Stories in Welding, Employee Retention, and Gratitude with Lisa Ryan

Manufacturing Happy Hour · 8 Dec 2020 · 43m

What this episode covers

Lisa Ryan, founder of Grategy and author of 'Manufacturing Engagement', shares her career journey from welding sales to medical device sales and her pivot to helping manufacturers solve employee engagement and retention challenges. She discusses the importance of leadership empathy, setting boundaries for remote workers, and changing the narrative around trade schools to attract the next generation of talent. Ryan also highlights the value of investing in training and professional development during tough times to prevent turnover.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 32m

    Doing the Dirty Work: How to Find Qualified, Consistent Labor w/ Gary Konarska

    Gary Konarska, Executive Director & CEO of the American Welding Society (AWS), discusses the critical shortage of skilled labor in manufacturing, driven by Baby Boomer retirements and a historical stigma against vocational trades. He explains how AWS addresses this through initiatives like the Careers in Welding website, scholarships, and mobile VR welding simulators to attract new talent. Konarska advises manufacturers to engage with local vocational programs, offer apprenticeships, and invest in upskilling existing employees on automation and robotics to remain competitive.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 33m

    Growing Women Leaders in Manufacturing w/ Allison Grealis

    Allison Roberts Grealis, founder and president of the Women in Manufacturing Association (WIM), discusses the critical shift in manufacturing leadership from operational focus to managing complexity, including AI, cybersecurity, and multi-generational workforces. She highlights that while recruitment is important, retention is the industry's biggest challenge, driven by a lack of development pathways and flexibility. Grealis details WIM's new services, including on-site training, executive coaching, and a mentoring program, designed to support women and allies at all levels of the industry.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 31m

    The NFL Draft, The NBA Draft and... The Manufacturing Skills Draft? w/ Dr. Jason Scales

    Dr. Jason Scales, Business Manager of Education at Lincoln Electric, discusses the critical manufacturing skills gap and proposes a 'Skills Draft' to elevate the status of skilled trades. He explains how Lincoln Electric’s historic welding school has evolved to include technology like the Vertex simulator to boost student confidence and employability. Scales argues that manufacturers must actively partner with educational institutions and consider flexible work environments to recruit from alternative populations, including women and incarcerated individuals, to solve the talent shortage.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 47m

    Starting Young: The Next Generation of Manufacturing & Engineering Talent w/ Meaghan Ziemba

    Meaghan Ziemba, host of Mavens of Manufacturing and owner of Z-Ink Solutions, discusses strategies for manufacturers to address the skilled labor shortage by engaging youth and supporting women in the industry. She advocates for partnering with middle and high schools to inspire students, particularly girls, to pursue manufacturing and engineering careers through tours, donations, and curriculum support. Ziemba also highlights the importance of flexible work arrangements, such as remote work and on-site daycare, to retain female employees and parents in the manufacturing sector.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 36m

    The Shared Responsibility of Upskilling the Workforce w/ Bill Berrien

    Bill Berrien, CEO of Pindal Global Precision and Liberty Precision Manufacturing, discusses upskilling the existing manufacturing workforce as a solution to labor shortages, drawing parallels between his Navy SEAL background and modern shop floor operations. He argues against the fallacy that education ends in the first 25 years of life, advocating for industry-led, continuous professional development modeled after the military's NCO corps structure. Berrien highlights specific success stories at his Wisconsin facility, such as material handlers becoming CNC operators, and proposes a 'shared economy' model for training to increase scalability.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Manufacturing Happy Hour. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.