Manufacturers Make Strides

Martin Griffiths
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Manufacturers Make Strides is a podcast about people in manufacturing and the paths they’ve taken. Martin speaks with guests from across the manufacturing world about their careers, the challenges along the way, and the strides that keep the industry moving forward. New episodes every other Tuesday 

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    Breaking the Firefighting Cycle in Manufacturing with Samantha Benbow

    Manufacturing process improvement often focuses on what happens on the shop floor, but what if the constant firefighting in manufacturing is actually caused by issues that begin much earlier in the process? In this episode, we sit down with Samantha Benbow, founder of Benbow Consultants, whose career spans heavy steel production, IT and process design across complex organisations, and hands‑on experience inside fast‑moving manufacturing environments. We dig into how manufacturing teams stay stuck in firefighting because they only fix visible problems instead of stepping back to understand the upstream processes and cultural patterns that created them. This conversation covers: The upstream process failures that create recurring shop floor problemsWhy culture and communication reveal operational health within minutesHow process mapping exposes hidden inefficiencies and quick winsWhy SMEs often choose software before understanding what they needThe importance of listening without judgement when diagnosing problemsHow small upstream adjustments prevent major downstream issuesWhat manufacturers should fix before adding AI or new technologyIf you enjoy the episode, follow the show for more conversations from across the manufacturing world. Connect with Samantha: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthabenbow Benbow Consultants: https://www.linkedin.com/company/benbow-consulting-limited/ Free Resource If you want to see how upstream issues may be affecting your own production, try the Factory Firefighting Check. It highlights friction points, repeat issues and early signs of instability that often sit behind day to day firefighting. Download: https://www.metisautomation.co.uk/factory-firefighting-check/

    39 min

  2. 17 MAR

    Make Change Stick In Manufacturing with Ron Crabtree

    What if resistance to change in manufacturing isn’t the problem we think it is? In this episode, we sit down with Ron Crabtree, a manufacturing transformation expert whose career spans shop floor roles, major improvement programmes and large scale organisational change. Together they explore what really drives successful manufacturing change management and why most improvement efforts stall long before any tools or training are introduced. Ron brings decades of experience supporting manufacturers across sectors and sizes. He shares why pushback is often a signal rather than a barrier, how leaders can build a clear burning platform for change, and the practical steps organisations can take to make improvements stick on the shop floor. This conversation covers: Why resistance is a sign of missing clarity, not stubbornnessHow strong change charters improve alignment before work beginsThe simple formula Ron uses to predict whether change will succeedWhy “just training people” rarely shifts behavioursWhat shop floor teams need to understand before adopting new processesHow defining what good looks like unlocks more effective improvementWhere leadership behaviour must shift to support sustainable changeWhether you work on the shop floor, in operations or in a leadership role, this episode offers a practical and people‑centred view of how manufacturing change management really works in today’s factories. If you enjoy the episode, follow the show for more conversations from across the manufacturing world. Connect with Ron: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roncrabtree MetaOps: https://www.metaops.com

    46 min

  3. 3 MAR

    Run your manufacturing business like you’re going to sell it with Adina Fetche

    Manufacturing business growth often slows when everything depends on one person. In this episode, Martin speaks with Adina Fetche, founder of Ellcado Finance, about why running your manufacturing business as if you were preparing it for sale can strengthen it long before any exit is considered. Drawing on her background in commercial banking and consultancy, Adina explains how clearer financial visibility, documented processes and stronger delegation create a business that can grow without becoming more dependent on the owner. This conversation covers: • Why sale-ready thinking improves day to day decision-making • Where cash flow gets delayed inside order to cash cycles • How small structural changes free up time and capacity • What banks look for when reviewing manufacturing financials • Why reducing owner reliance increases long term value Follow or subscribe to hear more conversations with people taking strides in manufacturing.  Connect with Adina: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adinafetche Ellcado Finance: https://www.ellcadofinance.com

