Welcome to Manufacturing Minute!

I'm glad you're here.

Let's get to it.

🚨In the News

General Motors is moving Escalade, Silverado LD, and Sierra LD production back to Michigan's Orion Assembly plant in 2027 with a $4B investment.

Translation: thousands of union jobs and a big bet on domestic manufacturing.

Sometimes the "reshoring" conversation actually turns into action.

Nice to see major manufacturing decisions that create jobs instead of eliminating them. Here’s hoping it pans out!

🏭 Manufacturing Minute

"Manufacturing consultants are just expensive help that charges a fortune to tell you what you already know."

I hear this all the time.

And honestly?

Sometimes it's true…

But here's what I see happening with our small to mid-market manufacturing clients...

You already know your problems. 

Your team knows where the bottlenecks are. Your engineers know what needs fixing. Your operators see the inefficiencies every day.

What you don't see are the 47 moving pieces that need to align before any "transformation" actually happens.

Like the data historian that needs standardized naming before analytics make sense. Or the OT network that needs separation before you can safely connect anything. Or the change management process that needs buy-in from three different departments who've never worked together.

The real value isn't telling you what's broken. It's seeing how all the pieces fit together and helping you sequence the fixes so they actually stick.

And a fresh set of eyes is a great way to do that.

Best manufacturing consultants are like mountain sherpas. We've been up this mountain before. We know which path leads to a dead end and which route gets you to the summit without losing half your team along the way.

The worst ones? They're the ones selling you the latest buzzword without understanding your specific terrain.

Here's the test: If your consultant can't explain why project A needs to happen before project B, and how both connect to your bigger goals... find a different sherpa.

Manufacturing transformation isn't rocket science.

But it is orchestration science.

And sometimes you need someone who's conducted this symphony before to help you avoid the cacophony.

What's your experience been with manufacturing consultants? The good, the bad, and the "why did we pay for that?"

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: