Manufacturing Greatness | Productivity | Retention | Profits | Continuous Improvement | Safety | Workforce Development | Labor Challenges | Skills Gaps | Industry 4.0

Manufacturing Greatness | Productivity | Retention | Profits | Continuous Improvement | Safety | Workforce Development | Labor Challenges | Skills Gaps | Industry 4.0

By Trevor BlondeelBusinessEducationSelf-ImprovementManagement
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Manufacturing Greatness | Productivity | Retention | Profits | Continuous Improvement | Safety | Workforce Development | Labor Challenges | Skills Gaps | Industry 4.0 episodes

  • Emotional Intelligence for Operations Managers: Using Advanced Tools to Improve Self-Awareness and Team Performance P2 with Andrew De Haan #5

    Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

    Now, let's jump in!

    Welcome to part two with Andrew De Haan, automotive manufacturing culture builder and toolmaker with a passion for people and leadership.

    In this episode, we continue the conversation on manufacturing leadership, emotional intelligence, and authentic leadership for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

    Andrew shares his 30/50/Green framework, a bottom up reapplication of manufacturing focused on customer impact, people, and return on investment. We talk accountability, communication skills, trust building, and why working harder is not the same as getting better results. Expect practical insights on aligning effort with outcomes while staying grounded in his leadership mantra: do what is right, do your best, and treat people the way you want to be treated.

    14:30 Always important to be self-aware. Knowing who we are is more important than what others think. Every time you step into a new role you have a new opportunity to reflect on what worked and what didn't.

    16:00 Like to have a good time. No one takes on a new role with the idea of failure in mind, but it happens. If we feel we can influence or change or situations and there is a return on it then we should do it, if we can't it is time to move on.

    20:13 What to look for meeting people, 3 quick evaluation tools. Does the individual know what they are talking about? Can I trust them, which is purely instinctive, first impressions are important. And do they care about me personally, do they have the ability to build a relationship?

    27:20 The salty email she thought she would get fired for. Always representing the values of the organization are so important, being direct and clear to help build people, coach mentor and guide.

    30:40 When and how to speak your mind – awareness of others. I have always been very vocal, always spoke my mind maybe when I shouldn't have. A little more tact would have been far better for me. We learn from our mistakes, reflection helps.

    35 min
  • Emotional Intelligence for Operations Managers: Using Advanced Tools to Improve Self-Awareness and Team Performance P1 with Andrew De Haan #4

    Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

    Now, let's jump in!

    Today we're joined by Andrew De Haan, a culture builder in automotive manufacturing and a toolmaker with a deep passion for people and leadership.

    In this episode, Andrew shares insights on manufacturing leadership, emotional intelligence, and authentic leadership for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

    We talk mistakes and successes, communication skills, trust building, and growth mindset, plus Andrew's simple leadership mantra: do what is right, do the very best you can, and treat people the way you like to be treated. Expect practical takeaways, real stories, and a few laughs along the way.

    Part 1

    4:55 Neutral to Positive or completely negative. The instant feeling we get when starting a conversation with a person, are they thinking like a victor or a victim. WE know this in the first part of a conversation with any individual.

    6:30 Be confident in who you are. Self awareness and confidence both have a very important part within a Leadership position. Be confident in what you represent, helping the organization and helping solve problems, talking about the facts are good leadership qualities.

    7:20 You can't be 100% technical. Andrew talks openly about the balance of technical skills and people skills. Explaining the role each plays as a leader and the importance of how both play a role in manufacturing.

    9:10 Need to know who you are and add value to people's lives. Being self aware and clearly knowing yourself are key items to helping the people around you.

    12:05 Focus less on me and more on others. Spending time understanding the importance of helping others and less time focused on yourself is the job of a Leader.

    13:45 Still about results. At the end of the day, results are what matter!

    17:30 Culture of Engagement. Gaining the trust of your people and instilling a sense of pride creates a culture of participation and engagement.

    18:30 Frogger – an easier way to get across. Watching people take a shortcut to get to the other side of a very busy highway made me realize I needed to do something different with my leadership team. Taking the time and having the patience and not looking for short cuts are essential to Leading a team.

    24 min
  • Trust for Manufacturing Managers: Showing Up Authentically to Build Credibility and Stronger Team Performance with Bill Priamo #2

    Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

    Now, let's jump in!

    Welcome to part one with Bill Priamo.

    In this episode, Bill joins the podcast to share manufacturing leadership insights shaped by his unique maintenance background and people-first mindset. It's rare Bill opens up like this, so we go deep on communication skills, authentic leadership, and growth mindset for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

    We talk about balancing technology development with real human connection, why trust building matters on the shop floor, and how staying curious helps leaders drive engagement, accountability, and team performance.

    2:30 Technology development verses the connection with people

    7:45 Why are we not following the standard work?

    9:35 How you say it and how you do it, and the message sent is not always in how it is received - self-awareness

    11:30 Set the tone - sing a song - don't try to change the world, change yourself

    15:00 Crowd control - keep things in perspective when the pressure is on

    19:00 Walk slow - be present

    23:30 Sharp elbows - developing into how Bill stopped being what people expected him to be and start being who he is - Authenticity

    27 min
  • Trust for Manufacturing Managers: Showing Up Authentically to Build Credibility and Stronger Team Performance P2 with Bill Priamo #3

    Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

    Now, let's jump in!

    Part 2 with Bill Priamo - more great discussions! 1:00 - The fear of dealing with people

    5:00 Try harder - does not work - those who Bill used to think were soft, actually had a lot to offer

    9:00 Timing on when to send your message, positive or negative

    13:50 Awareness of others

    17:20 Mentors and why they are key - Bills favourite books - Give and Take by Adam Grant and Change Your Questions Change Your Life by Marilee Adams

    21:00 The man who is always right will never know when he is wrong

    24:00 Bill's final reflections - instilling confidence in others

    28 min
  • 1 An Introduction Mindfulness Manufacturing

    Episode 1: Mike Hillman and Trevor Blondeel are excited to launch their new manufacturing podcast. This episode provides information about how and why they decided to develop this resource. Each episode will feature an interview with manufacturing leaders on the topics of leadership challenges.

    21 min

About Manufacturing Greatness | Productivity | Retention | Profits | Continuous Improvement | Safety | Workforce Development | Labor Challenges | Skills Gaps | Industry 4.0

From the publisher's feed

Whether you're a plant manager, operations manager, or frontline supervisor, you'll discover practical strategies for lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. We cover critical topics like workforce development, employee retention, safety culture, and change management—helping you navigate challenges like labor shortages, skills gaps, and the evolving manufacturing landscape including Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing.