Mindfulness Manufacturing

By: Trevor Blondeel
  • Summary

  • Our show is about providing listeners with real stories that come from a place of experience, transparency, and authenticity. Most importantly it’s about what we learn from these stories and applying Mindfulness in our everyday work and personal lives. Our intention is to create an environment where people can learn through open honest discussions on how we apply Mindfulness. Although our experiences and stories come from time in a manufacturing environment hence the title “Mindfulness Manufacturing”, we still see our discussions and topics relatable to any organization or profession.
    © Mindfulness Manufacturing 2019
    Show more Show less
Episodes
  • 137 Good People, Bad Decisions: A Fresh Look at Root Cause Analysis in Manufacturing with Bob Latino
    Feb 19 2025

    Are you really doing root cause analysis (RCA) or only scratching at the surface of your organization’s problems? When a problem occurs in a fast-paced industry like manufacturing, you want to find the root problem—and you want to find it as quickly as possible! But if you’re not taking some mindful time to ask the right questions and understand the human element beyond your issues, you might be missing deeper, more sustainable solutions.

    Learn more about the world of RCA in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing with seasoned RCA expert Bob Latino! Influenced by his father, who pioneered research on equipment, process, and human reliability while working for Allied Chemical (now known as Honeywell), Bob profound understanding of both the technical and human aspects of failure. He is passionate about championing progressive leadership mindsets and helping leaders understand and improve systems, rather than simply assigning blame.

    In this episode, Bob shares his insights on common challenges with RCA and shares tips leaders can use to move beyond simply fixing broken equipment to creating sustainable reliability through better understanding of human performance.

    1:48 – RCA has a PR problem, and is typically only associated with technical failure rather than human factors
    6:00 – To improve sustainability and reliability, consider how you approach accountability and blame
    7:19 – When an organization is stuck in crisis mode, it looks very different from an organization with experienced reliability
    11:32 – “What does right look like to you?” is a great question to ask when a problem occurs
    15:41 – Understanding the difference between proactive and reactive approaches can help you shift your mindset when it comes to finding solutions
    18:05 – Reliability and maintenance are different departments, as they have different focuses
    22:04 – With improved reliability, you can address issues like high turnover and poor leadership retention

    Connect with Bob Latino
    Find him on LinkedIn, where he shares extensive content
    Visit the Prelical Solutions website

    Show more Show less
    25 mins
  • 136 The Hidden Productivity Cost: Mental Health with Adam Nemer
    Feb 5 2025

    In manufacturing, mental health is not always at the forefront. But when you don’t pay attention to your team’s mental wellbeing, it can negatively affect your entire organization, leading to big issues from disconnected teams to high employee turnover. In this episode, find the insights you need to transform your organization’s approach to mental health with guest Adam Nemer. Adam is a former CFO and senior operations leader, whose own mental health struggles inspired him to start Simple Mental Health, an organization that partners with leaders to bring stigma-free mental health culture to their organizations.

    In this episode, Adam shares impactful stories from his own mental health journey and offers great insights for how leaders can support their teams, implement stronger mental health practices, and play a transformative role in breaking down mental health stigmas in the world of manufacturing.

    1:00 – In manufacturing, one out of every five employees struggles with a diagnosable mental illness
    7:58 – To promote better mental health in your manufacturing organization, learn to recognize the signs of mental health struggles, like changes in appearance, behavior, or performance
    8:35 – Be aware of team members who might be showing up for work, but aren’t mentally engaged
    12:25 – To improve mental health at work, you need to have deep conversations that go beyond just talking about work
    16:20 – When your employees are unhappy or struggling with mental health issues, it can lead to a massive drop in productivity, as well as high turnover
    21:46 – As a leader, there is power in sharing your own mental health experiences
    27:45 – When leaders normalize discussions about mental health, it improves performance and transforms lives

    Connect with Adam Nemer
    Visit his website
    Connect on Facebook and LinkedIn
    Learn more on YouTube

    Show more Show less
    31 mins
  • 135 Shifting from Blame to Solution in Manufacturing Teams with Darcy Luoma
    Jan 22 2025

    In manufacturing, it seems like it’s always go, go go! But what if we could take a moment to pause, think, and act a little more thoughtfully and intentionally? Learn what can happen in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing with guest Darcy Luoma! Darcy is an author, consultant, and the creator of the Thoughtfully Fit approach, a dynamic and practical model for enhancing leadership capabilities, improving team dynamics, and navigating the complexities of leadership and teamwork.

    In this episode, she shares a deep dive into her Thoughtfully Fit method, plus shares other tips and lessons leaders can use to strengthen their culture, connect with their team, and bring more accountability, intentionality, and thoughtfulness to their organization.

    1:30 – Intentionally or unintentionally, culture is set from the top

    2:39 – Using curiosity helps separate accountability from blame

    4:21 – As a leader, you can help your team stay accountable by setting clear expectations and benchmarks

    6:40 – Change your mindset to shift away from blame and toward solutions

    8:26 – Don’t ignore your team’s dynamic, or else it can lead to issues like decreased morale and effectiveness

    11:04 – By creating intentional space to address team dynamics and communicate styles, you’ll find better results

    17:10 – Through a Thoughtfully Fit model, focus on pausing, thinking, and acting intentionally

    21:31 – Practicing self-awareness as a leader can improve your team’s dynamics

    23:20 – When applying Thoughtfully Fit principals, be consistent and practice even in small situations

    Connect with Darcy Luoma

    Visit her website

    Take the Thoughtfully Fit quiz

    Show more Show less
    29 mins

What listeners say about Mindfulness Manufacturing

Average customer ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.