245: A Grassroots Approach to Shaping the Future of American Industry with Bret Boyd, CEO of Sustainment

You might be surprised to learn what the biggest challenge manufacturers say they’re facing right now. The talent gap comes up a lot on this podcast, but early survey findings from the New American Industrial Alliance (NAIA), show that “access to capital” is really what holds most mid-market manufacturers back. In this episode, we sit down with the CEO and Co-Founder of Sustainment, a software company that helps manufacturers manage supplier data, sourcing, and procurement in one centralized platform. As someone partnered with NAIA, Bret takes us through what the findings reveal about procurement and supplier challenges, technology adoption, and plans for the future. In a previous life, Bret was an Army infantry officer and served four tours in Iraq, which taught him a surprising amount about leadership and business. He shares his unique perspective on running a mission-oriented business that aims to support the resurgence of American manufacturing. In this episode, find out:Bret shares a little background on his military career and why he eventually wound up in the technology and defense manufacturing spaceThe biggest lessons Bret learned in the military about business leadership, creativity, initiative, and problem-solvingWhat led Bret to build Sustainment and how it solves wider problems facing American manufacturersWhy manufacturing and supplier relationship management is a team sport between procurement, suppliers, supply chains, and manufacturersBret explains why he partnered with the New American Industrial Alliance (NAIA) to help support a community of manufacturersWhy mid-market manufacturers are the backbone of the industry – plus how the industry is facing a resurgenceWhat the early findings of NAIA’s survey reveal and why the workforce may not be the number one challenge we thought it wasHow manufacturing’s success ties into the capacity and availability of materials and equipment, with a story of how COVID affected manufacturingWhat the survey tells us about manufacturing and new technology adoptionHow manufacturing leaders can tell their story and change the general public’s view on what this industry is like todayWhat the survey shows about manufacturing’s procurement outlook on tariffs, supply chains, and reshoringWhat manufacturers can do to prepare for the next 20-30 years and the tools they need to succeed Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!  Tweetable Quotes:"The combat power in American manufacturing is in entrepreneurial, small businesses spread throughout middle America... 70% of manufacturing employees work in the small business segment.""Manufacturing in this day and age is a high-tech industry... these are super high- paying jobs, working in high tech that allow you to build a great depth of knowledge and great skills.""Manufacturing gets done in a community. Every single OEM relies upon a trusted network of contract manufacturers and suppliers and people that are essential to what they sell to their customers." Links & mentions:Sustainment, an SRM for improving your sourcing and procurement efforts with tools built specifically for managing suppliers within manufacturingNAIA, New American Industrial...