ShopTalk

In this episode of Steelhead Shop Talk, Dean Halonen sits down with Cody Whitehead, Operations & Engineering Manager at Advanced Precision Anodizing, to talk about scaling a finishing operation without losing the culture, quality, and customer service that made it successful in the first place. Cody shares how APA grew from a 20-person shop running on QuickBooks and tribal knowledge into a 70-...

Modernizing a 70-person aerospace finishing shop is no small task. In this episode of Steelhead Shop Talk, James Bull of Sullivan Precision Metal Finishing shares how their team approached upgrading systems, improving visibility, and building processes that can scale with the business. From managing complexity on the shop floor to meeting the demands of aerospace work, this conversation breaks dow...

Do you often find your shop battling capacity overloads and overdue jobs? In this episode of Steelhead Shop Talk, host Dean Halonen is joined by Jarrod Wiesen, President and Owner of Coatings Plus, to discuss capacity planning and scheduling. Jarrod shares how aligning his shop around a clear scheduling process helped eliminate bottlenecks, improve visibility, and get the entire operation moving i...

In this episode of Steelhead Shop Talk , host Dean Halonen sits down with John Mosser , Founder of Triscend Partners , to talk about one of the biggest decisions a shop owner can make — selling their business . John works with manufacturing companies across the country, helping owners prepare for a successful exit by connecting strong businesses with the right buyers and creating positive outcomes...

In this episode of Shop Talk, host Dean Halonen sits down with Ken Hannem, Project Manager at D&K Powder Coating in Mankato, MN — a shop recognized for its quick turnaround, exceptional quality, and disciplined approach to margins. The discussion dives deep into job costing — how to balance fair margins with competitive pricing and use real costing data to catch margin leaks early. Ken explain...

Recorded live at Revenue Riptide , Using Digital Manufacturing to Compete and Win features a panel hosted by Chet Halonen , with guests Natalie Hurd of Champion Enterprises , Mark Rydzy of Pauway Corporation , and Cody Whitehead of Advanced Precision Anodizing . Together, they explore how digital manufacturing technology is helping job shops boost efficiency, strengthen customer relationships, and...

Recorded live at Revenue Riptide , Andrew Kossowski of Veterans Metal shares how his team has embraced change to foster sustainable business growth. From leadership transitions to process improvement, Andrew discusses the strategies that helped Veterans Metal evolve, strengthen their culture, and drive performance in an ever-changing manufacturing landscape. The Steelhead Audio Archive highlights...

Recorded live at Revenue Riptide , this episode features Anchor Bay Powder Coat — a winning job shop with a story of growth, innovation, and transformation. Hear how their team embraced change, scaled their operation, and leveraged Steelhead’s ERP platform to unlock new levels of visibility, efficiency, and success. The Steelhead Audio Archive shares real stories from job shops across the country...

Dina Wing from Precision Spray and Coatings presents FROM PAPER TO POWER: LEADING CHANGE WITH STEELHEAD ERP live onstage at Revenue Riptide 2025. The magic of the job shop summit is all in the stories. How people just like you are evolving, what growth strategies have worked for them, and all the conversations that happen when the sessions are over. For more information and additional presentation...

In this session from Revenue Riptide , Glenn Holmgren of Western Hard Chrome shares how his team transitioned from gut feel to data-driven operations — and the measurable impact that shift had on their business. From implementing digital systems to uncovering real-time visibility on the floor, Glenn discusses the mindset, metrics, and leadership needed to achieve true job shop excellence in a mode...