Hardware Podcasts

Turning Around a Struggling Manufacturing Operation w/ George Murray

The Manufacturing Executive · 23 Jun 2026 · 37m · Episode 315

What this episode covers

George C. Murray, a business transformation expert and author, explains how to turn around struggling manufacturing operations by focusing on cash flow, margins, and operational flow while reframing 'change' as 'enhancement' to reduce employee fear. He details the importance of visible leadership, building trust through open dialogue, and using specific metrics like on-time delivery precursors and OEE to drive accountability. Murray also discusses leveraging AI to automate mundane tasks while upskilling workers for higher-value roles, citing his own success in turning a $13 million loss into profitability within 18 months.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Gorilla 76, Anthropic, Ford
Products
Model T
Also
George C. Murray

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 46m

    229: Manufacturing Leadership in Indiana and Beyond: Live from Indianapolis, IN

    Host Chris Luecke moderates a panel with Noel Hopkins of CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), private equity advisor Steve Martin, and author Kathy Miller at Guggman Haus Brewing in Indianapolis. The group discusses how Indiana’s manufacturing-centric economy can leverage digital transformation and AI to scale, emphasizing that technology must solve business problems rather than drive them. They highlight the critical role of leadership in managing cultural change, addressing the skills gap through knowledge capture, and fostering psychological safety to encourage innovation.

    Leadership, teams & cultureAI & machine learning
    6 chapters

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 46m

    160: Buying a Manufacturing Company and Reimagining Upskilling with Bill Berrien, CEO of Pindel Global Precision

    Bill Berrien, CEO of Pindel Global Precision, explains his strategy of acquiring a legacy machine shop and transforming it by investing in advanced CNC technology and a rigorous upskilling program. He details how Pindel shifted from low-value, multi-operation parts to high-complexity, single-operation machining, allowing them to capture more value through automation. Berrien emphasizes a 'hire for attitude, train for skill' philosophy, citing examples like promoting a janitorial worker to CNC operator, and discusses using AI tools like Otter.ai and ChatGPT to streamline training and administrative tasks.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringHiring & workforce
    8 chapters

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 59m

    236: The Power of Decisive Leadership in Modern Manufacturing with Paperless Parts' Co-Founder & CEO Jason T. Ray

    Jason T. Ray, Co-Founder and CEO of Paperless Parts, discusses the shift from a skills gap to a leadership gap in manufacturing, noting that indecision is more costly than wrong decisions. He outlines how job shops can navigate uncertainty by making decisive moves, such as expanding capacity during downturns, and emphasizes the critical importance of CMMC compliance for government work. Ray also advises manufacturers to use AI as a 'thought partner' for low-hanging fruit rather than trying to solve complex problems it isn't ready for, and shares strategies for scaling through additional shifts while maintaining team buy-in.

    Leadership, teams & cultureScaling production
    8 chapters

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 38m

    On-Demand Labor, Operations, and Finding a Co-Founder with Veryable CEO Mike Kinder

    Mike Kinder, CEO and co-founder of Veryable, discusses the company's growth from its pre-pandemic origins to becoming five times larger, driven by a labor shortage that he views as an amplification of long-standing manufacturing challenges. He details his transition from aerospace engineering and GE operations to consulting, and explains how he and co-founder Noah Labhart complement each other with operations and software expertise. Kinder argues that manufacturers must 'play offense' by adopting startup-like agility and reclaiming operational authority to innovate, emphasizing that establishing a clear vision is the key to industrial innovation.

    Scaling productionHiring & workforce
    8 chapters

  • Lights Out · 40m

    The Automation Trap: Turning Struggle into a Lean Legacy, Ep #22

    Nick Golner, Caleb Mertz, and David Buick conclude the 'Automation Trap' narrative arc, detailing how Gary Carlson transformed his struggling shop, Iron Clunk Machining, into the thriving Iron Wheel Manufacturing. The hosts discuss the implementation of lean principles, specific automation technologies like palletized systems and in-process probing, and the introduction of an 'Overall Employee Engagement' metric to drive continuous improvement. They emphasize that selective customer partnerships and high-margin aerospace contracts were key to the turnaround, supported by ProShop ERP for quality management and operational visibility.

    Scaling productionLeadership, teams & culture
    6 chapters

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