my TRUE POSITION

As 2025 comes to a close, CARR Machine & Tool marks 53 years in aerospace manufacturing — spanning three generations and five decades of grit, reinvention, and precision. In this special episode, Jim Carr takes you decade-by-decade through the pivotal moments that shaped the company's evolution, from the manual-machine days of the '70s to the automation-driven transformation of today.

It's raw reflection, real leadership, and a candid look at how a multi-generational shop stays relevant in a fast-changing industry. If you lead a team, run a shop, or care about the future of American manufacturing, this is the episode you don't skip.

In this episode, we get brutally honest about toxic culture — what causes it, what sustains it, and what it really takes to fix it. I'm breaking down the blueprint for rebuilding a healthy, high-performance culture using real metrics, real behaviors, and real leadership discipline.

We'll talk core values, accountability, communication rhythms, and the no-nos that tank culture faster than any bad hire ever could. And yes — I'll give you the truth about turnaround timelines. Spoiler: it's not quick, and it's not painless.

If you're leading a team, running a shop, or trying to repair the damage of cultural drift, this episode gives you the clarity — and the roadmap — you've been missing. Hit play!

In this episode, we dig into one of the most misunderstood parts of any aerospace quality system: calibration frequency. I'm breaking down how to set intervals based on risk, usage, and real performance data — not tribal habits or 'because we've always done it that way.'

You'll learn how to build a defensible calibration strategy, how to use verification checks to extend intervals safely, and how to walk an auditor through your logic with confidence. I'm also sharing real-world examples of what to tighten, what to relax, and the metrics that prove your intervals are fair and justified.

If calibration has ever felt like a compliance box instead of a strategic tool, this episode will change the way you manage your entire gage program.

Think hiring from out of state is the answer to your talent shortage? Think again. Between relocation costs, lost productivity, and cultural misfires, that "perfect" new hire could set you back thirty grand before they even hit stride.

In this episode, I break down the real numbers — from why relocation is more common now than ever, to how to protect your company from costly mistakes. We'll talk hidden expenses, relocation policies, and why you should never, ever pay those moving costs upfront.

If you've ever hired across state lines — or you're about to — this one's for you.

Let's be real — the fastest way to torch your profit isn't a bad part or a missed deadline. It's when your labor starts running you instead of the other way around.

In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, I'm breaking down the difference between direct and indirect labor — and why blurring that line could be quietly bleeding your margin dry. I'll walk through how to track it, what numbers to watch, and how a simple shift in visibility turned things around in my own shop.

If you want to stop guessing where your money's going and start managing labor like a pro, this one's for you.

Most machine shops think marketing is fluff — that the work should speak for itself.

But here's the truth: in 2025, if you're not telling your story, you don't exist.

At CARR Machine & Tool, we built a marketing engine inside a machine shop — and it changed everything.

From our website and brand standards to storytelling, SEO, and social, every piece of the marketing pie matters. It's not decoration — it's discipline.

In this episode, I'm breaking down why every manufacturer needs to start thinking like a media company, how much of your revenue should fuel marketing, and what happens when you make the whole system work together.

It's been five years since COVID flipped manufacturing on its head. Back then, it was all about survival — keeping the doors open and the machines running.

Today, labor's tight, rates are high, and margins are thin. But the shops that made it? They're smarter, leaner, and tougher than ever.

In this episode, I'm breaking down how far we've come — from shutdowns and supply chain chaos to a new era of discipline, data, and leadership.

In 2018, we implemented TRACTION for the first time — and like most small teams, we were figuring it out as we went. Fast forward to today, and CARR Machine has evolved into a focused, disciplined organization led by four seasoned managers driving finance, technology, operations, and quality.

This episode dives into what happens when experience meets structure — how re-committing to TRACTION brought clarity, accountability, and renewed energy to our culture.

LinkedIn was built for professionals — a place to connect, learn, and grow careers.

But somewhere along the way, it turned into a stage for personal branding and performance.

In this episode, I dig into how the world's largest job network lost its focus — and how real professionals can bring substance and authenticity back to the feed.

The first two weeks on the job set the tone for everything that follows. At CARR, we've built a structured onboarding playbook — with 5-day, 30-day, 90-day, and 6-month check-ins leading into annual performance and compensation reviews. It's not paperwork, it's leadership in action. In this episode, I dig into why onboarding is a make-or-break moment, how we keep new hires engaged from day one to year one, and what shop owners can learn to build loyalty that lasts.