From Inventory Control to Lean Leadership

What does it take to build a truly exceptional culture in your manufacturing business? In this episode of MakingChips, we sit down with Beau Groover, a seasoned coach with decades of experience in lean implementation, continuous improvement, and leadership. From his early days as an Inventory Control Manager to overseeing 21 plants as Director of Manufacturing, Beau’s career has been driven by one mission: helping people and organizations thrive.

Beau shares his journey from manufacturing operations to coaching, revealing how leaders can create clarity, foster collaboration, and transform their teams with positive energy. Whether you’re tackling lean implementation roadblocks or looking to engage your shop floor in meaningful problem-solving, Beau offers practical steps and insights that you can put into action today.

If you’re ready to lead with empathy, build a culture your team buys into, and measure success beyond the usual metrics, this episode is for you. After all, as Beau reminds us, “The person who loves walking will go much further than the person who loves the destination.”

Let’s build kick-ass cultures so we can keep MakingChips! 

• [0:27] Leverage Paperless Parts to boost your process
• [1:51] The methodology behind the move
• [5:02] Learn more about Beau Groover 
• [8:05] The difference between coaching and consulting 
• [10:50] Building a Kick-Ass Culture
• [12:38] How Bill Berrien leverages Paperless Parts
• [20:11] Involving your shop floor in problem-solving
• [24:39] Why do leaders hesitate to make changes? 
• [27:40] How to overcome roadblocks in lean implementation
• [30:06] How positive energy transforms cultures
• [31:55] Listen to the Manufacturing Transformed podcast
• [32:29] Lead with empathy—until you can’t
• [37:29] Important metrics for manufacturers to track 
• [41:48] How you can measure company morale
• [42:33] Why clarity is a pillar of coaching
• [47:30] Beau’s challenge to manufacturing leaders
• [53:22] Check out the MakingSparks podcast! 

• Leverage Paperless Parts to boost your process
• The Effective Syndicate
• Beau’s book, “Building a Kick-Ass Culture”
• Bill Berrien with Pindel Global Precision
• Listen to the Manufacturing Transformed podcast
• Check out the MakingSparks podcast

• www.MakingChips.com
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