How Manufacturers Improve

Hosted by Kirby Sneen

Business Management

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

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.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 13, 2026Episode 18621 min

Why some Leaders Get Results and Others Don't

In this episode of How Manufacturers Improve , host Kirby Sneen sits down with Dave George to explore what it really takes to become an influential leader on the shop floor. Dave shares practical frameworks for giving teams meaningful ownership, building trust, and creating a culture where people can make good decisions without constant oversight. If you're looking to strengthen your leadership influence, empower your team, and turn a good team into an all-in team, this conversation is packed with practical insights you can put to work right away. -------- Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statewide network of leaders who share what's working on the factory floor. Links: Learn more about membership: https://www.mfrall.com Learn more about community groups: https://www.mfrall.com/community Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5orRRXkVgAkbAeUuCj1dP5 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-manufacturers-improve/id1677078610

September 29, 2026Episode 18512 min

What Best in Class Actually Looks Like Pt. 2

How can manufacturers manage rapid growth while maintaining quality and throughput? One of the 2026 Manufacturer of the Year Award winners, Jason Wobig, shares lessons on people, training, automation, and preparing jobs for production. --- Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statewide network of leaders who share what's working on the factory floor. Links: Learn more about membership: https://www.mfrall.com Attend the Manufacturer of the Year Awards: https://www.mfrall.com/moyconference/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5orRRXkVgAkbAeUuCj1dP5 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-manufacturers-improve/id1677078610

September 22, 2026Episode 18419 min

What Best in Class Actually Looks Like Pt. 1

What does best in class actually look like? Two of the 2026 Manufacturer of the Year Award winners, Dylan Hushka & Dave Hemink, discuss what separates the best manufacturers from the rest, covering trust, culture, automation, and where they're taking their companies next. --- Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statewide network of leaders who share what's working on the factory floor. Links: Learn more about membership: https://www.mfrall.com Attend the Manufacturer of the Year Awards: https://www.mfrall.com/moyconference/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5orRRXkVgAkbAeUuCj1dP5 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-manufacturers-improve/id1677078610

September 15, 2026Episode 18321 min

Getting Lean Out of the Toolbox and Into the Culture

Building a true lean culture takes more than tools and training; it takes changing how people think about their job. In this episode, Tim Keran breaks down why leadership-driven improvement creates a program, while employee-driven improvement creates a lean culture. --- Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statewide network of leaders who share what's working on the factory floor. Links: Learn more about membership: https://www.mfrall.com Attend the Manufacturer of the Year Awards: https://www.mfrall.com/moyconference/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5orRRXkVgAkbAeUuCj1dP5 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-manufacturers-improve/id1677078610

September 1, 2026Episode 18231 min

The 5S Audit that Exposed Everything

How can manufacturers make 5S audits more effective? Join us in a conversation with Jeff Meyer-Quarberg and learn how to build consistency, prevent pencil whipping, close the loop on improvements, and make 5S part of a culture of continuous improvement. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statewide network of leaders who share what's working on the factory floor. Links: Attend a Community Group: https://www.mfrall.com/community/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5orRRXkVgAkbAeUuCj1dP5 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-manufacturers-improve/id1677078610

August 18, 2026Episode 18122 min

Why Having the Best Products Isn't Enough

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 her team uses with manufacturing clients, why voice-of-customer research uncovers what really wins deals, how AI is reshaping search behavior, and why aligning sales and marketing around a shared strategy is the key to predictable, sustainable growth. If your manufacturing company has a great product but inconsistent results, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for closing the awareness gap! ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statewide network of leaders who share what's working on the factory floor. Links: Attend a Community Group: https://www.mfrall.com/community/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5orRRXkVgAkbAeUuCj1dP5 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-manufacturers-improve/id1677078610

August 4, 2026Episode 18022 min

Why Good Employees Stop Caring

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. Listeners will walk away with practical ways to build trust, close the feedback loop, and prevent burnout before it starts. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statewide network of leaders who share what's working on the factory floor. Links: Attend a Community Group: https://www.mfrall.com/community/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5orRRXkVgAkbAeUuCj1dP5 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-manufacturers-improve/id1677078610 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfj2OPOknywMeVwzPJX7Ifw

July 21, 2026Episode 17927 min

Why Your Improvements Slowly Die

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 far beyond the factory floor! ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statewide network of leaders who share what's working on the factory floor. Links: Attend a Community Group: https://www.mfrall.com/community/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5orRRXkVgAkbAeUuCj1dP5 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-manufacturers-improve/id1677078610 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfj2OPOknywMeVwzPJX7Ifw

July 7, 2026Episode 17824 min

Why the Same Problems Keep Coming Back

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. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statewide network of leaders who share what's working on the factory floor. Links: Attend a Community Group: https://www.mfrall.com/community/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5orRRXkVgAkbAeUuCj1dP5 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-manufacturers-improve/id1677078610 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfj2OPOknywMeVwzPJX7Ifw

June 23, 2026Episode 17723 min

Why Managers Wait Too Long to Address Bad Behavior

In this episode, Kirby Sneen & Monica Smith break down why managers avoid addressing bad behavior and the practical steps to act faster, stay consistent, and protect team culture. ------------------------------ Unlock practical tools, training, and support to help your team improve. Manufacturers Alliance members get full access to our webinar library, digital courses, member pricing, and a statewide network of leaders who share what's working on the factory floor. Links: Guest at a Community Group: https://www.mfrall.com/community/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5orRRXkVgAkbAeUuCj1dP5 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-manufacturers-improve/id1677078610 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfj2OPOknywMeVwzPJX7Ifw