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Welcome back to Kathy Miller, Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame member and former leader at General Motors, Delphi, and Rolls-Royce. She is the author of MORE Is Better, which provides practical frameworks for frontline plant leaders.

In this episode, Kathy shares insights on manufacturing leadership, employee engagement, and operational excellence for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors. Drawing on her background in applied positive psychology and real-world plant leadership, she explains how leaders can strengthen manufacturing culture, improve trust, and boost productivity — without adding complexity.

You'll walk away with practical tools to improve accountability, reduce burnout, and build stronger teams on the shop floor.

1:22 – Representation and diversity strengthens manufacturing culture 3:02 – Positive psychology research is a valuable tool for frontline supervisors, plant managers, and shop floor leadership teams 5:03 – Strengthen manufacturing relationships through creative safety leadership and by supporting accountability without blame 7:22 – Authenticity improves team engagement and manufacturing retention, especially in high-stress environments 08:20 - Transitioning teams from command-and-control to inclusive lean leadership is essential for creating a continuous improvement culture 12:36 - Helping employees find meaning boosts employee engagement and manufacturing retention. 15:56 – Putting curiosity over compliances helps leaders avoid punitive approaches and improves performance conversations on the floor 21:15 – Creating psychological safety encourages employees to speak up early, which fuels continuous improvement culture and operational excellence 22:56 - Finding a balance between realistic optimism and toxic positivity is essential for credible manufacturing communication and decision-making 24:41 – Relationships are the core foundation of manufacturing teamwork 26:22 – Your mindset shapes manufacturing relationships and every interaction on the plant floor 28:37 – Active listening is one of the most effective tools for better coaching in manufacturing.

Connect with Kathy Miller Visit her website and check out the MORE Mentor resources Connect on LinkedIn Buy MORE Is Better Listen to her previous podcast episode