Hiring Smarter, Scaling Faster: Engineering Leadership & Automation Growth Strategies

In Episode 60 of the Manufacturing Automation Podcast, Michael Gimbel (Gimbel Automation) and Matt Moseman (Developed LLC) dive deep into the real-world challenges and wins of scaling industrial automation companies. From hiring high-caliber engineering talent to fixing production bottlenecks, this episode is packed with insights for anyone in manufacturing, CNC automation, robotics integration, engineering leadership, and industrial operations.

This week, the guys break down:

Michael shares how bringing on a VP of Engineering instantly moved the needle across R&D, product refinement, and throughput — and why he regrets not making the hire sooner.

They talk through backlog pressure, longer lead times, and the shift from “selling hard” to “choosing the right customers” as automation adoption accelerates.

Growing automation companies means navigating terms, inventory, complex POs, and why cash-based accounting stops making sense once you scale.

Matt and Michael discuss Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube Shorts, trade shows, SEO, and creating a central content vault to multiply high-value manufacturing leads without burning out.

Everything from metric hardware migration, foam insert redesign, fixture optimization, semi-automated CAM, and macro testing — to how small engineering details compound into big operational wins.

A field-failure story highlights the reality of building reliable CNC automation inside OEM limitations — and why redundancy, software updates, and customer communication matter.

They explore the mental load of running automation companies, balancing optimism with financial responsibility, and knowing when to push vs. when to stabilize.

Whether you're running a CNC shop, building automation products, integrating robotics, or scaling a manufacturing startup — this episode delivers grounded, shop-floor-real perspective you won’t find on typical business podcasts.

No fluff. No theory. Just two founders building the future of industrial automation.

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