In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, 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.

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.

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.