Episode 9: Growing Your Top Line

We’re closing out our 3-part growth series with a deep dive into one of the most asked questions in manufacturing:

 “How do I actually grow revenue?”

In this episode, Mike Fritz and Kirk Phelps sit down with CSO Hank Westerkamp and CRO Steve Mazza to break down what’s really holding shops back from top-line growth—and how to fix it.

You’ll learn:

• Why new customers aren’t always the best starting point
• How to develop outbound systems and inbound strategies that bring in steady leads
• The quoting habits that win (and lose) revenue
• How follow-up and CRM systems drive predictable growth
• A real-world example of doubling throughput and revenue through smart relationship-building

If your shop feels stuck—or you’re ready to take the next leap—this episode lays out the roadmap to drive real, sustainable top-line results.

In Part 2 of our three-part growth series, Mike and Kirk tackle the essential—but often neglected—side of machine shop growth: improving your bottom line. Before chasing more revenue, it’s critical to plug the profit leaks that are silently eroding your business.

From tooling waste and bloated staff structures to broken quoting systems and inefficient processes, this episode dives deep into real-world strategies to help you keep more of what you already earn.

What you'll learn:

• Why better organization and tooling control can instantly save thousands
• How rethinking cycle times and throughput can double your margins
• The value of third-party engineering audits in uncovering hidden inefficiencies
• When to automate vs. optimize vs. outsource
• How mindset, data, and documentation play into long-term profitability

Whether you’re running a high-mix job shop or a production-driven operation, this episode is packed with practical advice to make every dollar work harder—and stick around longer.

Episode 7: Growing Your People

In this episode, Mike and Kirk shine a spotlight on the most powerful—and often untapped—driver of machine shop growth: your team. Kicking off a three-part series on scaling your business, they explore why developing people isn't optional, it's foundational.

From floor operators to future leaders, they discuss how to identify growth potential, build clear progression paths, and overcome common mindset traps like fear of turnover or “doing it all yourself.” Packed with personal stories and proven frameworks, this episode will challenge the way you think about succession, culture, and leadership at every level of your shop.

Because real growth doesn’t happen when you do more—it happens when your people do.

If you’ve been leveraging MEP programs for training, grants, or equipment purchases, there’s a chance that these benefits could be going away. Today, we’re talking about the potential changes to these programs, what it means for your shop, and how to prepare if these resources are no longer available.

We’re resharing this important discussion from the Making Chips podcast to broaden the discussion and to ensure you’re up-to-date on the latest developments surrounding MEP funding and what it means for your business. It's crucial to understand how these changes could affect your shop and what steps you can take to stay ahead.

Tune in to hear insights from the Making Chips team and learn more about the future of these programs.

Big question for shop owners: Where does growth actually start?

In this value-packed episode, we bring together our full leadership team—Mike, Kirk, Steve, and Hank—for a high-impact discussion on what it really takes to grow a machine shop.

From the shop floor to your inbox, growth opportunities are everywhere… but most owners feel overwhelmed about where to begin. Should you focus on sales? Marketing? Throughput? A new hire? A new machine?

We break down the confusion and share a clear framework for identifying your starting point.

✅ Learn why “quality and on-time delivery” won’t win you new work
 ✅ Discover how to uncover your real competitive differentiator
✅ Hear why a simple, clear website can be your #1 marketing tool
✅ Get practical SOPs that boost profit—and increase company value
✅ Learn how to shift your team's mindset from day-to-day to growth-driven

Whether you're just getting started or looking to scale efficiently, this episode will help you move forward with clarity.

This is one of our most practical, no-fluff episodes to date—don’t miss it.

Exciting news – we've officially joined the Making Chips podcast family! In this debut episode, we dive into the transformative world of customer acquisition and share innovative strategies to expand your business without diluting quality.

Join us as we explore proven tactics for engaging new customers effectively, while maintaining the loyalty of your existing base. We'll discuss how to identify the perfect customer profile, manage the costs associated with new customer acquisition, and why doubling down on quality can often yield better results than broadening your reach. This episode is packed with actionable insights from our experiences in managing multiple machine shops. Don't miss it!

In this episode, we're tackling the dynamic and challenging world of acquiring new customers. As the final installment of our three-part series on customer acquisition strategies, we focus on the most discussed yet misunderstood segment: new customer engagement. We'll break down why pursuing new customers isn't always necessary for growth and how, in some cases, it's possible to double business size without them. Join us as we share our firsthand strategies and insights from managing multiple machine shops, proving that quality often trumps quantity in customer portfolios. From crafting perfect customer profiles to understanding the real costs of new customer acquisition, this episode is packed with invaluable tactics for business owners aiming to expand their reach without compromising their core base. Dive into the conversation with us and discover how to strategically attract new customers and enhance your growth potential.

In this episode, we're diving into the often-overlooked but incredibly valuable topic of re-engaging dormant customers. After exploring how to grow current customer relationships in our previous episode, we're now shifting focus to those who've slipped away. We'll discuss why customers become dormant, how it's not always due to negative experiences, and the subtle art of re-engagement. You'll hear firsthand about the strategic approaches and real-life examples from our own experiences in reigniting these old flames. Whether you're looking to improve on-time delivery, uphold product quality, or navigate pricing changes, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to help you bring dormant customers back into the fold. Join us as we unpack the tools and tactics necessary to transform lost opportunities into revived partnerships.

The 3 Types of Customers.

In Today’s episode of the Machine Shop Growth podcast Kirk Phelps and I talk about the 3 different types of customers.  This is going to be a 3 part series. This week we talk about the first (and most lucrative) customer to work with! 

Make sure you tune in and enjoy!

Here’s a question for you—are you running your shop, or is your shop running you?

In this episode of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast, Kirk and I are diving into the 3 biggest challenges shop owners face—things most of us don’t even realize are slowing us down:
1️⃣ Why trying to do it all might be your biggest mistake.
2️⃣ How one simple change could completely transform your workflow.
3️⃣ The surprising reason your shop down the road is growing faster (hint: it’s not their parts).

We’re here to help you break out of the grind, grow your shop, and finally see the profits you’ve been working so hard for.

🎧 Pilot Episode is live now—don’t miss it!