In this episode of The Allied Advisors Podcast, Justin sits down with Rob Tykal—former President, COO, and VP of Global Operations at organizations like Danaher, GM, Daimler, and Superior Industries—for a deep, practical conversation on supply chain, materials management, and leadership.

While the video recording unfortunately cuts out around the 29-minute mark (lesson learned on DSLR limits), the insights captured are pure gold. Rob breaks down why forecast-driven systems consistently fail manufacturers, how consumption-based replenishment actually works in practice, and why great operational leaders must live at the gemba—not just in spreadsheets.

From K...

Duration: 00:30:30

Show Notes: The Allied Advisors Podcast — ARDA Episode

Guests:

Kyle Henson, Co-Founder & CEO, ARDAUriel Eisen, President & Co-Founder, ARDA (Forbes 30 Under 30)

Hosted by: Justin Goethe, Allied Advisors

Episode Overview

In this episode, Justin sits down with two of manufacturing's fastest-rising innovators, Kyle Henson and Uriel Eisen, the founders of ARDA—the software platform redefining Kanban, replenishment, and material flow for modern factories.

ARDA recently won Best New Product of the Year at T...

Duration: 00:51:23

Guest: Drew Lawlor, Managing Partner at Global Chain Consulting
Host: Justin Goethe, Founder & President of Allied Advisors
Audience: Mid-market manufacturers, supply chain leaders, PE operators, CEOs, COOs
Episode Theme: Practical, strategic ways manufacturers can navigate today’s tariff volatility, supply chain complexity, and global risk.

⭐ Episode Overview

In this episode, Justin sits down with longtime friend and supply chain expert Drew Lawlor — a manufacturing transformation leader with deep experience across Glowforge, BorgWarner, Bosch, and dozens of mid-market manufacturing client...

Duration: 00:43:19

In this episode of The Allied Advisors Podcast, Justin Goethe sits down with Dan Krouse — founder and principal of a leading supply chain analytics consulting firm — to unpack one of the most complex issues facing manufacturers today: tariffs and trade policy.

With over 30 years of global supply chain leadership at Hallmark, including time spent in Asia during the early days of China’s industrial rise, Dan brings a rare, seasoned perspective to the table. Together, he and Justin explore:

How shifting tariff policies and geopolitical tensions are reshaping global tradeWhy mid-market manufacturers must treat tariff strategy as an...

Duration: 00:46:13

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Allied Advisors Podcast, I sit down with Chad Bareither, Founder and Principal of Bareither Consulting Group and author of The Improve Less Improvement System. Chad and I dive deep into what it really takes for mid-market manufacturers to transform their operations — not through tools or slogans, but by leading with principles, discipline, and culture.

Chad shares how his background in the U.S. Army introduced him to process improvement and how that foundation shaped his approach to helping mid-market manufacturers scale sustainably. We...

Duration: 00:47:33

Episode Overview

In this episode, I sit down with Mr. Winfried Rockensteiner, Global Vice President of Logistics for Bosch Powertrain Solutions, to discuss what it takes to lead large-scale transformations in manufacturing. With more than three decades of experience at Bosch, Mr. Rockensteiner shares valuable lessons from guiding global logistics and supply chain operations through digitalization, electrification, and organizational change.

While Bosch operates on a global scale, the principles he outlines are directly relevant to mid-market manufacturersthat are striving to modernize operations, strengthen leadership cultures, and prepare their teams for...

Duration: 00:46:39

AI isn’t here to replace your team—it’s here to amplify them. In this episode, Justin Goethe sits down with Larry Collett, founder of Larry Collett Consulting Group and Automation Captain, to cut through the hype and show how mid-market manufacturers can get real value from AI right now.

Larry shares how to start small by automating repetitive, rules-based workflows—like order admin or reporting—while keeping a human in the loop for oversight. He explains why process clarity is more important than tools (“never skip paper”), how to use prompts effectively, and why AI should augment...

Duration: 01:00:04

In this episode of The Allied Advisors Podcast, Justin Goethe sits down with Meg Lanza, Head of Technology at BSH, to explore what it really takes to lead teams through continuous improvement. Drawing from her 20+ years at Bosch and now in home appliances, Meg shares practical insights on:

How leaders can align projects with customer needs and strategyWhy accountability and follow-up are non-negotiable for sustaining progressBalancing day-to-day operations with improvement work without burning teams outThe importance of hiring for mindset and passion over technical expertiseBuilding effective daily leadership routines and using KPI trees to drive claritySwarming...

Duration: 00:40:04

In this episode of The Allied Advisors Podcast, I sit down with Blair Dorneanu to explore the challenges mid-market manufacturers face when trying to build a culture rooted in standards and continuous improvement. Blair shares her approach to lean conversion training, why cultural buy-in is just as important as process tools, and the key actions leaders must take to make their lean initiatives truly stick.

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/blair-dorneanu-35b58943/

Email

Blair.Dorneanu@scra.org

Duration: 00:36:36

In this episode of The Allied Advisors Podcast, I sit down with Vincent Nelson, Sales Executive at UNEX Manufacturing, to explore how smart storage solutions transform the way manufacturers handle material. Vincent shares how UNEX products not only maximize storage efficiency but also present materials in ways that improve ergonomics, reduce strain, and enhance overall associate productivity. If you’re looking for practical strategies to streamline your warehouse operations while supporting the health and performance of your workforce, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vince...

Duration: 00:28:11

In this episode of The Allied Advisors Podcast, Chris Mennona, Global Supply Chain Manager for AESC, shares how he applies lean principles to optimize supply chain planning on a global scale. Chris also offers his perspective on the current tariff landscape and how manufacturers can adapt to stay competitive. Whether you’re managing a complex supply chain or looking for ways to reduce risk and waste, this conversation is packed with practical insights you can put to work right away.

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophermennona?utm_source=share&ut...

Duration: 00:30:41