Welcome to Manufacturing Minute!

I'm glad you're here.

Let's get to it.

🚨In the News

General Motors just dropped $888 million on their Tonawanda plant near Buffalo to retool for EV components.

Here's what caught my attention: they're not building a shiny new facility somewhere else. They're investing in the people and community that already know how to make things.

This is exactly the kind of practical transformation I keep talking about. Use what works, upgrade what matters, and trust the workforce that's been getting it done for decades.

Sometimes the best "digital transformation" story is just good old-fashioned manufacturing investment with a modern twist.

Hoping to see more of this in the future.

🏭 Manufacturing Minute

Walk into any plant pursuing "digital transformation." 

Ask the plant manager to draw their vision on a whiteboard. 

Then ask three operators on different shifts to do the same.

If the drawings don't match, you're about to waste millions.

I've seen this play out dozens of times. 

The C-suite talks about "Industry 4.0" and "data-driven decisions." Meanwhile, operators are wondering if this new system will make their job harder or get them fired.

The Real Problem (It's Not the Technology)

Here's what nobody talks about: Most transformation failures aren't technical failures—they're storytelling failures.

Everyone's heard a different version of "why we're doing this."

• Management: "Increase efficiency by 15%"

• Engineering: "Implement predictive maintenance"

• Operators: "Corporate wants more data to spy on us"

Same project. Three completely different movies playing in people's heads.

The Sherpa Test

Before buying any software or hiring consultants, try this:

1. Interview 5 people from different levels (C-suite to shop floor)

2. Ask one question: "What problem are we trying to solve?"

3. Listen for alignment (or the complete lack of it)

If the answers aren't remarkably similar, stop everything. Fix the story first.

Why This Matters Now

AI and automation are accelerating.

The companies that figure out cultural alignment will leap ahead.

The ones that don't will burn through budgets faster than ever.

The best technology in the world can't fix a broken narrative.

Your Next Move

Skip the vendor demos for now. Get your team aligned on the "why" before you touch the "what."

Because in manufacturing transformation, culture doesn't just eat strategy for breakfast… it devours entire digital initiatives.

P.S., Whether you're trying to make sense of Industry 4.0, struggling with legacy systems, or just need a sounding board from someone who's navigated similar waters, let's talk. Book Your 30-Minute Strategy Call →

P.P.S., if you are a nerd (like me), the next installment of my Manufacturing-themed D&D comic is out! See it here: