The Manufacturing Automation Podcast

In Episode 64 of the Manufacturing Automation Podcast, Michael Gimbel and Matt Moseman dig into what it actually looks like to run and scale an automation business when the hype wears off.This episode covers:Hiring realities and why “working interviews” reveal more than resumesFounder stress, perspective traps, and learning to measure the right metricsProfit-first thinking vs. raw growth in capital-intensive businessesWebsite conversion strategy, SEO obsession, and messaging clarityProduct demand signals, beta launches, and pricing confidenceAutomation product mix decisions and long-term market education challengesTime tracking, utilization, and building real COGS visibilityLeadership, culture shifts, and reducing founder dependencyThis is a candid, operator-level conversation about decision-making, discipline, and building sustainable automation companies — not just impressive ones.If you’re a manufacturer, integrator, or founder navigating growth, hiring, and product strategy, this episode is for you.👉 Listen to the Manufacturing Automation Podcast on Spotify and follow the show for weekly conversations on building automation businesses the right way.No theory. No fluff. Just two founders documenting the journey. New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe and join the conversation.

In Episode 63 of the Manufacturing Automation Podcast, Michael Gimbel and Matt Moseman kick off the new year by reflecting on 2025 and setting a more disciplined, profit-driven direction for 2026.They dig into the shift from cash to accrual accounting, applying Profit First principles, and why growth without margin creates unnecessary stress. The conversation also covers product strategy decisions, simplifying automation offerings, market education challenges, and designing products that scale — not just technically, but operationally.This episode covers:Accrual vs cash accounting in automation businessesProfit First mindset and financial disciplineProduct mix decisions and scaling realitiesMarket education vs product eleganceEngineering capacity, CI priorities, and team accountabilityBuilding companies from a position of strengthNo theory. No fluff. Just two founders documenting the journey.New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe and join the conversation.

In Episode 62 of the Manufacturing Automation Podcast, Michael Gimbel and Matt Moseman unpack a high-energy, high-stress week inside two growing automation companies.They cover factory acceptance pressure, hiring engineers and machinists, refining interview processes, and the realities of scaling technical teams without compromising culture. The conversation also dives deep into sales and marketing execution — from viral product moments and conversion optimization to AI tools, website design, and where automation buyers actually want friction removed.This episode touches on:Factory acceptance weeks and capital equipment pressureHiring engineers, machinists, and culture-fit technical talentSales mistakes, boundary setting, and protecting founder timeMarketing automation, AI tools, and conversion optimizationWhen to outsource vs bring machining back in-houseDelegation, accountability, and founder bottlenecksIf you’re running or scaling an automation, CNC, or manufacturing business, this episode is an honest look at what growth actually feels like behind the scenes.No theory. No fluff. Just two founders documenting the journey.New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe and join the conversation.

In Episode 61 of the Manufacturing Automation Podcast, Michael Gimbel and Matt Moseman check in on a busy week inside two growing automation businesses.They talk through real-world challenges around machine installs, troubleshooting communication issues, hiring engineers and machinists, forecasting workload, and balancing growth with capacity. The conversation also dives into marketing realities in manufacturing, paid ads performance, content strategy, and how small process improvements compound over time.This episode covers:Automation installs and on-site problem solvingHiring strategies for engineers, machinists, and technical rolesSales momentum, pipeline pressure, and start-date driven closesMarketing experiments, ad performance, and ROI realitiesContinuous improvement, version control, and product refinementThe mental load of running and scaling automation companiesIf you’re building or running an automation, CNC, or manufacturing business, this episode offers an honest look at what growth actually feels like week to week.No fluff. No theory. Just two founders building the future of industrial automation.New episodes every week — follow the show to stay updated.

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.New episodes every week — follow the show to stay updated.

