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
Closing the Gap Between Quality Plans and Plant Reality
In this episode of Shop Floor, Top Floor Talk Show, host Josh Santo sits down with Ishant Gajbhiye, Quality Manager at an automotive manufacturer. They explore how the role of quality shifts from being the “firefighting” team to becoming a true partner across manufacturing operations. Ishant shares how his day is a mix of plant-floor walks, cross-functional teamwork, and strategy—always focused on moving from reactive problem-solving to building long-term discipline and accountability.
Ishant explains why quality isn’t just about finding defects or delivering bad news. Instead, he sees quality as the glue that connects production, engineering, and logistics. By involving quality early, sharing actionable data, and closing the loop on non-conformances, teams can turn audits and metrics into tools for growth rather than paperwork. He emphasizes that every dollar invested in quality pays back in risk reduction, process improvement, and real financial savings—making quality a value center, not a cost center.
The conversation closes with practical advice for leaders who want to attract and keep younger talent. Ishant highlights the need for clear growth paths, high-tech tools, and a flexible, modern culture. He urges manufacturers to treat mentorship as a daily practice and to focus on communication that brings people together, not just checks boxes.
