A Voice for the Skilled Trades and the Journey into Manufacturing and Leadership

In this episode, we sit down with Darryl Gratrix, Production Manager at Molded Precision Components (MPC) and a passionate advocate for skilled trades.

From a geography degree to tool and die making, Darryl’s unconventional journey through stamping, molding, and management gives him a rare perspective across the manufacturing floor. His story is about more than machines—it’s about culture, communication, and lifting up the trades that power industry.

Key Highlights:

• Bridging the gap between tool rooms and production with real-world experience
• How internal customers and shared goals shape stronger teams
• Using custom-built tech (like MPC’s internal portal) to align with company culture
• Promoting the skilled trades through tours, outreach, and straight talk
• Darryl doesn’t just manage production—he helps lead the conversation about what manufacturing careers really offer.

Listen now and hear why the next generation of skilled trades needs more voices like his.

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Finding Value in EAM and APM Strategy with Phil Bragg of Hexagon at Streamline 2025

We sit down with Phillip Bragg of Hexagon at the 2025 Streamline Asset Management User Conference to talk about his journey from the U.S. Military to Civilian Life and how EAM and APM should be made useable above all else.

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Leave Maintenance Maturity to Cheese: APM Without the Wait

In this episode, CMMSradio interviews Alex Bolan from Digital Thinker Incorporated, who also supports Streamline Conferences. We explore a bold perspective on Asset Performance Management (APM), advocating for immediate operational excellence without waiting for so-called “maturity.” Bolan challenges traditional thinking in maintenance strategy and emphasizes cultural alignment, asset prioritization, and early action as keys to success in APM.

Bullet Points:

• Don’t wait for maturity—start APM now
• Challenge consulting mindsets that delay progress
• Focus on critical assets and maximizing return on asset (ROA)
• Importance of asking “why” before proposing solutions
• Culture and alignment matter more than tech maturity

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Bryan Bieschke returns to CMMSradio, reflecting on the panel at Reliable Plant and digging into the art of truly understanding clients. They spotlight the gap between buzzwords and real-world practices—especially when it comes to asking better questions, clarifying terminology, and integrating CMMS purposefully within well-defined maintenance roles.

Key Takeaways:

• Actionable insights over buzzwords
• Curiosity beats assumptions
• Language matters
• Role clarity promotes ownership
• Listening isn’t passive
• Real CMMS use relies on team cohesion

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This episode of CMMSradio features Drew Troyer of Bootleg Advisors, a seasoned reliability leader with over 36 years of experience. Drew and Greg Christensen dive into topics like Reliability Driven Innovation, the evolution of asset management, and the importance of reimagining maintenance and reliability as value-driven disciplines. The episode previews Drew’s upcoming keynote at the Mainstream UK Summit, where he challenges the traditional view of asset management as a cost center.

Key Takeaways:

• Drew’s decades-long career in asset management and reliability.
• Asset management as a value center, not just a cost sink.
• The importance of standardization, job planning, and the FLAB framework FLAB: Fasteners, Lubrication, Alignment, Balance
• Drew’s Mainstream UK Summit keynote on transforming reliability culture and improving data-driven decision-making.

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