Advertise on podcast: Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories

What happens when someone with a background in software buys an 80-year-old machine shop? That's exactly what Brandon Worrell did when he acquired KCSP Machine in Kansas City. He inherited a business with decades of experience, talented employees, and loyal customers, but also a collection of paper travelers, spreadsheets, and tribal knowledge that made it difficult to grow. In this episode, Brandon joins me to share how he's modernizing KCSP Machine while preserving the expertise that made it successful in the first place. We discuss the transition to ProShop ERP, getting longtime employees on board with new technology, documenting critical shop floor knowledge, and achieving AS9100 certification.  Brandon also shares how these investments are helping KCSP attract skilled employees, improve quality, and win new business. It's a great example of how the right systems can help an established shop build a foundation for its next generation of growth. Resources Mentioned KCSP Machine: https://www.kcspmachine.com/ Brandon Worrell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-worrell-183a74 KCSP Machine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kcsp-machine ProShop ERP: https://proshoperp.com/ National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA): https://ntma.org/ MakingChips Podcast: https://www.makingchips.com/ Top Shops Conference: https://www.topshopsevent.com/

We know what precision looks like on the shop floor. A part either meets the print or it doesn't. But when I look at the business surrounding that part—quoting, scheduling, purchasing, job costing—I see opportunities to bring that same level of discipline to how a shop runs. That's the idea behind my new book, Precision Manufacturing, Precision Business. I didn't arrive at that idea by getting everything right. I started Pro CNC with five friends, one machine, and very little experience running a business. When our aerospace work dried up after 9/11, we came close to losing the shop. Getting through it forced us to become more deliberate about sales, processes, and the information our team needed to do its work. Since then, I've had hundreds of conversations with shop owners through this podcast, Machine Shop Mastery, and MakingChips. They've shared what worked, what failed, and what they wish they'd understood sooner. I wrote the book to bring those lessons together with my own; more than 50 people I've spoken with are quoted in it. In this episode, I'll share how the book came together and take you through some of its big themes, from knowing your numbers and building a sales process to developing your team and creating a business that can thrive beyond your day-to-day involvement.  Resources Mentioned Precision Manufacturing, Precision Business: https://disciplinetoprofit.com/ Get the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HGNLFB2C ProShop ERP: https://proshoperp.com/ The E-Myth Revisited: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280

I sat down with Kody Guidry of Coastal Machine & Supply for a conversation that was both fun and really meaningful. I've known Kody and the Coastal team for years now, and it has been incredible to watch their transformation from a 30-person oil and gas machine shop into a 60-person precision manufacturing company serving oil and gas, space, aerospace, and defense. In this episode, Kody shares how Coastal made the decision to diversify after the oil and gas downturn, pursued AS9100 and ITAR, and slowly but persistently built its way into new markets. We talk about how ProShop helped free up the team's time, improve visibility, support customer audits, and give Coastal the digital backbone it needed to execute at a higher level. Kody also shares the story of how one aerospace opportunity started with a supplier referral, then turned into a year of persistent follow-up before finally becoming real work. This is a conversation about preparation, execution, and persistence. Coastal didn't stumble into aerospace and defense by accident. They built the foundation, showed customers they were a lower-risk supplier, and kept showing up until the opportunity came. Now, with new partners, major growth plans, and a renewed focus on hard-metal manufacturing, Coastal is aiming to become one of the premier space and defense manufacturing companies in the country. Resources Mentioned Coastal Machine & Supply: https://coastalmachinesupply.com/ Kody Guidry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kodyguidry Coastal Machine & Supply on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coastal-machine-%26-supply-inc- ProShop ERP: https://proshoperp.com/ Medora Manufacturing's investment in Coastal Machine & Supply: https://coastalmachinesupply.com/medora-manufacturing-makes-long-term-majority-investment-in-coastal-machine-and-supply-inc/ SpaceX Starbase Louisiana announcement: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/news/spacex-launches-new-era-of-commercial-spaceflight-with-100-billion-louisiana-campus AS9100 standard: https://www.sae.org/standards/content/as9100d/ ITAR / DDTC: https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/ddtc_public

