Shows
Manufacturing StreamLean Growing Pains, Fixing Handoffs, and Angry Technicians | We React to the Best of r/manufacturingFrom the manufacturing Reddit community to our podcast: we have Lean experts Mohsin Saeed and Eric Whitley react to the best threads from the past couple of months. We explore everything from improving shift handoffs to dealing with overworked maintenance technicians. 🧠 Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:- Effective systems are crucial for smooth handoffs in manufacturing.- Data-driven decision-making is essential for identifying root causes of issues.- How skills gap in manufacturing often lies in troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities.- Lean philosophy should be ingrained in the cultu...2025-07-2448 min
Manufacturing StreamFrom Reactive to Proactive | Fighting Downtime with Smarter MaintenanceWelcome back to the Manufacturing Stream Podcast! This week we dive into downtime - and how to beat it with better maintenance strategies. This episode features your host Eric Whitley and Joel Cook, Maintenance and Automation Manager at ChampionX. 🧠 Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:- How a proactive maintenance approach can significantly reduce downtime- Why collaboration between maintenance and operations enhances overall efficiency- How to minimize downtime with more effective spare parts management- Why engaging technicians in the documentation process improves accuracy and efficiency- How to n...2025-06-0531 min
Manufacturing StreamFrontline Experts React: Skills Gaps, Unfilled Jobs, and New TechThe Manufacturing Stream Podcast, your go-to source for insights into the latest in manufacturing technology and innovation.Hosted by Chris Rost and Eric Whitley, we’re excited to bring you some of the best conversations in manufacturing - from the factory floor to the board room. This episode also features manufacturing expert Jim Mayer - Founder of The Manufacturing Connector. Eric and Jim have decades of experience at the manufacturing frontline - today we'll get their takes on data from L2L's new 2025 Manufacturing Skills Report.🧠 Here’s what you’ll learn in this ep...2025-05-0142 min
Manufacturing StreamHere’s What Your Manufacturing Frontline Really Wants | Better Tech + Better Culture = SuccessThe Manufacturing Stream Podcast, your go-to source for insights into the latest in manufacturing technology and innovation.Hosted by Chris Rost and Eric Whitley, we’re excited to bring you some of the best conversations in manufacturing - from the factory floor to the board room.This episode features experts Jason Anthoine (manufacturing culture expert and founder of Employee Experienced) and our very own Willemijn Schneyder (frontline advocate and L2L CSO).This episode takes a deep dive into how we should shape our approach to delivering manufacturing tech to those who need it...2025-04-1632 min
Manufacturing StreamBetter Employee Development for the Frontline | Solving More Than a Labor Shortage in ManufacturingThe Manufacturing Stream Podcast, your go-to source for insights into the latest in manufacturing technology and innovation.Hosted by Chris Rost and Eric Whitley, we’re excited to bring you some of the best conversations in manufacturing - from the factory floor to the board room.This episode features experts Jim Mayer - manufacturing culture expert and founder of The Manufacturing Connector - and our very own Co-Host Eric Whitley.They have a combined 50+ years of experience as leaders in the industry, and together they’ll explore how re-thinking employee development can reduce turno...2025-04-0341 min
Manufacturing StreamUnlocking Digital TPM Success: Lessons from 40 Years of Manufacturing ExcellenceWelcome to the Manufacturing Stream Podcast with your host, Eric Whitley, Director of Manufacturing Solutions at L2L. In this episode, Eric sits down with his longtime friend and TPM expert, Ellis New, also known as Hillbilly.With nearly four decades of experience in Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Ellis and Eric have trained thousands of manufacturing professionals, implementing TPM strategies in plants across the world. Today, they’re diving deep into what makes TPM work, why maintenance is more than just a department, and how digital tools ar...2025-02-1247 min
Manufacturing StreamRevolutionizing Manufacturing: How AI and Data Drive Industry Transformation | L2L & CADDi Insights EpisodeIn this episode of The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, host Eric Whitley, Director of Industrial Transformation at L2L, welcomes a special guest, Chris Brown, VP of Sales at CADDi. Together, they explore how AI and innovative tools are transforming the manufacturing industry, from reshoring efforts to bridging the skilled labor gap.Chris shares insights into CADDi's cutting-edge technology that integrates rich contextual data into engineering drawings, empowering manufacturers to optimize processes, reduce waste, and accelerate timelines. They discuss real-world applications of AI, including shape recognition and contextual search, and how these tools make onboarding easier...2024-12-1026 minManufacturing StreamWhy Are People Leaving Manufacturing?In this episode of the Manufacturing Stream Podcast, host Eric Whitley tackles a critical issue in the industry: Why are talented professionals walking away from manufacturing? To explore this, Eric welcomes a special guest—his son, Brandon Whitley.Brandon shares his journey through manufacturing, from assembling products on the line to becoming a continuous improvement specialist, and ultimately leaving the industry. Together, they discuss:The challenges of driving change in traditional manufacturing environmentsThe impact of pay, culture, and work-life balance on retentionWhy outdated processes and resistance to innovation push workers awayLessons for building an engaged, motivated wo...2024-11-2131 minManufacturing StreamSpecial Guest - Kyle Petty Discusses NASCAR History, Employee Motivation and InnovationWelcome to a unique edition of The Manufacturing Stream Podcast, where your hosts, Eric Whitley and our special guest co-host Malcolm Faulds from L2L, sit down with the legendary Kyle Petty. Today, we're diving into Kyle's extraordinary journey, growing up amidst the royalty of racing. He shares with us tales from the track and highlights from his biography, "Swerve or Die," offering an inside look at the lives of NASCAR's elites. Join us as we explore the intriguing similarities between the worlds of manufacturing and racing, discussing everything from motivating team members to skill development and leadership. It's...2024-03-2852 minManufacturing StreamOwens Corning Digital TPM JourneyWe’ve discussed the importance of digitizing Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) on this podcast. Now, we’re excited to share a real-world example of this digital TPM in action!In this special episode recorded for a Plant Services webcast, Mike Brewster of Owens Corning joins Eric Whitley to talk about Owens Corning’s transformation with L2L’s connected worker platform. Learn how Mike and team tackled their biggest maintenance challenges and built a culture around continuous improvement with L2L’s connected worker platform.To learn more about connected worker tec...2023-09-0155 min
Manufacturing Stream5 Manufacturing Industry Trends To Watch in 2023In this weeks Manufacturing Stream Podcast Eric Whitley and Phil Anderson review a 2023 report by Deliotte that talks about industry trends to watch for in 2023. The topics range from investing in advance technologies to managing talent and investing in Smart Manufacturing.The podcast also introduces a new feature to highlight new manufacturing being introduced in the United States. In this episode they give kudos Ford, Rivian, Hyundai, Jervois, Greenworks Commercial, TLC Specialties LLC, and Eli Lilly.l2l.comYoutube: @leading2lean2023-02-2833 min