OFFRE D'UNE DURÉE LIMITÉE | Obtenez 3 mois à 0.99 $ par mois

14.95 $/mois par la suite. Des conditions s'appliquent.
Page de couverture de Machine Shop Mastery

Machine Shop Mastery

Machine Shop Mastery

Auteur(s): Paul Van Metre
Écouter gratuitement

À propos de cet audio

 The Machine Shop Mastery Podcast helps to elevate the importance of the machine shop industry and reveal the secrets of success for machine shops, to inspire other shop owners or would-be shop owners to follow their passions, start and grow their shops to be an economic driver for our economy and their stakeholders.© 2025 Machine Shop Mastery Gestion et leadership Économie
Épisodes
  • 100. Collective Wisdom: Best ideas from the first 99 episodes of Machine Shop Mastery

    100. Collective Wisdom: Best ideas from the first 99 episodes of Machine Shop Mastery
    Jan 21 2026
    Reaching 100 episodes is more than a milestone. It's a moment to step back and recognize what's been built together. In this special compilation episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I reflect on the most powerful ideas, lessons, and human stories that emerged from the first 99 conversations with shop owners and manufacturing leaders across the industry. When this podcast started, I thought we were chasing a simple question: what makes great shops great? What became clear over time is that we weren't really talking about machines or parts at all. We were talking about responsibility, sacrifice, leadership, and the human soul of the American economy. Over these episodes, we've heard from owners who sold their homes to save their businesses, leaders who risked everything to protect their teams, and families who carried legacies forward through loss and adversity. This episode brings together those lessons into a set of foundational pillars that show up again and again in successful shops. The power of process. The importance of culture and core values. The strategic advantage of planning. And the discipline required to build a business that doesn't rely entirely on its owner. These aren't theories. They're lived experiences shared by people who have felt the weight of ownership firsthand. You'll also hear moments of generosity, resilience, and community that rarely make it into business playbooks. Stories of competitors helping competitors, leaders choosing people over profit, and shop owners who understand that a rising tide truly lifts all boats. Together, these stories form something bigger than a highlight reel. They represent a body of collective wisdom. This episode isn't a finish line. It's a marker. A thank-you to the guests who trusted me with their stories, and to the listeners who show up every week to learn, reflect, and grow. Here are some of the best ideas from the first 99 episodes of Machine Shop Mastery. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Compelling question or topic, written to elicit curiosity (3:30) Scott Shortess: Process as the foundation of operational excellence(5:30) Dave Capkovitz: Trusting the process more than your gut(7:00) Why we created Hire MFG Leaders(7:25) Introducing Pillar #2: Culture and core values(8:19) Culture as something practiced daily, not written on a wall(9:35) Using values to guide hard people decisions(12:58) How culture, values, and people drive the success of a business(16:19) Why strong culture carries teams through adversity(16:53) Introducing Pillar #3: Planning as a strategic advantage(17:24) The cost of poor planning on the shop floor(21:19) Investing in planning and engineering to unlock throughput(23:49) "Sharpen the axe" thinking and why preparation pays off(25:39) Get a free custom report from Factur for real opportunities in your industry(26:43) Introducing Pillar #4: Building a business that doesn't depend on the owner(27:19) Running a shop as if it will one day be sold(29:58) Why many shops struggle with succession and exit readiness(32:08) Delegation, trust, and letting leaders emerge(40:15) Stories of sacrifice, resilience, and personal cost behind success(45:30) The human moments that drive manufacturing onward(50:11) Final reflections on leadership, legacy, and responsibility(51:36) Join us at the 2026 IMTS Exhibitor workshop Resources & People Mentioned 1. Process is King! Serving Clients Through Process Improvements with Scott Shortess4. The Power of Investing in People - Lessons from Jamie Spitzer9. Going All-In on Community Engagement and Workforce Development15. A Masterclass In Machine Shop Ownership with Aneesa Muthana19. Building a World-Class Shop with Brad Keselowski22. Vision and Values-Based Leadership with Eric and John from KMM Group28. How to Delegate Yourself Out of a Job with David Hannah35. Steep Learning Curve of a Successful Machine Shop with Dave Capkovitz39. Caring Your Way to Success with Kody Guidry42. Making Precision Moves in Building a Highly Successful Machine Shop58. How to Find, Buy, & Grow a Shop with Mike FritzGet a free custom report from Factur for real opportunities in your industryUse Hire MFG Leaders for your next hireJoin us at the 2026 IMTS Exhibitor workshop Connect With Machine Shop Mastery The websiteLinkedInYouTubeInstagram Subscribe to Machine Shop Mastery on Apple, Spotify Audio Production by - PODCAST FAST TRACK
    Voir plus Voir moins
    52 min
  • 99. Love God, Love People, and Make Chips: The Visionary Leadership of Bill Cox

