The Operations Science Podcast

What happens when you're trying to hit a deadline while dealing with weather, regulations, hardware lead times, testing, and other sources of uncertainty?
Josh Elvander draws on years of experience in aerospace, robotics, and technology startups to explain how leaders can manage complex operations when the work itself is difficult to predict.
Josh and Ed Pound discuss risk management, team structure, Department of Defense contracting, and why Agile doesn't always fit hardware development.
 
Key Discussion Points
02:00—The hidden challenges of building new technology04:00—Planning for uncertainty and risk07:00—Managing milestones and project cadence09:00—Building teams as technology matures12:00—The UAE drone demonstration15:00—Shipping, regulations, and unexpected problems17:00—Building ownership and trust21:00—Managing disagreement and self-awareness23:00—Working with the Department of Defense25:00—DoD contracts and deliverables27:30—Why Agile doesn't always fit hardware29:00—Operations science and project management31:00—Josh's engineering journey and mentors
 
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Complex operations don't become predictable by ignoring variability. Operations Science Applied connects the science of operations with real-world management challenges.
For a quick tour of operations science, check out OSI Insider, a free, self-paced introduction: insider.opscience.org
#OperationsScience #Aerospace #OperationsManagement #ProjectManagement #EngineeringLeadership #Manufacturing #Leadership #Podcast

Building automation is about much more than robots. Success depends on strong planning, smart execution, and systems that can adapt. Michael McHale shares the lessons that helped PSA Systems grow into a fully integrated automation company.
Discover why project scoping matters, how AI is reshaping project management, and why experience remains a competitive advantage. This episode is packed with practical insights for manufacturers, engineers, and operations leaders. Learn how better decisions upfront create better outcomes later.
 
Key Discussion Points
02:10—Why PSA Built a Fully Integrated Automation Business
08:00—Why Project Scoping Determines Success or Failure
12:05—Using AI to Improve Project Management
16:00—The Challenge of Scheduling in Complex Manufacturing
25:40—Can American Manufacturing Compete with China?
29:00—The Reality of Private Equity in Automation
32:00—Why Experience Still Wins in Manufacturing
33:20—Michael McHale's Career Journey
 
Learn more about the Operations Science Institute: https://opscience.org
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#OperationsScience #Manufacturing #Automation #IndustrialAutomation #ProjectManagement #AI #OperationalExcellence #Engineering #Leadership #ContinuousImprovement

Most people think logistics is about tracking a package. But moving rockets, satellites, and oversized freight is a completely different challenge.
In this episode of the The Operations Science Podcast, Ed Pound sits down with Ben Martin to explore what it really takes to transport some of the world's largest and most sensitive equipment. Ben shares lessons from aerospace and wind energy, why planning often begins months—or even years—in advance, and how operations leaders manage risk when every detail matters.
Key Discussion Points
01:37—Why industrial logistics is different from parcel shipping
06:18—Planning oversized freight and transporting wind turbines
09:28—From wind energy to moving rockets
17:13—Transportation failures and the lessons they teach
20:50—How AI is changing logistics planning
25:23—Why being a generalist is an advantage in operations
29:20—Ben's career journey and life outside of work
Want to better understand the science behind operational performance? OSI Insider is a free, self-paced introduction: https://insider.opscience.org
Go deeper with Operations Science Applied: bit.ly/OSA2026
#OperationsScience #SupplyChain #Logistics #Aerospace #Manufacturing #Leadership #Transportation #AI #OSI

Manufacturing doesn't become chaotic because people aren't working hard enough. It becomes chaotic when leaders don't understand how variability moves through a system.
Fred White spent 13 years flying UH-60 helicopters before moving into manufacturing, eventually becoming the first production manager at Tesla's Gigafactory. He shares what that experience taught him about variability, constraints, flow, leadership, and continuous improvement.
Ed and Fred also discuss the end-of-the-month scramble, why pushing people harder doesn't solve capacity problems, and the operational principles that remain true across industries.
Key Discussion Points
00:00 Introduction02:25 From military aviation to manufacturing03:00 Building Tesla's Gigafactory05:50 Lessons learned after Tesla08:55 The end-of-the-month scramble11:10 Breaking down silos with value streams13:05 Why doing more with less creates problems15:05 Operations principles across industries16:00 Advice for new operations leaders17:05 AI in manufacturing18:15 Making continuous improvement stick25:00 The experience that changed Fred's career
Want to better understand why operations behave the way they do? OSI Insider is a free, self-paced introduction to operations science: https://insider.opscience.org
Go deeper into variability, flow, and operational performance with Operations Science Applied: bit.ly/OSA2026
Don't forget to:👍 Like this video🔔 Subscribe for more authentic conversations💬 Comment with your biggest takeaway🔗 Share it with someone who needs to hear this
#OperationsScience #Manufacturing #OperationalExcellence #Leadership #ContinuousImprovement #OperationsManagement #SupplyChain #ManufacturingLeadership

