Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

Inventory and materials management may not sound glamorous, but for us—and for any thriving shop—it's the difference between healthy cashflow and a financial chokehold. In this  Machine Shop MBA  conversation, we break down how smart inventory practices—both physical and digital—can free up space, cut costs, and improve delivery performance. From raw materials and finished goods to WIP and cutting...

In Part 2 of our conversation with certified lead auditor Jess Teasdake, we dig deeper into what it really takes to build an efficient, audit-ready quality management system (QMS). If you caught Part 1, you heard us talk through the big picture: certifications, audits, and what separates a good QMS from a bad one. This time, we're getting tactical. We're not just talking about passing an audit—we'...

If you think quality management is just about passing audits, think again. In this episode of  MakingChips , we're joined by Jess Teasdale—a true QMS expert and certified lead auditor in both AS9100 and ISO 13485—to break down what it really takes to build a world-class quality system. Whether you're running a two-person job shop or leading a growing operation aiming for medical or aerospace work,...

Let's be real—every shop  says  they make quality parts. But doing it consistently? That's a whole different game. In this episode of the MakingChips Machine Shop MBA series, we break down what it actually takes to build—and sustain—excellence in quality control. From quoting parts you can actually make, to in-process inspections, to how your shipping paperwork could delay your cash flow, this epi...

What if your CAM software could learn from every part you've ever programmed—and make your next one faster, smarter, and easier? At Hexagon Live, we sat down with Ryan Pembroke to explore how ESPRIT EDGE is doing exactly that. As Hexagon's Product Manager for cloud-based production software, Ryan shares how this next-gen platform is helping shops streamline programming, automate workflows, and sca...

When I first heard about the "One Big Beautiful Bill," I knew we had to break it down for the MakingChips audience. This isn't just another tax update—it's a massive, 900-page piece of legislation with real implications for manufacturers like us. Whether you're thinking about buying equipment, expanding your facility, hiring more people, or selling your business down the road, the OBBB touches nea...

What if your machine shop could reach millions—not just buyers, but future employees, potential partners, and everyday people who suddenly "get" why manufacturing matters? In this episode of  MakingChips , we sit down with Hüseyin Kılıç, founder and CEO of  Interesting Engineering , a digital media powerhouse with over 25 million followers across YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram.  Hüseyin...

What do a luxury wristwatch and a 50-foot-long aerospace weldment have in common? They're both precision-machined, but that's where the similarities end.  In this episode of  MakingChips , we're exploring the extremes of manufacturing—from parts that fit on the tip of your finger to parts so massive they require cranes and riggers just to load onto a machine. Paul Van Metre and Mike Payne are join...

What does it take to run one of the top-performing machine shops in the country? In this episode of MakingChips, we sit down with Kevin Bowling, COO of Major Tool & Machine, to find out exactly what drives their success—and why it all starts with people. Kevin isn't just leading a massive operation with 670,000 square feet of manufacturing space and machines that can turn parts up to 40 feet in di...

Planning a job is one thing—getting it through the shop without chaos is something else entirely. In part two of our Managing Orders series, we move beyond quoting and scheduling to the messy reality of production: where kitting falls short, setups go long, expectations don't match reality, and quality gets squeezed when time runs out. We've seen it happen. A setup that was budgeted for two hours...

Once the PO comes in, it's easy to fall into the trap of "just get it done." But if we don't manage orders with intention and clarity, we're setting ourselves—and our teams—up for chaos. In this episode of the Machine Shop MBA series, we break down what it really takes to run a smooth, efficient production floor. This isn't just about buying software or printing a checklist. It's about building a...

Are you losing money before the job even hits the floor? If your quotes are based on outdated spreadsheets, rough guesses, or a "that's what we've always charged" mindset, you might be setting your shop up to fail—before the first chip falls. In this episode of the  Machine Shop MBA  series, we tackle one of the most common (and costly) problems in manufacturing: bad quoting. Mike shares lessons f...

