Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast

In the first episode of their (R)Evolutionizing Manufacturing video series, Smart Industry's Scott Achelpohl and Industry 4.0 guru and evangelist Jeff Winter discuss the basics of how companies can start down the data-driven production path. In addition to talking digital transformation basics, Scott and Jeff took on audience questions gathered from Jeff's very active LinkedIn page to address concerns from people in industry. 

With plant turnarounds requiring significant resources to plan and execute, there are many factors to take into consideration. The pandemic magnified some of the issues in this space and challenges still exist today, making it important to implement best practices that will enable success. In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Mike Aughenbaugh, associate target market manager for Swagelok, explains the evolution of turnarounds as a result of the pandemic and best practices that can enable improved processes.

As its name implies, continuous improvement is a journey with no fixed destination. Getting better every day means there's always more to do. Staying committed to that principle demands a culture that stresses and rewards continuous improvement. In this panel discussion, recorded at the IndustryWeek Operations Leadership Summit in June in Indianapolis, panelists discuss how to build that culture of continuous improvement, and just as important, how to maintain it for years to come. Speakers were: David Higgs, Vice President of MEC Business Excellence (MBX), Mayville Engineering Co. (MEC) Eric Lussier, Principal - Next Level Partners Gene Mussel, Director - Wipfli LLP Randy Morehouse, Director of Operations - Falcon Plastics Jill Jusko, Executive Editor - IndustryWeek

In this “Talking EHS” podcast, we offer a sneak preview of Safety Leadership Conference 2024, highlighting the speakers, the special events and the opportunities to network with some of the industry’s most prominent safety professionals. Register for the show

Dave Aebischer is a senior data analyst for Cintel. Throughout his career, Dave has focused on improving Army weapon system sustainment outcomes and developing new diagnostic technologies for combat equipment applications. He has introduced innovative technologies and techniques for meeting the challenges of sustaining complex weapon systems in combat environments. Dave recently spoke with Thomas Wilk, editor in chief of Plant Services, about a project he and his team worked on to support the PATRIOT missile defense system program. In part 2 of their conversation, Dave explains how he used a new condition monitoring tool, motion amplification, to further improve the reliability of the tactical power generators by identifying additional defects that other monitoring methods would have missed.

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 whether having operators perform maintenance tasks will help or hurt your company.

Delve into the evolving role of EHS professionals in manufacturing as they navigate intense compliance demands and automation challenges. Discover how centralized data can enhance safety while uncovering automation opportunities. Hear from an expert about the importance of workforce engagement in fostering a strong safety culture. Learn how real-time data tracking transforms EHS management and encourages teamwork. This insightful discussion emphasizes proactive strategies to ensure safety and compliance in dynamic environments.

Dave Aebischer is a senior data analyst for Cintel. Throughout his career, Dave has focused on improving Army weapon system sustainment outcomes and developing new diagnostic technologies for combat equipment applications. He has introduced innovative technologies and techniques for meeting the challenges of sustaining complex weapon systems in combat environments. Dave recently spoke with Thomas Wilk, editor in chief of Plant Services, about a project he and his team worked on to support the PATRIOT missile defense system program. In part 1 of their conversation, Dave details how he combined vibration analysis and 25 years of experience on power generators to successfully identify and correct an issue with new generator assets.

The rising volume of aluminum in automotive production is changing the requirements for - and the means by which - those raw materials are sourced, and along with regulatory changes it is reshaping the scrap sorting and processing industry. This installment of the podcast samples a new article highlighting the benefits, limitations, and challenges of recycling aluminum from used cars, underscoring the importance of nonferrous metal recycling in a sustainability-driven world. About the Article Advances in Aluminum Recycling for Metalcasting The shift from abundant, cheap energy sources with minimal waste reduction to stringent global regulations focused on minimizing pollution and resource consumption presents challenges and opportunities for the foundry industry. Written by Engin Kılınç Read by Robert Brooks Read the article

Manufacturers have known for more than 20 years that they needed more engineers and science/engineering/math-oriented students to work in their shops. So, many are now starting younger, as early as middle school to expose young people to future manufacturing careers. Hear from: Megan Barrett, Director of Operations at Engineering Tomorrow Michael Gretczko, Deloitte’s Chief Business Architect David Hook, R&D Engineer at CoorsTek Inc. and IndustryWeek's Anna Smith