Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories

31: Life Changing Transformation with Perry Kuehn of K Tooling


Listen Later

Most shop owners don’t realize it, but the way they lead their team and the systems they use may be quietly holding them back. In this episode, we hear from Perry Kuehn of K Tooling, a shop owner with decades of experience who thought his business was running fine… until it nearly ran off the rails. What followed was a transformation that reshaped his culture, workflow, and client relationships. And it started with one bold decision.

At first, Perry was focused on growth: new machines, new buildings, new customers. But under the surface, delivery dates were slipping, team members were stressed, and quality issues were creeping in. The systems in place, both technological and cultural, weren’t built for scale, and Perry soon realized it wasn’t just a software problem. Leadership needed to change, too.

That’s when he went all-in on ProShop ERP. But adopting a new system didn’t just mean new screens or better scheduling. It became the catalyst for a complete reset in how the team operated and how they were led. Perry shares openly about the resistance, the tough personnel decisions, and the leap of faith required to shut off their old ERP cold turkey.

The shift was immediate and profound. Delivery stabilized. Quality improved. Communication got clearer. And for the first time in a long time, the team wasn’t just keeping up, they were thriving. Perry also reveals how these internal changes paved the way for external wins: major new contracts, ISO and AS9100 certifications, and his highest month of incoming sales on record.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to evolve from a reactive job shop into a high-trust, high-performance operation, or how leadership, culture, and the right systems are deeply connected, this episode offers a powerful firsthand account of what that transformation can look like.

LinkedIn: Perry Kuehn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/perry-kuehn-6a197210/

K Tooling - https://www.ktooling.com/

Audio and Video Production and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real StoriesBy Paul Van Metre


More shows like Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories

View all
Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders by MakingChips LLC

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

115 Listeners

Business of Machining by John Grimsmo & John Saunders

Business of Machining

218 Listeners

Swarfcast by Today's Machining World

Swarfcast

36 Listeners

The Job Shop Show by Jay Jacobs

The Job Shop Show

33 Listeners

Within Tolerance by Within Tolerance

Within Tolerance

104 Listeners

Manufacturing Happy Hour by Chris Luecke

Manufacturing Happy Hour

100 Listeners

Machine Shop Mastery by Paul Van Metre

Machine Shop Mastery

30 Listeners

Taps and Patience | Business and Machining Podcast by Audacity Micro

Taps and Patience | Business and Machining Podcast

6 Listeners

my TRUE POSITION by Jim Carr

my TRUE POSITION

13 Listeners

PFG Live by Kinetic Precision - Spencer Webb

PFG Live

2 Listeners

Lean Built: Manufacturing Freedom by Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding

Lean Built: Manufacturing Freedom

22 Listeners

The Impractical Machinists by Practical Machinist

The Impractical Machinists

34 Listeners

The Manufacturing Automation Podcast by Gimbel Automation and Develop LLC

The Manufacturing Automation Podcast

5 Listeners

Buy the Numbers by Mike Payne

Buy the Numbers

26 Listeners