Today’s episode features Max Perilstein, founder of Sole Source Consultants and a leading voice in the glass and glazing industry. With more than 30 years of experience across family-run operations and national manufacturers, and as the creator of the From the Fabricator blog and podcast, Max brings a clear view of what it takes to run and modernize complex operations. He shares lessons from an early surge in demand that reshaped his approach to systems and leadership, the cultural differences he sees between family ownership and private equity, and why diversification and smart automation are becoming essential in an industry that doesn’t ship well. It’s a grounded look at how to strengthen operations while keeping people at the center.

Today’s episode features Jeff McNabb, Associate Director of Supply Chain at Myers Industries and a leader whose career spans the U.S. Navy to Fortune 100 manufacturers. Jeff shares lessons from pacing change, aligning teams with the X-Matrix framework, and using AI and automation in ways that actually stick. He also talks about how leading with empathy, clarity, and persistence has helped his teams navigate everything from plant startups to shutdowns while driving measurable improvement. This conversation is full of practical insights on how to modernize operations, strengthen supply chains, and keep people at the center of transformation.

Today’s episode features David Ariens, founder of The IT/OT Insider and a leading voice helping manufacturers bridge the gap between information technology and operations. David shares how to cut through buzzwords to build real data foundations, what a unified namespace actually means in practice, and why the key to AI-enabled manufacturing isn’t more tools—it’s clarity, connection, and starting where you are.