# 161: Do Your Values Align with Your Company's Culture? An interview with Jim Mayer, Host of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2023-11-14
- Length: 46m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-14-161-do-your-values-align-with-your-companys-culture-an-interview-with-jim-mayer
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Jim Mayer, founder of TCO Strategies and host of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, joins Chris Luecke to discuss how company culture is defined as the alignment of values between employees and the organization. Mayer explains his transition from conducting engagement surveys to launching his podcast, highlighting the 'automation culture paradox' where small and medium-sized manufacturers fail to adopt automation because they lack cultural readiness. He shares specific examples of cultural alignment, such as Boston Centerless displaying employee flags and Drop Sprockets using comedy movie preferences in hiring, while offering advice for budding podcasters to find niche audiences or collaborate rather than starting from scratch.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-14-161-do-your-values-align-with-your-companys-culture-an-interview-with-jim-mayer#t=0) Introduction and Restaurant Recommendations
- [6:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-14-161-do-your-values-align-with-your-companys-culture-an-interview-with-jim-mayer#t=369) Jim Mayer's Background and Engagement Surveys
- [13:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-14-161-do-your-values-align-with-your-companys-culture-an-interview-with-jim-mayer#t=805) Defining Culture as Value Alignment
- [18:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-14-161-do-your-values-align-with-your-companys-culture-an-interview-with-jim-mayer#t=1125) The Automation Culture Paradox in SMBs
- [24:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-14-161-do-your-values-align-with-your-companys-culture-an-interview-with-jim-mayer#t=1464) Stories of Cultural Alignment: Flags and Comedy Movies
- [28:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-14-161-do-your-values-align-with-your-companys-culture-an-interview-with-jim-mayer#t=1736) Advice for Budding Podcasters and Niche Content
- [37:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-14-161-do-your-values-align-with-your-companys-culture-an-interview-with-jim-mayer#t=2257) Chris Luecke's Cultural Journey and Final Thoughts

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Creator business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/creator-business)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- TCO Strategies (company)
- Manufacturing Culture Podcast (product)
- Boston Centerless (company)
- Drop Sprockets (company)
- Wild Roots (other)
- Chelsea's Kitchen (other)
- Bourbon & Bones (other)
- Wisconsin Manufacturing & Technology Show (other)
- ISA (other)
- 3M (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#85 First Hire Series: Culture with Jennifer Yepez-Blundell (+ Tiny Sprouts)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-04-04-85-first-hire-series-culture-with-jennifer-yepez-blundell-tiny-sprouts) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [The Power of a Visible Manufacturing Leader w/ Jim Mayer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-03-25-the-power-of-a-visible-manufacturing-leader-w-jim-mayer) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Engineering Culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2022-02-22-engineering-culture) (Oxide and Friends)
- [Six Facilities, Three Countries, One Culture w/ Darragh de Stonndún](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-08-11-six-facilities-three-countries-one-culture-w-darragh-de-stonndun) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Automation: The Key to Time Freedom in Machining, Ep #14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-03-28-automation-the-key-to-time-freedom-in-machining-ep-14) (Lights Out)

## Citing this page

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