What Every Leader Can Learn from Manufacturing Professionals
If you work in manufacturing, you already know that leadership lessons don’t just come from the boardroom. Some of the most practical insights are born on the shop floor.
Through interviews with manufacturing executives on the Shop Floor, Top Floor Talk Show, I’ve seen how these approaches resonate far beyond factories.
In this article, I’ll share insights from peers who’ve led thousands of people, and driven cultural change.
Lesson 1: Think in Systems, Not Silos
Some leaders stay locked in their own function. Quality leaders can’t afford to. Their work touches every department, which helps them spot risks, link teams, and close gaps.
That was clear when I spoke with JD Marhevko, Vice President of Quality at ZF Group. She’s not focused only on her metrics; she looks at how the whole operation fits together. “I’m the worst silo person in the world,” she told me. “My space is everywhere.”
Marhevko describes her role as supporting teams, not controlling them. “I’m a supporter,” she said. “I help build the systems teams need.”
Daniel Castilla, Owner at Ollin-One, made a similar point differently. For him, leadership means managing the full chain, not only individual links. “When you manage quality,” he said, “you manage how everything connects.”
Seeing connections, not components, is a practical habit all leaders can learn.
Lesson 2: Meaning Drives Behavior
Purpose, not processes and dashboards, moves people. Without it, even good systems can turn into checklist work.
That’s something Rich Nave, Chief Operations Officer at The Luminous Group, sees all the time. “Without leadership,” he told me, “people don’t understand why; they just pencil-whip forms.”
The problem isn’t the tool; it’s that the context is missing. If a process feels pointless, people go through the motions; when they see what’s at stake, they change how they work.
The results prove it, said Steve Povenz, Quality Professional and Consultant at Boost Quality. “Developing people and processes builds customer satisfaction and lowers costs,” he explained.
You can’t create that kind of development with metrics alone. Leaders who link purpose to outcomes earn commitment. Those who don’t will, at best, secure compliance.
Lesson 3: Lead Through Collaboration
The most effective leaders I’ve spoken with invite participation rather than rely on authority. They don’t try to be the smartest person in the room. They create space for others to contribute.
Mike Fank, Quality Manager at Wisconsin Metal Parts, said it best: “If you preach at people, you end up stuck in your box as a quality professional. Ask how and what questions, and the work becomes collaborative.”
That shift, from telling to asking, only works when leaders are willing to step back from control. Communication style matters, but it’s only part of the picture — at its core, it’s about trust.
The result is better ideas, stronger relationships, and a tighter team.
Lesson 4: Scaling Starts with a Solid Foundation
Big initiatives fail when the basics are shaky. Too often, leaders grab tools before fixing core problems.
“The biggest mistake companies make is buying advanced solutions before basic processes work,” said Thiago Roveri, Director of Quality at RR Donnelley. “It happens all the time.”
New software, certifications, or systems won’t fix weak processes. Tools don’t repair the foundation; they only accelerate what’s already in place.
Quality leaders I’ve spoken with know when to slow down. They invest in fundamentals so improvements stick.
Lesson 5: Psychological Safety Makes Improvement Possible
People won’t raise problems if they don’t feel safe. In many plants, silence matters more than occasional mistakes, because the real harm is what never gets said.
JD Marhevko doesn’t compromise. “If it’s not safe,” she told me, “I’m not doing it. Safety always comes first.”
Safety covers both physical risk and psychological safety. If your team doesn’t feel safe speaking up, small issues can become system-wide problems.
Mike Fank put it simply: “Leadership creates the conditions for people to feel heard. Without that, nothing improves.”
Leaders who build trust surface problems early; those who don’t are often blindsided.
Lesson 6: Customer Impact Beats Internal Specs
Compliance doesn’t equal quality. Leaders who equate compliance with quality miss the point.
“You can do everything by the book and still miss the mark,” said Gary Jing, Site Quality Manager at nVent. “You can meet every spec and still fail if you don’t deliver what the customer actually needs.”
That gap between spec and satisfaction reflects leadership as much as product. It reflects leadership choices. When teams measure success by internal checklists, they stop asking whether the work helps customers.
The best leaders shift the focus. They train teams to judge work by the customer’s experience, not only by audit records.
Lesson 7: Culture Is Everyone Rowing in the Same Direction
Culture isn’t posters on the wall; it’s how people act when you’re not in the room. It doesn’t happen by accident. It starts when leaders give clear priorities and repeat them consistently.
Rick Davis, Chief Manufacturing and R&D Officer at Morgan Foods, sees the difference every day. “When everyone shares the same culture and direction,” he said, “your company’s foundation is stronger.”
For Davis, culture is practical. He breaks it down into three questions every leader should ask: “Are we winning? How will we win? Who is winning?”
Leaders who ask and answer those questions publicly create alignment. Alignment turns culture into a real advantage, not just a slogan.
Lesson 8: The Best Leaders Earn Trust Before They Ask for Action
The quality leaders I’ve spoken with lead with care, build reliable systems, coach with humility, foster safety, and align people around a clear definition of success. They don’t rely on title or hierarchy; people turn to them first when something breaks.
If you want to know who your real leaders are, don’t look at titles. Look at who people trust when things go wrong.
Want to hear how these leaders actually lead under pressure? Tune into the full episodes of the Shop Floor, Top Floor Talk Show for more leadership lessons from the front lines.
