Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast

A manufacturer explains how Section 232 tariff rebates are reshaping sourcing choices and sometimes favoring imports. They discuss the practical steps and long validation times needed for supply chain localization. Uncertainty around USMCA is altering supplier decisions. The conversation covers shifting vehicle powertrains, growing hybrid HVAC electrification, refrigerant transitions, and plans for a clean energy testing hub.

Jeff Shiver, maintenance and reliability advisor who coaches technicians and optimizes PMs. Tony Peterson, Maintenance Reliability Manager with 25 years improving food-plant maintenance. They discuss a three-phase PM optimization approach. Topics include using P&IDs and CMMS data, engaging technicians in workshops, eliminating low-value PMs, separating intrusive vs non-intrusive tasks, and shifting to condition-based triggers.

Stan Solowski, VP of Value-Added Solutions who cleans up parts data. Rick Sigler, VP of Onsite Services focused on data-driven onsite ops. Barry Greenhouse, SVP of Merchandising expanding automation and raw materials. Sam Johnson, Group VP for Customer Solutions improving productivity and procurement. They discuss hidden MRO waste, data cleanup for AI readiness, factory automation growth, vending for compliance, and securing diverse supply chains.

Brian Hronchuk, principal trainer and consultant at Eruditio who helps manufacturers optimize maintenance and CMMS use. He discusses why CMMS often becomes paperwork and how plants are shifting to full system use. He outlines three practical strategies: reusable PM activities, storing corrective job plans as activities, and modeling resources for outage planning. Short training for planners amplifies results.

Evan Kaiser, VP for Global OEM and Emerging Industries at Rockwell Automation, a smart manufacturing strategist. He discusses why smart manufacturing matters for small and midsized shops. He covers digital tools for training staff. He talks about practical analytics, reducing waste and energy costs, stepwise adoption to avoid paralysis, and cybersecurity basics.

Connected procurement integrates all stages of the source-to-pay process, providing real-time visibility and enhancing organizational agility. In this "In Case You Missed It" podcast, based on an article from two Accenture procurement experts, you'll hear how organizations are shifting from reactive procurement processes to connected, data-driven workflows that enhance agility, resilience and strategic value amid global disruptions.

Lee McClish, Director of maintenance programs at NTT with deep data-center operations experience. He talks about scaling builds, vendor diversity, obsolescence and spare-part planning. He highlights balancing cost vs reliability and keeping long-term maintenance programs intact during short-term pressures. Short, field-tested stories about practical maintenance tradeoffs and planning challenges.

Robert McMahan, president of Kettering University and former industry executive, outlines Kettering’s cooperative education model. He describes 12-week classroom/work rotations, how paid work builds technical and soft skills, and how industry-aligned curriculum adapts to AI and manufacturing needs. He also covers employer ROI, accessibility through paid placements, and treating talent like a supply chain.

Samuel Pasquier, head of product management for Cisco’s Industrial IoT Connectivity Portfolio, leads Cisco’s industrial networking and security efforts. He explains why computing power and network bandwidth are blocking AI progress. He covers wireless reliability, ultra‑reliable Wi‑Fi 7 backhaul for AMRs/AGVs, IT‑OT collaboration, security priorities, and a start‑small scaling approach.

Joe Kuhn, former plant manager and reliability consultant who runs Lean Driven Reliability, offers practical manufacturing wisdom. He discusses resolving maintenance vs operations conflict, why operations should own reliability, a 90-day truce to rebuild trust, go-and-see shop-floor practices, and how to find and formalize mentors to strengthen teams.