Machine Shop Mastery 86. Using Business to Build People: Sam Thevanayagam’s Model for Manufacturing Leadership
When I think about inspiring stories of resilience and vision in the world of manufacturing, Sam Thevanayagam’s journey is one that stands out. In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I sit down with Sam, the founder of Parts Life Inc. and the leader behind Deval Lifecycle, to unpack his incredible path from Sri Lanka to Philadelphia, from downsizing his home to fund his dream, to acquiring a bankrupt business and transforming it into a thriving, mission-driven company employing nearly 200 people.
What struck me most about Sam is not just his sharp business acumen or the bold risks he’s taken—it’s the way he flips the traditional narrative. Instead of using people to build a business, he uses his business to build people. From brewing oatmeal for his team to helping nearly 30 employees buy their first homes, Sam has built a culture of empowerment, grace, and second chances. His deep belief in redemption and workforce development has shaped his companies into places where lives are transformed as much as parts.
We also dive into the strategic side of running a high-mix, low-volume shop that supports the defense industry. Sam shares how he navigated workforce shortages by launching his own in-house machining institute, how he invests in quality through systems and prevention, and why he believes visibility and trust with customers are just as important as making parts.
This episode is packed with lessons about leadership, perseverance, and what it means to align a business with purpose. Whether you’re running a small shop or scaling a growing organization, Sam’s story will leave you thinking differently about the role of a manufacturer in today’s world.
You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...- (0:20) Why Verdant Commercial Capital is a true partner
- (1:35) Sam’s inspiring journey from Sri Lanka to the U.S. and early career in manufacturing
- (5:17) Lessons from failure and turning point through education in operations and inventory control
- (8:37) Starting Parts Life during the 2008 recession and pivoting into defense
- (10:03) Solving obsolescence challenges with creativity and engineering detective work
- (12:00) Early defense contracts that scaled Parts Life from survival to rapid growth
- (13:37) Buying Deval Lifecycle out of bankruptcy—risk, faith, and a courtroom battle
- (17:18) Building trust with employees, union challenges, and creating a culture of flexibility
- (21:59) Using business to build people—minorities, refugees, second chances, and transformed lives
- (24:33) Creativity before capital: oatmeal breakfasts, benevolence funds, and home ownership programs
- (27:57) Find unrivaled transparency and customer service with Phoenix Heat Treating
- (29:39) Workforce challenges and launching an in-house machining and welding institute
- (31:53) Investing in supervisor training, quality systems, and the “Four Absolutes of Quality”
- (33:54) Learn more about their in-house machining and welding institute
- (37:55) Measuring the cost of nonconformance in dollars and tying it back to empowerment
- (40:38) Advice for shops seeking to enter the defense industry
- (47:56) Strategic acquisitions and diversifying across the lifecycle of defense programs
- (50:30) Building customer trust through visibility, communication, and systems
- (52:43) Advice for early-stage companies: Find mentors, work on constraints, and scale wisely
- (57:52) The future of subtractive machining versus additive manufacturing in defense
- (1:01:00) Closing reflections and how to connect with Sam and his companies
- (1:01:46) Grow your top and bottom line with CliftonLarsonAllen
- Why Verdant Commercial Capital is a true partner
- Find unrivaled transparency and customer service with Phoenix Heat Treating
- The Mystery of Capital
- Neighborliness: Love Like Jesus. Cross Dividing Lines. Transform Your Community.
- Grow your top and bottom line with CliftonLarsonAllen
- Connect on LinkedIn
- Parts Life Inc.
- Deval Lifecycle Support
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