Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast

Епизоде

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  A Different Approach to Workplace Safety Culture (Talking EHS) 15.09.2026 43мин

  By focusing on the fundamentals, workplaces can build a safer environment from the ground up, says Kevin Weaver of U.S. Compliance, and author of Building a Strong Safety Culture: The 5 C’s of Workplace Safety, 2nd edition.
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  Can AI Help Manufacturers Overcome the Skilled Trades Talent Shortage? (IndustryWeek) 10.09.2026 5мин

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Anna Smith explores the growing skilled labor shortage facing U.S. manufacturing. She examines data on the 1.3 million-worker talent gap, an aging workforce and rising demand driven by reshoring and data centers. Smith also looks at how upskilling, education partnerships, apprenticeships and AI can help manufacturers expand their talent pools. The discussion highlights strategies for developing the skilled workforce needed to support continued domestic production growth.
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  From Test Stands to Toolboxes: Editor's Product Picks, September 2026 (New Equipment Digest) 08.09.2026 7мин

  On this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, New Equipment Digest Editor-in-Chief Laura Davis rounds up four products worth knowing about — a coupling and brake system built for e-mobility test stands, an AI-powered platform for warehouse data capture, a connected AI forklift platform, and a pair of high-output rechargeable flashlights. Whether you're chasing measurement accuracy on the test bench or trying to close visibility gaps on the warehouse floor, this episode has something worth your time. Products Featured: ROBA-DS 9120 Peak Automation Intelligence NobleOne AI Forklift Platform LEO 10000 FLEX and Nebo LEO 12000 FLEX
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  How Too Much Data, Dashboards and RCA Complicate Reliability Strategy (Ask A Plant Manager) 03.09.2026 13мин

  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 is our rapid-fire series where Joe tackles five diferent scenarios and provides five quick fixes. Listen to Joe discuss the traps of too much data and too weak a culture. First, I make him laugh, but tune in to see which scenario gets Joe all riled up!
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  Do Safety Leaders Need to Improve Their Emotional Intelligence? (Talking EHS) 01.09.2026 29мин

  Safety expert Camille Oakes says improving emotional intelligence skills for safety managers helps create stronger outcomes in complex workplaces.
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  How AI Changes Cybersecurity for Manufacturers (IndustryWeek) 27.08.2026 9мин

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, IndustryWeek technology editor Dennis Scimeca and Smart Industry head of content Scott Achelpohl discuss the evolving cybersecurity challenges facing manufacturers. They examine recent attacks targeting PTC product lifecycle management software and Siemens S7 PLCs, highlighting the complexities of patching vulnerabilities across industrial environments. The conversation also explores how AI is accelerating cyberattacks and shortening the time available for organizations to respond.
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  4 Machines to See at IMTS 2026 (New Equipment Digest) 25.08.2026 7мин

  IMTS 2026 is just weeks away, and the show floor will be packed with new equipment worth tracking down. In this episode, Laura Davis highlights four machines making their case at McCormick Place this September. Here's where to find each one, and what makes it worth the walk. A 5-axis mill-turn center built for aerospace engine components A compact CNC turning center for small high-volume parts A flexible cylindrical grinder A high-torque 5-axis horizontal machining center for large structural parts. 
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  Supply Chain Management and the Go-Live Gap (American Machinist) 20.08.2026 9мин

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, chief editor Robert Brooks takes a look at how manufacturers that implement supply-chain management technology frequently face the “go-live gap”. It’s what separates a technically successful implementation from an operation that is truly prepared to use the new platform, follow the new processes, make the right decisions, measure and capture the value that justified the investment in the first place.
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  How to Bring AI into Safety Culture (Talking EHS) 18.08.2026 17мин

  McKenna Schutty, safety, health and environmental manager at TDIndustries, a Texas-based facilities services and mechanical construction company, discusses how her company brought AI into its safety organization.
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  How Manufacturers Can Build Stronger Regional Networks and Domestic Supply Chains (IndustryWeek) 13.08.2026 22мин

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Ilana Preuss, a champion of small-scale manufacturing and founder of Recast City, discusses the importance of raising the visibility of small-scale manufacturing, whose impact on the larger economy is being overlooked from lack of data and lack of awareness. While large manufacturers attract lots of attention, a strong domestic manufacturing base requires mapping and connecting networks of smaller suppliers that support these larger entities. Preuss presents tools that can help the cause, as well as a model for regional collaboration. In addition, the ReCast City founder dives into ways in which small and large manufacturers can help raise awareness themselves, such as hosting pitch competitions, holding and sponsoring meetups, and more.
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  'Muddy Waters' of Implementing AI and How Manufacturers Can Avoid Them (Smart Industry) 11.08.2026 25мин

