Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders Racing Toward Excellence: The Olson Brothers' Journey from the Track to the Shop Floor, 488
What happens when two brothers with a racing background decide to start a machine shop—with zero machining experience? You get Olson Custom Designs, a company that's gone from two Haas machines in 2014 to nearly 90 employees today—serving medical, defense, and aerospace industries out of a world-class facility in Indianapolis.
In this episode, we sit down with Mitch and Brian Olson to unpack the remarkable story behind their explosive growth. They share how their competitive drive from sprint car racing carried over to machining, the lessons learned from starting with no industry experience, and the systems that have fueled their scale—from culture to ProShop ERP.
The brothers talk openly about the struggles of starting from scratch, the importance of integrity and teamwork, and how they've built a facility and a culture that attracts top young talent. They also dig into how automation, palletization, and continuous improvement have allowed them to grow at breakneck speed without losing control of quality—or their vision for what manufacturing should look like.
This episode is packed with lessons on grit, growth, and leadership for anyone looking to take their shop from humble beginnings to high performance.
Segments- (0:58) The inspiring origin story of Olson Custom Designs
- (6:30) Grow your top and bottom line with CliftonLarsonAllen
- (7:08) Why integrity and belief in the customer's mission drive everything they do
- (10:13) Changing the perception of manufacturing through aesthetics and culture
- (12:37) Attracting young, passionate machinists with technology and image
- (13:54) The evolution of automation and palletization in a high-mix environment
- (16:21) Running 24/7 with volunteers and flexible shifts
- (18:02) Investing in ProShop ERP is an investment in your business
- (19:38) Creating a culture of accountability and clarity
- (21:38) The core values that guide OCD—integrity, fairness, and transparency
- (24:20) Systems that scale: how ProShop ERP became their backbone
- (30:45) Giving every employee a voice in continuous improvement
- (33:11) Section 232 Tariffs: What manufacturers need to know and how to comment
- (40:53) Brothers in business: why partnership made their success possible
- (43:10) The importance of complementary strengths and mutual respect
- (45:00) Sales and marketing as a growth engine—never taking your foot off the gas
- (49:09) Final takeaways: don't give up, ask for help, and delegate
- (52:09) Looking to hire? Check out Hire MFG Leaders
- Olson Custom Designs
- Connect with Mitch and Brian
- Grow your top and bottom line with CliftonLarsonAllen
- Investing in ProShop ERP is an investment in your business
- Looking to hire? Check out Hire MFG Leaders