Finding the Real Problem: Mike Escobedo on Data, Maintenance, and Manufacturing

What makes a great manufacturing operator? For Miguel “Mike” Escobedo, it starts with knowing your machine.

In this episode of Maintenance Manufacturing Insights, Martin Engster sits down with Mike Escobedo, Manufacturing Fabrication Manager at Jackrabbit Manufacturing, to talk about the connection between manufacturing, maintenance, leadership, and problem-solving on the shop floor.

Mike has worked in manufacturing since 1999, starting out sweeping floors and eventually moving into leadership. Along the way, he has worked with manufacturing operations including pipe processing, non-destructive testing, hydrostatic testing, chamfering, fabrication, and automated equipment.

Mike shares why he believes manufacturing and maintenance have to work hand-in-hand. When operators understand their equipment, they can recognize changes in sounds, performance, quality, and behavior before those changes become bigger problems.

One story from Mike’s previous workplace shows why this matters. Operators were initially blamed when a chamfering machine began producing inconsistent bevels. Instead of assuming it was a training problem, Mike collected data and compared results across multiple pieces and materials.

That investigation helped the team trace the problem back to a mechanical change: too much tension had been placed on a spring during previous maintenance work. Once the tension was corrected, the machine returned to producing consistent results.

Martin and Mike also discuss Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things, preventive maintenance, automation, equipment monitoring, and how technology is changing manufacturing.

But technology is only part of the story.

Mike believes manufacturing is a team effort. Whether someone is an operator, maintenance technician, manager, or engineer, everyone contributes to getting a quality product out the door.

The conversation also gets personal as Mike talks about his love of barbecue, his involvement with his church, and “One Minute with Big Mike,” where he shares scripture and advice on TikTok.