Originally Published in Quality Magazine | May 2026 You've built rigorous systems for tracing defects to their source. But one upstream cause rarely makes the diagram and it's been generating…
The leaders who struggle most after a promotion are rarely the ones who lack technical skill. They're often the ones who had the most of it—the high performers, the self-reliant…
60% of new leaders and managers fail within their first 18 months. Six out of every ten people promoted into leadership positions struggle, burn out, or flat-out fail…
Most manufacturing and operations leaders talk about culture as if it’s something they can install: a set of values on the wall, a slogan in onboarding, or a quarterly engagement…
Most new leaders step into their roles energized and confident. They’re motivated to improve what wasn’t working before, eager to make changes, and determined to prove themselves. Yet somewhere around…
Manufacturing leaders often label conflict between supervisors as a “personality issue.” It sounds manageable. Harmless, even. Two different styles. Two strong personalities. Just get them to shake hands and move…
Manufacturing leaders talk about culture constantly—but most conversations stall out at surface-level symptoms. Turnover is high. Engagement is low. Hiring feels impossible. Supervisors are overwhelmed. Senior leaders feel like they’re…
Manufacturing organizations don’t struggle because of a lack of effort. They struggle because too many frontline leaders are asked to perform without a system that actually supports leadership. Supervisors are…
Leadership Failure Isn’t a Talent Problem Across manufacturing, nonprofits, and operations-heavy organizations, one pattern shows up again and again: high-performing employees are promoted into leadership roles, only to struggle, burn…
For years, conversations about the future of manufacturing have centered on automation, AI, and advanced technology. While these tools are reshaping the industry, they are not the determining factor in…