Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

If you have questions regarding workforce development in manufacturing operations in North America, email me at trevor@manufacturinggreatness.com and we will propose it in the project scope of research.

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

In manufacturing, most leaders don't struggle because they lack technical knowledge. They struggle because they're not connecting with their teams.

When skill gaps widen, labor shortages grow, and hiring challenges persist, it's rarely an operations problem. It's a leadership and communication problem.

That's exactly why I wrote Manufacturing Greatness, releasing May 11, 2027 with Page Two.

This book is for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors who want high performing teams that stick around and consistently deliver results. Leaders who are ready to move beyond telling people what to do and start leading through curiosity, communication skills, and deeper conversations.

Inside, you'll find practical tools to strengthen safety culture, improve employee engagement, support workforce retention, and build a workplace where teams work together, get results, and stay.

Now I need your help.

We've narrowed the subtitle down to five options, and I want the manufacturing community to weigh in.

1) How to Be More Productive with the People You Already Have
2) How Curious Leaders Strengthen Relationships to Improve Safety, Quality, and Productivity
3) How to Show Up, Clarify Expectations, and Instill Accountability to Streamline Your Operation
4) Three Conversations to Build High-Performing Teams that Work Together, Get Results, and Stick Around
5) Three Conversations to Build High-Performing Teams that Connect, Deliver, and Stick Around

Email me at trevor@manufacturinggreatness.com and let you know about favorite subtitle option!

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

In this episode, Bruce Mayhew, corporate trainer, keynote speaker, executive coach, and author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and trust building for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

You'll learn why traditional command-and-control leadership no longer works in today's plants — and how curiosity-driven leadership, authentic communication, and continuous improvement help manufacturing leaders close the skills gap, strengthen employee engagement, and drive real team performance.

Bruce breaks down how everyday leadership behaviors directly impact culture, safety, accountability, and results — especially as manufacturing organizations face labor shortages, workforce challenges, and generational shifts on the shop floor.

This conversation connects soft skills with operational excellence, showing leaders how to move from reaction to intention, from blame to curiosity, and from siloed management to connected leadership.

01:30 – As generational shifts place millennials in leadership roles, it can create tension between siloed leadership and collaborative, flatter manufacturing cultures.
03:49–Purpose and meaning drive effective leadership, stronger relationships, and healthier workplace culture.
06:12–Disconnects between executives and the shop floor weaken teamwork and long-term manufacturing performance.
07:19–Self-awareness and emotional intelligence enable leaders to adapt communication styles across manufacturing teams.
08:58–Respect on the shop floor comes from meeting people where they are, not talking down to them.
09:44–High performance in manufacturing is unlocked through meaningful conversations rather than top-down directives.
16:27–Transparency grows when leaders listen first and elevate frontline voices.
18:33- Shared pride in quality and reputation strengthens team identity and manufacturing excellence.
20:15–Curiosity-driven leadership replaces blame-focused problem solving with appreciative inquiry.
23:31–Positive exploration increases engagement by empowering teams instead of punishing them.
25:09 - Accountability works best when leaders replace interrogation with curiosity-based performance conversations.

Connect with Bruce Mayhew
Visit his website

Buy his book

Find him on LinkedIn

Following him on Instagram @bruce.mayhew

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

In this episode, Brian Herriot shares insights on manufacturing leadership, productivity, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

Brian brings a practical, human-centered approach to help manufacturing leaders rethink work, leadership, and scheduling so they can build stronger teams — without burning people out or lowering standards. You'll hear why traditional shift models are breaking down, how "time freedom" shows up on the shop floor, and what leaders can do right now to improve engagement, retention, and ownership amid labor shortages and skills gaps.

This conversation connects soft skills with operational results, showing how curiosity, authentic leadership, and better communication skills directly impact manufacturing culture, workforce retention, and daily productivity.

02:10 – Frontline leadership must acknowledge that traditional manufacturing management models no longer align with modern workplace culture or employee engagement in manufacturing.

03:30 – Gen Z expects leadership in manufacturing plants to adapt to their lives, not the other way around

06:55 – Great manufacturing culture comes from seeing teams as humans first, not just labor inputs on the production line

09:10 –Employee ownership models and open-book management strengthen trust in leadership, manufacturing relationships, and accountability in manufacturing

11:25 – Manufacturing retention improves when leaders focus on team engagement in manufacturing rather than just output and efficiency

12:45 –Frontline leaders must recognize that many employees juggle multiple jobs and need coaching in manufacturing that supports life beyond the plant

14:10 – Flexible schedules, job sharing, and project-based roles can close the showing up gap while improving manufacturing innovation and retention

15:35 – Time Freedom as a Leadership Strategy
Leadership transformation happens when manufacturing leaders design roles that allow experienced workers to scale back without fully exiting

18:55 –Helping employees understand their financial future reduces anxiety and strengthens employee engagement in manufacturing

22:35 –Deeper conversations about money, time, and work build emotional intelligence, vulnerability in leadership, and a stronger coaching culture

Connect with Brian Herriot

Learn more about Time Freedom

Pre-order Time Freedom and use the code Trevor to get free access to the audiobook

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

How do you turn a one-machine operation into a thriving business?

