Defense spending is rising. Aerospace production is accelerating. Munitions demand is growing. And behind the scenes, manufacturers are preparing for what could become one of the biggest opportunities in decades.

In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, Jim Carr shares what he's seeing firsthand from the front lines of aerospace and defense manufacturing. He discusses why some shops will be positioned to thrive, why others may struggle to keep up, and what leaders should be doing today to prepare for the demand that's coming tomorrow.

If you're a shop owner, manufacturing executive, or anyone responsible for growth and capacity planning, this episode offers practical insights into the future of American manufacturing and the opportunities that may lie ahead.

The work is coming. The real question is: will your company be ready?

A young mechanical engineering student named Jake Masters reached out to me on LinkedIn asking for advice before stepping into his family's 70-year-old CNC manufacturing business.

That message inspired this episode.

In this solo episode of My TRUE POSITION, Jim Carr shares 10 hard-earned lessons about leadership, failure, culture, cash flow, technology, and what it really takes to survive in precision manufacturing.

This isn't motivational fluff. It's real-world operator wisdom from someone who's lived it.

Whether you're entering the family business, leading a shop, or building the next generation of manufacturing — this episode is for you.

Because inheriting the company is one thing.

Improving it? That's leadership.

In this episode, Jim Carr sits down with Lorin Shamos from First Resonance to break down why traditional ERP and MRP systems are falling behind—and what a modern "Factory Operating System" actually looks like.

From real-time scheduling and material planning to execution, traceability, and automation, this conversation dives into how advanced manufacturers are replacing spreadsheets and firefighting with systems that actually reflect reality.

If your operation still depends on manual updates, outdated data, and constant rescheduling… this episode will hit home.

Not all manufacturing is created equal.

Some parts can fail. Others can't.

In this episode, Jim Carr sits down with Errick Egeland from The Lee Company to explore what it takes to manufacture miniature, high-reliability fluid control components used in aerospace, medical, defense, and space applications.

From precision flow control to extreme repeatability, this conversation dives into the discipline required to build components where failure is not an option.

If you think tight tolerances are challenging… wait until performance, pressure, and reliability are all on the line.

Space isn't just about launching satellites anymore—it's about maintaining them, inspecting them, and eventually removing them.

In this episode, Jim Carr sits down with Jeff Schloemer from Astroscale to break down the emerging world of in-orbit servicing and space logistics.

From satellite inspection and life extension to debris removal and collision prevention, this conversation explores how space is becoming a fully operational environment—and why that matters for the future of infrastructure, defense, and global communication.

If you think manufacturing is complex on Earth… wait until you hear what it takes in orbit.

Most shops aren't losing money on bad machining—they're losing it on bad execution.

In this episode, Jim Carr sits down with Patrick Diggins from Aligned Vision to break down one of the biggest hidden problems in manufacturing: the gap between what engineering designs and what actually gets built on the shop floor.

We're talking laser-guided assembly, AI-driven inspection, and real-time digital work instructions that eliminate guesswork, reduce rework, and lock in precision from start to finish.

If you're still relying on prints, tribal knowledge, and hoping your team gets it right the first time… this conversation is going to challenge that mindset.

This is about building it right the first time—and protecting your margin while you do it.

What happens when a critical aerospace part disappears—but the mission doesn't?

In this episode, Jim sits down with Sam Thevanayagam, CEO of Parts Life and DeVal Lifecycle Support, to unpack the hidden world of DMSMS, reverse engineering, and supply chain failure in aerospace and defense.

We're talking about:

• Rebuilding parts with no data

• Solving obsolescence when OEMs walk away

• Keeping mission-critical systems alive under pressure

• And turning around a failing inner-city manufacturing company into a 400% growth story

This isn't a theory. This is real-world problem solving where failure isn't an option. If you think supply chain issues don't affect you—think again. Because when the part's gone… somebody still has to make it work.

In this continuation of Three Generations, One Exit, we move past the idea of selling and into the reality of doing it. The conversations get tougher, the stakes get higher, and the margin for error gets smaller.

We unpack what really happens during the deal process—negotiations, diligence, second-guessing, and the pressure that builds when legacy, money, and identity all collide. This is the phase where you find out if your business is truly ready… and if you are.

If you're a shop owner thinking about an exit someday, this is the part you need to understand. Because getting interest is one thing—getting a deal done the right way is something else entirely.

This episode hits home.

I sat down with a close friend—a third-generation machine shop owner—who took his family business all the way through a private equity exit. From the outside, it looks like a win… but behind the scenes, it was anything but simple.

We get into the real story: the pressure, the complexity, the emotional weight of legacy, and what it actually takes to navigate a deal like this the right way. If you've ever thought about selling your shop—or even wondered what that path looks like—this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

Automation didn't fail us—the wrong partner did.

In Part 2 of this two-part series, Jim Carr and Ryan Carr finish the story behind a CNC automation retrofit that went off the rails—and get into what really matters: the lessons. This is where they break down what it actually cost, what they would do differently, and how to properly vet an automation company before you hand over your time, money, and trust.

From missed expectations to hard conversations, this episode is about accountability, due diligence, and protecting your shop from making the same mistake. If you're serious about automation, this is the part you can't afford to skip—because the difference between success and failure isn't the technology…

It's who you choose to work with.