I sat down with Jason Davis of D&D Enterprises for a conversation about what happens when a shop replaces constant schedule chasing with real visibility. D&D is a 50-year family-owned CNC machining business in central North Carolina that started with a manual mill and lathe in a small building behind Jason's family home.  Today, they have around 50 employees, more than 30 machines, 50,000 square feet, and a strong mix of machining, assembly, and value-added manufacturing work. In this episode, Jason shares how D&D moved from an older ERP system and a magnetic scheduling board to a more connected, digital workflow with ProShop. We talk about how better scheduling visibility helped improve on-time delivery, reduce firefighting, and give the team more flexibility to drop in hot orders without throwing the whole shop into chaos.  Jason also shares how tablets helped with shop floor adoption, how customer service can now answer status questions faster, and why traceability, in-process checks, and an integrated QMS have become powerful tools for customers, audits, and new employees. Resources Mentioned D&D Enterprises of Greensboro: https://www.ddent-usa.com/ Jason Davis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-davis-42100144 D&D Enterprises on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/d-d-enterprises-of-greensboro-inc The Manufacturing Blueprint: https://makingchips.com/show/the-manufacturing-blueprint/ The Manufacturing Blueprint on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-manufacturing-blueprint/id1890538328 The Manufacturing Blueprint on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/33AYsvEacof5EuGgyUJz3L ProShop ERP: https://proshoperp.com/

I sat down with Phil Miller of Star Machine for a conversation that really captures what makes this industry so special. Phil's story starts long before CNC machining, back when he was a kid standing on a five-gallon bucket in his dad's shop, running a drill press and learning the feel, smell, and satisfaction of making things. Growing up Amish, technology wasn't a normal part of daily life for him, but once he found machining, he dove all the way in. In this episode, Phil shares how he went from working in a local machine shop to starting Star Machine on his family property, originally running CNC machines on generator power. We talk about building a business around core values, hiring for attitude and training for skill, giving young people opportunities to grow, and why ProShop became such an important part of documenting tribal knowledge, managing repeat work, and helping the shop scale. It's a thoughtful, honest conversation about entrepreneurship, faith, culture, people, and building a shop that stands for more than just making parts. Resources Mentioned Star Machine LLC: https://www.starmachinellc.com/ Phil Miller on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-miller-979158288 Star Machine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/star-machine-llc ProShop ERP: https://proshoperp.com/ IMTS: https://www.imts.com/ DN Solutions: https://www.dn-solutions.com/ Autodesk Fusion: https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/overview First State Bank of Middlebury: https://www.bfirst.bank/ Adult & Teen Challenge: https://teenchallengeusa.org/

I've known the team at Flying S for close to nine years now, and every time I reconnect with them, I'm amazed by how much they've grown. What started in a farm hangar in rural Illinois has turned into a 285,000-square-foot aerospace manufacturing operation with around 170 people, about 50 CNC machines, advanced composites, machining, assembly, and some seriously impressive work happening under one roof. In this episode, I sit down with Cody Yager to talk about the systems behind that growth. We dig into their move from paper travelers and Excel-based scheduling to a more connected, paperless operation with ProShop. We cover how they manage drawing revisions and traceability, how they use training records to support AS9100 and CMMC readiness, and how time tracking notes help improve quoting and future jobs.  We also talk about lights-out machining, workforce development, interns, community outreach, and what it looks like to build an aerospace company in the middle of cornfields. Resources Mentioned Flying S: https://www.flying-s.com/ Cody Yager on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-yager-3b9a6066 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: https://illinois.edu/ Vincennes University CNC Machining Program: https://www.vinu.edu/

How does a 38-person aerospace shop process thousands of work orders a year without letting paperwork, handoffs, and daily firefighting take over? I sat down with Hunter Russell of Low Country Aerospace to unpack the systems behind their remarkable growth.  With roughly a dozen CNC machines, waterjets, routers, and a press brake, the team is on track to process nearly 12,000 work orders this year, all while maintaining the responsiveness and quality their customers count on. Hunter shares how Low Country Aerospace moved from paper travelers and disconnected processes to a fully digital, paperless operation with ProShop. We talk about building a team that takes ownership, using risk-based quoting to stay in their lane, stocking material for speed and recovery, and creating clear digital and physical workflows that keep jobs moving.  This is a conversation about what happens when great people are given great systems: less chaos, more confidence, and a shop built to scale. Resources Mentioned Low Country Aerospace: https://www.lowcountryaerospace.com/ Hunter Russell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunter-russell-795a871b3 Machine Shop Mastery 117 with Barry Russell: https://machineshopmastery.com/episode/117-12000-work-orders-a-year-managing-growth-with-systems-that-work/

