Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast

In our monthly podcast miniseries, Ask a Plant Manager, Joe Kuhn, CMRP (former plant manager, engineer, and global reliability consultant) considers commonplace scenarios facing the industry and offers his advice, as well as actions that you can take to get on track tomorrow. This episode collects three of our favorite moments with Joe over the past year: Maintenance vs. reliability engineers — key differences and how they work together Reliability program not working? Here’s what might be wrong Why predictive maintenance fails without problem solving on the plant floor

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Plant Services chief editor Thomas Wilk and UL Solutions Senior VP of Industrial Testing, Inspection, and Certification Jeff Smidt explore the growing role of independent sustainability certification in the industrial sector. Their discussion centers on ECOLOGO and how it evaluates materials, manufacturing practices, and full product lifecycles. The conversation also highlights the connection between reliability, risk reduction, and transparent environmental performance. Together, they examine how rigorous standards like UL 2711 may shape future expectations for industrial products.

Explore the innovative dual-layer metallic coating designed for jet engines, boosting performance under extreme conditions. Discover the journey from product design to metallurgy, emphasizing investment casting's role in creating complex, high-performance parts. Learn about high-entropy alloys, which promise greater fuel efficiency and lower maintenance costs. Hear about groundbreaking tests proving the effectiveness of boron-silicon coatings and their potential impact on aerospace and energy sectors.

Industrial exoskeletons are gaining traction in manufacturing and logistics, but misconceptions still overshadow what they actually do. New Equipment Digest chief editor Laura Davis breaks down the biggest myths with insights from HeroWear’s Matthew Yandell, PhD, to reveal the truth behind this fast-growing technology. To learn more, visit: https://www.newequipment.com/55325220

Joe Kuhn, former plant manager and global reliability consultant, shares his expertise on keeping maintenance crews motivated during the holiday season. He emphasizes the importance of balancing year-end celebrations with planning for the future. Joe discusses methods to energize teams, including recognition of achievements and encouraging leadership presence on the shop floor. He also highlights the safety risks increased by holiday distractions and playfully explores whether Santa's workshop can serve as a model for reliability and maintenance best practices.

Caroline Johnson, an executive advisor at DEKRA and former F/A-18 pilot, shares invaluable lessons from her Navy days. She discusses high-stakes safety protocols and the critical role of risk management on aircraft carriers. Caroline emphasizes the importance of listening to frontline workers and fostering a culture of respect and curiosity to enhance safety. She also highlights the impact of everyday leaders in industry and encourages leaders to ask questions that promote critical thinking and ownership within teams.

Mike Payne, the president of Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication, shares his passion for data and metrics in manufacturing. He reveals how monitoring machine performance increased spindle utilization significantly. Payne discusses his journey from ERP adoption to effective data collection, proving that relationships and performance matter most. He highlights standardized systems that accelerated onboarding and how data enhances quoting processes for both long and short production runs. Insightful anecdotes make clear that insightful data can lead to remarkable efficiency improvements.

Ben Wynne of Intrepid Automation helps Smart Industry's Scott Achelpohl veer from the M&A soap opera and get into the weeds about what industrial 3D printing is doing for aerospace, defense, automotive, health care and semiconductor production.

Somya Kapoor, CEO of IFS Loops, explores the groundbreaking capabilities of digital workers during a recent conversation. She details how these industrial agents manage tasks like inventory replenishment and supplier orders, achieving impressive ROI in just weeks. Somya highlights the importance of technology readiness and discusses the emotional relief these agents provide to technicians. Additionally, she tackles the challenge of skills gaps in the workforce and emphasizes the need for effective change management to prevent AI pilot failures.

Discussion around mental health is still rare among industrial workers. It's a cultural issue that needs to be re-examined and made a workplace priority, says podcast guest Stephen Dummit, founder of Tradewinds Leadership.