Cost Savings in Manufacturing for Operations Managers: Using Deliberate Creativity to Improve Performance with Amy Climer #138

Cost Savings in Manufacturing for Operations Managers: Using Deliberate Creativity to Improve Performance with Amy Climer #138

Author: Trevor Blondeel March 5, 2025 Duration: 25:08

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's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

To find better cost savings and stronger team dynamics, manufacturing leaders need one powerful tool: creativity.

In this episode, Dr. Amy Climer, speaker, trainer, and author of Deliberate Creative Teams, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, creativity, and continuous improvement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

With a PhD in Leadership and Change, Amy explains how deliberate creativity helps leaders improve problem solving, strengthen communication skills, and drive productivity in manufacturing. You will learn practical strategies to boost employee engagement, support innovation, and uncover cost savings while building more connected and high performing teams.

1:00 – In manufacturing, finding cost savings is often a challenge
5:33 – Through creative problem solving, plants can find improved cost savings
10:50 – To introduce more creativity in your organization, focus on team purpose, team dynamics, and creative process 
17:14 – Creative abrasion occurs when a team can disagree on ideas, not personalities 
21:54 – Switching up your language as a leader can play a role in encouraging creativity 
24:00 – To find solutions through creativity, be deliberate 


Connect with Dr. Amy Climer
Visit the website for Climer Consulting
Connect on LinkedIn 
Read my book report of Deliberate Creative Teams


Trevor Blondeel hosts Manufacturing Greatness, a series built on the belief that the most valuable insights come from real-world experience. Each episode features candid conversations with leaders from the factory floor and beyond, focusing on the human side of industry challenges. You’ll hear stories that tackle the pressing issues of retention, skills gaps, and labor challenges with a sense of transparency rarely found in business discussions. This podcast digs into practical strategies for continuous improvement and workforce development, connecting them directly to productivity and safety outcomes. Rather than abstract theory, Trevor and his guests explore how to leverage existing resources and people to build a more resilient operation. The dialogue naturally extends to what Industry 4.0 means for frontline supervisors and plant managers, framing technology as a tool for human empowerment. It’s for anyone who believes that sustainable profits are built through authentic leadership and a relentless focus on developing people. By listening, you gain access to a community focused on pragmatic solutions, where the shared goal is to cultivate excellence from the ground up in a constantly evolving manufacturing landscape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Manufacturing Greatness | Productivity | Retention | Profits | Continuous Improvement | Safety | Workforce Development | Labor Challenges | Skills Gaps | Industry 4.0
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