    47 min

  4. 17 FEB

    Building Better Engineering Teams with Marisa Kurimbokus

    Engineering teams often face intense time pressure, and the environment they work in has a direct impact on how clearly they think and how effectively they collaborate. This episode looks at how leadership, communication and team culture shape day‑to‑day engineering work inside fast‑moving technical environments. We’re joined by Marisa Kurimbokus, Head of Engineering at Raeon and IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year 2024. Marisa’s career spans automotive, hydrogen technology and advanced battery manufacturing. Through those transitions, she has built a clear understanding of what supports effective engineering, from how ideas are discussed in design reviews to how pressure influences decision making and how teams stay focused when deadlines are challenging. We also explore hybrid working, scaling manufacturing at Raeon, and the wider responsibility engineers carry when developing technology for a more sustainable future. Throughout the conversation, Marisa shares practical reflections shaped by real engineering environments and the people she has worked alongside. Connect with Marisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-kurimbokus-fwes-ceng-imeche/ Learn more about Raeon: https://www.raeon.com/

    39 min

  5. 3 FEB

    Managing complexity in aerospace engineering with Mark Cook

    Aerospace engineering can be a high-pressure environment, but the way teams communicate often shapes how that pressure is felt. This episode looks at how calm, clear, and collaborative communication supports engineers working inside complex aerospace programmes. We’re joined by Mark Cook, Programme Manager at Triumph Actuation Systems. Mark shares how his career began in pure science academia, before being drawn toward applied manufacturing and the product lifecycle. Seeing ideas move from concept into physical products changed how he wanted to work, and how he approached engineering in practice. In this episode, we talk about the differences Mark has experienced across advanced manufacturing environments, and why aerospace rewards a slower, more deliberate pace. We also explore why strong design, robust supply chains, and a well-established safety culture matter in aerospace. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-cook-fapm-45859b1a/ https://www.triumphgroup.com/home

    39 min

  6. 20 JAN

    Building a manufacturing business that lasts with Larry Dix II

    Manufacturing leadership looks different once responsibility moves beyond the role and into ownership.  In this episode of Manufacturers Make Strides, Martin speaks with Larry Dix II, President at Apex Truss, about what it means to lead a manufacturing business when decisions carry long-term weight. Larry shares perspective shaped by decades of building, running, and owning manufacturing operations through changing conditions.  Larry was invited because he has experienced the shift many manufacturing leaders face, from managing functions to being accountable for people, margins, customers, and time. His career reflects how leadership evolves as responsibility deepens and decisions extend further into the future.  In this episode, they discuss: How manufacturing leadership changes with ownership  What responsibility looks like when payroll and margins sit with you Why autonomy and judgement matter on the factory floor How experience reshapes leadership over time What consistency means in long-running manufacturing businesses Hosted by Martin Griffiths, Manufacturers Make Strides is a podcast featuring in-depth conversations with manufacturing professionals about their careers and experiences in the industry.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-dix-ii-62b75312/ https://www.apextruss.com/

    51 min

  7. 6 JAN

    What a financially healthy factory actually looks like with Stewart Ervin

    Many manufacturing businesses look busy, yet still feel financially exposed underneath.  Stewart Ervin has seen this pattern repeatedly inside factories where activity masks a lack of control, and where a financially healthy manufacturing business feels harder to define than it should. The conversation centres on what actually creates stability when demand, cash and operations start pulling in different directions. Stewart draws on experience built inside the value stream, from early shop floor roles to working with businesses under real pressure. Rather than chasing growth or volume, he reflects on how discipline, intent and forward visibility shape day-to-day decision-making when leaders want more certainty about where the business is heading. Stewart's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stewartervin/ Bracket Mgmt Website: https://www.bracketmgmt.com/ Available on to watch on YouTube or to listen on your preferred podcast platform.

    40 min

  8. 16/12/2025

    How values shape modern manufacturing with Angelo D’Amico

    Values-driven manufacturing shows up in who people trust when decisions matter. In this episode, Angelo D’Amico, President of Canada Rubber Group Inc, shares how a people-first approach shaped his path from lean consulting into leading a long-established manufacturing business. Angelo talks openly about trust, succession, and why opportunities tend to flow toward those who reduce risk for others.  From choosing values over short-term wins to asking one simple question on the factory floor, this conversation explores how leadership decisions are made when people actually come first. 📍 Connect with Angelo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-d-amico-37099120/ 📍 Learn more about Canada Rubber: https://canadarubbergroup.com

    58 min
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About

Manufacturers Make Strides is a podcast about people in manufacturing and the paths they’ve taken. Martin speaks with guests from across the manufacturing world about their careers, the challenges along the way, and the strides that keep the industry moving forward. New episodes every other Tuesday 

Information

  • Creator
    Martin Griffiths
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Manufacturers Make Strides
  • Show Website
    Manufacturers Make Strides