The Manufacturing Executive

Founder and CEO of Poe Wolf Partners, Renita Wolf, will tell you that exit planning isn’t just a final step before selling your business. It’s something smart owners build toward from the very beginning. She’ll explain why building transferable value and reducing owner dependency are crucial from the start, setting the stage for higher valuations and a smoother sale when the time comes. You’ll hear her insights on the most common gaps, deal killers and the practical actions business owners can take now to strengthen their companies. She’ll also discuss why the hardest part of exiting is often personal, and how to prepare yourself for both the financial and emotional sides of what comes next. Free resource: 7 Essentials Every Business Owner Must Have Before Exiting (preparing for a high-value, low-regret business transition): https://www.poewolfpartners.com/seller/

With supply chain disruptions, shifting geopolitical risks and increasing pressure for efficiency, today’s manufacturing leaders face operational challenges that go far beyond simply making parts. In today's conversation, President and CFO of Associated Metal Forming Technologies (AMFT), Todd Smith, explores the opportunities and complexities of weaving multiple specialized legacy brands into a unified platform to help address those challenges, without losing the trust and expertise that made those brands successful.

Why do so many continuous improvement and lean initiatives start with excitement, only to stall out or disappear entirely months later? What distinguishes organizations that truly embed these principles into their culture from those that just go through the motions? In today’s episode, COO of Bespoke, Steve Riley, will share his firsthand perspective from decades in manufacturing leadership. Specifically, he'll tell you why visual systems matter, where most lean rollouts go off track and what it really takes to make progress stick.

In this conversation with Peyton Warren, the Marketing Director at Gorilla 76, listeners discover innovative strategies for B2B manufacturing marketing. Peyton emphasizes the importance of in-person events for relationship building rather than immediate leads. He discusses the value of owning your audience through community development and the need for effective content distribution and reach. Streamlining content creation with AI tools is also explored, along with establishing clear success metrics to align marketing efforts with business objectives.

What if every skilled worker in manufacturing suddenly became searchable? In today's episode, Founder and CEO of Laborup, Simba Jonga, shares his perspective on how the manufacturing labor gap might be less about a lack of people, and more about a lack of access to those individuals. He'll talk about why millions of machinists, welders, and technicians remain hidden from traditional job boards, and how his team is working to make them visible and accessible for the first time.

Jenn Barlund, the president of Falcon Plastics and a third-generation leader, discusses scaling her family-owned manufacturing business to nearly $100M. She emphasizes the importance of a people-first culture and operational excellence while maintaining a family feel. Jenn shares insights on innovating customer experiences, the significance of transparency in building trust, and the tough decisions involved in choosing the right partners. She also highlights her commitment to community outreach and attracting diverse talent in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Josh Tarbutton, a PhD engineer and founder of Bravo Team, dives into the importance of giving engineers creative freedom to solve problems. He shares insights from his military background on trust and teamwork that accelerate innovation on the factory floor. With a compelling restaurant analogy, he highlights the communication gaps between engineering and sales teams. Tarbutton emphasizes that investing in R&D and fostering a culture of agency can lead to groundbreaking developments, showcasing how freedom inspired innovations like Gmail can transform companies.

Terry Szmagala, a seasoned legal and government affairs expert from TGS Advisory, offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between manufacturers and government. He emphasizes the importance of viewing government as a key stakeholder, discussing its role as a regulator, funder, and customer. Terry shares actionable insights on leveraging regulations to create product advantages and the need to prioritize government funding discovery. He also encourages manufacturers to engage with policymakers, highlighting their influence and the benefits of embedding government engagement into their processes.

COO of Frontline.io, Gilad Tzori, has spent years inside of manufacturing organizations, witnessing firsthand how complexity, workforce shifts and rapid technological change have upended traditional service and training models. In today’s conversation, he’ll explain why step-by-step PDFs and classroom lectures are no longer sufficient, and what a new era of immersive training looks like for the manufacturing sector. He'll also share real-world examples of virtual and extended reality tools in action and discuss how AI and digital twins can transform the way teams learn, collaborate and solve problems on the shop floor.

In this engaging discussion, Rush LaSelle, CEO of Fathom Digital Manufacturing, shares his extensive experience in advanced manufacturing and digital transformation. He reveals why human-centered thinking is essential amid workforce shifts and automation. Rush explains digital enablement, the challenges of labor shortages, and how adaptable humanoid robots may fit into factory settings. He also emphasizes the need to make manufacturing attractive to the younger generation, showcasing it as a high-tech and exciting field. Essential insights for any industry leader!