In this episode of Manufacturing Transformed, I sat down with Brock Graves from Quick Drive Racing, a small family-owned business building incredibly high-end drivetrain components for serious horsepower. We're talking drag racing, monster trucks, and applications designed to handle 3,000+ horsepower. As a lifelong motorhead, this was a really fun one for me. What I loved about this conversation is that Quick Drive's story is about much more than racing. Brock, his brother, and his dad recognized that as their business grew, spreadsheets, CAM notes, and tribal knowledge weren't going to give them the structure they needed for the next chapter.  After bringing on ProShop, they were able to organize their processes, improve planning, get better control of inventory and purchasing, and then move aggressively toward AS9100 certification.  Within just a few months, they went from racing-focused manufacturing to opening the door to aerospace. It's a great example of how a small shop can make a big, intentional pivot when the right systems and mindset are in place. Resources Mentioned Brock Graves on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brockgraves Quick Drive Racing: https://quickdriveracing.com ProShop ERP: https://proshoperp.com Space Symposium: https://www.spacesymposium.org PRI Show: https://www.performanceracing.com/tradeshow Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions: https://www.roushyatesmfg.com The Checklist Manifesto: https://www.amazon.com/Checklist-Manifesto-How-Things-Right/dp/0312430000 The E-Myth Revisited: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280

I've been looking forward to this conversation for a long time. Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions has been a ProShop customer since late 2018, and in a lot of ways, our two companies have grown up together. When we first started working with them, RYMS was a 35-person manufacturing operation tied closely to the legendary Roush Yates Engines business, known for building high-performance Ford NASCAR engines. Today, they've grown to around 115 employees and have evolved into a world-class contract manufacturer serving industries like aerospace, defense, space, medical, and motorsports. In this episode, I sit down with Todd English, CEO of Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions, to talk about that transformation. We get into how they moved from paper, spreadsheets, and internal engine work into a highly organized, digitally connected, and compliance-driven operation. Todd shares how ProShop has supported their growth, improved visibility on the shop floor, strengthened traceability and compliance, and helped them continue operating with the precision, speed, and attention to detail you'd expect from a company rooted in racing. Resources Mentioned Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions: https://roushyatesmfg.com/ Roush Yates Engines: https://roushyates.com/ Todd English on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-english-b5439948 Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roush-yates-manufacturing-solutions Roush Yates Shop Tour on ProShop: https://proshoperp.com/proshoperp-video/roush-yates-shop-tour/

Every once in a while, I record an episode that sticks with me long after the microphones are turned off. This was one of those conversations. I sat down with Alex Mazerolle from Archer Precision expecting to talk about ERP systems, process control, and shop management. Instead, we ended up unpacking something much bigger: what it really looks like to build a modern machine shop around clarity, accountability, systems, and people.  Alex shares how Archer Precision evolved from a small shop acquisition into a highly disciplined manufacturing company serving aerospace, medical, and military customers around the world, all while pursuing what he calls a "glass box" approach to manufacturing. We dive deep into the lessons learned from trying to build a custom ERP system, why they ultimately embraced ProShop ERP as the operating system of their business, and how standardization has transformed everything from customer communication to employee confidence on the shop floor.  What really stood out to me, though, was Alex's perspective on leadership, workforce development, and creating an environment where machinists can thrive instead of constantly firefighting. This episode originally also aired on Machine Shop Mastery as Episode 115 because there was simply too much gold in this conversation not to share with both audiences. Resources & Links Alex Mazerolle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-mazerolle-09279946/ https://www.archerprecision.ca/ BDC (Business Development Canada): https://www.bdc.ca/en CTMA: https://ctma.com/ The E-Myth Revisited: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280

What happens when you leave a stable career, bet on yourself, and commit to building a shop the right way from day one? In this episode of Manufacturing Transformed, Chris Schutte from Rise Industries shares how he turned a two-machine startup into a rapidly growing medical and aerospace supplier in just a few short years. Starting as a one-man operation, Chris focused on surrounding himself with trusted, highly skilled people, many of whom he had worked with before—creating a team that could execute at a high level from the beginning. But growth didn't come from people alone. Chris made early investments in systems, structure, and certifications that positioned the company for long-term success. From moving beyond spreadsheets to fully embracing ProShop, to earning ISO 9001, AS9100, and ISO 13485 certifications in rapid succession, Rise Industries built a foundation that could support serious customers and complex work. The payoff? Major opportunities—including a game-changing medical implant project that landed immediately after certification. This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to scale quickly, stay organized, and build a shop that's ready for the next level. Resources & Links Rise Industries: https://www.riseinds.com Christian Schutte: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-schutte-3a1121220/

What does it actually take to break through the $3M ceiling in a machine shop? For many manufacturers, that plateau isn't about lack of opportunity. It's about systems, structure, and the ability to scale without everything breaking. In this episode, Steve Macias of Pivot Manufacturing shares the real story behind that transition, from surviving early volatility to building a business capable of sustained growth in the defense sector. After decades of steady but capped performance, Pivot made a series of intentional moves: investing in higher-end equipment, remodeling their facility, and most importantly, replacing outdated, paper-heavy processes with a fully integrated system using ProShop ERP. What followed wasn't just incremental improvement. It was a shift in how the entire company operates. Quotes became orders in seconds instead of days, audits became seamless, and the team gained visibility into every part moving through the shop. But the transformation goes beyond software and machines. Steve shares how empowering a younger, more tech-forward workforce, letting go of control as an owner, and building a culture of accountability all played a critical role in unlocking the next phase of growth. The result is a shop that not only looks modern on the surface, but runs with the structure, clarity, and confidence needed to scale toward $8M to $10M and beyond. Resources & Links Pivot Manufacturing: https://pivotmfg.com/ Steve Macias on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-macias-1876303/ [email protected]

