E23: Mark Potter - Patronus Consulting
Mark Potter - Patronus Consulting
Episode 23: Show Notes
Our guest today has been in manufacturing for 30 years, predominantly in the food industry, and has a passion for stepping in and turning businesses around by improving their efficiency and productivity. Mark Potter joins us today to talk about his impressively dense career and his new consulting company, Patronus. In this episode, we cover everything from overcoming supply chain issues and setting expectations and incremental targets, to what Mark views at the first port of call when evaluating a company’s efficiency. He fills us in on why he thinks manufacturing is simple and the basic principles he employs to ensure success. Tune in to hear some tips on attracting and retaining talent, what to keep in mind when considering automation, and why COVID can no longer be used as an excuse for poor productivity!
Key Points From This Episode:
Mark Potter’s dense professional background.
What led him to start Patronus Consulting, what the company does, and whom it serves.
The first port of call when evaluating the efficiency and productivity of a company.
The importance of setting expectations and incremental targets.
Basic lean manufacturing and the benefits of the seven wastes system.
Mark defines the DMAIC process.
What the seven wastes are.
Why Mark hates giveaways.
Mark’s dire predictions for manufacturing in the US in the next 10 years.
The qualities that make a good manager.
Talent attraction and retention techniques.
How the attitude towards employees has changed over the course of the pandemic.
The pros and cons of automation.
Prevalent supply chain issues and how to overcome them.
Why Mark believes COVID can no longer be used as an excuse for supply chain issues.
Tweetables:
“I have always based everything I do around efficiency, lean techniques, trying to drive the best output from the departments or the factories that I’ve run.” — Mark Potter [0:02:00]
“First and foremost, it’s about getting that management team to understand its goals … because if they don’t understand their goals and they don’t understand the expectations, why would we expect somebody on the shop floor to?” — Mark Potter [0:13:07]
“You need to get alignment and you need to get accountability.” — Mark Potter [0:16:08]
“Most businesses I walk into are not ready for six sigma, are not ready for DMAIC. They’re ready for basic lean manufacturing, seven wastes.” — Mark Potter [0:17:44]
“What is the point in having waste when we can eliminate it?” — Mark Potter [0:22:24]
“You don’t need a degree to be a good manager. What you need is passion, drive, [and] commitment.” — Mark Potter [0:27:12]
“Go and think outside of the box, go and stand shoulder to shoulder with those people on the shop floor, show them that we’re all in this together and you will be amazed at how much productivity increases when they see that the plant manager or the plant director is willing to go and stand down there and wash trays or put product in a box.” — Mark Potter [0:38:26]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Patronus Consulting Limited on LinkedIn
The Industrial Movement on Twitter