    99. Love God, Love People, and Make Chips: The Visionary Leadership of Bill Cox
    Jan 14 2026
    Some manufacturing businesses grow because of timing, technology, or market opportunity. Others endure because of values. In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I sit down with Bill Cox of Cox Manufacturing, a nearly 70-year-old family business whose legacy was forged through resilience, faith, and an unwavering commitment to people. Bill shares the remarkable origin story of Cox Manufacturing, which began with a single Swiss machine purchased at auction in the 1950s and grew into a high-volume precision operation shipping millions of parts each week. Along the way, the company played a quiet but critical role in some of the most important moments in American history, including supplying components for the Apollo space program. The conversation takes a deeply personal turn as Bill recounts losing his father at just 12 years old and being thrust into the business at an age when most kids are just learning multiplication. With guidance from his mother, Bill learned to read financial statements, understand inventory, and appreciate the connection between productivity, profitability, and people. We also explore the darker chapters of the journey: customer concentration, outsourcing, bankruptcies, negative net worth, and hitting personal and professional rock bottom. Bill speaks candidly about how faith reshaped his leadership, ultimately becoming the foundation for the company's purpose: love God, love people, and advance American manufacturing. This episode is a masterclass in long-term leadership, operational discipline, and values-driven growth. Whether you're a first-generation owner or stewarding a multi-generation legacy, Bill's story is a powerful reminder that the most enduring businesses are built on more than machines. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (0:49) Bill Cox and the humble beginnings of Cox Manufacturing Co.(3:03) A snapshot of Cox Manufacturing Co. as it stands today(4:27) Cox Manufacturing's origin story and growth(11:06) Unlock real sales opportunities in your market with Factur(13:06) What fueled early growth and whether it was truly linear(15:04) Bill recounts losing his father and his decision to carry the business forward(17:34) Learning inventory, P&Ls, and why monthly WIP matters(18:58) Growing up in the shop and starting hands-on work at age 14(23:07) Choosing engineering education while planning to return to the business(25:11) Early investments in multi-spindle machines and scaling for volume(27:48) Losing major customers to outsourcing and surviving the oil downturn(29:18) Hitting financial rock bottom and selling a personal home to save the business(30:00) Faith, humility, and a leadership reset during the hardest years(31:02) A pivotal CNC investment that unlocked new capabilities(32:04) Why you need to come to the 2026 IMTS Exhibitor Workshop(34:09) Finding success with sales representatives and internet marketing(41:12) The evolving challenge of hiring and developing skilled machinists(42:13) Launching a registered apprenticeship program and internal training systems(43:11) Using personality profiling to place people in the right roles(45:25) Tracking value-added labor and understanding true profitability(50:55 Transparency, open-book management, and department-level accountability(52:46) Bill shares the company's purpose: love God, love people, and advance manufacturing(54:40) Advice for shop owners: don't be an island, seek peers and community(56:48) Where to learn more about Cox Manufacturing and explore shop tours(57:22) Why you need to listen to the Lights Out podcast Resources & People Mentioned Get a free custom report from Factur: Unlock Real Sales Opportunities in Your MarketRegister for the 2026 IMTS Exhibitor WorkshopThe Culture IndexThe Predictive Index Connect with Bill Cox Connect on LinkedInCox Manufacturing Connect With Machine Shop Mastery The websiteLinkedInYouTubeInstagram Subscribe to Machine Shop Mastery on Apple, Spotify Audio Production and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK
    Voir plus Voir moins
    58 min
  • 98. Behind the Scenes of a Top Shop with Jayme Rahz

