In this special year-end episode of Manufacturing Mavericks, we reflect on the fantastic guests we’ve had on the show in 2024 and recap some of their best moments. This episode recaps insightful discussions with shop leaders and industry pioneers who have shared their experiences, challenges, and wisdom with Greg McHale.  

Join Greg as he revisits conversations featuring some of the most influential and inspiring voices in precision manufacturing. They discuss navigating manufacturing automation and technology, building a thriving workplace culture, and becoming CMMC 2.0 compliant. 

And don’t forget to check out the full episodes at www.mfgmavericks.com to learn valuable lessons from those shaping the future of manufacturing!

SHOW NOTES

• (1:38) Rob Caron, Founder of Caron Engineering
• (5:05) Kylan Hastreiter, Vice President of Hastreiter Industries
• (7:00) Mike Payne, Owner, Hill Manufacturing
• (9:04) Paul Van Metre, Co-Founder, Proshop ERP
• (11:05) Eric Van Orden, Paramount Machine Swiss Leads
• (14:56) Gustavo Gutierrez, Owner of GC Machining Solutions
• (18:29) Tony Gunn, America’s Manufacturing MC
• (20:14) Adam Gordon. Vice President of Operations, Tendon Manufacturing
• (22:43) Randal Leach, Operations Manager at Ricaurte Precision

FULL EPISODES: 

• It Always Starts with a Broom and a Bridgeport with Randal Leach
• Evolving With Your Customers Across Multiple Generations with Adam Gordon
• Twisted Roads Make Better Stories with Tony Gunn 
• What It Takes to Build a Business with Your Name on the Door with Rob Caron
• Humility, Curiosity, and Impatience - The Key Ingredients of Entrepreneurship with Gus Guttierez
• Making Things Happen with Eric Van Orden
• If It Wasn’t For A Car Magazine…with Paul Van Metre
• Don’t Tell Me No - Tell Me How with Mike Payne
• From Hog Shed to Top Shop—The Evolution of a Family Business with Kylan Hastreiter

In this episode of Manufacturing Mavericks, Greg welcomes Randal Leach, Operations Manager at Ricaurte Precision, to discuss his journey into manufacturing, which didn’t start with love, but his frustrations turned into opportunity when he realized how much better manufacturing processes and work experiences could be with the right culture and technology! Randal and Greg discuss CMMC 2.0 compliance and what it means for companies like Ricaurte. Plus, you’ll learn why embracing modern systems can redefine what it’s like to run a "precision machining facility."

SHOW NOTES

• Randall's Journey into Manufacturing (01:14)
• The Evolution of Manufacturing Technology (02:38)
• The Importance of Accountability and Data (06:23)
• Meeting Hernan and Joining Ricarte Precision (07:19)
• Embracing Digital Transformation to Keep Up (11:23)
• Preparing for CMMC 2.0 Compliance (12:44)
• Future Investments and Automation Using the Visibility from Machine Monitoring (21:08) 
• Welcome Technology Onto Your Shop Floor to Improve Productivity and Make More (27:35) 
• Randal’s Final Thoughts and Advice for Future Generations (31:46)

Adam Gordon is a second-generation leader at Tendon Manufacturing. The sheet metal and fabrication shop, Based in the Cleveland suburb of Warrensville Heights, was co-founded in 1988 by Michael Gordon Sr. and Greg Tench. Both are still very much involved; today, it’s a family affair. Greg’s son heads up programming/engineering, and Adam heads up Operations, working alongside his brother and brother-in-law.

As you listen, you’ll hear Adam’s passion for football, and it’s clear that his years of coaching do come into play when he seeks out new employees. He looks for winning qualities that can’t be taught, like the ability to show up on time, body language, and energy. 

He also explains that the employees who suggest the most process improvements can climb the ladder quicker because seeing things differently helps advance the business. His strategy is working, as Tendon has doubled its employees in just a few years. 

