# Governance: Aligning Product, Project and the Plant Floor w/ Richard Broo

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2026-07-14
- Length: 23m
- Episode: 318
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-07-14-governance-aligning-product-project-and-the-plant-floor-w-richard-broo
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-019f37d0-0e85-7040-b5f8-898f88b6bf7a

## Summary

Richard Broo, founder of True North PMP Consulting, explains how manufacturers fail by excluding operations, quality, logistics, and finance from early product development stages. He advocates for 'governance'—aligning all stakeholders from day one—to prevent projects from drifting off track, citing his experience at General Electric where cross-functional alignment reduced cycle time by 25% and generated $35 million in sales. Broo advises mid-size manufacturers to use root cause analysis and early involvement to fix broken processes before growth amplifies them.

## Chapters

- [0:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-07-14-governance-aligning-product-project-and-the-plant-floor-w-richard-broo#t=38) Introduction: Richard Broo and True North PMP Consulting
- [4:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-07-14-governance-aligning-product-project-and-the-plant-floor-w-richard-broo#t=248) Broo's Career: From GE to Consulting and the Governance Gap
- [7:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-07-14-governance-aligning-product-project-and-the-plant-floor-w-richard-broo#t=444) The Governance Problem: Excluding Operations and Logistics from Early Planning
- [9:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-07-14-governance-aligning-product-project-and-the-plant-floor-w-richard-broo#t=566) How Growth Amplifies Broken Processes and the Need for Agility
- [10:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-07-14-governance-aligning-product-project-and-the-plant-floor-w-richard-broo#t=656) Early Warning Signs: Monitoring Schedules and Cost Accounts
- [15:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-07-14-governance-aligning-product-project-and-the-plant-floor-w-richard-broo#t=947) The 'Nirvana' Scenario: GE's Cross-Functional Turnaround Story
- [19:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-07-14-governance-aligning-product-project-and-the-plant-floor-w-richard-broo#t=1160) Advice for Mid-Size Manufacturers: Root Cause Analysis and Team Involvement

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- True North PMP Consulting (company)
- General Electric (company)
- Owens Corning (company)
- Black and Decker (company)
- Lawrence Technological University (company)
- Guerrilla 76 (company)
- Motorola (company)
- Ford (company)
- GM (company)
- Chrysler (company)
- Toyota (company)
- Nissan (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#172 - Ops Talk: 5 Things Brands Get Wrong](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-12-03-172-ops-talk-5-things-brands-get-wrong) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [S7E19 Ryan Schoonmaker | How to Take A Structured Approach to Solving Engineering Problems](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-01-s7e19-ryan-schoonmaker-how-to-take-a-structured-approach-to-solving-engineering) (Being an Engineer)
- [DeepDive Analysis Series: SURVIVAL FRAMEWORK - NPI Survival using Kilimanjaro Takeaways (17m29s)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/npi-sherpa/2026-02-10-deepdive-analysis-series-survival-framework-npi-survival-using-kilimanjaro-takea) (NPI Sherpa)
- [A First-Generation Product Master Class with Milo Werner, Recorded LIVE at "Build Better 2022" (hosted by Instrumental Inc.)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-04-05-a-first-generation-product-master-class-with-milo-werner-recorded-live-at-build) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [AI's Role in Manufacturing Efficiency and NPI Success with Instrumental CEO Anna-Katrina Shedletsky](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-23-ais-role-in-manufacturing-efficiency-and-npi-success-with-instrumental-ceo-anna) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

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