In manufacturing, everyone talks about the skills gap. Fewer people talk about the relationships, systems, and long-term commitment it takes to solve it. In this episode of MakingChips, we continue our GenCNC series by exploring a powerful partnership between Northridge High School and JD Machine, a collaboration that is creating a steady pipeline of young manufacturing talent and proving that workforce development doesn't happen by accident. Kurt Jensen has spent more than two decades teaching ...
Jun 01, 2026•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 524
Recorded live from the Toolpath Machining Summit at Mammoth Mountain, this episode of MakingChips explores what happens when software thinking collides with modern manufacturing. We sat down with SendCutSend founder Jim Belosic and CNC leader Phil Linscheid for a conversation about speed, automation, growth, and the changing realities of manufacturing in America. What started as frustration sourcing one-off sheet metal parts has evolved into one of the industry's most talked-about manufacturing ...
May 25, 2026•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 523
What happens when a young woman with zero machining experience gets handed the keys to two CNC mills and told, "Figure it out"? For Melissa Ramos, it became the start of a journey that's equal parts grit, creativity, community, and stubborn determination. In this episode of MakingChips, we sit down with the founder of M95 Machining to unpack how she went from crashing machines, crying in shop bathrooms, and being dismissed in trade school… to building a respected machining brand with a massive s...
May 18, 2026•41 min•Ep. 522
What if the future of your machine shop isn't just faster spindles or more automation—but an entirely different way of making parts? In this episode of MakingChips: Generation CNC, we sit down with David Bamforth of Renscott Manufacturing, a young entrepreneur who's not just building a shop—he's redefining what one can be. By combining CNC machining with metal additive manufacturing, David has positioned his company at the intersection of two worlds, creating a powerful competitive edge in aeros...
May 11, 2026•52 min
What happens when global policy decisions collide with the realities of the shop floor? In this episode of MakingChips, the team sits down with Brennan Grignon, founder and CEO of Vantive, to unpack the hidden complexity behind supply chains that power everything from defense systems to everyday manufacturing. With experience advising at the highest levels of government, Brennan brings a rare perspective on how geopolitical decisions ripple all the way down to machine shops across the country. A...
May 04, 2026•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 520
Sometimes the path into manufacturing isn't a straight line but more like a ricochet. That's exactly how Mark Christopher's journey began. From nearly flunking out of college to becoming a key voice at DN Solutions, Mark's story is a testament to what happens when curiosity meets opportunity. What started as a fallback plan quickly evolved into a 30-year career built on solving problems, challenging assumptions, and helping shops unlock their full potential. In this episode of MakingChips, we si...
Apr 27, 2026•53 min•Ep. 519
Finding skilled talent isn't the problem anymore, it's developing it. And in manufacturing, the shops that win aren't just the ones with the best machines, they're the ones connected to the right pipeline. In this episode, we sit down with Gary Nadeau of Westfield Technical Academy, a program that has been quietly producing highly capable machinists for decades. With a structure that blends classroom learning, hands-on shop experience, and real-world co-op placements, Gary and his team have buil...
Apr 20, 2026•50 min•Ep. 518
What does the next generation of manufacturing ownership really look like? In this episode of MakingChips, we sit down with Mason Nicholas, a 21-year-old shop owner who's building his business one machine, one customer, and one sleepless night at a time. His journey didn't start with a formal apprenticeship or engineering degree. It started with motorcycles, model cars, a 3D printer, and a curiosity about how things are made. Mason walks through the unconventional path that led him into machinin...
Apr 13, 2026•46 min•Ep. 517
What happens when a college engineering student buys a CNC machine just to experiment… and accidentally builds an aerospace machine shop? That's exactly what Nick Preece did. What started as a curiosity fueled by YouTube videos and garage tinkering quickly evolved into Preece Machining & Assembly, a fast-growing shop focused on complex, high-mix aerospace work. In this Gen CNC episode, Nick shares how he bootstrapped the business from a used mill and a $1,200/month goal into a 10+ machine op...
Apr 06, 2026•52 min•Ep. 516
What happens when a childhood obsession with trains turns into a manufacturing business? In this episode of MakingChips Generation CNC, we sit down with Chris Huffman, a young shop owner who launched Huffman Machining Solutions at just 21 years old. Now 26, Chris is building his business one machine, one customer, and one calculated risk at a time. Chris didn't grow up in a machining family, and he didn't follow the traditional path into manufacturing. Instead, his curiosity started with steam l...