From squeezing in the odd job to the craziest parts they’ve ever made. Tendon has had quite the history.

SHOW NOTES:

• The origins of Tendon Manufacturing in the Greater Cleveland area (2:00)
• The switch from machining to fabrication (5:30)
• how industry demand (and Covid) taught the team how to pivot (6:58)
• What the team looks for in hiring new talent (10:06)
• Getting employee buy-ins with “Fix it forms” (11:29)
• Trying to automate to accommodate (13:49)
• How Tendon barters welding services for Chick-fil-A sandwiches (15:57)
• Your ERP doesn’t give you the full answer (18:09)
• What is the next level of efficiency and visibility Adam thinks Tendon needs to stay competitive? (19:44)
• The craziest parts they’ve ever made (23:11)
• A unique visit from a special guest in 2017 (25:16)

We’ve all heard of him, and you’ve seen him everywhere with his red microphone as he visits manufacturers and suppliers worldwide, but now you’ll get to REALLY know him on this podcast episode!

America’s Manufacturing MC, Tony Gunn, shares how his internal optimism comes from many failures in life. Tony started from very humble beginnings and almost became a professional athlete, but his trajectory changed to machinist out of necessity from an early surprise in life. His passion for manufacturing and entertainment keeps Tony returning to the shop floor to capture the stories of manufacturers as Director of Global Operations for MTDCNC and the host of The Gunn Show Podcast.

SHOW NOTES:

• Manufacturing was an accident (6:42)
• Money moves inspire personal growth but also a lot of stress (9:32)
• Tony asks himself what he really wants out of life (11:29)
• Coding with the best of them (12:33)
• Karma is a you-know-what (17:18)
• Pursuing happiness over financial freedom (18.33)
• Tony has explored the world of manufacturing in its full entity for ten years (26:00)
• “Media” was also an accident, and it didn’t happen overnight (31:00)
• Helping to expand the MTDCNC into a global brand and building his team of North American presenters (34:00)

On this episode of Manufacturing Mavericks, Greg McHale interviews Rob Caron of Caron Engineering, a true pioneer and the recipient of the 2024 M. Eugene Merchant Manufacturing Medal from ASME/SME. Rob shares his journey from unexpectedly finding himself jobless to building a company known for its groundbreaking innovations in advanced sensor and monitoring technology. Hear about how his early fascination with CNC controls and a deep desire to do things better led to the creation of Autocomp, TMAC, and even the tool ID systems that have made Caron Engineering a leader in the machine tool industry for over 35 years.

Rob also shares his thoughts on building a strong company culture, meeting customer expectations no matter what, and the transition to an ESOP or employee stock-owned company.

Tune in for a wealth of insights from a leader who has been on the cutting edge of manufacturing technology for over four decades. This episode is packed with inspiration and practical tips. Rob’s advice for shops looking to get into automation is priceless.

SHOW NOTES:

• Rob talks about his early fascination with how CNC controls communicated with the metal parts of the machine to make a part and how it could be done better. (3:00) 
• How chains on the door of his employer drove Rob to start his own company (6:37)
• The genesis of the cutting-edge Caron Engineering tools of today (AutoComp & TMAC) back in the mid-1980s (9:23)
• His #1 message to employees: we're going to get this job done for the customer the way we promised it. (13:38)
• How losing money on some jobs helped Caron make more money down the road (15:54)
• Leveraging great relationships with customers to get feedback on employee performance. (17:31)
• The pros and cons of transitioning to an ESOP company (18:54)
• Rob’s insights into how shops can start incorporating automation into their business in a way that makes sense (24:15)
• The payoff of hiring engineers to work on in-house automation projects (32:35)
• The advice Rob would give to the young Rob Caron three weeks before he walked up to the door with chains on it. (34:37)

In this episode, Gustavo (Gus) Gutierrez, owner of GC Machining Solutions, takes us through his incredible journey from a 15-year-old who traded coffee for training at his first manufacturing job, to buying his own shop. Gus doesn't shy away from doing the "hard stuff", including moving a shop, implementing an ERP, and is currently managing a shift from 10% medical and dental device manufacturing to 80%. Wow.

