# 211: How Vertical Integration Helps Kwik Trip Achieve Manufacturing Excellence with Paul Blank and Scott Schiebel

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2024-11-12
- Length: 45m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-12-211-how-vertical-integration-helps-kwik-trip-achieve-manufacturing-excellence-wi
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Paul Blank, Director of Operations, and Scott Schiebel, Automation Manager, explain how Kwik Trip’s vertical integration model—spanning five food production facilities, distribution, and trucking—allows them to control pricing, quality, and food safety. They detail the automation of their 2018 bread and bun facility, which uses continuous mixing for buns and batch processes for bread, integrated with SAP, MES, and SCADA systems to drive order-based production. The guests highlight how predictive maintenance via a CMMS program minimizes downtime, while a strong culture of employee ownership, including a 40% profit-sharing plan and partnerships with Western Technical College, ensures that automation enhances rather than replaces jobs.

## Chapters

- [0:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-12-211-how-vertical-integration-helps-kwik-trip-achieve-manufacturing-excellence-wi#t=46) Introduction: Kwik Trip's Vertical Integration Model
- [8:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-12-211-how-vertical-integration-helps-kwik-trip-achieve-manufacturing-excellence-wi#t=500) Why Vertical Integration Controls Pricing and Supply Chain
- [11:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-12-211-how-vertical-integration-helps-kwik-trip-achieve-manufacturing-excellence-wi#t=668) Automation in the 2018 Bread and Bun Facility
- [16:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-12-211-how-vertical-integration-helps-kwik-trip-achieve-manufacturing-excellence-wi#t=990) Continuous vs. Batch Processes in Baking
- [22:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-12-211-how-vertical-integration-helps-kwik-trip-achieve-manufacturing-excellence-wi#t=1352) Predictive Maintenance and CMMS Systems
- [25:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-12-211-how-vertical-integration-helps-kwik-trip-achieve-manufacturing-excellence-wi#t=1531) Technology, Food Safety, and Innovation Partnerships
- [31:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-12-211-how-vertical-integration-helps-kwik-trip-achieve-manufacturing-excellence-wi#t=1900) Advice on Vertical Integration and Employee Culture
- [39:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-12-211-how-vertical-integration-helps-kwik-trip-achieve-manufacturing-excellence-wi#t=2392) Production Volumes and Final Thoughts

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Factory operations & automation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/factory-operations)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Kwik Trip (company)
- Paul Blank (other)
- Scott Schiebel (other)
- SAP (tool)
- SCADA (tool)
- MES (tool)
- CMMS (tool)
- Western Technical College (other)
- Fortnite (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Automation, Machining, and a Coal Mine: What Vertical Integration Buys You | Ep. 51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-10-09-automation-machining-and-a-coal-mine-what-vertical-integration-buys-you-ep-51) (Lights Out)
- [242. Mouser’s Matt Bell & The Next Generation of Automated Warehouses](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-03-10-242-mousers-matt-bell-the-next-generation-of-automated-warehouses) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Don't Automate Chaos: Running Lights Out with Sarah Wierman of Fastems, Ep #45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-17-dont-automate-chaos-running-lights-out-with-sarah-wierman-of-fastems-ep-45) (Lights Out)
- [Building a Digital Backbone for Your Manufacturing Business w/ Paul Van Metre](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-04-16-building-a-digital-backbone-for-your-manufacturing-business-w-paul-van-metre) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Zero Setup Time: Inside Norbert Kempf CNC-Technik GmbH's 23-Machine Automated Shop | Ep. 49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-09-11-zero-setup-time-inside-norbert-kempf-cnc-technik-gmbhs-23-machine-automated-shop) (Lights Out)

## Citing this page

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