MakingChips Podcast

In this episode, hosts Matthew and Casey sit down with Codie Aljets, owner and artist behind Sage Country Customs, to talk about the realities of building a business around custom metal art. Codie shares how he turned his passion for high-detail metal artwork into a full-time career, the lessons he’s learned about pricing creative work, […]

What happens when an entrepreneur with deep manufacturing roots but limited machining experience buys a 30-year-old job shop? In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, Billy Banks shares what it looks like to step into ownership, inherit a legacy culture, and begin reshaping a business with fresh energy, new leadership philosophy, and a long-term growth […]

The skilled labor shortage didn’t happen by accident. We built it. In this episode of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast, Kirk Phelps sits down with Andrew Skoog of Machinist X to unpack one of the hardest questions in manufacturing: How did we let the skilled machinist pipeline get this thin — and what do we […]

Imagine robots moving freely alongside your team, navigating unpredictable spaces and handling tasks once reserved only for people. In this conversation, Shari Brown and Krystal Mattich of Brain Corp pull back the curtain on the role autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs, can play in manufacturing environments. More specifically, they’ll talk about safety considerations, data security […]

They started a machine shop before turning 30… and doubled their projections in year one. In this episode of MakingChips Generation CNC, we sit down with Sean and Sinjon of Three Rivers Precision to hear how two mechanical engineers turned hands-on curiosity into a high-end machining business focused on five-axis work, titanium, and complex parts. […]

This is our first video edition of TMM! Check out the link to watch the show on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp6flj5Se-Q Taylor Corrado from Wistia joins Nihal and Brendon on The Manufacturing Marketer for our first ever video-podcast. The topic? Video, obviously. We’re covering video trends for industrial marketers in 2026 — on social, through webinars, and […]

CMMC is no longer something manufacturers can afford to ignore. If you’re doing work in the defense supply chain—or even thinking about it—this is quickly becoming a requirement, not a “nice to have.” And what makes it challenging is that it’s not just about passing an audit. It’s about how your entire business handles data, […]

Taking over a family machine shop is one challenge. Scaling it rapidly while navigating defense-industry cybersecurity requirements is another entirely. In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, Paul sits down with Jessica Eckman of Bent River Machine, an Arizona-based factory tooling and automation company that has been building complex equipment since 1978. After Jessica and […]

The Truth About Aerospace Work for Machine Shops Aerospace manufacturing is often seen as the ultimate growth opportunity for machine shops. Higher margins, better customers, and long-term contracts. But here’s the reality: Aerospace isn’t just another industry. It’s a completely different way of running your shop. In this episode of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast, […]

Andrea D. Carter, organizational scientist and founder of Andrea Carter Consulting, joins The Manufacturing Employer to share how measurable belonging can transform manufacturing culture. Andrea discusses her Belonging First methodology and its five key indicators that drive trust, performance and retention. She explores the real costs of culture gaps, how leaders often miss hidden pockets […]

Manufacturers everywhere are doubling down on data centers and AI infrastructure, fueling a surge in investment that has many asking: are we living in a bubble, or is this the start of long-term, transformative growth? In today’s conversation, CFO and Co-Founder of viaPhoton, Wasif Khan, will share his perspective about what’s really driving this wave […]

Automation and lights-out manufacturing are often framed as the future of machining, but for many shops that future is already here. In this episode of MakingChips, we sit down with longtime industry leader Keith Grano to talk about what lights-out machining actually looks like in practice. Drawing on years of experience working with manufacturers, Keith […]

What happens when you take months of serious conversations about automation ROI, additive manufacturing, machine monitoring, adaptive controls, and digital factory strategy… and turn them into Jeopardy? Chaos. Competitive chaos. In this special episode of Lights Out, Eric Nekich steps into full game-show-host mode and challenges Dave Vuyk, Nick Goellner, and special guest Mike Payne […]

FOMO no more! Tune in for a glimpse of the Industrial Marketing Summit as it happens. Peyton sits down with four attendees to get their take on what they’re learning and how they plan to put it into action as soon as they get back to their desks. We’ll hear from: Lauren Burkle, Creative Strategist […]

🔥 Welcome to Making Sparks, the podcast where we ignite your passion for metal fabrication and fuel your business success! 🔥 In this episode, hosts Matthew and Casey sit down with Will England of England Ironworks to explore what modern fabricators can learn from traditional blacksmithing. From watching steel move like Play-Doh at 2,000 degrees […]

Buying a machine shop from the outside can sound intimidating. For Nik and Aaron of Mahler Machining, it was also an opportunity. In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, Paul sits down with the two partners who acquired a precision machining business in Vancouver, British Columbia after spending nearly a decade in corporate finance and […]

Young people aren’t avoiding manufacturing because they hate it. Most of them simply don’t know it exists as a career path. In this episode of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast, Kirk Phelps sits down with Mike Franz of Shop Floor Coffee to explore why fewer young people are entering the manufacturing industry — and what […]

Why do so many manufacturers still rely on paper, spreadsheets and disconnected systems to run complex operations? And what unfolds when they step into fully integrated, data-driven environments? In this episode, President at Applied Control Engineering, Inc, Ian Burns, will answer these questions. He’ll also explain how digital twins are impacting everything from operator training […]

At 17 years old, Michael King bought a brand-new CNC machine despite never having seen one in person. With no formal trade school background or apprenticeship, he relied on years of self-directed learning, curiosity, and a steady stream of YouTube machining content to take the leap. He sectioned off space in his dad’s warehouse, installed […]

Most of the time on Buy the Numbers, we focus on revenue growth, margin improvement, cash flow strategy, or capital investments. But in this episode, we turn our attention to something many manufacturers rarely question: utility expenses. Electricity. Gas. Water. Sewer. Waste. For most of us, these bills show up, we pay them, and we […]