Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast

Hosted by Endeavor Business Media’s Manufacturing Group

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Episodes

427

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast offers news and information for the people who make, store and move things and those who manage and maintain the facilities where that work gets done. Manufacturers can listen for critical insights into the technologies, economic conditions and best practices that can influence how to best run facilities to reach operational excellence.

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60 recent

August 27, 2026Episode 4299 min

How AI Changes Cybersecurity for Manufacturers (IndustryWeek)

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, IndustryWeek technology editor Dennis Scimeca and Smart Industry head of content Scott Achelpohl discuss the evolving cybersecurity challenges facing manufacturers. They examine recent attacks targeting PTC product lifecycle management software and Siemens S7 PLCs , highlighting the complexities of patching vulnerabilities across industrial environments. The conversation also explores how AI is accelerating cyberattacks and shortening the time available for organizations to respond.

August 25, 2026Episode 4287 min

4 Machines to See at IMTS 2026 (New Equipment Digest)

IMTS 2026 is just weeks away, and the show floor will be packed with new equipment worth tracking down. In this episode, Laura Davis highlights four machines making their case at McCormick Place this September. Here's where to find each one, and what makes it worth the walk. A 5-axis mill-turn center built for aerospace engine components A compact CNC turning center for small high-volume parts A flexible cylindrical grinder A high-torque 5-axis horizontal machining center for large structural parts.

August 20, 2026Episode 4279 min

Supply Chain Management and the Go-Live Gap (American Machinist)

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, chief editor Robert Brooks takes a look at how manufacturers that implement supply-chain management technology frequently face the “go-live gap”. It’s what separates a technically successful implementation from an operation that is truly prepared to use the new platform, follow the new processes, make the right decisions, measure and capture the value that justified the investment in the first place.

August 18, 2026Episode 42517 min

How to Bring AI into Safety Culture (Talking EHS)

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, McKenna Schutty, safety, health and environmental manager at TDIndustries , a Texas-based facilities services and mechanical construction company, discusses how her company brought AI into its safety organization.

August 13, 2026Episode 42622 min

How Manufacturers Can Build Stronger Regional Networks and Domestic Supply Chains (IndustryWeek)

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Ilana Preuss, a champion of small-scale manufacturing and founder of Recast City , discusses the importance of raising the visibility of small-scale manufacturing, whose impact on the larger economy is being overlooked from lack of data and lack of awareness. While large manufacturers attract lots of attention, a strong domestic manufacturing base requires mapping and connecting networks of smaller suppliers that support these larger entities. Preuss presents tools that can help the cause, as well as a model for regional collaboration. In addition, the ReCast City founder dives into ways in which small and large manufacturers can help raise awareness themselves, such as hosting pitch competitions, holding and sponsoring meetups, and more.

August 11, 2026Episode 42425 min

'Muddy Waters' of Implementing AI and How Manufacturers Can Avoid Them (Smart Industry)

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Smart Industry's Sarah Mattalian talks with Mike Fedorov , COO and co-CEO of Applied AI Labs , who discuss why AI implementations often fail to deliver expected results. They explore how manufacturers can work with the muddy waters of imperfect data, establish effective governance, and design AI solutions around measurable business outcomes. The conversation concludes with a look at AI as a tool for amplifying human capabilities rather than replacing them.

August 6, 2026Episode 42319 min

Stop the Shortcuts that Force Reliability to Take a Back Seat (Ask A Plant Manager)

Joe Kuhn , CMRP, former plant manager, engineer, and global reliability consultant, is now president of Lean Driven Reliability LLC. He is the author of the book “Zero to Hero: How to Jumpstart Your Reliability Journey Given Today’s Business Challenges” and the creator of the Joe Kuhn YouTube Channel , which offers content on starting your reliability journey and achieving financial independence. In our monthly podcast miniseries, Ask a Plant Manager, Joe considers a commonplace scenario facing the industry and offers his advice, as well as actions that you can take to get on track tomorrow. This episode explores maintenance shortcuts and the role of reliability culture.

August 4, 2026Episode 42249 min

The Past, Present and Future of Workplace Safety (Talking EHS)

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Nicole Stempak speaks with the current and previous two presidents of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) -- Monique Parker, Linda Tapp and Pam Walaski -- about strategies safety leaders can use to stay energized, the importance of mentorship, and how embracing change and diversity can lead to more effective safety initiatives.

July 30, 2026Episode 42125 min

How the Fast 41 Program Speeds Critical Minerals and Manufacturing Permitting (IndustryWeek)

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, IndustryWeek's Laura Putre speaks with Emily Domenech about efforts to streamline federal permitting for large manufacturing and critical minerals projects. They discuss how the Fast-41 program coordinates agencies to reduce project delays, improve transparency, and accelerate approvals while maintaining environmental and safety standards. The conversation also explores critical minerals processing, domestic supply chain resilience, and the growing role of AI and digital tools in modernizing the permitting process.

July 28, 2026Episode 4208 min

Editor's Product Picks: 4 New Manufacturing Products (New Equipment Digest)

On this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, New Equipment Digest Editor-in-Chief Laura Davis rounds up four new products worth a closer look: a passive exoskeleton that eases shoulder strain during overhead work an AI-powered device that keeps forklift-based inventory tracking accurate in real time a connected ultrasound platform built for multisite reliability programs, a new inline coding system designed for the packaging industry's shift to GS1 2D codes.