# Combating the Decline of Productivity in American Manufacturing w/ John Abplanalp

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2023-06-06
- Length: 27m
- Episode: 156
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-06-06-combating-the-decline-of-productivity-in-american-manufacturing-w-john-abplanalp
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-26582ce4-f192-42f7-9152-ed1742d0db34

## Summary

John Abplanalp, President of Tight Lines Advisors and former CEO of Precision Valve Corporation, argues that US manufacturing productivity is at a 75-year low, driven by rising labor and material costs and a historical shift away from operational focus. He contrasts his firm's holistic, stakeholder-centric approach to improving Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) with the cost-cutting methods typical of private equity firms. Abplanalp cites specific success stories, including Precision Valve's reduction of startup times from eight hours to one minute and a wood delivery service doubling its daily deliveries through process redesign, to demonstrate how productivity gains can enhance competitiveness and sustainability.

## Chapters

- [0:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-06-06-combating-the-decline-of-productivity-in-american-manufacturing-w-john-abplanalp#t=38) Introduction: John Abplanalp and the Productivity Crisis
- [2:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-06-06-combating-the-decline-of-productivity-in-american-manufacturing-w-john-abplanalp#t=153) John's Father and the History of Precision Valve Corporation
- [5:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-06-06-combating-the-decline-of-productivity-in-american-manufacturing-w-john-abplanalp#t=358) The 75-Year Low in US Manufacturing Productivity
- [9:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-06-06-combating-the-decline-of-productivity-in-american-manufacturing-w-john-abplanalp#t=574) Identifying Productivity Opportunities: OEE and Management Engagement
- [13:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-06-06-combating-the-decline-of-productivity-in-american-manufacturing-w-john-abplanalp#t=817) Tight Lines vs. Private Equity: Holistic Improvement vs. Cost Cutting
- [19:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-06-06-combating-the-decline-of-productivity-in-american-manufacturing-w-john-abplanalp#t=1185) Case Studies: Precision Valve Startup Times and Wood Delivery Logistics
- [24:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-06-06-combating-the-decline-of-productivity-in-american-manufacturing-w-john-abplanalp#t=1451) The Path to Reshoring and Global Competitiveness Through Productivity

## Topics

- [Factory operations & automation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/factory-operations)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

established companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Tight Lines Advisors (company)
- Precision Valve Corporation (company)
- Gorilla 76 (company)
- S.C. Johnson (company)
- Unilever (company)
- DuPont (company)
- Gibson Greeting Cards (company)
- Industrial Marketing Live (product)
- Charles Payne (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [192: Leading with Productivity to Drive Sustainability Featuring Lauren Dunford, CEO of Guidewheel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-07-02-192-leading-with-productivity-to-drive-sustainability-featuring-lauren-dunford-c) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [On-Demand Labor, Operations, and Finding a Co-Founder with Veryable CEO Mike Kinder](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-09-21-on-demand-labor-operations-and-finding-a-co-founder-with-veryable-ceo-mike-kinde) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [142: How to Accelerate Smart Manufacturing Adoption in the US with John Dyck, CEO of CESMII](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-06-20-142-how-to-accelerate-smart-manufacturing-adoption-in-the-us-with-john-dyck-ceo) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [250: How to Uncover Your "Hidden Factory" and Extract More Value from the Plant Floor featuring Tri Tech Automation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-08-26-250-how-to-uncover-your-hidden-factory-and-extract-more-value-from-the-plant-flo) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Selling Your Company and Creating the ‘Netflix of Manufacturing’ with Darrin Mitchell](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-01-11-selling-your-company-and-creating-the-netflix-of-manufacturing-with-darrin-mitch) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

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