How AUMA Actuators Got 35% More Output With Zero New Hires | Matt Thiel

Описание: What if you could increase your team's output by 35% without adding a single person to the payroll? It's not a fantasy. It's exactly what Matt Thiel, President of AUMA Actuators, accomplished.

In this episode of Fully Open, Gil Welsford sits down with Matt to unpack the 9-year journey that transformed AUMA's culture and earned them the title of "Best Place to Work in Pittsburgh." Matt shares the powerful philosophy of "Employees First, Customers Second, Shareholders Third" that he learned from his mentor, Kent McElhatton, and how he implemented it to drive real results.

We get into the nitty-gritty of building a culture of trust where employees feel safe enough to give honest, critical feedback. Matt reveals the practical steps he took—from anonymous surveys to "Coffee with the President"—to prove that leadership was listening and ready to act.

This is a masterclass in modern industrial leadership, full of actionable advice on mentorship, building a long-term vision, and achieving work-life balance (Matt's "phone down" rule is a game-changer).

▶ Watch all episodes of the Fully Open Podcast:    • Fully Open Podcast | Field Lessons That Ke...  
🔗 Learn more about AUMA: https://www.auma.com/
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*Chapters:*
00:00 - Employees First, Shareholders Third
01:27 - From Gas Leak Detection to President of AUMA
03:15 - The Famous Heinz Ketchup Bottle Story
04:51 - Advice for Rising from Engineer to Executive
09:07 - The Power of Mentorship: Kent McElhatton's Philosophy
14:09 - The 9-Year Journey to Becoming a "Best Place to Work"
16:31 - How They Increased Output by 35% with No New Hires
17:34 - Getting Feedback You NEED to Hear, Not What You WANT to Hear
22:21 - Why Get Involved with Industry Associations like VMA
27:00 - What's Next for AUMA: Canada, BAFCO, and New Products
30:23 - The Best Advice: Don't Stress Out, Family is First
32:04 - The "Phone Down" Rule for Work-Life Balance

📌 Hosted by Gil Welsford Jr., third-generation valve entrepreneur and founder of ValveMan.com.


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