real-time performance data coming directly from the race car so Crew-chiefs can make quick decisions to the use of Simulators to set up the race car. NASCAR digital technology mirrors those technologies in manufacturing such as machine sensor data and machine learning as well as digital twin. l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this weeks Manufacturing Stream Podcast Eric Whitley and Phil Anderson review a 2023 report by Deliotte that talks about industry trends to watch for in 2023. The topics range from investing in advance technologies to managing talent and investing in Smart Manufacturing.The podcast also introduces a new feature to highlight new manufacturing being introduced in the United States. In this episode they give kudos Ford, Rivian, Hyundai, Jervois, Greenworks Commercial, TLC Specialties LLC, and Eli Lilly.l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this episode Phil and Eric along with special guest Cara Winter discuss the ever important role of frontline leadership in a manufacturing plant. This includes leading the digital transformation process. The discussion dives deep into how frontline Supervisors can help lead the digital transformation efforts on the shop-floor. Phil, Cara and Eric all worked as frontline leaders early in their careers and what is discovered in this podcast is that no matter what the initiative, it still is about basic leadership skills.Also, Big 'Shout Out' this week in 'This Week in Manufacturing' to the people of Boeing for delivering the final 747 from the Everett, Washington final assembly facility. The Boeing 747 is an icon of American manufacturing and deserves its place as one of the greatest accomplishments of American industry.l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

Eric and Phil invite special guest Cyrus Shaoul, CEO of leela.ai where the three discuss the new tech found in leele.ai time motion study tool. We learn how leela.ai captures motion on the shop floor and measures that motion through the tool. The discussion also covers where Cyrus believes AI is headed in the future and how it will be applied to manufacturing. Phil and Eric also discuss what companies need to do to be in front of the manufacturing 4.0 revolution and not be left behind as competitors implement their own digital transformation processes. l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

Special guest Priya Rao, Sr. Director - Information Technologies and PMO at Worthington Industries. Priya was a key principal in launching Digital Transformation at Worthington. Todays discussion talk about what is needed from IT to help with this process, what type of team needs to be established to ensure success as Digital Transformation is implemented. Priya and Phil also discuss the critical role of IT in helping the Connected Worker on the shop floor. In the "This Week in Manufacturing" section, Eric and Phil discuss the security risks that is prevalent in unrepeatable China sources IIoT devices. l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this episode, in studio guest Danny Jackson, Digital Transformation Director at Autoliv talks about the importance of the Connected Worker. The Manufacturing Stream podcast coins a brand new word to describe the crazy world of Digital Transformation in manufacturing "Digitalificationtransformatization" You gotta hear the explanation of this one. Listen to the end for a big event announcement about L2L upcoming conference.l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean

In this episode Eric & Phil discuss why large, expensive, and inflexible business softwares are hurting your companies opportunity to improve. Because inflexible software dictates internal processes, a companies competitive advantage is lost to any other company that has the same inflexible software.  The episode also briefly discusses Japans government initiative to onshore microchip manufacturing back from China amid global supply chain disruptions.l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean