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 in Manufacturing: How Culture Makes (or Breaks) Success
In this episode of Shop Floor, Top Floor Talk Show, host Josh Santo sits down with Rick Davis, Chief Manufacturing and R&D Officer at Morgan Foods. They explore how true culture and leadership shape daily life and long-term success in manufacturing. Rick explains why he focuses on people, quality, safety, and cost, but always starts by building trust and understanding what “winning” means for the whole team.
Rick shares why culture is not just a slogan or a set of KPIs, but the foundation for sustained results. He describes the danger of “false culture” — where surface-level engagement masks deeper issues — and how real progress comes from empowering everyone to improve. He argues that leaders must listen, act on feedback, and involve people at every level to define success and drive change that lasts.
Through stories from his own career, Rick highlights the value of mentorship, accountability, and making work easier for others. He closes with practical advice for leaders and frontline teams alike: invest in people, stay connected, and never underestimate the power of small actions to shift culture.
