Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast

Joe Kuhn, CMRP, former plant manager, engineer, and global reliability consultant, is now president of Lean Driven Reliability LLC. He is the author of the book “Zero to Hero: How to Jumpstart Your Reliability Journey Given Today’s Business Challenges” and the creator of the Joe Kuhn YouTube Channel, which offers content on starting your reliability journey and achieving financial independence. In our monthly podcast miniseries, Ask a Plant Manager, Joe considers a commonplace scenario facing the industry and offers his advice, as well as actions that you can take to get on track tomorrow. This episode offers insight into why fake numbers fake real progress.

Captain Unreliability is a satire of the state of the manufacturing industry in ’Merica today and is written by an industry professional known for using humor to get the point across. In his columns, The Captain covers a range of topics, including the art of avoiding work, creating a culture of unreliability, and why a reliability program is like a toilet. In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Alexis Gajewski, senior content strategist for Plant Services, shares The Captain’s thoughts on fads and why all complex problems can be solved by embracing The Next Big Thing as the solution. About the Article Why chasing fads is the key to corporate success Captain Unreliability thinks that you can tackle all complex problems by embracing The Next Big Thing as the solution. Written by Captain Unreliability Read by Alexis Gajewski Read the article

Exploring slow demand and revenue growth in manufacturing businesses in 2024. Insights on equipment financing, concerns of manufacturing leaders, and impact of economic challenges on strategic planning.

Join Alexis Gajewski as she discusses the latest innovative products in manufacturing, including blower motor technology, micro-automation robots, stability in positioning, fuel transportation, and order picking safety. Dive into the advanced features of a lift truck for enhanced efficiency and safety in industrial settings.

Corey Dickens, CMRP, is a senior solutions consultant at Brightly, and describes himself as a maintenance practitioner and CMMS super user. Hs career has taken him into a wide variety of plants and industrial facilities, and recently he presented on maintenance best practices to the Craft Brewers Conference. In this conversation with chief editor Thomas Wilk, Dickens explains why some brewers refer to it as "equipment caretaking" and the hunger among brew pubs and micro breweries for maintenance knowledge.

Satish Saini, who is utility industries specialist for HEXstream and head of the United Nations Transmission & Distribution Energy Efficiency Working Group as well as the Chair of IEEE Smart Grid Technical Activities Committee, joins Smart Industry’s Scott Achelpohl as a follow-up to a February article Satish wrote on “smart” or advanced metering, which can help manufacturers cut energy costs, enhance reliability, and bolster conservation and sustainability. According to Satish and HEXstream, investing in energy efficiency provides companies and organizations with opportunities well beyond energy savings. These techniques and technologies such as advanced metering can optimize and increase productivity at manufacturing companies while also reducing operating and maintenance costs and creating safer and more welcoming environments for their employees and customers. Plus, governments and utilities welcome these advancements in industry because they help the environment and provide a way to measure energy consumption and power requirements, especially in areas where industrial activity is higher.

Keeping workers safe on the job should be the top priority for every business, so how is industrial America doing? Join IndustryWeek's Robert Schoenberger, EHS Today's Dave Blanchard and Chemical Processing's Traci Purdum as we discuss how companies are reducing worker risk and avoiding workplace accidents.

In this Supply Chain 101 “explainer” podcast, you’ll learn how outsourcing logistics allows companies to free up resources and focus on their core competencies. About the Article Supply Chain 101: Outsourcing Logistics Outsourcing logistics allows companies to free up resources and focus on their core competencies. Written by Jagan Reddy Read by Adrienne Selko Read the article

Enterprise technology expert Stu Johnson shares insights from a recent survey on manufacturers' expectations for AI. They discuss AI's impact on ERP systems in manufacturing, the importance of the manufacturing signal chain in digital transformation, and challenges faced by companies in implementing ERP systems, emphasizing on budget constraints and time limitations.

Root cause analysis helps engineers analyze asset performance and identify the source of machine failure. But how many RCAs are enough for your maintenance program, and how can you use them to change behaviors instead of just fixing the assets? Shon Isenhour and Brian Hronchek of Eruditio join us for a discussion on how to optimize your time spent doing RCAs so they have maximum positive effect on your plant.