Manufacturing leadership often looks different in owner-led businesses compared to large corporate environments. Decisions are closer to the work, accountability is more personal, and the impact of leadership choices is felt quickly on the factory floor.

This conversation explores manufacturing leadership through the lens of running, owning, and sustaining a manufacturing business over the long term.

The discussion is particularly relevant for people working in small to mid-sized manufacturing firms, including production managers, operations leaders, business owners, and those stepping into leadership roles for the first time. It focuses on how leadership shows up in day-to-day decisions, during difficult economic periods, and when building trust with teams.

Rather than theory, the conversation reflects lived experience inside manufacturing environments, where margins matter, people matter, and leadership is often tested when conditions are uncertain. Manufacturing leadership here is about responsibility, consistency, and understanding the realities of running a factory.

In this conversation

• How manufacturing leadership changes when you are responsible for payroll and cash flow

• Why understanding shop-floor operations matters for effective leadership

• The role of honesty and communication during financial pressure

• How autonomy and trust shape long-term teams

• What tough periods reveal about leadership behaviour

“You don’t know manufacturing until you start writing your own checks.”

🎧 Want to Hear More?

Listen to Larry Dix’s full episode of Manufacturers Make Strides. Available now on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

💡 Got a story about collaboration in manufacturing?
We’re always looking for inspiring guests.
👉 Apply to be a guest on the podcast here