Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

In this episode, Bruce Mayhew, corporate trainer, keynote speaker, executive coach, and author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and trust building for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

You'll learn why traditional command-and-control leadership no longer works in today's plants — and how curiosity-driven leadership, authentic communication, and continuous improvement help manufacturing leaders close the skills gap, strengthen employee engagement, and drive real team performance.

Bruce breaks down how everyday leadership behaviors directly impact culture, safety, accountability, and results — especially as manufacturing organizations face labor shortages, workforce challenges, and generational shifts on the shop floor.

This conversation connects soft skills with operational excellence, showing leaders how to move from reaction to intention, from blame to curiosity, and from siloed management to connected leadership.

01:30 – As generational shifts place millennials in leadership roles, it can create tension between siloed leadership and collaborative, flatter manufacturing cultures.
03:49–Purpose and meaning drive effective leadership, stronger relationships, and healthier workplace culture.
06:12–Disconnects between executives and the shop floor weaken teamwork and long-term manufacturing performance.
07:19–Self-awareness and emotional intelligence enable leaders to adapt communication styles across manufacturing teams.
08:58–Respect on the shop floor comes from meeting people where they are, not talking down to them.
09:44–High performance in manufacturing is unlocked through meaningful conversations rather than top-down directives.
16:27–Transparency grows when leaders listen first and elevate frontline voices.
18:33- Shared pride in quality and reputation strengthens team identity and manufacturing excellence.
20:15–Curiosity-driven leadership replaces blame-focused problem solving with appreciative inquiry.
23:31–Positive exploration increases engagement by empowering teams instead of punishing them.
25:09 - Accountability works best when leaders replace interrogation with curiosity-based performance conversations.

Connect with Bruce Mayhew
Visit his website
Find him on LinkedIn
Following him on Instagram @bruce.mayhew

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

In this episode, Brian Herriot shares insights on manufacturing leadership, productivity, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

Brian brings a practical, human-centered approach to help manufacturing leaders rethink work, leadership, and scheduling so they can build stronger teams — without burning people out or lowering standards. You'll hear why traditional shift models are breaking down, how "time freedom" shows up on the shop floor, and what leaders can do right now to improve engagement, retention, and ownership amid labor shortages and skills gaps.

This conversation connects soft skills with operational results, showing how curiosity, authentic leadership, and better communication skills directly impact manufacturing culture, workforce retention, and daily productivity.

02:10 – Frontline leadership must acknowledge that traditional manufacturing management models no longer align with modern workplace culture or employee engagement in manufacturing.

03:30 – Gen Z expects leadership in manufacturing plants to adapt to their lives, not the other way around

06:55 – Great manufacturing culture comes from seeing teams as humans first, not just labor inputs on the production line

09:10 –Employee ownership models and open-book management strengthen trust in leadership, manufacturing relationships, and accountability in manufacturing

11:25 – Manufacturing retention improves when leaders focus on team engagement in manufacturing rather than just output and efficiency

12:45 –Frontline leaders must recognize that many employees juggle multiple jobs and need coaching in manufacturing that supports life beyond the plant

14:10 – Flexible schedules, job sharing, and project-based roles can close the showing up gap while improving manufacturing innovation and retention

15:35 – Time Freedom as a Leadership Strategy
Leadership transformation happens when manufacturing leaders design roles that allow experienced workers to scale back without fully exiting

18:55 –Helping employees understand their financial future reduces anxiety and strengthens employee engagement in manufacturing

22:35 –Deeper conversations about money, time, and work build emotional intelligence, vulnerability in leadership, and a stronger coaching culture

Connect with Brian Herriot

Learn more about Time Freedom

Pre-order Time Freedom and use the code Trevor to get free access to the audiobook

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

How do you turn a one-machine operation into a thriving business?

Find out in this episode with Ken Handsaeme, founder of On Time Precision. Ken's unique journey started as a machinist, but when he decided he wanted a better retirement plan, he started his own business, initially operating out of a barn with a single machine. It eventually grew into a thriving manufacturing company serving military, aerospace, and medical customers — and helped Ken fulfill his retirement dreams.

In this episode, Ken shares the lessons he learned throughout his career, ranging from the importance of intentional leadership and the root causes of common operational problems to how curiosity-driven conversations and trust-building behaviors drive retention, accountability, and long-term performance. He also shares stories from his own career, giving a practical look at what it really takes to build a manufacturing business that can grow, endure, and succeed beyond the owner.

02:00 – Operational challenges on the shop floor often signal leadership and communication gaps rather than process problems alone

04:15 – Shifting from working in the business to working on the business enables leaders to focus on production leadership and long-term operational excellence.

05:30 - Protected time for quoting is essential to production flow, customer trust, and employee stability

06:45 – Connecting the top to the shop creates shared accountability

08:55 – To accelerate growth, leaders must balance hiring, retention, and capacity planning in manufacturing plants.

10:10 - Structured one-on-one conversations are a powerful tool for supervisor development and deeper team engagement in manufacturing.

11:30 - Curiosity-driven leadership conversations outperform traditional performance reviews in building trust and accountability.

14:00 – To reinforce trust, respect, and leadership credibility, prioritize employee conversations like customer meetings

16:40 –Involving operators in problem-solving and process improvement builds ownership and continuous improvement culture.

17:55 – Have transparent discussions on transparency in manufacturing management, including sharing expectations without overwhelming teams with financial complexity.

20:30 – Self-awareness, vulnerability, and trust in leadership are foundational skills in modern manufacturing environments.

21:50 - Consistent leadership behaviors create workplace culture that supports retention and manufacturing excellence.

23:10 – To prepare for succession, you need to build systems, people, and leadership beyond the owner.

Connect with Ken Handsaeme

Connect on Instagram: @kenhandsaeme