Find out in this episode with Ken Handsaeme, founder of On Time Precision. Ken's unique journey started as a machinist, but when he decided he wanted a better retirement plan, he started his own business, initially operating out of a barn with a single machine. It eventually grew into a thriving manufacturing company serving military, aerospace, and medical customers — and helped Ken fulfill his retirement dreams.

In this episode, Ken shares the lessons he learned throughout his career, ranging from the importance of intentional leadership and the root causes of common operational problems to how curiosity-driven conversations and trust-building behaviors drive retention, accountability, and long-term performance. He also shares stories from his own career, giving a practical look at what it really takes to build a manufacturing business that can grow, endure, and succeed beyond the owner.

02:00 – Operational challenges on the shop floor often signal leadership and communication gaps rather than process problems alone

04:15 – Shifting from working in the business to working on the business enables leaders to focus on production leadership and long-term operational excellence.

05:30 - Protected time for quoting is essential to production flow, customer trust, and employee stability

06:45 – Connecting the top to the shop creates shared accountability

08:55 – To accelerate growth, leaders must balance hiring, retention, and capacity planning in manufacturing plants.

10:10 - Structured one-on-one conversations are a powerful tool for supervisor development and deeper team engagement in manufacturing.

11:30 - Curiosity-driven leadership conversations outperform traditional performance reviews in building trust and accountability.

14:00 – To reinforce trust, respect, and leadership credibility, prioritize employee conversations like customer meetings

16:40 –Involving operators in problem-solving and process improvement builds ownership and continuous improvement culture.

17:55 – Have transparent discussions on transparency in manufacturing management, including sharing expectations without overwhelming teams with financial complexity.

20:30 – Self-awareness, vulnerability, and trust in leadership are foundational skills in modern manufacturing environments.

21:50 - Consistent leadership behaviors create workplace culture that supports retention and manufacturing excellence.

23:10 – To prepare for succession, you need to build systems, people, and leadership beyond the owner.

Connect with Ken Handsaeme

Connect on Instagram: @kenhandsaeme

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

In manufacturing, it often feels like nothing matters more than performance. Leaders are told to hit their targets, keep the line running, and solve problems as quickly as possible. But performance alone rarely drives real career growth. If you want to advance in manufacturing leadership, it's time to place more emphasis on visibility, curiosity, communication skills, and building stronger relationships.

In this episode, Susan M. Barber, a former Fortune 500 leader with more than 25 years of experience at Kraft Heinz, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, authentic leadership, and career development for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

Susan is also the author of The Visibility Factor: Break Through Your Fears, Stand in Your Own Power, and Become the Authentic Leader You Were Meant To Be. She helps leaders build authentic visibility, overcome imposter syndrome, and close the gap between performance and recognition.

In this conversation, Susan offers a behind-the-scenes look at key lessons from The Visibility Factor, along with practical stories and strategies manufacturing leaders can use to strengthen communication skills, improve trust building, and increase employee engagement on the shop floor. You'll learn how curiosity-driven conversations, authentic leadership, and relationship-building directly impact career growth, workforce retention, and long-term performance in manufacturing environments facing labor shortages and skills gaps.

1:40 – Performance matters in manufacturing, but career growth depends on more than just shop floor results
5:15 – Voice matters in leadership meetings
7:10 – Thoughtful questions are a powerful way for manufacturing leaders to build credibility and influence
10:45 – Louder voices often gain exposure over quiet high performers
12:55 - Leaders must go beyond their job descriptions to demonstrate readiness for the next level in manufacturing
15:05 - Trust, relationships, and visibility all play a role in how promotion decisions are made
16:55 - Ask for what you want and "do the job to get the job" before the title arrives
19:05 - The 10–30–60 framework highlights how performance, image, and exposure drive career success
22:45 – Psychological safety, authenticity, and confidence are key factors in leadership visibility
25:40 – By reflecting on past visibility successes and missed opportunities, leaders can understand what holds them back

Connect with Susan M. Barber

Visit her website
Connect on LinkedIn
Find her on Instagram and YouTube