How Structure, Curiosity, and Accountability Drive Retention for Frontline Manufacturing Leaders
Leading a manufacturing team is about so much more than keeping machines running and schedules on track. The real work happens when leaders connect with their people, build a strong shop floor culture, and create systems that let both the team and the business thrive.
But how do you make it practical in a fast-paced environment? Here are three ways frontline leaders can show up differently and make a real impact.
1. Protect Your Time to Work on the Business
It’s easy to get pulled into the daily firefighting, like fixing machines, answering questions, or chasing orders. If you want to create sustainable success, you need to block out focused time for higher-level work like planning, quoting, and improving processes.
This isn’t about being absent from the shop. Instead, it’s about creating space for strategic thinking. By protecting your own time, you’ll help your team make decisions, solve problems, and stay productive, while avoiding the need to micromanage or provide constant oversight.
2. Have Structured, Curiosity-Driven Conversations
When done with the right mindset, weekly one-on-one meetings can transform the way you engage with your team. Weekly meetings are opportunities to ask questions, understand obstacles, uncover challenges, and show that you genuinely cares.
When employees feel heard, they become more invested, more proactive, and more willing to drive improvements on the shop floor. It’s also a way to catch issues early, foster problem-solving, and build trust across your team.
3. Build a Continuous Improvement Culture
To better engage your team in process improvement and operational excellent, foster a culture of continuous improvement. Celebrate wins. Ask for input. Create small, practical changes to make work easier and more efficient.
Small but continuous improvements like these reinforce your commitment to curiosity-driven leadership. When your team sees that improvements are acted on, it motivates them to take pride in their work and play their own unique role in actively participate in shaping the culture.
Learn More on Manufacturing Greatness
Frontline manufacturing leaders who prioritize their time, invest in their people, and foster a continuous improvement mindset create a sustainable, innovative, and enjoyable shop floor environment.
To hear a story on the power of strong leadership, listen to this recent episode of Manufacturing Greatness with guest Ken Handsaeme. Ken’s unique journey started as a machinist, but when he decided he wanted a better retirement plan, he started his own business, which he first operated out of a barn with a single machine. It eventually grew into a thriving manufacturing company serving military, aerospace, and medical customers—and helped Ken fulfil his successful retirement dreams.
In this episode, Ken shares stories and lessons from his own career, giving a practical look at what it really takes to build a manufacturing business that can grow, endure, and succeed beyond the owner. To hear Ken Handsaeme on the Manufacturing Greatness podcast, listen here.