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/

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.

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

Digital transformation doesn’t fail because the tech isn’t ready.

It fails when people aren’t.

In this episode, Ryan Pollyniak, who has spent over 15 years guiding manufacturers through ERP and change programmes, shares how a people-first approach can build trust early, reduce resistance on the shop floor, and help teams feel part of the process from the start.

We talk about what makes transformation stick, from setting clear expectations to giving people space to adapt. We also explore why skipping those human steps often leads to stalled projects, frustrated teams, and wasted investment.

If you’re leading change, managing systems, or trying to keep momentum going in your factory, this conversation offers a grounded perspective on how digital transformation can work better for everyone involved.

It’s the kind of conversation that reminds us progress is easier when people feel part of it.

📍 Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/microsoftdynamicssolutions/

📍 Learn more about Western Computer: https://www.westerncomputer.com

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

Sustaining improvement in manufacturing takes more than introducing new processes. It’s about making change last, empowering people, and balancing consistency with progress. In this episode, George Pesansky, President of My Blended Learning and author of Super Performance, shares how manufacturers can stop firefighting, build systems that last, and create lasting performance across their teams.

We explore:
• Why most improvement programs fail to sustain results
• How to balance people and process for long-term success
• Practical ways to create a culture of ownership on the shop floor

George shows that sustaining improvement isn’t about adding more tools. It’s about reducing the leaks, empowering your people, and focusing on what really drives performance.

📍 Connect with George on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deliberateimprovement/

📍 Learn more about Super Performance: https://georgepesansky.com/

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/