Top Shops 2025 brought together the most innovative, forward-thinking leaders in manufacturing—and this year's gathering at the NASCAR Hall of Fame felt like stepping directly into the winners' circle. Surrounded by the energy of hundreds of top-tier manufacturers, we sat down with the four shops recognized as the crème de la crème in their categories: Technology, Shopfloor Technology, Business Strategy, and Human Resources. Together, these honorees represent what's possible when ambition meets execution.

In this special episode of MakingChips, recorded live in Charlotte, we talk with each winner about the decisions, investments, philosophies, and people that drove their rise to the top. From multimachine pallet-tech automation and Swiss machining efficiency to bold equipment investments and workforce strategies that transform culture, each story reveals a different path to excellence. Yet all four shops share a mindset of curiosity, courage, and relentless improvement.

Throughout these conversations, we explore how technology becomes a competitive advantage, how small teams can deliver massive output, why unconventional business strategies can pay off, and how employee-first leadership becomes the backbone of success. Every guest brings candor, humor, and real-world wisdom—showing that you don't become a Top Shop by accident.

Whether you're just starting your Top Shops journey or are already benchmarking in the top percentile, you'll walk away from this episode energized, inspired, and equipped with ideas you can put into practice immediately. Because these shops aren't just winning awards—they're redefining what modern manufacturing looks like.

Segments

(0:48) Opening from the NASCAR Hall of Fame at Top Shops 2025
(1:28) What are the Top Shops award categories and how does the survey work?
(2:19) Why investing in ProShop is an investment in your business
(3:56) A conversation with Joey Jones on Aerotech Machining and their award
(9:17) The details of Aerotech Machining's automation journey
(12:47) Introducing Jayme Rahz of Midway Swiss Turn and their shop floor practices award
(15:03) When robotics become accessible and feasible for Midway Swiss Turn
(18:59) How do you train new employees with no Swiss experience?
(19:50) Staying niche instead of chasing high-volume work
(22:02) Grow your top and bottom-line with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA)
(22:40) Mike Bauer with Marathon Precision on winning the Business Strategy award
(25:13) Why Mike buys machines before having the work (his spiderweb method)
(30:27) Machine count, headcount, and shop expansion history
(31:40) Consolidating two businesses and retraining all employees
(32:40) Allison Giddens joins the conversation and introduces Win-Tech
(34:44) Implementing a 4×10 schedule and early challenges
(37:23) Using the Top Shops survey for benchmarking and improvement
(40:17) Building culture and partnering with local trade schools
(41:22) Challenges in technical education and the need for better instructors
(45:53) Why you should listen to the Lights Out podcast

Resources mentioned on this episode

Why investing in ProShop is an investment in your business
Connect with Joey Jones with Aerotech Machining (Technology award)
Introducing Jayme Rahz of Midway Swiss Turn and their shop floor practices award
Grow your top and bottom-line with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA)
Michael Bauer with Marathon Precision on winning the Business Strategy award
Allison Giddens joins the conversation and introduces Win-Tech
Complete the 2026 Top Shops Survey and see us at Top Shops 2026!

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