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Smart Industry's Sarah Mattalian talks with Mike Fedorov, COO and co-CEO of Applied AI Labs, who discuss why AI implementations often fail to deliver expected results. They explore how manufacturers can work with the muddy waters of imperfect data, establish effective governance, and design AI solutions around measurable business outcomes.  The conversation concludes with a look at AI as a tool for amplifying human capabilities rather than replacing them.
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  Stop the Shortcuts that Force Reliability to Take a Back Seat (Ask A Plant Manager) 06.08.2026 19мин

  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 explores maintenance shortcuts and the role of reliability culture.
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  The Past, Present and Future of Workplace Safety (Talking EHS) 04.08.2026 49мин

  The current and previous two presidents of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) -- Monique Parker, Linda Tapp and Pam Walaski -- discuss strategies safety leaders can use to stay energized, the importance of mentorship, and how embracing change and diversity can lead to more effective safety initiatives.
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  How the Fast 41 Program Speeds Critical Minerals and Manufacturing Permitting (IndustryWeek) 30.07.2026 25мин

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, IndustryWeek's Laura Putre speaks with Emily Domenech about efforts to streamline federal permitting for large manufacturing and critical minerals projects. They discuss how the Fast-41 program coordinates agencies to reduce project delays, improve transparency, and accelerate approvals while maintaining environmental and safety standards. The conversation also explores critical minerals processing, domestic supply chain resilience, and the growing role of AI and digital tools in modernizing the permitting process.
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  Editor's Product Picks: 4 New Manufacturing Products (New Equipment Digest) 28.07.2026 8мин

  On this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, New Equipment Digest Editor-in-Chief Laura Davis rounds up four new products worth a closer look: a passive exoskeleton that eases shoulder strain during overhead work an AI-powered device that keeps forklift-based inventory tracking accurate in real time a connected ultrasound platform built for multisite reliability programs, a new inline coding system designed for the packaging industry's shift to GS1 2D codes.
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  Employee Engagement Is Key to a Successful Safety Culture (Talking EHS) 21.07.2026 17мин

  Jennifer Ferdinand-Stong, corporate safety manager at construction firm Gaylor Electric and recently named Health and Safety Professional of the Year by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) for 2026, shares her thoughts on how to create a realistic and sustainable safety culture.
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  Solving Manufacturing Labor Shortages with Puerto Rico's Skilled Workforce (IndustryWeek) 16.07.2026 16мин

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, IndustryWeek's Anna Smith speaks with Clay Martin, CEO and founder of Isla Talent, about innovative approaches to solving manufacturing workforce shortages by recruiting skilled workers from Puerto Rico. They discuss strategies for expanding talent pipelines, supporting employee relocation, and improving retention through communication, training, and workplace culture. The conversation also explores long-term labor trends, the impact of AI on the workforce, and practical steps manufacturers can take to build stronger, more resilient teams.
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  Fact or Fiction? The Truth About Reliability and What Plant Managers Get Wrong (Ask A Plant Manager) 09.07.2026 12мин

  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. In this episode, Joe plays reliability mythbusters about leadership's role in culture and the importance of best practices and technology.
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  Your AI Strategy Is Built on a Blind Spot (Smart Industry) 07.07.2026 24мин

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Scott Achelpohl is joined by Nick Hasselbeck and Matt Martin of E Tech Group to discuss the challenges legacy OT systems create for digital transformation and AI adoption. The conversation explores why siloed data, limited network visibility, and outdated equipment remain major obstacles for manufacturers. They also examine practical strategies for connecting older assets, evaluating the value of stranded data, and balancing equipment replacement with lower-cost modernization approaches. The episode offers a grounded look at how manufacturers can build a stronger data foundation for AI and other advanced operational initiatives.
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  How to Stay Cool on the Job as Temperatures Soar (Talking EHS) 07.07.2026 40мин

  Employers have an obligation to protect workers from all jobsite hazards, including the summer heat and humidity. Learn the current regulations, signs of heat stress and what you can do to help workers be comfortable—and safe—this summer from Corey Stringer Institute’s Maggie Morrissey.