my TRUE POSITION

What happens when a critical aerospace part disappears—but the mission doesn't? In this episode, Jim sits down with Sam Thevanayagam, CEO of Parts Life and DeVal Lifecycle Support, to unpack the hidden world of DMSMS, reverse engineering, and supply chain failure in aerospace and defense. We're talking about: Rebuilding parts with no data Solving obsolescence when OEMs walk away Keeping mission-cr...

In this continuation of Three Generations, One Exit, we move past the idea of selling and into the reality of doing it. The conversations get tougher, the stakes get higher, and the margin for error gets smaller. We unpack what really happens during the deal process—negotiations, diligence, second-guessing, and the pressure that builds when legacy, money, and identity all collide. This is the phas...

This episode hits home. I sat down with a close friend—a third-generation machine shop owner—who took his family business all the way through a private equity exit. From the outside, it looks like a win… but behind the scenes, it was anything but simple. We get into the real story: the pressure, the complexity, the emotional weight of legacy, and what it actually takes to navigate a deal like this...

Automation didn't fail us—the wrong partner did. In Part 2 of this two-part series, Jim Carr and Ryan Carr finish the story behind a CNC automation retrofit that went off the rails—and get into what really matters: the lessons. This is where they break down what it actually cost, what they would do differently, and how to properly vet an automation company before you hand over your time, money, an...

Automation is supposed to make your shop faster, leaner, and more profitable. But what happens when the company you trust to retrofit your CNC turns out to be the wrong partner? In this episode, Jim Carr sits down with Ryan Carr for the first of many co-hosted conversations on My TRUE POSITION. They unpack the real story behind a CNC automation retrofit that didn't go the way it was supposed to. W...

After 4+ decades in manufacturing, I've seen this industry transform in ways most people never imagined. When I started, shops were running manual mills and engine lathes. Programming meant doing math with a pencil. CAD/CAM didn't exist. Automation was rare. And the idea of AI helping optimize manufacturing would've sounded like science fiction. Today we're running five-axis machines, automation c...

There was a time when machine shops could sit back and wait for RFQs to land in the inbox. If you ran a solid shop, the work showed up. That world is changing fast. In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, I talk about the new reality of sales in manufacturing—prospecting tools like Apollo, using HubSpot to track opportunities, writing emails that actually get read, making phone calls that build relat...

What would happen if I sold the business tomorrow? Not the valuation. Not the multiple. Not the wire transfer. What would I regret? In this episode, I take a hard look at ownership beyond the balance sheet. After decades in a second-generation aerospace machine shop — through downturns, reinvention, leadership transitions, and strategic pivots — I ask the question most owners avoid: Did I build so...

Most machine shops think they're unique. Most are wrong. In this episode, Jim breaks down the EOS concept of 3 Uniques and why they determine whether your shop competes on price… or commands a premium. If your differentiation sounds like "quality" and "on-time delivery," it's time for a strategic reset. Clarity drives margin. Let's define yours.

Most C-suite leaders track every metric inside their business — margin, throughput, OEE, cash flow. But almost none of them track the performance of the one asset that drives all of it: THEMSELVES. In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, Jim Carr breaks down why executive health isn't a lifestyle choice — it's a leadership strategy. From sleep deprivation cutting cognitive performance by up to 30%, t...

In this episode, Jim Carr breaks down why speed, tools, and constant updates don't build real relationships in manufacturing—especially in aerospace, where reliability, accountability, and early transparency matter more than responsiveness. This isn't about rejecting technology; it's about understanding when digital communication helps, when it hurts, and how operators build lasting trust with cus...

In this episode, Jim Carr breaks down how real small business owners actually keep the lights on—managing AR, AP, lines of credit, savings, and credit cards without a finance department. No theory. No spreadsheets for show. Just hard-earned cash discipline and the decisions that separate surviving from shutting down.

