Manufacturing Revival Radio is a Dreamland Radio production with hosts Todd Schnick and Todd Youngblood. On this show, we feature the companies, the leaders, the innovators leading the charge and driving the innovation. Through the blood, sweat, and tears of working men and women from here at home, to around the world. Learn more at Manufacturing Revival Radio.

With over 40 years in the manufacturing industry, three books and over 300 published manufacturing-focused articles, Mike Collins, founder of MPC Management, is a treasure-trove of manufacturing knowledge. During our discussion today we focused on two specific topics discussed in Mike’s book Saving American Manufacturing.

According to Mike, American manufacturing is at a stalemate. Manufacturers simply are not growing, and sales are stagnant. Mike walks us through two key items that must be analyzed before any manufacturer can invest in a plan for growth. Mike explains that in order to have a successful growth plan, a manufacturer must first figure out why they are losing sales, and secondly able to identify what competitive value they are offering their markets.

For the second part of today’s show, we dive head first into a recurring issue on MRR: How can we improve the growing issue of workforce development for manufacturers going forward? Mike’s solution: We need to place new emphasis on the apprentice programs of the past. Mike provides an in-depth explanation and statistics to really expose the bare-bones of this issue. With whom does the responsibility lay for improving our training programs? Is it the private sector or public sector? Who needs to take the lead and invest the time and money to find this solution?

Take a moment and listen to the entire interview to hear Mike’s opinions on this ever increasing issue. Click on the play button above to listen to the interview, or download the audio file at Manufacturing Revival Radio.