In this episode, we welcome Brian White, the new VP of HR and Corporate Strategy at Polo Custom Products. Brian shares his unique insights into how HR can foster innovation and contribute to the manufacturing industry. Discussing his background, Brian highlights his passion as an HR professional and the pride he has observed in Polo’s employees. We touch on topics ranging from employee engagement and well-being to leveraging technology and data for HR decisions. Brian's experiences at Payless Shoes and Auburn Washburn School District bring a fresh perspective to Polo's strategy. The episode also explores practical examples of employee pride, skill development, and collaboration that underscore Polo’s team-oriented culture and continuous improvement initiatives. Tune in for an engaging conversation about the critical role HR plays in manufacturing and how it aligns with overall business strategy.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

01:04 Meet Brian White: New VP of HR and Corporate Strategy

02:39 Insights on Manufacturing and Employee Pride

06:50 The Role of HR in Fostering Innovation

09:42 Talent Acquisition and Employer Branding

20:42 Company Culture and Employee Well-being

27:03 HR Technology and Data-Driven Decisions

31:31 Skill Development and Training

37:40 Strategic Planning and Future Growth

42:12 The Impact of Technology and AI on HR

45:41 Conclusion and Farewell

Resources:

A Triple Play for Industrial OEMs - Polo Custom Products

Learn more about Polo Custom Products

Polo Custom Product designs, engineers, and manufactures custom products for OEMs in the medical, fire & safety, and defense industries. Polo Custom Products has experts on staff to globally source and procure your specialty formulation materials. Our experts in quality assurance test and ensure all custom products meet standards and your requirements.

Today we recap some of the best lessons we've learned on our journey through manufacturing and innovation. In this episode, we revisit the importance of building a strong company culture with insights from our CEO, Kent Lammers. We'll also discuss talent development strategies from Alan Frost, and explore crucial cybersecurity precautions with Rob Ward. Finally, we will tie everything together with an in-depth look at our manufacturing processes that we learned from Greg Brown, our plant manager in Mississippi. This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone in supply chain, product development, customer service, and beyond.

00:00 Introduction to Inspiring Innovation Podcast

01:54 Highlighting Key Lessons from Past Episodes

02:04 The Importance of Company Culture

05:15 Wellness Initiatives and Employee Engagement

05:54 Customer Insights and Plant Tours

12:05 Developing a Strong Workforce

14:36 Protecting Your Business from Hackers

17:01 Manufacturing Processes and Quality Assurance

21:09 Conclusion and Encouragement to Engage

Resources:

A Triple Play for Industrial OEMs - Polo Custom Products

Learn more about Polo Custom Products

Polo Custom Product designs, engineers, and manufactures custom products for OEMs in the medical, fire & safety, and defense industries. Polo Custom Products has experts on staff to globally source and procure your specialty formulation materials. Our experts in quality assurance test and ensure all custom products meet standards and your requirements.

Bridging Product Development and Sales

In this episode of Inspiring Innovation, we sit down with Ellen Kershke, a technical expert turned sales professional at Polo. Ellen shares her unique experiences and how her background in product development has benefited her current role in sales. We discuss the crossover between these fields and how it has helped Polo better serve its customers. Ellen shares stories from trade shows, strategies for managing customer relationships, and the importance of communication and understanding technical details. She also highlights the unexpected ways her product development expertise has enhanced her sales efforts, allowing her to provide tailored solutions and more effectively navigate customer issues. Tune in to learn about the critical factors in maintaining strong customer relationships, recent trends in the medical market, and the value of solution-oriented thinking in manufacturing.

00:00 Introduction to Inspiring Innovation

00:59 Meet Ellen Kershke: From Product Development to Sales

01:46 The Anaheim Trade Show Experience

04:10 Misconceptions Between Sales and Product Development

07:16 Influence of Product Development on Sales Approach

08:56 Polo's Unique Design Process

10:29 Lessons from Product Development Applied to Sales

13:23 Maintaining Strong Customer Relationships

26:48 Trends in the Medical Market

27:55 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

Resources:

A Triple Play for Industrial OEMs - Polo Custom Products

Learn more about Polo Custom Products

Polo Custom Product designs, engineers, and manufactures custom products for OEMs in the medical, fire & safety, and defense industries. Polo Custom Products has experts on staff to globally source and procure your specialty formulation materials. Our experts in quality assurance test and ensure all custom products meet standards and your requirements.

In the second episode of our Happy Hour series, we enjoy a lively conversation with Brian Weber, the Chief Operating Officer of Polo Custom Products. Brian reflects on the company's 75-year legacy and the anticipation of future milestones. He shares insightful manufacturing stories, the impact of Polo's products out in the real world, and humorous personal anecdotes, including an early career embarrassment that turned into a lasting success. We discuss the importance of company culture, maintaining employee satisfaction, and making calculated business decisions. Cheers to more inspiring conversations and the continued success of Polo Custom Products!

00:00 Introduction to the Happy Hour Podcast

01:11 Reflecting on 75 Years of Polo

02:22 Pride in Polo's Products

03:04 Balancing Class and Fun

03:47 Describing Polo with Movie Titles

04:58 Corporate Culture at Polo

05:35 Customer Stories and Product Impact

06:53 Embarrassing Mistakes and Lessons Learned

09:29 Superpowers and Logistics

10:56 Pandemic Challenges and Strategic Decisions

14:35 Acknowledging Leadership and Team Efforts

16:14 Conclusion and Call to Action

Resources:

A Triple Play for Industrial OEMs - Polo Custom Products

Learn more about Polo Custom Products

Polo Custom Product designs, engineers, and manufactures custom products for OEMs in the medical, fire & safety, and defense industries. Polo Custom Products has experts on staff to globally source and procure your specialty formulation materials. Our experts in quality assurance test and ensure all custom products meet standards and your requirements.

In this episode of Inspiring Innovation, we welcome back Brian Weber, our first repeat guest and the Chief Operating Officer of Polo Custom Products. Inspired by the Manufacturing Happy Hour podcast, we have a casual and fun discussion over some Busch Light, where Brian shares intriguing manufacturing stories and notable achievements. We delve into the significant success of scaling a medical product across multiple locations, and the complex logistical endeavor of moving production to the Dominican Republic. We also touch on unique product requests, the value of offshore manufacturing partners, and the heroic efforts of Polo employees during the pandemic. Join us for this special two-part episode, packed with insights and reflections on innovation in the manufacturing industry.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:03 Special Guest: Brian Weber

02:07 Manufacturing Success Stories

05:16 Unique Product Requests

09:14 Navigating Global Manufacturing Challenges

19:56 Heroes of Polo Custom Products

24:09 Lessons and Mentorship

29:35 Pandemic Innovations and Challenges

33:59 Debunking Myths in Custom Manufacturing

38:48 Conclusion and Teaser for Part Two

Resources:

A Triple Play for Industrial OEMs - Polo Custom Products

Learn more about Polo Custom Products

Polo Custom Product designs, engineers, and manufactures custom products for OEMs in the medical, fire & safety, and defense industries. Polo Custom Products has experts on staff to globally source and procure your specialty formulation materials. Our experts in quality assurance test and ensure all custom products meet standards and your requirements.