How do you increase your capacity, make more chips, and bring on new clients without buying a new machine or pitching yourself to a single end user? Buying a company. Acquisitions are a large part of how we’ve all built our companies. But how do you start acquiring companies? Why would you want to?  In this episode of MakingChips, Adam Schmitt—the Managing Partner of ProFab Alliance—joins Jason, Nick, and I (Matthew Nix) to dive into the starting point of acquisitions. Because if you’re not making acquisitions, you’re not MakingChips, and if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM! – Matthew Nix Segments [3:43] Manufacturing News: Trade School Programs [9:39] Why should you make acquisitions?  [16:04] How should you look for acquisitions?  [23:35] Buyout conversations gone wrong [26:39] Why you need to pay attention to due diligence Resources mentioned on this episode FabTech Adam Schmitt ProFab Alliance Trade School Programs Thrive Amid Overall College Enrollment Decline Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Once you’ve implemented lean manufacturing, how do you sustain a lean culture? How do you motivate your team to focus on continuous improvement? How do you inspire them to keep reaching and passing their goals?  In this episode of MakingChips—part 2 of a live panel discussion at TSMA with special guests Doug Bawel, Femi D-Etti, and Jake Ward—we dive into what it takes to maintain a lean culture. It can be so easy to fall back into old patterns but it’s important to stay the course.  Because if you can’t sustain a lean culture, you won’t be MakingChips efficiently, and if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM! – Jason Segments [0:52] Leading measures for lean manufacturing [5:34] Balancing day-to-day with improvement projects [11:46] Learn more about NetSuite by Oracle [13:17] How to sustain a lean culture [17:40] Their biggest wins in the lean process [24:58] Some final thoughts on lean manufacturing  Resources mentioned on this episode Tri-State Manufacturers Alliance (TSMA) Doug Bawel: President/CEO of Jasper Engines & Transmissions Femi D-Etti: Vice-President & General Manager of AstraZeneca Jake Ward: Vice President of Manufacturing of Anchor Industries Learn more about NetSuite by Oracle The Basics of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan Should Your Shop be an ESOP? #292 The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

What is your definition of lean manufacturing? One definition of lean is “Maximizing the flow of value through your business to your customer.” We all want our business to be customer-centric, right? It’s a given that we all want to reduce waste and improve efficiency. But how do you do that? On this episode of MakingChips, we recorded a live panel discussion at TSMA with special guests Doug Bawel, Femi D-Etti, and Jake Ward. Each of them shares how they’re finding unique ways to build a lean culture through strategic leadership.  Because if you’re not implementing a lean culture, you’re not MakingChips efficiently, and if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM! – Nick Segments [2:50] What does lean manufacturing mean? [7:09] Introducing Doug Bawel, Femi D-Etti, and Jake Ward [14:50] The most important factor when introducing lean into your culture [22:33] How to use gamification to move your teams toward a goal Resources mentioned on this episode Tri-State Manufacturers Alliance (TSMA) Doug Bawel: President/CEO of Jasper Engines & Transmissions Femi D-Etti: Vice-President & General Manager of AstraZeneca Jake Ward: Vice President of Manufacturing of Anchor Industries The Basics of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan Should Your Shop be an ESOP? #292 The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

What is going on with the economy? We’re all feeling a slowdown in the manufacturing industry. So what gives? What happens in the economy can be directly impacted by politics. It can be impacted by war. It can be impacted by interest rates and the rising costs of consumer goods. Nicole Wolter—the President and CEO of HM Manufacturing—joins us again to dissect what we see happening with the economy and what you can do to start marking more chips. Because if you aren’t MakingChips, you aren’t making money. BAM! – Jason Segments [0:15] Netsuite by Oracle  [4:04] Nicole’s experience representing manufacturing at the white house [9:25] Lessons from manufacturing leaders: How AI will help manufacturing [15:23] What is the manufacturing economy like right now?  [18:27] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [26:05] Why are we in our current economic position?  [31:01] What should you do when the economy is down? Resources mentioned on this episode Nicole Wolters on LinkedIn Oracle Netsuite: FREE CFO's Ultimate KPI Checklist What is Industry 4.0? The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Today’s controversial topic: What is a woman…in manufacturing? We need to inspire the next generation of women to pursue a career path in manufacturing. But is the “sex sells” movement killing any chance of that? I’m Nicole Wolter—the President and CEO of HM Manufacturing. In this episode of MakingChips, I share how we can attract more women to manufacturing. Because if you’re not making chips, you’re not making money. BAM! Segments Segments [0:19] Netsuite by Oracle  [2:44] Introducing Nicole Wolter [3:35] What’s the chip on your shoulder? [8:57] Is “Sex sells” corrupting the women in manufacturing movement? [13:06] How do we attract more women to manufacturing?  [15:17] Everyone is welcome in manufacturing [18:45] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [19:24] The “booth babe” rant [24:58] Getting girls interested in manufacturing  [27:38] What is a Woman in Manufacturing? [31:40] How to support other women in manufacturing Resources mentioned on this episode Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn HM Manufacturing  Oracle Netsuite: FREE CFO's Ultimate KPI Checklist The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop What the Heck is a Samurai CNC Machinist? 309 New Generation, New Ways w/Nicole Wolter Shifting Gears at HM Manufacturing – When Crisis Strikes On The Shop Floor (Part 1) MC116: Shifting Into Overdrive with Nicole Wolter - Overcoming Adversity (Part 2) Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Many companies strive to move toward digital transformation. Some struggle with the process. Others—like JJR Fabrication—see remarkable results. They’ve seen enormous efficiency and throughput improvements by embracing digital workflows while ensuring the physical side of their shop is in full alignment.  This includes doing things like lean manufacturing work, Kaizen activities, and really embracing the ProShop way of doing things. Kevin Richards and Lynne DuBose from JJR Fabrication join us in this episode of MakingChips to share how their leap toward a digital transformation was a game-changer for their business.  Because if you’re not being efficient, you’re not making chips, and if you’re not making chips, you’re not making money. BAM! – Paul Van Metre Segments [0:12] Learn more about Netsuite by Oracle [4:44] Lessons for manufacturing leaders [7:47] Introducing Kevin Richards and Lynne DuBose [11:09] How I met Kevin and Lynn [12:41] Making the transition to ProShop [20:20] The physical changes they’ve implemented [24:17] The premise of the book “2 Second Lean” [27:25] Why they implemented a morning meeting [29:16] Creating a thoughtful pre-production checklist [35:47] 4 Lessons for a successful digital transformation [37:33] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop Resources mentioned on this episode Netsuite by Oracle ProShop ERP The Machine Shop Mastery podcast JJR Fabrication Connect with Lynne DuBose on LinkedIn Connect with Kevin Richards on LinkedIn 2 Second Lean by Paul Akers Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

