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PODCAST

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

MakingChips LLC

Manufacturing is tough—but you don"t have to go it alone. If you"re leading a manufacturing business, you face constant pressure: staying competitive, adopting new tech, managing people, and driving growth. MakingChips helps you tackle those challenges head-on. Since 2014, we"ve been equipping manufacturing leaders with the knowledge and inspiration they need to succeed. With hundreds of episodes and over a million downloads, MakingChips is a top resource for the metalworking nation—covering

business management

All Episodes

57:33

The Tech Stack Advantage: Turning Software into a...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/05/19

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 next CNC machine purchase. They explore how an intentional, integrated digital backbone isn’t just for

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39:17

Gorilla 76 In the House: A New Era for Manufacturing...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/05/12

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 into the MakingChips Network. Joe opens up about the early missteps of trying to be everything to

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31:27

The Home of MFG: Uniting Events, Podcasts, and Tools...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/05/08

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 floors to launching an ambitious initiative aimed at organizing the chaos of manufacturing content. We talk

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44:49

Meet MAESTRO: How Hexagon is Turning Quality Into a...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/05/06

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 enabler. MAESTRO isn’t just faster or sleeker—it’s smarter. Built from the ground up with the realities of

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01:14:51

Machines Are Just the Start (How to Build a Shop That...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/04/28

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. We walk through what it really takes to get started, from the very first piece of equipment to

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01:04:42

Funding Your Dream Shop: Creative Ownership...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/04/21

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 would-be shop owners assume they need a mountain of cash sitting in the bank before they can even begin

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35:09

The Quiet Cut That's Loudly Threatening Small...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/04/19

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—without clear communication or reasoning—have sparked confusion and alarm among industry insiders. In

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41:13

The Legal + Financial Stuff No One Warns You About...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/04/14

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 episode of MakingChips, we pick up where part one left off and get granular with the real-life process of

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39:51

Shop Formation 101: Entity Types, Tax Traps, and...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/04/07

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—of your growth. In this episode, the team dives deep into the critical, yet often overlooked, process

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40:46

Breaking Boundaries: Building the Entrepreneurial...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/03/31

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 reflect on the realities of entrepreneurship, you’ll gain a firsthand look at the mindset necessary to

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47:20

Machine Shop MBA: How to Become a Top Shop with Brent...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/03/24

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 to employee engagement. The Top Shops survey isn’t just another tool; it’s a blueprint for success. By

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44:17

Introducing Machine Shop Growth: Scaling Success with...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/03/17

Ever wonder why some machine shops experience rapid, exponential growth while others hit a ceiling? In this episode of MakingChips, we dive into the strategies behind this growth with Kirk Phelps and Mike Fritz—two seasoned veterans in the machine shop industry who have cracked the code on scaling businesses. With a focus on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), they’ve successfully expanded their operations, acquiring multiple shops and driving growth in ways that many shop owners overlook. Kirk and

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52:43

Unpacking Real-World Applications of AI in...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/03/10

In this episode of MakingChips, we dive into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and how it is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry. Special guest Bryce Barnes, a manufacturing AI consultant, shares his expertise and insights on how AI is transforming both the shop floor and business operations. As a former mechanical engineer turned AI specialist, Bryce explains how manufacturers can leverage technology, such as machine learning and AI-driven CAM solutions, to increase efficiency and

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01:11:02

Cybersecurity Requirements for DoD Contractors: A...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/03/03

In this episode of MakingChips, we take a deep-dive into the complexities of cybersecurity requirements for manufacturers working with the Department of Defense (DoD) with expert Jacob Horne. Jacob, the Chief Cybersecurity Evangelist at Summit 7, brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation, especially as it relates to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). His deep dive into the CMMC program offers invaluable insights for manufacturers navigating the rapidly changing landscape

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30:12

How Mike Nager is Closing the Awareness Gap with...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/02/24

We’re always looking for ways to build greater awareness of manufacturing, and we believe the conversation needs to start at an earlier age. That’s why we’re excited to speak with people like Michael (Mike) Nager, who shares our passion for bridging the gap. Mike is a passionate advocate for raising awareness about manufacturing through children’s literature. As a long-time industry professional, Mike saw a gap in how manufacturing is presented to younger generations. In response, he created

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40:24

Hire MFG Leaders: Revolutionizing Recruiting for...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/02/14

The biggest problem in manufacturing today? Finding and retaining the right talent. Labor shortages aren’t just about filling positions; it’s about finding people who will truly thrive in your company culture and help drive long-term growth. But how do you accomplish that? Trevor O'Malley and Myles Rickerd bring a fresh perspective to talent acquisition that is tailored specifically to the needs of manufacturers—and we’re teaming up with them. In this episode, we're excited to introduce Hire MFG

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35:53

Why AI Isn’t the Answer for Quoting: The Risks of...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/02/10

In manufacturing, speed matters—especially when it comes to quoting. If you can’t turn around quotes quickly and accurately, your customers will move on to someone who can. But should you leverage AI, like ChatGPT, to make the quoting process easier? In this episode of MakingChips, we’re tackling a hot topic: the risks and limitations of using large language models for estimating and quoting. Jason Ray, the co-founder and CEO of Paperless Parts, joins us to break down why these AI tools

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29:17

The Business of MakingChips: From Shop Floor to CEO, 449

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/02/03

Many machinists dream of owning their own shop. But there’s a big difference between being great at making chips and being great at running a business—just like a skilled operator isn’t automatically a great manager. That’s why we’re launching a new series—think of it as a MasterClass on starting, running, and growing a successful machine shop. Business school teaches general principles, but the real lessons? You learn those on the shop floor, through experience, and sometimes the hard way. We want

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54:07

How Systems and Processes Can Transform Your Shop's...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/01/28

What’s the secret to scaling a manufacturing business? For Mike, it all started with a growing passion for manufacturing, a desire to learn, and the decision to implement ProShop ERP. In this episode of MakingChips, Paul and Mike share their origin stories and dive into the transformative power of systems, processes, and ProShop. Mike’s journey began with a love for technology and shop floor data collection, but his path took a turn when he acquired Hill Manufacturing in 2018. From there, he leaned

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28:03

Precision Under Pressure: How Machinists Empower...

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders ·

2025/01/20

Watching the wildfires spread in Los Angeles is both heartbreaking and sobering. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this unspeakable tragedy. We’re also reminded of the bravery and dedication of first responders—firefighters on the ground and pilots flying “super scoopers” to drop water where it’s needed most. But behind every heroic effort is another layer of unsung heroes: machinists. Why? Because these life-saving missions rely on precision-made tools and equipment, much of

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506 results

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