What happens when you bet everything on a struggling job shop… and then decide to completely rebuild how it operates from the inside out? That's exactly what Andrew Crook did when he purchased Dynamic Fabrication in 2017. Instead of continuing business as usual, he made a bold decision to narrow the customer base, shift toward aerospace and defense, and invest heavily in systems that could support scalable, high-quality growth. It wasn't just a strategic pivot. It was a full operational transformation. In this episode, Andrew shares how adopting ProShop as the company's digital backbone helped turn complexity into clarity. From tool management and contract review to audits and new product introduction, every process became more structured, traceable, and repeatable. The result was faster setups, smoother audits, and a stronger foundation for high-margin production work. But the transition wasn't easy. The team had to digitize everything from fasteners to fixtures, rethink workflows, and build discipline around data accuracy. Over time, that effort paid off. Today, Dynamic Fabrication runs with a culture of accountability, clear documentation, and operational "hygiene" that supports consistent growth in the demanding aerospace and defense market. Andrew walks through the real-world impact of these changes, what worked, what didn't, and how betting on systems helped transform the business into a scalable, audit-ready operation. 👉 Dynamic Fabrication: https://dynamicfab.com/ 👉 Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-crook/

In this episode of Manufacturing Transformed, we head to British Columbia to explore how Mahler Machining is replacing spreadsheets, paper travelers, and tribal knowledge with a scalable digital backbone.  Aaron Kennedy shares how the team transitioned a 30+ person shop with roughly 700 active jobs into ProShop in just a few months, dramatically tightening feedback loops, improving visibility, and creating a foundation for repeatable growth. What started as a need to eliminate guesswork quickly evolved into a systems-driven approach to quoting, scheduling, quality, and continuous improvement. You'll hear how Mahler Machining moved from manual processes and conservative planning to confident scaling, with faster quoting, real-time job visibility, and structured quality data that drives smarter decisions.  Aaron also breaks down how empowering machinists with better information, digitizing setup knowledge, and building a performance-based culture is helping the company grow sustainably while maintaining customer trust. This conversation is a practical look at what happens when the right system becomes the backbone of a shop's next chapter.  👉 Mahler Machining: https://mahler-machining.com 👉 Aaron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com 👉 Machine Shop Mastery Episode #107: https://machineshopmastery.com/episode/107-how-to-buy-a-machine-shop-well-nik-and-aaron-with-mahler-machining/

In this episode of Manufacturing Transformed, I sit down with Bryan from Lafarge & Egge to talk about what real operational transformation looks like inside a highly specialized aerospace manufacturer. When Bryan joined the company, he stepped into a shop full of deep experience and craftsmanship—but also a lot of legacy processes. Critical information lived across spreadsheets, Access databases, and paper-based work instructions. Drawings, inspection records, and job tracking were spread across multiple systems, making it difficult to see what was really happening across the business. Instead of jumping straight into new machines or automation, Bryan and his team made a strategic decision: fix the systems first. We talk through how Lafarge & Egge digitized their workflows, consolidated multiple tools into a single platform, and built a stronger operational foundation across two facilities. The impact has been significant—from faster quoting and contract review to better visibility on the shop floor and a much smoother audit process in a highly regulated aerospace environment. Bryan also shares lessons learned along the way, including how they capture tribal knowledge, manage complex quality requirements, and think about lean systems in a high-mix manufacturing environment. If you're interested in how manufacturers can modernize legacy processes while preserving the expertise that built the business, this conversation offers a practical and honest look at what that transformation actually takes. Topics Discussed Bryan's path from aerospace supply chain into manufacturing leadership What Lafarge & Egge manufactures and their specialization in high-pressure tube assemblies The operational challenges Bryan saw when he first joined the company The limitations of paper-based workflows and disconnected systems Why the team prioritized digitizing processes before investing in new equipment Replacing spreadsheets, databases, and manual workflows with a unified system Cutting contract review timelines from weeks to days Improving traceability, inspections, and audit readiness in aerospace manufacturing Coordinating operations across two facilities on a shared system How better visibility into data helps support growth and smarter decision-making Bryan on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bryanluttrell Lafarge & Egge: https://lafargeandegge.com/ Email: [email protected]