    98. Behind the Scenes of a Top Shop with Jayme Rahz
    Jan 7 2026
    What does a truly dialed-in machine shop look like behind the scenes? In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I sit down with Jayme Rahz of Midway Swiss Turn, one of the most intentional and well-run shops I've come across. I met Jayme at the Top Shops Conference, where Midway Swiss Turn was recognized for Shop Floor Best Practices, and after this conversation, it's easy to see why. Jayme shares the full origin story of the business, which started in a garage with her father-in-law and grew into a highly automated Swiss-focused operation in Ohio. Over more than two decades, the shop has evolved from manual machining and tool and die work into a diversified, precision manufacturing business serving a wide range of industries, from aerospace and defense to oil and gas and medical. We dig deep into the decisions that shaped that evolution, including early investments in Swiss machining, hard-earned lessons from customer bankruptcies, and how risk, technology, and relationships intersect in long-term growth. Jayme offers a candid look at what it really takes to adopt new technology, build a resilient customer mix, and make automation work in a small shop environment. This conversation also explores culture, transparency, and leadership. From flexible schedules and people-first policies to data-driven quoting, machine monitoring, and ERP systems, Jayme explains how Midway Swiss Turn balances efficiency with trust. If you want an honest, behind-the-scenes look at how a Top Shop actually operates day to day, this episode is packed with practical insight. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (0:00) Introduction to Jayme Rahz and why Midway Swiss Turn earned Top Shops recognition(2:41) The family origins of the business and starting in a garage(4:40) Diversification across industries and why it's a risk-management strategy, not a nice-to-have(10:23) A snapshot of the team and how roles like sales actually function in a small shop(11:05) Early hard lessons from the tool-and-die era and what forced them to adapt(15:53) Quality expectations, inspection discipline, and brand protection(16:56) The reasoning behind rebranding around Swiss turning is explained(18:35) Building a family-oriented culture, recruiting philosophy, and workforce development(22:41) Automation is discussed as a long-term stability play, not just efficiency(25:06) Systems that support automation, visibility, and decision-making are outlined(26:14) Harmoni machine monitoring and its impact on daily operations(28:35) How leadership communicates transparently during uncertainty(31:42) Unlock Real Sales Opportunities in Your Market with Factur(33:35) Margin discipline, quoting accuracy, and protecting profitability(39:32) Why hiring a machinist-turned-salesperson made sense(45:54) Managing growth and balancing it on the floor(47:19) How decisions are made around when automation actually makes sense(51:07) Jayme's advice for taking the leap and embracing automation(54:12) Making the move from a garage to 10,000 square feet(58:10) How do you ensure longevity and success(1:00:28) Where to connect with Jayme and learn more about Midway Swiss Turn(1:01:53) Why we love SMW Autoblok for workholding Resources & People Mentioned Come see us at the 2026 IMTS Exhibitor WorkshopGet a free custom report from Factur: Unlock Real Sales Opportunities in Your MarketWhy we love SMW Autoblok for workholdingHarmoniPaperless PartsMastercam Connect with Jayme Rahz MidwaySwissTurn.comConnect with Jayme on LinkedIn Connect With Machine Shop Mastery The websiteLinkedInYouTubeInstagram Subscribe to Machine Shop Mastery on Apple, Spotify Audio Production and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK
    Voir plus Voir moins
    1 h et 3 min
Pas encore de commentaire