A good manufacturing podcast balances entertainment with education to produce content ideally suited for a morning run, lunchtime break, or long drive home.
Yet, with so many manufacturing podcasts to choose from, finding one you like can seem like a daunting task.
We are here to help.
We spent hours listening to different manufacturing podcasts and summarized and ranked each one.
Plus, we have provided recommendations on what episodes to start with, so you aren’t wasting time getting the good stuff.
The following are the 10 best manufacturing podcasts of 2023.
1. MakingChips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders
The MakingChips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders has an industrial manufacturing focus, but the topics covered are broadly reaching enough to provide meaningful insights to any leader in the manufacturing space.
Hosts Jason Zenger and Jim Carr have a deep love for the manufacturing industry, and that comes through as they discuss the trends and challenges that affect leaders in manufacturing.
With a light, fun, and inspiring tone, the MakingChips podcast should top the list of anyone manufacturing leader who wants to stay on top of the day’s trends.
- Where to start: The episode Mild Sauce with Tony Gunn is a great example of the whimsical and thought-provoking content you can expect from MakingChips.
The team eats wings and samples various hot sauces while discussing the importance of work-life balance in manufacturing — a must-listen for any manufacturing/hot sauce enthusiast.
2. Manufacturing Happy Hour
The Manufacturing Happy Hour podcast explores the latest trends in manufacturing technology and its impacts on the industry.
Host Chris Luecke interviews the industry’s top movers and shakers — the founders, the builders, and the leaders — and gets their insights on the strategies and tools that will carry the manufacturing industry forward.
While the topics and technologies discussed can be complex, Chris makes everything digestible and relatable to anyone in the industry, regardless of knowledge or expertise.
- Where to start: How the Factory of the Future Is Re-Industrializing America Featuring RIOS’ Bernard Casse, is a thought-provoking episode that had me thinking for days afterward about the impacts of automation technology on our modern world.
3. Gemba Academy Podcast
The Gemba Academy Podcast is well known for providing educational content specializing in Lean thinking and Six Sigma practices.
Thought leaders from across the manufacturing industry and beyond join host Ron Pereira to discuss continuous learning and self-improvement methodologies and explore the impacts these techniques have on their lives and businesses.
The Gemba Academy Podcast has something to offer any listener, regardless of industry, specialty, or interest. Business leaders, managers, and executives, in particular, will benefit from the deep insights and fresh perspectives provided.
- Where to start: Integrating Coaching and Lean with Sarah Tilkens is an excellent introduction to Gemba Academy content.
Sarah’s knowledge and experience are on full display here, as is Ron’s ability to guide the listener through a meaningful and interesting discussion.
4. Advanced Manufacturing Now
Produced by SME Media, the Advanced Manufacturing Now podcast provides industry leaders and innovators a forum to discuss the latest technologies, tools, and processes that are impacting the manufacturing industry.
SME Media taps into its vast talent pool to assemble a team of hosts that provide expert opinions and conduct in-depth interviews with experts from across the industry.
- Where to start: The Voices AMplified series with host John Barnes is always worth a listen; the latest episode — AM and Sustainability — is no exception.
Guest Christina Kurth, Vice President of Sales at Sintavia, provides an interesting and hopeful perspective on creating a more sustainable world through the advancement of manufacturing technologies.
5. The Manufacturing Report
Hosted by Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul, The Manufacturing Report explores the policies, news, and events that affect the US manufacturing industry.
The topics discussed in this podcast vary widely, but the significance and relevance of the issues make every episode a worthwhile listen, regardless of your own area of expertise.
- Where to start: The Inflation Reduction Act Created a Gold Rush for Battery Mining. But Is It Enough? takes a look at the effect of policy changes on the manufacturing industry and demonstrates the expertise and insight The Manufacturing Report provides when exploring these issues.
6. The Manufacturing Executive
The Manufacturing Executive podcast is an excellent resource for manufacturing leaders looking for compelling content focused on industry growth and frontline sales strategies.
Hosted by Gorilla 76 founder Joe Sullivan, the Manufacturing Executive podcast invites movers and shakers from across the manufacturing space to share the methods and techniques they use to drive results and innovation.
- Where to start: Adapting to New Manufacturing Technology w/ Matthew Wright is an interesting episode with broad appeal that provides relevant insights for manufacturing leaders of all stripes.
7. Mindfulness Manufacturing
The Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast focuses on the best practices and behaviors that business leaders need in order to be successful in today’s competitive manufacturing environment.
While the show’s host and many of the guests come from a manufacturing background and many of the topics are explored through a manufacturing lens, the lessons gleaned can be applied to businesses and teams of all types.
- Where to start: Mastering the Art of 360-Degree Feedback with Brian Houp is a great launching point for anyone looking to see what this podcast has to offer. The topic is relevant and intriguing and the tools and techniques discussed can be applied to any business regardless of industry.
8. The Manufacturers Alliance Podcast
The Manufacturers Alliance Podcast brings together the top minds in manufacturing in order to find solutions to the challenges facing the industry today.
The topics discussed in this podcast cover a wide range of manufacturing issues, including safety and compliance, operational efficiency, hiring and staffing, thought leadership, and more.
With new episodes released monthly, there is something for everyone in the Manufacturers Alliance content library.
- Where to start: Since the Manufacturers Alliance Podcast covers such a wide range of topics, a good starting place will be best dictated by your own area of interest.
That said, Using Data to Make Better Decisions is an episode with a far-reaching appeal that transcends role and industry.
9. Conquering Chaos: A Show for Manufacturing Leaders
The Conquering Chaos podcast, by Parsable, aims to modernize the manufacturing industry by introducing its listeners to top-of-field process optimization techniques and advanced operational strategies and applying them to manufacturing.
Anyone looking for the latest theories and practices for workforce management, digitization, quality control, information centralization, and so much more can find them here, delivered weekly.
- Where to start: The Blueprint for Getting 20% More: Throughput, Quality, & Rewards is an episode full of relevant and applicable insights that can have an immediate impact on almost any business.
10. Manufacturing Tomorrow
As the name implies, the Manufacturing Tomorrow podcast has its finger on the pulse of the trends and technology shaping the manufacturing world.
Produced by Ohio State University, each episode features interviews with local leaders from the manufacturing industry and beyond as they discuss the innovations, solutions, and partnerships that are shaping the manufacturing industry.
- Where to start: Manufacturing Tomorrow’s interview with Mike Maynard of the Napier Group is a good introduction to this podcast.
Mike’s breadth of experience managing PR programs and driving sales throughout the manufacturing industry is apparent right from the start of this episode, and you will be thinking about the insights he shares for days afterward.
