{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Employee Retention in Manufacturing for Frontline Supervisors: How Structure, Curiosity, and Accountability Build Strong Teams with Ken Handsaeme #161","description":"  Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor\u2019s monthly newsletter. Now, let\u2019s jump in! How do you turn a one-machine operation into a thriving business? Find out in this episode with Ken Handsaeme, founder of On Time Precision. Ken\u2019s unique journey started as a machinist, but when he decided he wanted a better retirement plan, he started his own business, initially operating 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 fulfill his retirement dreams. In this episode, Ken shares the lessons he learned throughout his career, ranging from the importance of intentional leadership and the root causes of common operational problems to how curiosity-driven conversations and trust-building behaviors drive retention, accountability, and long-term performance. He also shares stories 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. 02:00 \u2013 Operational challenges on the shop floor often signal leadership and communication gaps rather than process problems alone 04:15 \u2013 Shifting from working in the business to working on the business enables leaders to focus on production leadership and long-term operational excellence. 05:30 - Protected time for quoting is essential to production flow, customer trust, and employee stability 06:45 \u2013 Connecting the top to the shop creates shared accountability 08:55 \u2013 To accelerate growth, leaders must balance hiring, retention, and capacity planning in manufacturing plants. 10:10 - Structured one-on-one conversations are a powerful tool for supervisor development and deeper team engagement in manufacturing. 11:30 - Curiosity-driven leadership conversations outperform traditional performance reviews in building trust and accountability. 14:00 \u2013 To reinforce trust, respect, and leadership credibility, prioritize employee conversations like customer meetings 16:40 \u2013Involving operators in problem-solving and process improvement builds ownership and continuous improvement culture. 17:55 \u2013 Have transparent discussions on transparency in manufacturing management, including sharing expectations without overwhelming teams with financial complexity. 20:30 \u2013 Self-awareness, vulnerability, and trust in leadership are foundational skills in modern manufacturing environments. 21:50 - Consistent leadership behaviors create workplace culture that supports retention and manufacturing excellence. 23:10 \u2013 To prepare for succession, you need to build systems, people, and leadership beyond the owner. Connect with Ken Handsaeme Connect on Instagram: @kenhandsaeme ","author_name":"Manufacturing Greatness | Productivity | Retention | Profits | Continuous Improvement | Safety | Workforce Development | Labor Challenges | Skills Gaps | Industry 4.0","author_url":"https:\/\/manufacturinggreatness.com","html":"