Manufacturing operations touch every part of a business. It’s where cost, quality and day-to-day decision-making come together, and where collaboration can make the biggest difference to performance.

In this episode, Floriano Liguoro, Chief Operations Officer of Ital G.E.T.E., shares how manufacturers can balance cost and value, strengthen supplier relationships, and build a more connected organisation.

We explore:
• Why focusing on the lowest cost can create hidden risks
• How procurement, sales and operations work better with shared information
• Practical ways to improve communication and decision-making across teams

Floriano shows that effective operations are built on clarity, partnership and long-term thinking. When teams work from consistent information, manufacturers can protect performance and build stronger relationships inside and outside the business.

📍 Connect with Floriano on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/florianoliguoro/

📍 Learn more about Ital G.E.T.E.: https://italgete.it/

Manufacturing collaboration is helping UK businesses escape the feast-or-famine cycle, build trust across the supply chain, and grow without relying on expensive marketing.

In this episode, Richard Patch, co-founder of the Manufacturer’s Hub, shares how manufacturers can connect, support each other, and stay visible in a competitive landscape.

We explore:
• Why feast-or-famine cycles persist in UK manufacturing
• How collaboration builds resilience and long-term growth
• What manufacturers can do this week to support the wider industry

Richard shows that manufacturing collaboration isn’t just about networking. It’s about creating real opportunities, building trust, and helping UK manufacturers thrive together.

📍 Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-patch-9ba2a119b/
📍 Explore the Manufacturer’s Hub: https://manufacturershub.co.uk

Finding fulfilment in manufacturing is about more than climbing the career ladder. It is about aligning your work with your values, building integrity into every decision, and knowing when to shape your own path.

In this episode, quality consultant Samantha Shelley shares her journey from being the first woman in her apprenticeship to supporting MedTech startups, and why career fulfilment comes from purpose, not paychecks.

We explore:
• How integrity and values drive long-term success in manufacturing careers
• Why fulfilment, not money, is the real measure of career progress
• What managers can do to grow their teams while supporting individual goals

Samantha shows that finding fulfilment in manufacturing is about more than titles or salaries, it’s about aligning your career with what matters most.

📍 Connect with Samantha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleysamantha/

📍 Visit Shelley Quality Management: https://sqms.org.uk/

Manufacturing innovation is about more than new machines. It is about leadership, resilience, and building the right teams. In this episode you will hear how military discipline shaped Martin Jewell’s approach to leadership, why culture determines whether a project succeeds or fails, and what bold moves are needed for the future of UK manufacturing.

Martin, Co-founder and CTO at Rapid Fusion, shares his journey from the Royal Engineers to leading advanced manufacturing projects, and why listening, adaptability, and strong teams are at the heart of innovation.

We explore:
• How lessons from the military transfer into manufacturing leadership
• Why toxic cultures stall progress and how to prevent them
• The realities of moving from construction into advanced manufacturing
• Why startups can outpace big corporates in bringing products to market
• What the UK needs to compete in global manufacturing innovation

Martin shows that innovation in manufacturing is not only about technology. It is about people, culture, and the courage to take risks.

📍 Connect with Martin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinjewell/
📍 Visit Rapid Fusion: https://rapidfusion.co.uk/

Building a career in UK aerospace does not have to follow a straight line.

In this episode you’ll hear how apprenticeships can open doors, why culture matters as much as technical skills, and what the future holds for the aerospace and space industries.

Chris Woodhams, Co-founder of Lat51 Space Systems, shares his journey from apprenticeship to leadership, the challenges of moving from working in a business to running one, and why celebrating failures is key to growth.

We explore:
• Why you don’t need a degree to start a successful career in aerospace
• The realities of moving from employee to employer
• How apprenticeships provide opportunities for leadership development
• Why culture and celebrating failures strengthen teams
• Where the opportunities are in aerospace and space over the next decade

Chris shows that building a career in aerospace is not only about technology. It’s about people, culture and the choices you make along the way.

📍 Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriswoodhamsargenta/

📍 Visit Lat51 Space Systems: https://www.lat51.space/

Kate Davies, transformation consultant and founder of Rufus Wren, brings two decades of experience in engineering, manufacturing, and industrial change.

In this episode, she shares her perspective on sustainable leadership in manufacturing and why fixing culture is essential for long-term success.

We explore:

• What sustainable leadership looks like in real factories

• How to lead high-performing teams without burning them out

• Why financial success should be a byproduct, not the goal

• How to create culture change with small, actionable steps

• The biggest mistakes leaders make when trying to transform a business

Kate works closely with leadership teams to deliver practical, people-focused change. Her experience proves that sustainable leadership in manufacturing starts with listening, not spreadsheets.

📍 Connect with Kate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-davies-9b310341/

📍 Visit Rufus Wren: https://www.rufuswren.co.uk/

Automation, machine vision and AI are changing manufacturing. In this episode, you’ll hear how one founder used them to stay competitive and build a thriving business.

Paul Wilson, founder of Scorpion Vision, shares how he pivoted from military life to manufacturing. He took a leap into unknown tech and built a business that now leads innovation in AI-powered factory automation.

We explore:

• How to grow a business without expert-level technical knowledge
• Why machine vision is essential for modern quality control
• What AI is actually doing on factory floors and what’s hype
• How automation creates, not replaces, skilled roles
• Why talking to strangers might be your best business strategy

Paul is a translator between cutting-edge technology and practical factory needs. His journey proves you don’t need to start as an expert to drive real change.

📍 Connect with Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwilson/

📍 Visit Scorpion Vision: https://www.scorpion.vision/

Quality is not just a department. It is a mindset that should be part of everything a manufacturer does.

In this episode, Suresh Babu explains why the most successful manufacturers treat quality as a shared responsibility. Drawing on decades of experience in manufacturing, software, and medical devices, he shares how to simplify systems, engage teams, and build a culture where quality supports every part of the process.

We explore:

• Why quality is not just the quality team’s job
• How to balance delivery pressure with long term success
• What to do with tasks that do not add value
• How everyday examples can help teams understand quality better

Suresh is the founder of Innovative Quality Consultants and is currently writing three books focused on quality systems, risk, and product development.

📍 Connect with Suresh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sureshbabu-quality

📍 Visit Innovative Quality Consultants: https://www.innovativequalityconsultants.com/