Gus talks to Greg McHale about investing in education, making time for family, and the advice he gives his kids. He also shares his experiences across various roles in manufacturing, picking the right team members, building a strong company culture, and why technology is crucial to staying competitive. Gus's insights are a valuable resource for anyone in the industry.

SHOW NOTES:

• Got bit by the manufacturing bug at 15 when he would buy coffee for people and clean their machines if they would share some knowledge (5:53)
• A desire to learn something new every day led him to a lot of oddball jobs, but manufacturing just kept calling his name. (11:16) 
• Working third shift and being a full-time electrical engineering student was a challenge, How Gus got it done with the help of a tape recorder!  (13:29)
• Taking his daughter to IMTS starting when she was 9 really paid off in the long run (20:08)
• Taking a job he didn’t really want to Project Manage: moving 30 CNCs and 15 pieces of equipment. (23:39)
• Gus was at the top of his game as a plant manager with 325 people under him, but he wasn’t happy. So he followed a little whisper (27:55)
• The difference between a good employee and an engaged employee (29:28)
• Letting the team pick the new team members helps build a strong culture (33:20)
• Technology: It’s important to give people the right equipment and the right tools for success. (37:21) 
• In medical devices, everything is critical, especially keeping the end-user top of mind (41:30)
• Advice to his impatient younger self: Change the glasses you use to view life, and you’ll get to this success. (45:07)

In this episode, Gustavo (Gus) Gutierrez, owner of GC Machining Solutions, takes us through his incredible journey from a 15-year-old who traded coffee for training at his first manufacturing job, to buying his own shop. Gus doesn't shy away from doing the "hard stuff", including moving a shop, implementing an ERP, and is currently managing a shift from 10% medical and dental device manufacturing to 80%. Wow.

Gus talks to Greg McHale about investing in education, making time for family, and the advice he gives his kids. He also shares his experiences across various roles in manufacturing, picking the right team members, building a strong company culture, and why technology is crucial to staying competitive. Gus's insights are a valuable resource for anyone in the industry.

SHOW NOTES:

• Got bit by the manufacturing bug at 15 when he would buy coffee for people and clean their machines if they would share some knowledge (5:53)
• A desire to learn something new everyday led him to a lot of oddball jobs, but manufacturing just kept calling his name. (11:16) 
• Working third shift and being a full-time electrical engineering student was a challenge, How Gus got it done with the help of a tape recorder!  (13:29)
• Taking his daughter to IMTS starting when she was 9 really paid off in the long run (20:08)
• Taking a job he didn’t really want to be able to Project Manage moving 30 CNCs and 15 pcs of equipment. (23:39)
• Gus was at the top of his game as a plant manager with 325 people under him, but he wasn’t happy. So he followed a little whisper (27:55)
• The difference between a good employee and an engaged employee (29:28)
• Letting the team pick the new team members helps build a strong culture (33:20)
• Technology: It’s important to give people the right equipment, the right tools for success. (37:21) 
• In medical devices, everything is critical, especially keeping the end-user top of mind (41:30)
• Advice to his impatient younger self: Change the glasses you use to view life, and you’ll get to this success. (45:07)

Paul Van Metre is the co-founder of ProShop ERP and a true Manufacturing Maverick. Listen in as he talks with Greg McHale about some of the serendipitous moments that completely changed the course of his life and fueled his passion for manufacturing. Some examples include how his Mom saving a car magazine got him into machining, how a random lab partner assignment on his first day of school turned into a 30+ year collaboration, and why a customer’s dream of building a basketball court for his kids helped launched ProShop ERP. Paul’s love of manufacturing and the people who work in it drives him to help make “the hardest business in the world” a little easier. It shows in the hashtag he started #ThankaMachinist