Most manufacturing shops don't lose margin on the shop floor—they sign it away during contract review. In this episode, Jim Carr breaks down how customer flowdowns, quality clauses, and Approved Vendor Lists quietly redefine your risk profile the moment you accept a PO. We'll cover why contract review is an executive control point, why risk analysis must happen before production starts, and why yo...

Most leaders say they want empowered teams. What they really want is compliance without pushback. That mindset is exactly why so many manufacturing businesses stall out. In this episode, Jim Carr breaks down what real empowerment actually looks like inside a manufacturing shop—where quality, delivery, and margin are on the line every day. This isn't soft leadership theory. It's about decision righ...

I spent ten years active in industry boards, then disappeared for seven. Nothing broke—but nothing grew either. In this episode, Jim breaks down why serious leaders can't afford to sit out networking, what board service actually delivers, and how to choose the right rooms that create real leverage—not wasted time.

If your marketing looks the same as it did last year, you're already behind. In this episode, Jim breaks down five simple, no-bullshit ways to clean up your marketing before 2026—from tightening your hero statement and elevator pitch to taking a hard look at your website data and SEO. No buzzwords. No hype. Just practical fixes every business owner can actually do.

GD&T didn't get harder — manufacturing got less forgiving. Thirty years ago, drawings were guidance and experience filled the gaps. Today, drawings are contracts, inspection is digital, and there's no gray area left. Same symbols. Whole different consequences. If you're still applying GD&T like it's 1995, you're not experienced — you're exposed.

As 2025 comes to a close, CARR Machine & Tool marks 53 years in aerospace manufacturing — spanning three generations and five decades of grit, reinvention, and precision. In this special episode, Jim Carr takes you decade-by-decade through the pivotal moments that shaped the company's evolution, from the manual-machine days of the '70s to the automation-driven transformation of today. It's raw ref...

In this episode, we get brutally honest about toxic culture — what causes it, what sustains it, and what it really takes to fix it. I'm breaking down the blueprint for rebuilding a healthy, high-performance culture using real metrics, real behaviors, and real leadership discipline. We'll talk core values, accountability, communication rhythms, and the no-nos that tank culture faster than any bad h...

In this episode, we dig into one of the most misunderstood parts of any aerospace quality system: calibration frequency. I'm breaking down how to set intervals based on risk, usage, and real performance data — not tribal habits or 'because we've always done it that way.' You'll learn how to build a defensible calibration strategy, how to use verification checks to extend intervals safely, and how...

Think hiring from out of state is the answer to your talent shortage? Think again. Between relocation costs, lost productivity, and cultural misfires, that "perfect" new hire could set you back thirty grand before they even hit stride. In this episode, I break down the real numbers — from why relocation is more common now than ever, to how to protect your company from costly mistakes. We'll talk h...

Let's be real — the fastest way to torch your profit isn't a bad part or a missed deadline. It's when your labor starts running you instead of the other way around. In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, I'm breaking down the difference between direct and indirect labor — and why blurring that line could be quietly bleeding your margin dry. I'll walk through how to track it, what numbers to watch, a...

Most machine shops think marketing is fluff — that the work should speak for itself. But here's the truth: in 2025, if you're not telling your story, you don't exist. At CARR Machine & Tool, we built a marketing engine inside a machine shop — and it changed everything. From our website and brand standards to storytelling, SEO, and social, every piece of the marketing pie matters. It's not decorati...

It's been five years since COVID flipped manufacturing on its head. Back then, it was all about survival — keeping the doors open and the machines running. Today, labor's tight, rates are high, and margins are thin. But the shops that made it? They're smarter, leaner, and tougher than ever. In this episode, I'm breaking down how far we've come — from shutdowns and supply chain chaos to a new era o...

In 2018, we implemented TRACTION for the first time — and like most small teams, we were figuring it out as we went. Fast forward to today, and CARR Machine has evolved into a focused, disciplined organization led by four seasoned managers driving finance, technology, operations, and quality. This episode dives into what happens when experience meets structure — how re-committing to TRACTION broug...