How do you grow a business while raising a family? When you and your spouse are business partners, how do you choose what to prioritize and when? Matthew and Lindsey Nix have been navigating this challenging road together for years. In the second part of a two-part episode (check out episode #1 first), Matthew and Lindsey share some of the lessons they’ve learned about leadership and family life. Because if you aren’t making chips, you aren’t making money—and you aren’t providing for your family. BAM! – Jason Segments [0:20] Learn more about Oracle Netsuite [3:00] The BIG news: Baby #4 is on the way! [4:47] What’s more important: The business or the marriage? [6:11] What’s the chip on your shoulder? [9:34] Set boundaries for each other [12:50] Overcoming the negative voice in your head [14:49] “Treat people like you would want your kids to be treated.” [17:56] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [18:36] Balancing the kids and the business Resources mentioned on this episode Netsuite by Oracle The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

What is it like to be married to your business partner? Especially when both people are very involved in the business. The metalworking industry is dominated by family-owned businesses. I’d love to see more husbands and wives team up to grow manufacturing together. In the next two episodes of MakingChips, special guests Lindsey and Matthew Nix share what it’s like to grow a business as a united front. Because if you aren’t making chips together, you aren’t making money. BAM!  Segments [0:22] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [3:28] Introducing today’s guests: Matthew & Lindsay Nix [7:13] Manufacturing News: We Need More Hybrid Cars [14:58] How Lindsey became part of the business [17:57] What catapulted their major growth [19:25] Lindsey’s role throughout the years [23:50] The challenges of a married couple working together Resources mentioned on this episode Nix Companies Matthew Nix on LinkedIn Lindsey Nix on LinkedIn Toyota Is Right: We Need More Hybrid Cars and Fewer EVs. Here’s Why “People, Process, and Performance" A Special Live Event Interview Can You Scale Rapidly After 100 Years of Slow Growth? 308 Manufacturing a Successful Business and Marriage, 334 The MTForecast Conference Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Are you embracing automation in your shop? Or are you hesitating because you’re unsure how to implement it so that you’re making the best use of your time and money? Brian Kippen—the owner and CEO of KAD Models & Prototypes—reframes how you can use automation.  In this episode of MakingChips, Brian Kippen, Steve DeGrasse, and I share how you can approach automation from a different perspective. Because if you’re not automating efficiently, you’re not MakingChips, and if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM! – Nick Segments [0:15] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [1:48] Introducing Brian Kippen and Steve DeGrasse [3:12] What's the Chip on Your Shoulder? [5:30] Brian Kippen’s origin story [20:36] How Brian approaches automation differently  [24:28] Running his company like a barbershop [30:21] What Brian looks for in new talent [36:44] How Brian is using automated pallet delivery [41:10] Why Brian took a job as a high school teacher Resources mentioned on this episode The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop Connect with Steve DeGrasse on LinkedIn Connect with Brian Kippen on LinkedIn Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

I created a campaign to build awareness for machinists. Why? Because, sadly, the general public knows very little about manufacturing. They don’t look around them and see what we see: That almost everything is machined.  So in this episode of MakingChips, I’ll share a few ways you can highlight manufacturing in your communities. It’s not just to build awareness but to also grow interest in manufacturing in the next generation. Because what would happen if no one was MakingChips? – Paul Van Metre Segments [2:51] Leadership Spotlight: Jacob Sanchez [5:17] Everything is influenced or created by machines [9:28] What inspired #ThankAMachinist  [11:00] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop [12:19] How to shine a spotlight on manufacturing  Resources mentioned on this episode Jacob Sanchez So God Made a Farmer Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube