Bret Boyd, CEO and Co-Founder of Sustainment, is a former Army infantry officer with a wealth of leadership experience. In this conversation, he reveals that access to capital is currently a pressing challenge for mid-market manufacturers, surpassing talent gaps. Bret draws parallels between military and business leadership, emphasizing teamwork in supplier management. He discusses the importance of technology investment and how AI can revolutionize manufacturing practices, engaging younger generations to reshape the industry’s future.
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Military Shaped Leadership
Bret Boyd's military service shaped his approach to leadership and business.
Four tours in Iraq taught him problem-solving and team-building skills he now applies in manufacturing.
insights INSIGHT
Military Leadership Insights
Military small unit leadership relies on teamwork and initiative, not yelling orders.
These leadership lessons directly translate to building successful businesses and manufacturing teams.
insights INSIGHT
Manufacturing as a Team Sport
Manufacturing is a team sport requiring strong collaboration among OEMs, suppliers, and supply chains.
Sustainment focuses on supplier relationship management to help manufacturers operate more efficiently together.
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You might be surprised to learn what the biggest challenge manufacturers say they’re facing right now. The talent gap comes up a lot on this podcast, but early survey findings from the New American Industrial Alliance (NAIA), show that “access to capital” is really what holds most mid-market manufacturers back.
In this episode, we sit down with the CEO and Co-Founder of Sustainment, a software company that helps manufacturers manage supplier data, sourcing, and procurement in one centralized platform. As someone partnered with NAIA, Bret takes us through what the findings reveal about procurement and supplier challenges, technology adoption, and plans for the future.
In a previous life, Bret was an Army infantry officer and served four tours in Iraq, which taught him a surprising amount about leadership and business. He shares his unique perspective on running a mission-oriented business that aims to support the resurgence of American manufacturing.
In this episode, find out:
Bret shares a little background on his military career and why he eventually wound up in the technology and defense manufacturing space
The biggest lessons Bret learned in the military about business leadership, creativity, initiative, and problem-solving
What led Bret to build Sustainment and how it solves wider problems facing American manufacturers
Why manufacturing and supplier relationship management is a team sport between procurement, suppliers, supply chains, and manufacturers
Bret explains why he partnered with the New American Industrial Alliance (NAIA) to help support a community of manufacturers
Why mid-market manufacturers are the backbone of the industry – plus how the industry is facing a resurgence
What the early findings of NAIA’s survey reveal and why the workforce may not be the number one challenge we thought it was
How manufacturing’s success ties into the capacity and availability of materials and equipment, with a story of how COVID affected manufacturing
What the survey tells us about manufacturing and new technology adoption
How manufacturing leaders can tell their story and change the general public’s view on what this industry is like today
What the survey shows about manufacturing’s procurement outlook on tariffs, supply chains, and reshoring
What manufacturers can do to prepare for the next 20-30 years and the tools they need to succeed
"The combat power in American manufacturing is in entrepreneurial, small businesses spread throughout middle America... 70% of manufacturing employees work in the small business segment."
"Manufacturing in this day and age is a high-tech industry... these are super high- paying jobs, working in high tech that allow you to build a great depth of knowledge and great skills."
"Manufacturing gets done in a community. Every single OEM relies upon a trusted network of contract manufacturers and suppliers and people that are essential to what they sell to their customers."
Links & mentions:
Sustainment, an SRM for improving your sourcing and procurement efforts with tools built specifically for managing suppliers within manufacturing
Broken Spoke, live music & boot-scootin' in Austin, TX, plus beer & chicken-fried steak since 1964
Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
Manufacturing Happy Hour