Mar 30, 2026•50 min•Ep. 515
They started a machine shop before turning 30… and doubled their projections in year one. In this episode of MakingChips Generation CNC, we sit down with Sean and Sinjon of Three Rivers Precision to hear how two mechanical engineers turned hands-on curiosity into a high-end machining business focused on five-axis work, titanium, and complex parts. What began in a university machine shop quickly evolved into five years of learning inside a young manufacturing company, where they gained experience...
Mar 23, 2026•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 514
Automation and lights-out manufacturing are often framed as the future of machining, but for many shops that future is already here. In this episode of MakingChips, we sit down with longtime industry leader Keith Grano to talk about what lights-out machining actually looks like in practice. Drawing on years of experience working with manufacturers, Keith explains how automation, machine monitoring, and disciplined processes allow shops to run more efficiently and extend production beyond the tra...
Mar 16, 2026•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 513
At 17 years old, Michael King bought a brand-new CNC machine despite never having seen one in person . With no formal trade school background or apprenticeship, he relied on years of self-directed learning, curiosity, and a steady stream of YouTube machining content to take the leap. He sectioned off space in his dad's warehouse, installed a Haas DM2, and started figuring it out in real time. What began as a personal interest in building things quickly turned into real production work. A stainle...
Mar 09, 2026•42 min•Ep. 512
In this episode of MakingChips, we continue our young founders series with a story that challenges the traditional growth narrative in manufacturing. At just 26, Walter Peters is balancing a full-time job at a defense-focused shop with building MW Machine Co. from a modest 500-square-foot industrial unit. Walter didn't start with a big loan or a brand-new machine. He bought a used CNC mill for $6,500, kept overhead intentionally low, and focused on getting good at both machining and business fun...
Mar 02, 2026•48 min•Ep. 511
What happens when a 26-year-old machine shop kid decides the real bottleneck in American manufacturing isn't machining—it's metal supply? In this episode, we sit down with Zane Hengsperger, founder and CEO of Knox Metals, to talk about building a modern service center powered by AI, automation, and software. Zane's mission is bold: supply every factory in America in under 24 hours at a fair, transparent price. Raised in his father's injection molding shop, Zane grew up on shop floors before pivo...
Feb 23, 2026•58 min•Ep. 510
Recorded live from McCormick Place in Chicago, this episode marks the official kickoff of the MakingChips journey toward IMTS 2026. With nine months to go, we sit down with two leaders helping shape the show itself: Michelle Edmondson, Vice President of Exhibitions for IMTS, and Bonnie Gurney, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Industry Relations. What unfolds is a behind-the-scenes look at how the largest manufacturing technology show in North America is built — from campaign strategy...
Feb 16, 2026•48 min•Ep. 509
This episode of MakingChips is different from most conversations we have on the show, and it needed to be. In late 2025, the manufacturing community was shaken by the murder of Amber Czech, a welder who was killed by a coworker after reporting harassment multiple times. That tragedy forced many of us to confront an uncomfortable truth: workplace violence and harassment are not abstract issues. They are real, ongoing, and present in the trades today. In this episode, Paul Van Metre is joined by N...
Feb 12, 2026•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 508
Starting a machine shop doesn't always begin with a perfectly laid business plan, a polished facility, or years of hands-on experience. Sometimes it starts in a garage, with curiosity, YouTube videos, and a willingness to figure things out one mistake at a time. In this episode of MakingChips , we sit down with brothers James and Sean Cerven to talk about how they built their shop from the ground up during COVID. With backgrounds in mechanical engineering but almost no hands-on machining experie...
Feb 09, 2026•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 507
Launching a CNC shop young comes with no shortage of advice — but not all of it comes from experience earned the hard way. In this episode, we bring in Larry Robbins to speak directly to the next generation of shop owners. Larry has spent decades building companies, leading teams, and navigating growth, failure, and reinvention inside manufacturing. Instead of talking tools or tactics, this conversation focuses on the fundamentals that actually last. Larry shares lessons on planning before you l...
Feb 02, 2026•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 506
Manufacturing doesn't always start with a perfectly funded plan or a shop full of machines. Sometimes it starts in a garage, with curiosity, grit, and a willingness to learn by doing. In this episode, we sit down with Caleb Harris, founder of Covenant Manufacturing, to talk about what it really looks like to start a CNC business at a young age. Caleb didn't inherit a shop or wait until everything felt safe. He learned by working in high-mix job shops, making mistakes, taking calculated risks, an...
Jan 26, 2026•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 505
As new manufacturers step into ownership, one challenge shows up faster than almost any other: building a team. Before you can scale production, invest in automation, or grow revenue, you need people — and not just any people, but a workforce that can grow with the business. That's where this conversation fits. In this episode, MakingChips is sharing a powerful discussion from Manufacturing Executive , where host Joe Sullivan sits down with John Loyack, Vice President of Economic Development for...
Jan 19, 2026•35 min•Ep. 504
Kicking off a new year often comes with big goals, bold plans, and fresh momentum. But before chasing what's next, we decided to slow down and focus on something more foundational: our core values. In this episode, we share the behind-the-scenes process of defining the values that will guide MakingChips through 2026 and beyond. With the help of Jim Mayer, we took the ideas, behaviors, and instincts that had shaped the brand for years and intentionally put words around them. We talk about why cor...
Jan 12, 2026•42 min•Ep. 503
We've kicked off a lot of years on MakingChips , but never quite like this. To start 2026, we decided to try something completely different. Instead of bringing on a shop owner, a technology provider, or an industry expert, Mike and Paul invited three artificial intelligence chatbots to join the conversation. No prep calls. No talking points. Just live questions and real-time answers from Miles (from Sesame), Gemini, and ChatGPT. The result was equal parts fascinating, funny, and just a little b...
Jan 05, 2026•38 min•Ep. 502
As we close out 2025, we're wrapping up more than just a year. This episode marks the conclusion of the Machine Shop MBA series, a collaboration with CLA and Modern Machine Shop built around insights from the Top Shops benchmarking program. What started as a practical exploration of shop metrics ends with a much bigger question: what truly separates shops that survive from shops that endure? For this final chapter, we're joined again by Brent Donaldson of Modern Machine Shop , who helped kick of...
Dec 29, 2025•53 min•Ep. 501
Some episodes are planned. Others are produced. And then there are episodes like this one—where the setting, the people, and the moment all collide into something memorable. For the 500th episode of MakingChips, the team gathered once again At the Boring Bar for an unfiltered, bourbon-fueled roundtable with leaders from across the manufacturing ecosystem. Recorded live at Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions during the Top Shops Conference in Charlotte, this special annual episode brings together...
Dec 22, 2025•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 500
What happens when a machine shop does everything right operationally but still feels exposed when markets shift, customers pull back, or one industry cools overnight? In this episode of MakingChips, the conversation turns squarely toward one of the most uncomfortable and misunderstood areas of manufacturing leadership: proactive sales and diversification. We're joined by Gabe Draper, founder of Factur, and Alan Hartmann, CEO of Hartmann's Inc., a multi-generation Texas manufacturer. Gabe shares ...
Dec 15, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 499
Some conversations feel scripted. This one… absolutely did not. Larry Robbins walked in ready to talk life, passion, family, culture, workholding, philosophy, and whatever else popped into his head — and somehow it all connected back to manufacturing. This episode of MakingChips is one of the most unhinged, hilarious, honest, and wisdom-packed conversations we've ever recorded. Larry has been in the industry for nearly 46 years, and he's collected enough stories, scars, and laughs for ten career...
Dec 08, 2025•47 min•Ep. 498
In this special episode of MakingChips , we broadcast from the EBITDA Growth Systems Double Your Value Planning Event—a gathering designed to pull shop owners out of the day-to-day grind and force intentional thinking about long-term growth. This year's event was hosted at the Sandvik Coromant facility in Mebane, North Carolina, creating a perfect backdrop for conversations about planning, strategy, and culture. Paul is joined by three key voices who bring decades of hard-earned manufacturing wi...
Dec 01, 2025•45 min•Ep. 497
In this episode of MakingChips , we sit down with Charlie Hushek, President of Phoenix Heat Treating, whose family has been in the heat-Treating world for over a century . Charlie is a fifth-generation heat Treatinger—but his leadership story is anything but inherited. When he stepped into the business in 2020, he wasn't handed stability. He was handed a crisis. Within a matter of months, Phoenix Heat Treating lost its NADCAP certification— twice —suffered major operational setbacks, faced COVID...
Nov 24, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 496
Top Shops 2025 brought together the most innovative, forward-thinking leaders in manufacturing—and this year's gathering at the NASCAR Hall of Fame felt like stepping directly into the winners' circle. Surrounded by the energy of hundreds of top-tier manufacturers, we sat down with the four shops recognized as the crème de la crème in their categories: Technology, Shopfloor Technology, Business Strategy, and Human Resources. Together, these honorees represent what's possible when ambition meets ...
Nov 17, 2025•47 min•Ep. 495
