The Shop Floor, Top Floor Talk Show: Casual Convos with Manufacturing Pros
Manufacturing leaders face daily challenges—from quality pressures to efficiency demands. This show brings real conversations from those who've solved these problems.
But behind every high-performing plant are leaders solving big problems with innovative strategies, transformative technologies, and counter-intuitive approaches that challenge the status quo.
In each episode, you'll hear candid conversations with manufacturing professionals sharing their unique perspectives on top-of-mind topics and actionable advice you can apply immediately.
Walk away with actionable ideas and new perspectives on continuous improvement, from people who truly understand your daily challenges.
The Shop Floor, Top Floor Talk Show: Casual Convos with Manufacturing Pros
Leadership vs. Management: What Manufacturing Gets Wrong
What’s the difference between leadership and management—and why does it matter on the manufacturing floor?
In this episode of Shop Floor, Top Floor Talk Show, Josh Santo sits down with Rich Nave, Chief Operations Officer at The Luminous Group, to break down how these two functions play very different roles in driving team performance. Rich shares why promoting strong managers isn’t enough, and how missing leadership skills can quietly stall improvement.
Rich explains why leadership is about direction and inspiration, while management is about structure and execution. You’ll hear how lack of leadership can kill risk-taking, reduce team accountability, and lead to “check-the-box” behavior. Through real-world examples, he shows how leaders can inspire ownership—whether you’re tightening bolts or leading a design team.
This episode is packed with practical takeaways for manufacturing leaders looking to create stronger teams and better results, from the shop floor to the top floor.
