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
The Quality Letters: Manufacturing Wisdom with Humor Mixed In
In this episode of Shop Floor, Top Floor Talk Show, host Josh Santo sits down with Ed Rocha, Quality Director at Schaeffler. They explore the practical realities of leading quality in manufacturing, from handling major escalated issues to organizing teams for better results. Ed shares how his job means finding strategy in the chaos—whether that’s breaking down big problems or making sure the right people own the work.
Ed explains why quality teams succeed when they balance the voice of the customer with the needs of the business. He describes how a leader can set the tone by being the toughest critic in the room, but also by preparing teams to anticipate customer needs. Ed also dives into the importance of process audits and actionable ownership, using stories from his own experience to show how small lessons drive ongoing improvement.
The conversation closes with a look at how quality leaders can avoid repeating the same year, and why adapting your language for executives makes your message land. Ed leaves listeners with a leadership lesson: focus less on having all the answers and more on building teams that learn to solve problems together.
