PODCAST Episode #55

I sat down with Brian Fielkow — former CEO of Jetco Delivery, now EVP of Risk Resources at Acrisure, and author of the new book "Making Safety Happen".  A WEALTH of knowledge when it comes to all things but certainly safety.

We got into:

→ Why safety should never be a "priority". Priorities compete and shift, but core values are non-negotiable.
→ How the C-suite sets the tone for safety culture (and why they can't delegate it!)
→ Why "unconditional respect" for process matters because often safety rules are written in blood.
→ The football helmet analogy that reframes how you think about PPE as your *last* line of defense, not your first.

If you lead a warehouse, DC, or FC or in charge of those who do, this episode isn't a check box.

LINK: Brian Fielkow & Associates

 PODCAST Episode #54

Technology and leadership are often treated as two separate things. That's shifting some though. TrailPath Workplace Solutions isn’t simply putting another technology tool in the hands of ops leaders. Great chat with Ben Green their COO!

🦺 Floor leads gotta know:
1️⃣ Who needs my attention? 2️⃣ Where should I focus? 3️⃣ When should I coach? 4️⃣ When should I step back?

Experience helps answer those questions, we all know this, but new supervisors don’t have years of experience yet.

💡 They can help not by replacing leadership, but by helping leaders see what matters, build better habits, and improve every day.

Habits shape behavior. Behavior shapes results.

❓ The question is: How do we help more leaders build those habits?

LINK: TrailPath Workplace Solutions Website

 PODCAST Episode #53

Pete Allen is Managing Partner at Birch Advisors. And he knows his way around the world of warehousing and distribution quite well!

MANY companies seek him out for consultations, and particularly on strategies for integrating and growing robotics and automation.

✅ What are the unique challenges both at the tactical level (warehousing problems) but also strategic level (gaining traction and adoption from the end users in the industry?)

✅ Do you see robotics as an "either or" in integrations with humans or an "and also"?

✅ What should ops leaders be focusing on building the warehouse of the future?

✅ What type of operation is an ideal one to get the most gains from robotics and how should they explore this ahead of time to minimize risk?

 PODCAST Episode #51-2

Sam Coles, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Toyota Material Handling North America was a great person to chat with to close out my trip to their new manufacturing facility in Columbus, Indiana.

✅ What is the message that a new facility like this sends to the market and their customers?
✅ Selling forklifts vs being weaved into the fabric of the rhythm of the warehouse.
✅ However impressive the facility may be to look at; the true heroes are the actual folks (at all levels) inside the organization.

Truly a first-class organization from top to bottom. Go check out the site if you get a chance!

 PODCAST Episode #51-1

I really enjoyed my time at Toyota Material Handling North America in Columbus, Indiana last week! Tony Miller is their Chief Supply Officer, and it was a pleasure chatting with him for a short stint.

Check it out below!

✅ What it was like bringing this site to fruition?
✅ Some of the amazing production numbers coming out of this place!
✅ What this truly means for not only customers, but their employees and local community too!
✅ And, don't forget that what we see with our eyes is just a portion of the overall supply chain for TMHNA!

 PODCAST Episode #51

🦺I was honored to take The Warehouse Underground on the road this week when I was invited to the opening of Toyota Material Handling North America's new manufacturing facility in Columbus, Indiana!

🙌To say that it is impressive is a major understatement. It's big (295,000 square feet), meticulously laid out, and has a highly engaged & proud employee work force to match. 

💡A $100M investment with 140 new jobs coming in and those folks will be busy with a growing emphasis on electric! Why? Because more than 1 in 3 forklifts sold in the US is manufactured by them.

Here was one of my interviews and with Mike Field, their Chief Operations Officer.