Most manufacturers see variability as the enemy.
Christopher Morgan has spent decades proving otherwise.
As General Manager of Street Furniture Australia, Christopher leads a highly customized manufacturing operation where no two days look the same. Customers constantly request modifications, project timelines shift without warning, and traditional automation often isn't an option. Yet despite all that variability, his team has built systems that deliver predictability, visibility, and higher output.
In this conversation, Christopher shares how a simple scheduling change increased output by 30%, why visual management still beats complicated software in many situations, and how limiting work-in-progress helped create a more efficient operation.
Whether you're leading a factory, managing projects, or trying to improve flow in any business, this episode offers practical lessons on dealing with uncertainty without losing control.
Key Discussion Points
02:30—Why they never retire products
05:00—Why automation doesn't work for their business
07:00—Managing variability as a competitive advantage
08:00—Locking the production schedule & 30% productivity increase
12:00—Confirmed Dispatch Dates & customer lead times
15:00—Velocity over volume philosophy
17:00—The red tubs visual management system
18:00—Black tubs for urgent orders & pink tubs for R&D
21:00—Why exactly 35 red tubs?
23:00—Scheduling by labor hours instead of dollar value
24:00—Finished goods inventory & storage strategy
26:50—Factory layout redesign & continuous improvement
29:00—Building a culture of ownership & employee engagement
32:30—Using AI for scheduling, purchasing & engineering drawings
35:20—Christopher Morgan's career journey
39:00—Hobbies: historical reenactment & Polish saber fencing
If this conversation challenged the way you think about operations:
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Ready to make better decisions in uncertain environments? Learn the principles behind flow, capacity, variability, and operational performance in Operations Science Applied: https://insider.opscience.org
#OperationsScience #Manufacturing #Leadership #ContinuousImprovement #LeanManufacturing #OperationsManagement #IndustrialEngineering #BusinessLeadership #SupplyChain #Productivity #OSI

Many Lean and continuous improvement programs struggle—not because the tools are wrong, but because organizations overlook the foundation: developing capable people.
In this conversation, Abdulrahman Yossri shares lessons from nearly two decades of manufacturing leadership across consumer goods, chemicals, aluminum, and industrial operations.
Together with Ed Pound, they discuss why capability building is the key to sustainable operational excellence, how leaders can align teams around shared goals, and why companies should think of themselves as training academies.
 
Key Discussion Points
02:10 The common challenge across manufacturing
07:15 Why problems are opportunities for improvement
08:10 Lessons from becoming a plant manager
13:00 Why capability building comes before Lean
16:35 The four levels of workforce development
23:00 Solving the skilled labor challenge
28:20 Connecting education to industry
31:00 Using AI without losing expertise
38:00 Final thoughts
If this conversation gave you a new perspective on leadership and operational excellence:👍 Like the video💬 Share your biggest takeaway in the comments📤 Pass this along to someone building high-performing teams
Want to better understand the science behind operational performance? OSI Insider is a free, self-paced introduction designed to help leaders understand why operations behave the way they do.
For a deeper dive, explore Operations Science Applied
#OperationsManagement #LeanManufacturing #ContinuousImprovement #OperationalExcellence #Manufacturing #OSI

Most operations teams spend too much time arguing about lead times.
Customers want products faster. Sales wants shorter lead times. Operations pushes back.
But what if the real goal isn't lead time at all?
Kim Shelby shares how her team shifted from fixed lead times to due-date quoting. The result was better customer communication, stronger operational performance, and more reliable delivery commitments.
The conversation explores demand variability, capacity management, forecasting, leadership, and practical AI applications in supply chain operations.
 
