What does it really take to keep a complex, 24/7 manufacturing facility running without missing a beat?
In this episode of Facility Rockstars, Jay Culbert sits down with Marc Cammarata, Facility Manager at BD Manufacturing in Meriden, Connecticut, to unpack the mindset, discipline, and decision-making required to prevent problems before they become crises. From missed first steps while traveling as a service engineer to building systems that anticipate failure, Marc shares hard-earned lessons from decades at the intersection of science, engineering, and facilities leadership.
At the heart of Marc’s approach is a people-first philosophy rooted in listening, preparation, and trust. He explains why reliability depends on a deep understanding of your equipment, your data, and your team, and why safety must be everyone’s responsibility, regardless of title. Whether he’s talking about under-promising and over-delivering, empowering technicians to stop unsafe work, or thinking through worst-case scenarios from the couch at night, Marc offers a candid look at what separates reactive facilities from resilient ones.
Takeaways:
Listen before you fix: Don’t assume you know the problem—let the full story unfold and ask the right questions before acting.
Know your equipment like a system, not a checklist: Understanding how components interact allows you to adjust service intervals, reduce waste, and prevent failures.
Use history to make smarter decisions: Detailed maintenance records and CMMS data help identify repeat issues and optimize preventive maintenance.
Under-promise and over-deliver: Setting realistic timelines builds trust and creates flexibility when things go better than expected.
Make safety everyone’s job: Empower your team to stop unsafe behavior, speak up across hierarchy, and reinforce a shared safety culture.
Always have a backup plan: Plan A isn’t enough—great facility leaders think through Plan B and Plan C before problems arise.
Lead by getting your hands dirty: Showing up on the floor, helping your team, and understanding the work builds credibility and respect.
Quote of the Show:
“No job is too large or too small. If it’s important to the customer, it’s important to me.”
Links:
Email: marc.cammarata@outlook.com
Website: https://www.bd.com/en-us
