Join Ed Pound as he sits down with Frankie Swindell, Operations Manager at Flexon (Ingersoll Rand), for an in-depth conversation about managing operations in the critical medical device manufacturing sector. Discover how a seasoned operations leader navigates global supply chains, tariff challenges, and the transition from private equity to public company ownership.

Tune in inside:

Tariff impact strategies, supply chain resilience, private equity to public transition, operations excellence frameworks, capacity management, inventory optimization, cross-functional leadership, coaching methodologies, AI implementation

Take away:

• Build supply chain resilience through dual-site operations and redundant capacity strategies
• Understand operational differences between private equity and public company ownership models
• Establish effective standard work frameworks while maintaining employee autonomy
• Master cross-functional communication by learning to speak different departmental languages
• Implement coaching-based leadership approaches that develop people rather than manage processes
• Balance capacity utilization with variability management to optimize customer service
• Create positive constraints to maximize productivity and work-life integration
• Navigate complex customer relationships and supply chain partnerships

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction - The Hidden Heroes of Medical Device Manufacturing

01:26 Current Tariff Challenges and Global Operations Strategy

08:09 Private Equity to Public Company Transition Impact

17:01 Operations Excellence and Standard Work Frameworks

26:20 Chess and Wrestling Coaching Influence on Leadership

35:04 Cross-Functional Communication and Finance Partnership

42:10 Customer Relations and Supply Chain Integration

48:16 Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Operations

52:03 Personal Background and Entrepreneurial Journey

1:02:15 Family Life Lessons Applied to Operations Management

Quote of the show:

"Great coaches ask the questions to enable a good athlete or a good employee to solve their own problems"

Flexon manufactures critical rubber and silicone components found in brain shunts, pacemakers, and other life-saving medical devices. Under Frankie's leadership, the company manages operations across two sites with 190 employees, generating approximately 40 million dollars annually. His unique background combines ten years of manufacturing experience with competitive chess and wrestling coaching, bringing a distinctive perspective to operations management.

The conversation explores how global events like COVID-19 and tariff policies have shaped manufacturing strategies. Frankie shares insights on building resilient supply chains through geographic diversification and redundant capacity planning. The discussion reveals how operational excellence creates systems that adapt and thrive under uncertainty.

Listeners will gain practical insights into operations science principles in high-stakes medical device manufacturing, where precision directly impacts patient outcomes. The episode demonstrates how concepts like Theory of Constraints translate into real-world decisions affecting both performance and life-saving treatments.

Subscribe to The Operations Science Podcast for more insights from industry leaders applying scientific principles to solve operational challenges. Like this episode if you found value in Frankie's perspective on leadership and operations management.

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