Key Discussion Points
01:15 Meet Kim Shelby03:15 Managing operations in a high-change environment04:30 Why production dates create unnecessary noise07:20 The shift from lead times to due-date quoting10:00 Managing customer expectations12:00 Building support through pilot programs13:45 Demand variability and forecasting challenges16:00 Capacity utilization and operational performance20:00 When OTIF improves but customers remain unhappy22:00 Improving cash flow through better commitments24:00 AI applications in supply chain operations27:00 Kim's career journey33:00 Career advice: Say yes to everything
Stop relying on fixed assumptions. Learn the science behind reliable delivery, better forecasting, and stronger operational performance with Operations Science Applied: bit.ly/OSA2026
If you want more insights on how to level up your operations, visit insider.opscience.org
 
#OperationsManagement #SupplyChain #Manufacturing #Leadership #CommitDate #LeadTime #ATP #OperationalExcellence #OperationsScience #ContinuousImprovement #OSI

Construction projects rarely fail because of one big mistake. More often, they collapse under misalignment, unrealistic schedules, procurement delays, poor sequencing, and operational variability that no one planned for.
Construction manager and mechanical engineer Milton Griffiths shares lessons from greenfield and brownfield infrastructure projects, discussing how contractors, procurement teams, logistics, weather, workforce fatigue, and communication all shape project outcomes in the real world.
The discussion explores practical construction leadership, operational clarity, risk management, supplier coordination, schedule realism, and why successful project delivery starts long before work begins onsite.
Key Discussion Points
02:20 – What separates successful projects from failing ones
04:45 – Greenfield vs. brownfield construction realities
05:20 – Why unrealistic schedules destroy projects
07:00 – Procurement lead times and remote project logistics
09:15 – Managing inventory and equipment on construction sites
12:00 – Weather, climate, and operational variability in construction
14:00 – Laydown areas, theft risks, and inventory control
18:15 – Early warning signs that projects are falling behind
20:00 – Workforce fatigue, morale, and productivity
21:00 – Change orders, contractor incentives, and schedule pressure
24:00 – Standing time, coordination, and contractor claims
27:00 – Buffers, contingencies, and risk management
28:00 – Common misunderstandings that derail construction performance
30:00 – Ubuntu culture and collaboration between contractors
31:00 – Why brownfield projects are more predictable
33:00 – AI, drones, and emerging technology in construction
35:00 – Milton’s engineering journey and early influences
38:00 – Transitioning from design engineering into construction management
41:00 – Art, mentorship, and launching The Hidden Strength Podcast
Construction leadership isn’t just about getting work done faster. It’s about understanding flow, variability, coordination, and the operational realities that determine whether projects succeed or spiral into chaos.
Operations become easier to improve when you understand the science behind how work actually flows.
Explore the principles behind variability, coordination, and operational performance with Operations Science Applied: bit.ly/OSA2026
You may also find OSI Insider useful. It's a free guided tour through operations science that's structured, self-paced, and designed to be a quick read: https://insider.opscience.org
 
If this conversation challenged the way you think about project execution:
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#ConstructionManagement #ProjectManagement #OperationsManagement #Leadership #Engineering #Infrastructure #ConstructionProjects #OperationalExcellence #MechanicalEngineering #OperationsScience #OSI