Before you spend a dime on advertising—or hire a marketing agency—you need to answer one foundational question: Who exactly are you trying to reach?   In this episode of the Machine Shop MBA series, Nick, Mike, and Paul sit down with Joe Sullivan, co-founder of Gorilla 76 and host of  The Manufacturing Executive  podcast, to break down the strategy behind smart marketing for job shops. Joe makes o...

This might be one of the most important conversations we've had in the  Machine Shop MBA  series—because we're unpacking a mindset that quietly limits the growth potential of so many shops: the "cashier model." We've seen it time and time again—shops waiting at the counter for purchase orders to roll in, instead of actively building relationships, solving problems, and driving new revenue. That mo...

When you're launching or scaling a machine shop, it's easy to think of software as a cost—something you "have to have" just to get by. But what if your tech stack could become your sharpest competitive edge?  In this episode of the Machine Shop MBA series, we are joined by returning guest and digital strategy expert Bryce Barnes to unpack why your software decisions might matter more than your nex...

What happens when a young marketer decides to stop chasing every client and instead zeroes in on one industry? You get Gorilla 76—a leading agency that's spent nearly two decades helping B2B manufacturers connect, grow, and lead. In this special episode of MakingChips, the team sits down with Joe Sullivan, co-founder of Gorilla 76 and host of three powerhouse podcasts, to officially welcome him in...

What if every trade show, manufacturing podcast, and business resource you needed was just a few clicks away? That's the vision behind  The Home of MFG , a new online hub created by Chris Stevens—a manufacturing leader who got tired of fragmented information and decided to build a centralized, open-access platform for the industry. In this episode, we dig into Chris's journey from sweeping shop fl...

If inspection is the bottleneck in your shop, you're not alone—and this episode might just be your blueprint for breaking through it. We sat down with the team behind MAESTRO, the latest release from Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division, to explore how a complete reinvention of the coordinate measuring machine (CMM) is shifting quality control from a necessary evil to a productivity enabl...

If you're in the trenches of manufacturing like we are—running a shop, growing a business, or even dreaming of starting your own—this episode is going to hit home. We're diving deep into the real challenges and choices that come with equipping a machine shop. It's not just about what machine to buy; it's about how to make smart, future-proof decisions that keep your business agile and competitive....

Dreaming of owning your own machine shop but hitting a wall when it comes to the money? You're not alone—and you're definitely not out of options. In this episode of MakingChips' Machine Shop MBA series, host Mike Payne sits down with Jon Hughes, Principal and CFO Consultant at CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), to unpack what it really  takes to fund a manufacturing business in today's economy. Too many w...

Most small manufacturers don't realize they're being quietly supported by one of the most impactful public-private partnerships in the country. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) has long been the hidden backbone behind training programs, grant facilitation, process improvements, and critical tech upgrades for shops across the U.S. But recent Federal decisions to defund these programs—w...

Most people who dream of launching a manufacturing business obsess over machines, processes, and parts. But here's the thing: that dream can die before a single spindle turns—if you miss a few less-glamorous (but absolutely critical) steps on the front end. Legal structure? Tax setup? Insurance? Naming your shop? These early decisions carry more weight than most first-timers realize. In this episo...

In this episode of the Machine Shop MBA series, we go beyond vision boards and get into the meat and potatoes of launching your shop legally—with the right entity type and structure to support your short and long-term goals. Whether you're looking to stay solo, bring on partners, or position for future investment or acquisition, your business formation choice can be the foundation—or the friction—...

In this episode of MakingChips, we dive into the entrepreneurial mindset, drawing inspiration from three of the most influential figures in modern business: Titan Gilroy, Elon Musk, and Steve Jobs.  Through clips from these legendary leaders, we explore the grit, vision, and resilience required to launch and grow a business in the challenging world of manufacturing. As we share our experiences and...

What if you could measure your shop's success against the industry's best—and discover exactly where you can improve? In this episode, we're launching a groundbreaking new series with Modern Machine Shop  to help you do just that. We're joined by Brent Donaldson, who walks us through the powerful Top Shops program—a game-changing benchmarking tool that reveals everything from machine utilization t...