Show Highlights / Skip To: 

• Reading an article in a car magazine sparked Paul’s love for manufacturing and a move across the country (3:39) 
• Trying to start a car company right out of college that turned into a machine shop (10:03) 
• Advice for finding customers. Hint, it starts with a nice shirt (15:14) 
• Diversification helped Paul’s machine shop thrive for 17 years (17:37) 
• 9/11 and finding a path from being days away from bankruptcy back to triple-digit growth (19:52)
• Trying to go paperless on the shop floor when monitors weighed 50 pounds (22:03) 
• A customer’s desire to build a basketball court in his backyard plays a pivotal role in the creation of ProShop ERP (30:59) 
• The first software customer in 2009 was able to transform their late order list from 10 pages to less than one and turn off the old ERP after 3 weeks. (33:26) 
• The book Paul recommends to everyone who is good at something and wants to start their own business (38:49) 
• Why he started #ThankaMachinist (46:33) 
• The advice he gives his younger self (49:45) 

Links Referenced:

• Datanomix: https://datanomix.io/
• ProShop ERP: https://proshoperp.com/ 
• Connect with Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulvanmetre/ 
• mfgmavericks.com: https://mfgmavericks.com

Greg McHale sits down to talk with Mike Payne, Owner of Hill Manufacturing about his unconventional path to becoming a shop owner. Mike was actually helping the previous owner look for a buyer when he decided to make an offer himself. After 25 years in software and private equity, Mike realized that he really liked the can-do attitude and willingness to help each other that manufacturers share. This episode explores how Mike leveraged his background in private equity and data analysis to double his shop’s size in 5 years - every five years.

• Bloodstains, sweat and tears (1:40)
• Taking the plunge and buying a shop (11:19)
• Why there’s a big red barn on the shop floor - and we’re talking BIG (19:29)
• Yay, it’s Monday. Building a great culture where people want to come to work  (21:55)
• Setting the standards everyone can operate within  (26:04)
• The technology & tools to grow the business (35:30)
• Don't want to be the cheapest option (41:40)
• Doubling the business in 5 years - every 5 years (46:22)
• This podcast pissed me off (48:59)
• Being there for each other (54:12)

Links Referenced:

• Datanomix: https://datanomix.io/
• Hill Manufacturing: http://www.hill-manufacturing.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillmfg/ 
• mfgmavericks.com: https://mfgmavericks.com

Greg McHale interviews Kylan Hastreiter, Vice President of Hastreiter Industries, located in Marshfield, WI. Kylan’s parents started the shop in the late 1980s in a hog shed with one Makino LeBlond lathe. Today, they specialize in complex parts for the aerospace industry and are a driving force in introducing young people in Wisconsin to manufacturing—even creating a makerspace for students at their facility. 

• Every kid has a machine shop in their basement, right? ( 5:11)
• Turning over the reins to the next generation & rebranding the business (8:13)
• Introducing kids to STEM as part of the long game to build up a local workforce and a thriving manufacturing industry (12:48)
• It’s fun to have the latest & greatest technology! (21:47)
• Building a culture that embraces change  (24:55)
• Investments that had the biggest impact (27:08)
• Getting two machines for free  (29:22)
• How Hastreiter Industries impacts Wisconsin’s cheese industry  (31:46)
• Predictions for the next 7 years (33:58)
• Kylan answers the classic  “What do you know now, that you wish you knew then” question. (37:14)

Links Referenced:

• Datanomix: https://datanomix.io/
• Hastreiter Industries: https://hastreiter.industries/
• Shiloh Bound: https://www.shilohbound.org/
• C2 Makerspace: https://www.c2makerspace.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084244807677
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/c2-makerspace/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c2makerspace_marshfield/
• mfgmavericks.com: https://mfgmavericks.com