When you’re managing operations where a single mistake can cost millions—or put lives at risk—process discipline stops being theoretical.
Josh “Tree” Dittmar shares lessons from two worlds where operational excellence is non-negotiable: semiconductor manufacturing and U.S. Navy flight operations. From planning multi-million-dollar semiconductor capacity years in advance to coordinating aircraft launches on an aircraft carrier, this episode explores what it really takes to lead in complex, high-stakes environments.
The discussion dives into variability, operational constraints, safety systems, AI adoption, leadership culture, and why the best operators never stop learning.
Key Discussion Points:
00:00 – Introduction01:10 – Tree Dittmar’s role in semiconductor manufacturing02:14 – Long-term capacity planning and expensive equipment constraints04:49 – Why semiconductor manufacturing is incredibly complex06:05 – 3D heterogeneous integration and the future of chips07:08 – Coordinating operations across multiple business functions08:28 – Brownfield vs. greenfield manufacturing challenges10:48 – Why semiconductor tools can’t simply be “leaned out”12:05 – Variability, buffers, and Operations Science principles14:18 – Demand planning and operational forecasting15:50 – AI in semiconductor manufacturing17:13 – AI governance, policy, and security concerns19:17 – Lessons from Navy aircraft carrier operations21:33 – Designing systems for Six Sigma-level safety22:26 – Flight deck communication and operational coordination24:17 – Fast feedback loops and operational discipline26:26 – How the Navy trains operators for high-risk environments28:25 – What semiconductor fabs can learn from military training28:37 – Foreign object damage and contamination parallels31:15 – Safety culture in dangerous operational environments33:58 – Mission, purpose, and team culture36:50 – Leadership, adaptability, and lifelong learning39:34 – Working across cultures and global teams41:17 – Career advice for future operations leaders43:20 – Final thoughts
Operations isn’t magic. It’s systems, tradeoffs, discipline, and leadership under uncertainty.
If you lead teams, manage production systems, or operate in high-complexity environments, this conversation will change how you think about operational performance.
A better operation starts with understanding the science behind it. Discover how variability, flow, and operational constraints shape performance in the real world with Operations Science Applied: bit.ly/OSA2026
Don’t forget to:👍 Like this video🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on operations, leadership, and systems thinking💬 Comment with your biggest takeaway🔗 Share this episode with someone leading complex operations
#OperationsManagement #Semiconductor #Leadership #Manufacturing #OperationsScience #SupplyChain #ArtificialIntelligence #SystemsThinking #LeanManufacturing #Engineering #Navy #OperationalExcellence #SemiconductorIndustry #BusinessLeadership #OSI

Global supply chains don’t fail all at once.
They fail slowly—through fragile systems, poor data discipline, supplier consolidation, regulatory bottlenecks, and operational decisions that look efficient until disruption exposes the cracks.
Kate Kowalczuk has spent her career operating inside that reality.
From pharmaceuticals and medical devices to chemicals and consumer products, she’s worked across highly regulated industries where one supplier issue, one manufacturing change, or one delay in approval can ripple across an entire operation.
What makes this conversation compelling is how clearly it reveals the hidden complexity behind modern operations.
A winter storm in Texas disrupts 25% of global chemical capacity.An ERP system becomes unreliable because teams stop maintaining clean data.A supplier quietly discontinues a low-volume product, forcing entire organizations into reactive mode.An AI system promises end-to-end procurement automation, but still struggles with the human side of negotiation and judgment.
Kate brings a grounded perspective to all of it.
She explains why resilience has become just as important as efficiency, why sustainability increasingly matters operationally (not just environmentally), and why strong systems still depend on disciplined people behind them.
The conversation also takes a personal turn as she reflects on growing up in Poland under the Iron Curtain, and how that experience shaped her views on minimalism, leadership, resilience, and overconsumption.
⏱️ Key Discussion Points:
00:00 Introduction02:08 Regulatory complexity in pharma and med device supply chains04:05 Why manufacturing changes can take months for approval06:12 Batch sizes, operational tradeoffs, and regulatory barriers08:30 The three biggest supply chain challenges today09:42 How the Texas freeze disrupted global chemical capacity11:18 Supplier consolidation and regional manufacturing constraints12:35 Product discontinuations and operational risk14:55 ERP systems: SAP, NetSuite, D365, and operational realities17:42 Customization vs adapting the business to the system19:28 Why ERP data integrity breaks down inside organizations22:10 What separates great planners and procurement leaders24:40 Supplier collaboration and process improvement opportunities27:30 Supply chain visibility and emerging technologies29:18 The real opportunities and limits of AI in procurement31:20 Why regulated industries remain cautious with AI32:30 Growing up in Poland under the Iron Curtain34:05 Minimalism, sustainability, and operational thinking35:48 Overconsumption, resilience, and the future of operations37:08 Leadership lessons from working across cultures39:02 Sustainability, textile recycling, and life outside work
Operations become far easier to improve when you understand the science behind them. Explore the principles behind flow, variability, and operational performance with Operations Science Applied: bit.ly/OSA2026
Don’t forget to:👍 Like this video🔔 Subscribe for more authentic conversations on operations and leadership💬 Comment with your biggest takeaway📤 Share this episode with someone building resilient operations
#Operations #SupplyChain #Procurement #Leadership #OperationalExcellence #ERP #Manufacturing #AI #Sustainability #OperationsScience #SupplyChainManagement #Pharmaceuticals #OSI