As we close out 2025, we’re reflecting on a year that reinforced what we’ve always believed: meaningful transformation happens when you put people first. At Zinata, our mission is to empower teams, leverage technology, and optimize operations so manufacturers achieve lasting performance improvements grounded in people-centric execution.
Throughout the year, that mission came to life in remarkable ways. From industry recognition and client breakthroughs to thought leadership on the global stage and the strengthening of strategic partnerships, 2025 was defined by purposeful growth and shared momentum. Here’s a look back at the highlights that shaped our year and continue to guide how we support manufacturers navigating change.
Dawn Garibaldi inducted into the Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame
One of the proudest moments of 2025 came when our own Dawn Garibaldi was named to the 2025 Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame. Selected as one of just 12 outstanding leaders nationwide, Dawn’s recognition reflects her exceptional expertise in executive coaching and manufacturing transformation, and her unwavering commitment to empowering others to reach their full potential.
As Zinata President Andy Durrant noted, “Dawn embodies everything Zinata stands for: the belief that transformational change happens when we invest in people first.”
This recognition is more than a personal achievement; it’s a powerful affirmation of the values that guide our work. Dawn’s leadership exemplifies the people-first mindset we believe is essential for driving sustainable change across manufacturing organizations.
Tracy Kosiarek takes the stage at the Women in Manufacturing Summit
At the same WiM Summit in October, Zinata Principal Consultant Tracy Kosiarek delivered a powerful presentation on change management that resonated with hundreds of women shaping the future of manufacturing. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience, Tracy challenged the audience to think about change not as something to be merely managed, but as something to be led – with people at the center.
Using the analogy of unexpected waves crashing onto the shore, she emphasized that even the best plans can’t eliminate uncertainty. The real question, she emphasized, isn’t whether we can control the waves, but how we lead through them.
Tracy highlighted the importance of engaging resistance, recognizing individuals’ strengths, and cultivating genuine two-way communication built on trust. Drawing on stories from her career at Procter & Gamble and beyond, she showed how trust is built when leaders ask open-ended questions, follow up on concerns, and model vulnerability.
She closed with a rallying call: “Let’s not simply manage change. Let’s lead it with heart and courage. Because when we lead with soul, we don’t just survive change, we shape it, we amplify it, we elevate everyone the change touches.” Her message will continue to inspire as we carry these insights into the year ahead.
Change Management Leadership Team unites for a powerful offsite
Our Change Management Leadership Team came together this year for an offsite focused on what matters most: purpose-driven, people-centered transformation. The conversations were honest, bold, sometimes challenging, and exactly what high-trust teams are built on.
One theme rose quickly to the surface: purpose. As the industry moves faster and organizations ask more of their people, transformation efforts must do more than introduce new tools or processes. They must equip teams for the journey. Our Change Management Team is stepping directly into that gap with intention.
The team left the offsite with renewed alignment around how we serve clients, elevate thought leadership, and support one another – reinforcing our commitment to helping organizations lead change with clarity and intention.
Peter King and Eric Van Roekel present Product Wheel Scheduling at ASCM
Peter King, President of Lean Dynamics LLC and Eric Van Roekel, President of EVR Solutions LLC, presented at the ASCM San Fernando Valley Chapter, sharing an approach that continues to gain relevance as manufacturers face growing SKU complexity, demand variability, and rising customer expectations.
They highlighted how many plant-floor challenges originate upstream in planning and scheduling. Product Wheels address this by establishing predictable cadences, optimizing sequences to reduce changeovers, building in capacity to absorb variation, and using pull-based execution that flexes volume while holding the sequence. The result: more stable schedules and throughput improvement of 10-30%, often without capital investment.
The webinar resonated with supply chain professionals looking to move beyond firefighting and into flow. It reinforced a core Zinata belief: disciplined planning and scheduling practices are essential to be able to quickly adapt in complex manufacturing environments.
Strengthening our strategic partnership with QAD|Redzone
Our strategic partnership with QAD|Redzone continued to flourish in 2025. As a Reseller, Implementation Partner, and Referral Partner for QAD|Redzone Scheduling, we’ve worked together to help manufacturers improve production decision-making, reduce changeovers, right-size inventory, and better align cost and service goals.
This partnership enables us to deliver even more value to manufacturers navigating supply chain volatility. Together with QAD|Redzone, we’re helping companies achieve operational excellence through solutions that balance cutting-edge technology with the human expertise needed to make it work on the plant floor.
Insights from Manifest 2025: AI, change management, and the human element
At Manifest 2025, one message was clear: while supply chains are becoming increasingly digital, successful transformation requires more than technology alone. Our team was engaged with industry leaders around the intersection of AI, change management, and the human element of transformation.
The conversations reinforced a consistent theme: AI is no longer optional, but how its implemented will define its impact. Companies that thrive will be those that invest equally in technology, skills, leadership, and culture. At Zinata, we continue to focus on orchestrating AI-driven transformation in a way that is practical, scalable, and people-centric.
Client successes that prove people-first transformation works
Technical textiles manufacturer reduces changeover hours by 30%
Working with a leading manufacturer of high-performance materials, we implemented QAD|Redzone Scheduling using our Product Wheel methodology. The result was a 30% reduction in changeover hours, faster and more accurate scheduling, and improved responsiveness to urgent orders. When a high-priority order with a tight turnaround arrived, the team used their new capabilities to model scenarios and deliver on time, demonstrating the power of data-driven scheduling in high-stakes situations.
Global automotive manufacturer transforms planning with Kinaxis Maestro
A global automotive parts manufacture sought to fully leverage its Kinaxis Maestro investment after organizational change and ERP complexity stalled progress. In just ten weeks, we helped launch a global S&OP work process, activate core demand and supply flows, and give planners real-time visibility, enabling faster, more informed decision-making.
Thought leadership that moves the industry forward
Throughout 2025, our team continued to share practical insights through webinars, white papers, and industry presentations. We expanded our library of resources with new case studies, brochures on Advanced Scheduling and Change Management, and thought leadership on topics ranging from OEE optimization to one-piece flow principles in process manufacturing – all grounded in real-world experience.
Carrying the momentum into 2026
As we look ahead, the lessons of 2025 are clear. AI is reshaping how manufacturers plan and operate. Supply chain volatility persists. The demand for skilled, adaptable teams continues to grow.
Through it all, one truth remains constant: people are at the heart of every successful transformation. Technology and process improvements matter, but they only go so far without engaged, capable teams behind them.
At Zinata, we remain committed to empowering teams and reimagining processes. We’ll continue helping businesses align technology, process, and people to build resilient operating models for advanced manufacturing.
To our clients, partners, and the Zinata Collective: thank you for making 2025 a year to remember. Here’s to elevating people and transforming supply chains together in 2026.
