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
Chips in the Shoes: A Lesson in Manufacturing Leadership at the Executive Level
In this episode of Shop Floor, Top Floor Talk Show, host Josh Santo sits down with manufacturing executive JD Marhevko. They discuss the link between shop floor activities and business results. JD explains how process changes affect scrap rate, warranty, and efficiency. These factors directly translate into a company's margin and capacity.
JD shares leadership lessons from her grandfather, a union tool and die maker. She explains why leaders must respect the expertise of frontline workers—the people with "chips in their shoes." This philosophy shapes her servant leadership approach. She identifies natural leaders within a facility and collaborates with them to solve problems systemically.
To gain support for new initiatives, JD stresses the need to speak the language of business. She details her strategy of partnering with the finance team to prove the value of quality improvements. By presenting a clear, one-page proposal that shows financial impact, teams can secure the buy-in needed for change.
