In this episode of Rapid Fire Manufacturing, I sit down with Aaron Morrill, the CNC Repairman, to discuss the reality of machine tool service in today’s industry. Aaron grew up in the shop and finished nearly 100 machine installs before he was even 16 years old.

We dive into why a failed service call is often a symptom of a larger training problem rather than a technician issue. As I said during the show, how you do anything is how you do everything. If you aren’t passionate about the small details, you probably won't be passionate about your spindles.

We also explore the shift toward multi axis technology, the pre-call checklist that saves shops money, and what it really takes to move from an OEM role to running your own service business. Aaron is as authentic as they come and is dedicated to keeping American manufacturing running.

Aaron Morrill didn’t just join the manufacturing industry; he was raised in it. Known to many as the CNC Repairman, Aaron’s story is incredible when you think about what it means to grow up in the trades. By age 15, he had already finished nearly 100 machine installs while traveling with his father.

We spent this episode talking about the critical need for better training in the service world. When a shop is down and a technician is stumped, it is rarely a reflection of the person on the floor. It is usually a reflection of the training and support systems behind them.

Key topics we covered include:

• The transition from manual machines to complex multi axis technology.

• Why the next generation of technicians is finding their spark through online platforms.

• The specific pre-call checklist every shop should use to save time and money.

• Advice for technicians considering the jump to independent business ownership.

• The mindset of passion: why how you do anything is how you do everything.

Aaron provides a raw look at the service side of the business and shares why the indus

Podcast Show Notes / Write Up

Medical manufacturing is about more than machines.

It’s about people, trust, and outcomes that change lives.

In this episode of Rapid Fire Manufacturing, we sit down with Bradley Emerick at MicroPulse and RMP to talk about growing up in manufacturing, building vertically integrated medical operations, and creating products that restore mobility and improve quality of life.

Bradley shares his unique journey into manufacturing, from being raised around the MicroPulse shop his father founded to earning a biomedical engineering degree from Rose Hulman and working in the orthopedic OEM world. That combination of engineering education and real world manufacturing experience shapes how MicroPulse and RMP operate today.

We dive into orthopedic manufacturing, medical implants, and the real impact of revision surgeries that give patients their mobility back. Bradley explains how advances like cementless implantation, porous coatings, and 3D printed titanium are helping the body accept implants more naturally and last longer.

The conversation also covers vertical integration, from machining and automation to sterile packaging and UHMW polymer processing. Bradley explains how listening to customers, empowering skilled teams, and continuously adding capability over decades has allowed MicroPulse and RMP to become trusted medical manufacturing partners.

Topics covered in this episode include

• Medical and orthopedic manufacturing

• Biomedical engineering and product development

• Vertical integration in medical manufacturing

• Lean manufacturing and shop culture

• Implant technology and motion preservation

• Building teams that learn and innovate

This episode offers a behind the scenes look at how medical manufacturing evolves when people, process, and purpose stay aligned.

Medical prototyping is where ideas either stall out or move forward fast.

In this episode of Rapid Fire Manufacturing, we sit down with Michael Bowland, owner of B&H Precision Machining, to talk about building a medical focused machine shop centered on prototyping, collaboration, and execution.

Michael shares his journey starting in manufacturing at 15, learning the trade from the ground up, and gaining hands on experience across machining, programming, and operations. That foundation led him to launch B&H Precision Machining, a shop focused on supporting medical customers with prototype and early stage machining.

We dive into why medical prototyping is often overlooked by larger shops, how B&H fills that gap, and what it takes to support engineers working through complex designs and tight timelines. Michael also talks about working directly with engineering teams to improve manufacturability, reduce unnecessary cost, and help medical devices move closer to validation and production.

Topics covered in this episode include

• Medical prototyping and early stage machining

• ISO 13485 and medical manufacturing standards

• Design for manufacturability in medical devices

• Building long term customer relationships

• Growing a machine shop based on customer demand

If you’re involved in medical manufacturing, product development, or precision machining, this episode offers a real look at what it takes to deliver reliable medical prototypes that customers can trust.

Filmed on a real shop floor in the middle of winter, this episode features a raw conversation about manufacturing with machines screaming in the background. The audio has been cleaned up, but the setting is real and unfiltered.

You’ll hear a story about growing up in manufacturing, not fully understanding its importance, and later realizing how critical it is to the industrial capacity of the country.

We cover why repeat customers matter, how strong relationships create consistent business, and the challenge of scaling without losing what made you successful. We also discuss how software and systems can help maintain speed and competitive pricing as a company grows.

The conversation shifts toward the end to manufacturing startups in America and why watching what they are doing can be a powerful way to learn and see where the industry is headed.

Starting a machine shop is not freedom.
It is sacrifice, responsibility, and learning how to survive before you thrive.

In this episode of Rapid Fire Manufacturing, I sit down in Chattanooga, Tennessee with Garrett Wolford, owner and president of Elemental Design and Machinery.