Hosted by: Michael Gimbel (Gimbel Automation) & Matt Moseman (Developed LLC)Platforms: Spotify • Apple Podcasts • YouTubeThe Manufacturing Automation Podcast is where two automation-obsessed founders pull back the curtain on what it really takes to build, scale, and lead modern industrial automation companies.Every week, Michael and Matt jump into an open, unfiltered conversation about:• Growing and running automation companiesReal talk about backlog management, hiring struggles, team leadership, burnout, wins, screwups, and everything in between.• Sales & Marketing in the industrial worldFrom ad spend efficiency to SEO, attribution tools, content strategy, demos, and how deals actually get closed in a B2B manufacturing economy.• Engineering, R&D, and product developmentAutomation, robotics, fixtures, grippers, software—plus the reality of debugging, edge cases, failed tests, and the breakthroughs that make it all worthwhile.• Continuous improvement & real-world operationsProcess refinement, lean thinking, project flow, customer management, pricing discipline, and building systems that actually scale.• Life as founders in industrial automationMental load, personal growth, leadership evolution, and the mindsets that keep a business moving through chaotic seasons.Whether you’re a machinist, engineer, shop owner, automation integrator, or you’re building hardware and robotics from the ground up — this podcast gives you the honest, inside-the-shop perspective you won’t find anywhere else.No theory. No fluff. Just documenting the journey.New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe and join the conversation.

Matt and Michael compare notes on a surprising truth: pushing lead times out actually improved close rates—and sanity. Michael shares how a few e-commerce fixes (cleaner checkout, aggressive email capture) plus Meta + Google PMax ads are finally delivering real ROAS, while Matt walks through shop-floor wins—from 1701’s palletized case-packing speeds to kicking off a multi-robot project. They dig into vendor-built subassemblies, a company-wide shift to metric, and email-gated Fusion CAD embeds that trade downloads for qualified contacts. The through-line: stop brute-forcing growth; eliminate steps, raise the bar, and let systems carry the load.

Matt and Michael open up about the hardest phase of growth yet—scaling while exhausted. From sorting through 500+ job applicants to navigating burnout, trade show fatigue, and the fine line between serving customers and setting boundaries, this episode gets real about what it takes to run a growing manufacturing business.They cover trial-day hiring tests, customer scope creep, and the chaos of being your own head of engineering, sales, and ops all at once. Matt shares lessons from three back-to-back trade shows, and Michael reflects on how to rebuild systems, protect margins, and stop living in the “urgent and important” quadrant.Along the way, they debate lifestyle business vs. growth company, what makes a good hire, and how to know when to pull back—or push forward. It’s a grounded, honest look at the messy middle of manufacturing entrepreneurship and the discipline required to build something sustainable.

Matt and Michael dive into the real-world challenges of scaling a manufacturing company—from letting go of control to navigating tough customers and trade show ROI. Michael reflects on learning to delegate, setting boundaries with unreasonable clients, and choosing which orders to take as demand grows. Matt, fresh off the MD&M trade show, shares how live events pressure-test both product and people—and how one broken AI sales tool turned into a valuable workflow lesson.Together, they explore the balance between sales velocity and buyer confidence, why faster isn’t always better, and how to decide when a trade show is worth the investment. The conversation expands into marketing automation, Shopify strategy, and 3D model integration, revealing how small process improvements compound into massive leverage.The episode closes with a candid look at leadership transitions, hiring discipline, and rediscovering excitement in “boring” systems—because in manufacturing, scaling isn’t just about building better machines; it’s about building better companies.

Matt and Michael sit down to unpack the growing pains that come with scaling from builder to CEO. From juggling trade shows and staffing shortages to fixing water jets and optimizing Shopify conversion rates, this episode captures what it really looks like to grow a manufacturing company in real time.They discuss the balance between speed and control, the discipline of hiring slowly, and the struggle to delegate when production pressure is high. Michael reflects on hitting the limits of what worked for a $2M company—and what it takes to evolve toward a $4M operation—while Matt shares how consistency, recurring revenue, and system thinking define sustainable growth.The conversation moves fluidly between cash flow, client terms, financing models, and trade show ROI, all tied together by one theme: learning to work on the business, not just in it. Whether you’re an engineer, entrepreneur, or operator trying to scale, this episode is a candid look at the mindset shift required to lead through growth.