The Job Shop Show

Jonathon Friedl and his brother Isaac Houchens are the owners of Black Mountain Manufacturing just outside Denver. As a young shop owner, Jonathon shares his non-traditional background, his struggles of being a shop owner in the early days. How he built up his company quickly just to have it crash and how he's successfully rebounded. This episdoe is full of personal experience and inspiration.

Sam Gupta of ElevatIQ joins us as we take a deep dive into ERP Systems.  Why do you need one? How do you chose one? How does it help with business transformation? ElevatIQ consults with companies to assist with the procurment of business systems such as ERP and provides implementaion assistance.  Sam is also host of the popular program WBSRocks; a community and a media company focused on digital t...

Ari Santiago, CEO of CompassMSP and Host of the popular Made in America Podcast joins us on this episode! CompassMSP's mission is to help small to medium size businesses utilize the power of technology to help reach their goals. 

In this Bonus episode, Jeremy Dustin of Metalcraft Technologies picks Jay's brain on how he can efficiently offer expedites in his shop.  Jay shares his experiences and ideas for managing and pricing expedites. If you're contemplating adding expedites to  your shop or already offer them, this episode is not to be missed!

Today we speak with the owner and CEO of Boston Centerless; Steve Tamasi. Boston Centerless supplies precision ground bar materials and grinding services specializing in extremely close tolerances. A classy shop doing things right in a very tight margin business. Steve has made constant incremental steps of continuous improvement and re-invests in all aspects of his company.

Jay is joined by Nick Polanosky of P3D Creations. They delve into the world of automation; from quoting to inspection and everything in between. 

Juan March owns Jacksonville Precision Manufacturing, specializing in quick-turn prototyping, short to medium-run production, and one-off specialty components primarily for the automation industry.  Juan is passionate about robotic educational programs and shares his experiences being involved with FIRST Robotics.  He also competed in several NASA Robotic competitions in college and then parlayed...

This episode is APPROVED! Steve and Jay first spoke in early 2020 after Steve and his partner had just purchased their own sheet metal shop, now Approved Sheet Metal.  Steve is back to fill us in on his first year as an owner, improvements he has made and his outlook for the future!  

Mush Khan shares his experience working in Manufacturing plants all over the world and why he is confident that we have what it takes to increase opportunities here in the U.S. As a curator of great teams, Mush is the CEO and co-founder of Alchemy Industrial out of Houston, Texas; an additive parts manufacturer focusing on FDM technology with assembly and machining. He shares his journey and passi...

Today's guest is Courtney Silver of Ketchie Precision Machining Solutions; a third generation precision machine shop in Concord, North Carolina. As many shop owners can relate, 2020 produced challenges and forced changes. Courtney, however, describes 2020 as a "reset" and talks candidly about decisions and changes she has recently made, including one that was the hardest of her manufacturing caree...

Jeff George is the President of Micro-Tronics, Inc. located in Tempe, Arizona. Micro-Tronic started out as an EDM shop in 1968 and has since become a world leader in supplying precision machine components, rubber products, mechanical assemblies, and EDM services to the industry's leading aerospace companies.  

A champion of American manufacturing, Miles is the director of industry affairs at Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA). PMPA has a goal of keeping North American precision machining companies globally competitive through the use of best available information and technology on opportunities. They also assist members with regulatory and government issues.  Additionally, Miles hosts his ow...

The TAAF program which stands for Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms is the only federal program that's specifically designed to help small manufacturers who have been directly hurt by imports.  TAAF provides up to $75,000 in matching funds to companies who have been hurt by import competition.  Scott Jacobs of Great Lakes Trade Adjustment Assistance Center which helps companies in Ohio, Michig...

We are joined by Roy Crumrine, owner of Crummy Welding and co-host of the popular podcast Welding Tips & Tricks.  Roy provides tips and insights on welding that shop owners may often overlook.  You are sure to leave this episode for a new found appreciation of your welding department!  

Craig Cegielski is one of the countries top manufacturing educators. Craig heads up the Tech Ed Department at Eleva-Strum High School in Strum, Wisconsin and created and runs Cardinal Manufacturing, a student run machine shop within the department.  Not only do his students learn technical and machining skills, but playability skills like dressing well and showing up on time. Craig shares all abou...

Shane Prukop of TruPart Manufacturing joins Jay on this fast-moving, hard-hitting episode of The Job Shop Show.  As third generation manufacturing Shane is passionate about the future of custom part manufacturing especially how we can improve systems and processes through streamlining, automation and integrations.  Shane shares some of the successful software and systems he as brought into his sho...

We chat with our first veteran plating and finishing expert, Tamea Franco, President and CEO of Global Metal Finishing out of Roanoke, Virginia.  Tamea shares some of the secrets of the trade and also expresses how important it is to have a great relationship with your platers!  This is an episode not to miss!

Dan Donaworth of Dan's Custom Machining out of Williamsburg, Ohio joins us today!  Dan is just four years into his dream of owning his own shop and was recently featured in Modern Machine Shop Magazine.  Anyone in their early stages of running a shop is sure to grab some good takeaways!

Today we chat with Craig Zoberis of Fusion OEM; a contract manufacturer of light industrial equipment for OEMs and certified systems integrator for Universal Robots. Craig brought a collaborative robot into his shop after struggling with the skills gap in the manufacturing world. Since doing so he has also created a robot integration company focusing on Job Shops.  If you've ever wondered how robo...

Joining us today is Rodd Blessey of Aldine Metal, a sheet metal fabricator in New Milford, Connecticut.  As a very forward thinking leader, Rodd, has been able to grow his shop 10% a year after implementing change. In line with his forethought Rodd loves data and shares his vision on how job shops must work with their customers in today's world.  Enjoy this exciting episode!

This episode is out of this world! Jay chats with Will Gibbs, founder and CEO of MODICA and Harbor Island Waterjet, both out of Seattle, Washington.  MODICA's goal is to provide automated microfactory modules with the tagline of factory as service and uses Harbor Island as it's testbed.  Enjoy!

Jay and special co-host guest, Steve Lynch join fellow car enthusiast, David Bamforth of Rennscot, a design and manufacturing company with an in-house line of aftermarket performance parts and accessories.  David started Rennscot before even graduating from Wentworth Institute of Technology where he received his BS in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in manufacturing.  

Grady Cope of Reata Engineering and Machine Works in Denver, Colorado joins us on this episode!  Grady is not only the owner of a very successful multi dimensional machine shop, starting from ground zero 27 years ago, he is the past President of the NTMA, and a founder of the Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Association. 

Jay interviews a true Champion of U.S. Manufacturing; Terry Iverson. While Terry’s day job is running Iverson & Co a seller of new and used machine tools; Terry’s true passion is to educate our country on the importance of Manufacturing in the USA. Terry founded ChampionNow with the goal of moving manufacturing forward, erasing old stigmas, and educating and mentoring the younger generations on th...

Bill Berrien, owner of Pindel Global Precision in New Berlin Wisconsin joins us on this exciting episode!  Pindel is a global manufacturer of precision machine components that has been in business since 1947 and acquired by Bill in 2012.  After quite a fascinating career to that point, Bill's background is not typical of a shop owner.  He is a Princeton and Harvard graduate, served as a Navy SEAL...