Garrett shares what it really takes to start a shop from scratch:

• Why NDAs force you to build a brand without showing parts

• How Elemental was intentionally named using SEO and long-term thinking

• The reality of cash flow and why shop owners must learn to “be a bank”

• Starting with zero customers and going door to door

• Burning the ships and betting on culture from day one

This conversation is honest, gritty, and real.
If you are thinking about starting a shop or already in the trenches, this one will hit home.

In this episode of Rapid Fire Manufacturing, I sit down with Mark Hillenburg, co-founder of Collective Manufacturing Group.

Mark’s manufacturing journey started the hard way. A garage. Manual machines. A Bridgeport mill. Learning firsthand how difficult machining really is. Since then, he’s been a machinist, a CEO, and now a long-term owner focused on building manufacturing businesses meant to last decades, not flip in a few years.

We talk about:

• Why culture matters more than spreadsheets

• What real leadership looks like on the shop floor

• How vulnerability builds trust in manufacturing teams

• Succession, stewardship, and long-term thinking

• The question every leader should ask: Would I want my kids to work here?

This is an honest conversation about people, leadership, and creating environments where manufacturing can thrive for generations.

In this episode of Rapid Fire Manufacturing, I sit down with Lyndsey Vickers from MTDCNC. We talk about how she went from chasing a media career to learning machine tools up close through cold calling, applications teams, and real shop life. Lyndsey breaks down why the best shop stories always come from people, how to get someone comfortable on camera, and why you cannot overthink content if you want to grow. We also get into bridging manufacturing across countries through social media, why automation is the trend more shops need to embrace, and what great leaders do differently in the shops she has visited around the world.00:00 Introduction to Lindsay Vickers and Her Journey

04:52 Transitioning from Media to Manufacturing

10:02 The Importance of People in Manufacturing Stories

14:58 Bridging the Gap in Global Manufacturing

19:43 Embracing Automation in Manufacturing

24:50 Creating Content in the Manufacturing Space

25:10 Harnessing Technology for Personal Branding

27:11 The Importance of Authenticity in Storytelling

30:24 Traits of Exceptional Leaders in Manufacturing

34:21 Humorous Moments in Media

35:42 The Power of Organization in Small Shops

39:06 Creating an Attractive Workplace

41:50 Advice for the Next Generation in Manufacturing

In this episode of Rapid Fire Manufacturing, David Turner sits down with Travis Christman, a United States Army veteran who built a remarkable career in the orthopedic manufacturing world.

Travis shares how he went from growing up on a small farm to studying secondary education, to serving as an infantryman, to stepping into his first manufacturing role at Sony D A D C working on high speed holographic printers. That path eventually led him into orthopedic manufacturing, where he has spent the last fifteen years across multiple companies including Zimmer Biomet.

Together, David and Travis explore:

• The reality of working inside one of the most regulated manufacturing environments
• Why relationships are the most powerful advantage in med device
• How Indiana became one of the most important orthopedic ecosystems in the world
• The story of a custom printed prosthetic that allowed a young girl to play the violin again
• The mission of Priority Medical and how they support research and development, operations, quality, and product development
• What to expect at the Made Here Manufacturing Showcase on December 18
• Travis guiding advice for anyone entering manufacturing today

From leadership to culture to product development to meaningful patient impact, this conversation shows why orthopedic manufacturing is one of the most inspiring corners of the industry.

Watch the full interview and explore more episodes at Rapid Fire Manufacturing.

In this Rapid Fire Manufacturing episode, Matt Sissom shares the raw and honest story behind Mayhem Machine.
He walked away from alcohol in January 2021, stepped into the unknown, and turned a single water jet into one of the most trusted small shops in the Southeast.

We talk about:

• his sobriety journey

• starting a business during a shutdown

• surviving eighteen hour days

• why most machinists avoid water jets

• growing a shop from one machine to a full operation

• what he wishes he knew earlier

This conversation blends manufacturing, discipline, comeback stories, and the mindset required to build something from scratch.

Perfect for machinists, manufacturing leaders, engineers, shop owners, and anyone fighting for a second chance.

manufacturing, machining, sobriety, addiction recovery, machine shop story, cnc machining, water jet cutting, entrepreneur story, shop owner interview, life change, discipline, manufacturing podcast, rapid fire manufacturing, precision machining, mayhem machine

Matt Schron joins Rapid Fire Manufacturing for a powerful conversation on leadership, legacy, and the next chapter of American manufacturing. Jergens began in 1942 with rationed steel and a mission to support the war effort. Today they are shaping the future of workholding, machine tending, and lights out machining.

Matt shares his journey as a fourth generation leader, the pressure that comes with it, and the mindset that helped him earn his place. We talk quick change, higher mix and lower volume, automation trends, and why the shops that adapt the fastest are the ones that win.

The full episode also dives into Jergens programs for special needs students, second chance hiring, and the real meaning of work life integration inside a modern manufacturing company.

If you want an honest, grounded look at what is happening on the shop floor and inside the leadership office, this episode will hit you.