Risk, resilience, and salty snacks with Utz Quality Foods' Staci Smith

Risk, resilience, and salty snacks with Utz Quality Foods' Staci Smith

On this episode of Sound Policy, we take a closer look at risk management through the lens of food manufacturing and the complex journey required to get products from the factory floor to store shelves. From automation and cyber risk to supply chain visibility and business interruption, food manufacturers are operating in an environment where disruption has become the norm. Recorded at RISKWORLD 2026 in Philadelphia, the episode features Staci Smith, vice president of risk management at Utz. Staci shares how risk management supports decision making across the business, why partnership and culture matter as much as controls, and how planning helps teams respond when things do not go as expected. The conversation also explores how automation and data are changing food manufacturing, creating new risks and new opportunities. More resources: Risk engineering and resilience insights from FM [https://www.fm.com/insights]

Manufacturing resilience in a changing global landscape

On this episode of Sound Policy, we explore the forces reshaping manufacturing and what resilience means in an increasingly uncertain environment. from natural catastrophes and secondary perils to supply chain disruption, automation, artificial intelligence, and energy volatility, manufacturers are navigating a period of rapid change that is redefining risk worldwide. Recorded at RISKWORLD 2026 in Philadelphia, this episode features Achim Hillgraf, operations senior vice president of global growth strategies at FM. Achim shares insights on why manufacturing remains central to property risk, how global interconnectedness is amplifying exposure, and why resilience has shifted from a strategic choice to a business necessity. The conversation also explores how FM Essential is expanding access to FM’s engineering and loss prevention capabilities, helping more manufacturers strengthen resilience and plan for the future.

What manufacturers need now to build resilience

On this episode of Sound Policy, we explore the evolving risks and challenges facing manufacturers today and discuss what resilience looks like in a rapidly changing environment. From supply chain disruptions and aging infrastructure to automation, workforce shifts, and fire risk, manufacturers are navigating increasing complexity while remaining essential to the global economy. To understand what is driving loss and how manufacturers can better protect their operations, we spoke with James Gieger, New York operations manager at FM. James shares insights from working with manufacturers of all sizes, why people remain at the center of resilience, and how better planning and risk engineering can help businesses stay operational and support their communities. We also discussed FM Essential, an insurance product designed to support a broader group of manufacturing companies seeking to strengthen their resilience. More resources: Extend Manufacturing Expertise to More Companies than Ever Before with FM Essential [https://www.fm.com/insights/extend-manufacturing-expertise-to-more-companies-than-ever-before-with-fm-essential] FM Essential [https://www.fm.com/about-us/our-organization/essential]

How AI and technology could transform insurance claims

On this episode of Sound Policy, we take a closer look athow AI and automation are transforming the insurance claims experience.Claims are one of the most critical moments in an insurance relationship, andnew technologies are reshaping how quickly, fairly, and efficiently insurerscan help clients recover after a loss. To explore what’s changing and what still matters most, wespoke with Jeremy Gallant, senior vice president of claims at FM. He shares howdigital tools and AI are helping streamline administrative work, speed uppayments through initiatives like fast-track claims, and free adjusters tofocus on high impact, human centered decision making. We also discuss howclaims data can inform underwriting and risk insights, the importance ofkeeping people in the loop, and what the future of claims might look like as technologycontinues to evolve. Copyright 2026 Factory Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved.This podcast is for informational purposes only and aims to highlight potentialhazards or conditions to help reduce property loss. FM makes no express orimplied warranties and assumes no liability for the use of any information orproducts mentioned.

How resilient is your country? Breaking down the 2026 data

On the latest episode of Sound Policy, FM’s podcast about risk and resilience, we’re taking a global view: Every year, we release the FM Resilience Index, a ranking of the business environments of 130 countries and territories. The 2026 ranking had Denmark on top, Venezuela at the bottom, and plenty of insights in between.  To help break it all down, we spoke with Simon Barsoum, an FM engineer who was born and raised in Denmark. He explains what makes the country so resilient and how it’s responding to recent tensions with the U.S. over Greenland. We also spoke with Leo Kushner, who helps manage the FM Resilience Index, about how this tool is used and some of the broader insights from the 2026 version. To explore the 2026 rankings and learn more about the Index, visit fm.com/resilienceindex [http://fm.com/resilienceindex]. More resources: Explore the data: 2026 FM Resilience Index [https://www.fm.com/resources/resilience-index/explore-the-data] Executive summary: 2026 FM Resilience Index: Clarity for an increasingly complex risk landscape [https://www.fm.com/insights/2026-fm-resilience-index-clarity-for-an-increasingly-complex-risk-landscape] From 2025: Why is Denmark so resilient? We asked a Danish engineer. [https://www.fm.com/insights/denmark-resilience-index]