Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast

In this engaging discussion, Sarah Tilkens, a former GE Healthcare lean guru and founder of the KPI Lab, dives into the transformative concept of Industry 5.0. She highlights the need to shift focus back to human involvement in manufacturing, countering the burnout caused by the rigid, efficiency-driven approach of Industry 4.0. Tilkens emphasizes the importance of fostering a growth mindset, coaching skills, and creating a collaborative environment. She advocates for integrating enjoyment into the workplace, ensuring people drive innovation and problem-solving.

In this discussion, Pat Caron, Amazon's Reliability Engineering Manager, shares insights on creating a global condition-based monitoring program. He discusses the shift from calendar-based maintenance to data-driven strategies, emphasizing standardization and collaboration across regions. The team highlights challenges such as language barriers and cultural differences, while also addressing how IoT and machine learning are shaping the future of predictive maintenance. Tune in for practical advice on navigating reliability at scale in a rapidly evolving industry!

Rajeev Shah, co-founder and CEO of Celona, dives into how private 5G networks can revolutionize manufacturing by overcoming legacy infrastructure challenges. He discusses the critical role of AI in enhancing operational efficiency and network security. Shah provides insights on effective strategies for AI adoption, including pilot projects and strategic planning. He also highlights the importance of workforce transformation in adapting to AI-driven processes, redefining the future of U.S. manufacturing.

Rosemary Coates, executive director of the Reshoring Institute and president of Blue Silk Consulting, draws on over 30 years of expertise in reshoring and supply chain management. She discusses how businesses are grappling with reshoring challenges in 2025, especially amid shifting tariffs and trade policies. The conversation dives into the impact of tariff fluctuations on operations, labor skill gaps, and the importance of integrating young talent into manufacturing. Coates also highlights the significance of community colleges in closing workforce gaps.

In this “in case you missed it” podcast, you'll learn why Travis S. McConnell, a construction attorney with Ready Legal, believes that implementing a comprehensive safety program is essential to preventing injuries and complying with OSHA’s standards.  You can also read the full article here.

Armstrong World Industries set a goal, nearly a decade ago, to be an outlier, the kind of company that maintains 5% profit growth for five or more years. Those efforts have paid off with the ceiling-tile and architectural components making landing No. 2 in IndustryWeek’s annual IW U.S. 50 Best Manufacturers list. Vic Grizzle, CEO of Armstrong, sat down with IndustryWeek’s Robert Schoenberger to discuss the management philosophy behind that performance. Some key elements: Investing in the business: Armstrong dedicates more of its cashflow to operational improvements than many of its peers, part of an annual push to increase productivity by about 3% every year Championing stability: Customers and employees know what to expect from a company that has stable management and rarely changes big-picture strategies Adaptability: While it champions stability, Armstrong also looks for adjacent opportunities, experiments with new technologies and constantly updates its processes

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Thomas Wilk, chief editor of Plant Services, is joined by Blair Fraser, the VP of technology at UE Systems to discuss how ultrasound tools are evolving. Many maintenance technicians use machine condition monitoring technologies for two related goals: detect a problem, and diagnose the root cause. However, Fraser argues that these technologies are evolving quickly to help teams achieve the next-step goal of deciding on the best corrective course of action that fits overall plant goals.

David Brown, the Vice President and CTO of Transportation Solutions at TE Connectivity, dives into the revolutionary impact of AI on transportation. He discusses how AI accelerates product design and enhances factory operations. The conversation highlights the importance of agility in manufacturing and the need for ongoing engineer training to fully integrate AI. Brown also explores generative AI’s role in design and the significance of organizational support in realizing AI’s potential, paving the way for innovation in the industry.

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 explains some of the problems that can go wrong when you are starting your reliability journey, and what folks should be on the lookout for along the way. Key takeaways Prioritize reliability by choosing where to excel—get a C on less critical tasks to focus on what truly drives plant performance. Reliability success demands active operations ownership—learn failures, engage on the floor, and earn credibility. Promote small wins visibly—selling reliability outcomes prevents loss of sponsorship and ensures long-term buy-in. Without structured problem-solving, best practices fall short—embed it into your process to triple reliability results.

In this episode, American Machinist editor in chief Robert Brooks analyzes the current state of the additive manufacturing (AM) sector, after several years of organizational turmoil among the top suppliers of AM systems. Brooks argues that this turmoil had virtually nothing to do with AM processes or technology developments, arguing that investors have been impatient with the rate of worldwide AM adoption.