Maintenance & Manufacturing Insights

About Maintenance & Manufacturing Insights

Are you responsible for keeping machines running and production on track? If you’re a maintenance manager, tool crib manager, or shop leader at a manufacturing company, this show is for you. Host Martin Engster sits down for conversations with people who actually work in the trenches of industry, for real talk about what’s working, what’s not, and what they're dealing with day-to-day. From reducing unplanned downtime and managing MRO inventory to leading maintenance teams and optimizing tool crib workflows, Maintenance and Manufacturing Insights delivers practical, real-world stories you can learn from. Whether you’re struggling with spare parts chaos, implementing a new CMMS, or just trying to get through the week without a production stop — you’ll find honest insights from peers who’ve been there. Listen anywhere you get your podcasts.

Publisher

Martin Engster

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Apr 2026

Latest episode

2 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

25 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Oct 2026

   Why the Right Parts Matter in Spindle Repair with Martin Engster

   This month, the tables are turned on Maintenance and Manufacturing Insights. Instead of interviewing someone else in the industry, Martin Engster takes the guest seat and gives us a look at what he is seeing in manufacturing and what is happening inside Centreline. Martin shares what he heard while speaking with manufacturers, machine builders, and vendors at recent machine tool shows in Chicago. He also explains why changes in manufacturing do not always show up immediately for a spindle repair facility. New machines often come with warranties, so there can be a delay before repair work begins to follow broader industry activity. We also get a closer look at Centreline’s work. Martin explains the company’s three main areas: spindle repair for CNC machines, precision part manufacturing, and on-site taper grinding. He shares just how tight their tolerances can be, often between 2 and 5 microns. For comparison, Martin says a human hair is about 100 microns. One topic Martin stresses is the importance of OEM parts. He explains how using the wrong parts, installing components incorrectly, or trying to save money with a short-term fix can lead to bigger problems later. Then Martin takes us behind the scenes of a current repair involving a spindle that weighs more than 4,000 pounds. A more typical spindle may weigh around 100 to 200 pounds, making this repair a very different challenge. The team has to manage the bearings, electrical components, cooling systems, alignment, and reassembly while handling a piece of equipment Martin compares to the size of a desk or even working on a car. To close things out, Martin talks about his love of travel and machines. He shares what impressed him at the IMTS show, including a robotic arm moving a full-size car, and tells the stories behind his 1986 Porsche 944 and 1974 Porsche 914.

2. 

   1 Oct 2026

   Simple Fixes, Less Downtime: Maintenance Lessons with Kenneth Welch

   What if your maintenance team knew what to do before a machine ever went down? In this episode of Maintenance Manufacturing Insights, Martin Engster sits down with Kenneth Welch to talk about practical maintenance, manufacturing experience, and the value of preparing for problems before they happen. Kenneth spent 23 years working at Michelin in Ardmore, Oklahoma, before moving into his current role at SendCutSend in Arlington, Texas. His years on the manufacturing floor have taught him that some of the biggest production problems can have surprisingly simple solutions. One idea Kenneth shares is the “pre-mortem.” Instead of waiting for a machine to fail and then figuring out what went wrong, the team looks at the equipment ahead of time and asks: If this machine goes down, what do we do? By identifying the steps before the problem happens, maintenance teams can respond faster and spend less time scrambling for answers. Kenneth also shares a simple lesson from his Michelin days. If a belt was known to break, the team kept a spare belt right where it would be needed. When the belt failed, there was no searching for the correct replacement. The solution was already there. Martin and Kenneth also discuss the importance of listening to the people working on the manufacturing floor. Kenneth believes his floor experience gives him a valuable perspective as a supervisor. The people closest to the equipment often see problems and solutions that may not be obvious from somewhere else in the organization. Kenneth also tells the story of a production problem that had tires stacking up for three days. The solution came from knowing the equipment and recognizing another way to keep production moving. The conversation is a reminder that effective maintenance does not always require a complicated answer. Preparation, communication, experience, and simple solutions can make a major difference.

3. 

   30 Sept 2026

   Mathew Edwards: Building Maintenance Teams That Keep Manufacturing Moving

   What does it take to keep a highly automated manufacturing plant running while working toward production of 21,000 solar panels a day? In this episode of Maintenance Manufacturing Insights, Martin Engster talks with Mathew Edwards, Plant Facilities Manager and Maintenance Manager for First Solar in Gaffney, South Carolina. Mathew shares what goes into building and leading a maintenance operation at a new 1.2-million-square-foot manufacturing facility. With highly automated production lines, robots, drives, conveyors, and other equipment, keeping unplanned downtime under control is a major priority. Mathew explains why his team focuses on predictive and preventive maintenance instead of waiting for equipment to fail. Maintenance schedules are driven by equipment usage, run time, cycle counts, inspections, and data. His team also uses information from other facilities to adjust maintenance intervals and make better decisions. But this conversation is about more than machines. Mathew explains why the people maintaining the equipment are just as important as the technology itself. He shares his approach to building a strong maintenance team, giving employees the tools and training they need, and avoiding the common mistake of relying on the same top performers for every difficult job. Martin and Mathew also discuss the value of skilled trades. Mathew encourages people entering the workforce to learn a trade or technical skill and take advantage of every training opportunity their employer provides. The conversation covers preventive and predictive maintenance, reducing unplanned downtime, maintenance planning, spare-parts management, automation, data-driven decision-making, team leadership, employee development, skilled trades, and the importance of networking. About Mathew Edwards Mathew Edwards is the Plant Facilities Manager and Maintenance Manager for First Solar in Gaffney, South Carolina. He leads a maintenance organization supporting a highly automated solar manufacturing facility as it ramps up production. Mathew believes successful maintenance leadership starts with giving people the tools, training, time, and support they need to succeed.

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.