293: Manufacturing Leadership That Works with Author and Geislinger CEO Jason Woodard

Manufacturing Happy Hour · 23 Jun 2026 · 36m

What this episode covers

Jason Woodard, CEO of Geislinger Corporation and author of 'Manufacturing Leadership That Works', discusses his 35-year career in manufacturing leadership. He explains that effective leadership requires leading oneself first through discipline and credibility, and emphasizes the importance of building trust with frontline workers by engaging directly on the floor. Woodard contrasts this with toxic leadership examples, such as plant managers who blame frontline staff for process failures, arguing that leaders must hold support staff accountable for providing adequate resources. He details how Geislinger produces critical vibration dampers for engines and wind turbines, highlighting the need for high-performance components in critical infrastructure.

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