This episode is APPROVED! Steve and Jay first spoke in early 2020 after Steve and his partner had just purchased their own sheet metal shop, now Approved Sheet Metal. Steve is back to fill us in on his first year as an owner, improvements he has made and his outlook for the future!

Mush Khan shares his experience working in Manufacturing plants all over the world and why he is confident that we have what it takes to increase opportunities here in the U.S. As a curator of great teams, Mush is the CEO and co-founder of Alchemy Industrial out of Houston, Texas; an additive parts manufacturer focusing on FDM technology with assembly and machining. He shares his journey and passion for the future of manufacturing here in the U.S.

Today's guest is Courtney Silver of Ketchie Precision Machining Solutions; a third generation precision machine shop in Concord, North Carolina. As many shop owners can relate, 2020 produced challenges and forced changes. Courtney, however, describes 2020 as a "reset" and talks candidly about decisions and changes she has recently made, including one that was the hardest of her manufacturing career. Still in the "messy middle" of her shop’s reset she shares first hand experience and what she is learning.

On this week's episode we are joined by Jeff George, President of Micro-Tronics, Inc. Jeff and Jay talk about Micro-Tronics' journey to becoming a world leader in supplying precision machine components, rubber products, assemblies and EDM services to the industry's leading aerospace companies.

A champion of American manufacturing, Miles is the director of industry affairs at Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA). PMPA has a goal of keeping North American precision machining companies globally competitive through the use of best available information and technology on opportunities. They also assist members with regulatory and government issues. Additionally, Miles hosts his own Podcast: Speaking of Precision: Monday with Miles.

The TAAF program which stands for Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms is the only federal program that's specifically designed to help small manufacturers who have been directly hurt by imports. TAAF provides up to $75,000 in matching funds to companies who have been hurt by import competition. Scott Jacobs of Great Lakes Trade Adjustment Assistance Center which helps companies in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana is joining us to explain the program in more detail. Scott has been helping companies tap into government programs like TAAF for years and has a passion for manufacturing!

We are joined by Roy Crumrine, owner of Crummy Welding and co-host of the popular podcast Welding Tips & Tricks. Roy provides tips and insights on welding that shop owners may often overlook. You are sure to leave this episode with a new-found appreciation of your welding department!

Craig Cegielski is one of the countries top manufacturing educators. Craig heads up the Tech Ed Department at Eleva-Strum High School in Strum, Wisconsin and created and runs Cardinal Manufacturing, a student run machine shop within the department. Not only do his students learn technical and machining skills, but playability skills like dressing well and showing up on time. Craig shares all about the program and what it takes to get a program like this up and running.

Shane Prukop of TruPart Manufacturing joins Jay on this fast-moving, hard-hitting episode of The Job Shop Show. As third generation manufacturing Shane is passionate about the future of custom part manufacturing especially how we can improve systems and processes through streamlining, automation and integrations. Shane shares some of the successful software and systems he as brought into his shop as well as plenty of other helpful tips and tricks. You are sure to enjoy today's episode!

We chat with our first veteran plating and finishing expert, Tamea Franco, President and CEO of Global Metal Finishing out of Roanoke, Virginia. Tamea shares some of the secrets of the trade and also expresses how important it is to have a great relationship with your finishers! This is an episode not to miss!

Dan Donaworth of Dan's Custom Machining out of Williamsburg, Ohio joins us today!  Dan is just four years into his dream of owning his own shop and was recently featured in Modern Machine Shop Magazine.  Anyone in their early stages of running a shop is sure to grab some good takeaways!

Today we chat with Craig Zoberis of Fusion OEM; a contract manufacturer of light industrial equipment for OEMs and certified systems integrator for Universal Robots. Craig brought a collaborative robot into his shop after struggling with the skills gap in the manufacturing world. Since doing so he has also created a robot integration company focusing on Job Shops.  If you've ever wondered how robots could help your shop in the future, you will learn a lot from Craig!

Joining us today is Rodd Blessey of Aldine Metal, a sheet metal fabricator in New Milford, Connecticut. As a very forward thinking leader, Rodd, has been able to grow his shop 10% a year after implementing change. In line with his forethought Rodd loves data and shares his vision on how job shops must work with their customers in today's world. Enjoy this exciting episode!

This episode is out of this world! Jay chats with Will Gibbs, founder and CEO of MODICA and Harbor Island Waterjet, both out of Seattle, Washington. MODICA's goal is to provide automated microfactory modules with the tagline of factory as service and uses Harbor Island as it's testbed. Enjoy!

Jay and special co-host guest, Steve Lynch join fellow car enthusiast, David Bamforth of Rennscot, a design and manufacturing company with an in-house line of aftermarket performance parts and accessories. David started Rennscot before even graduating from Wentworth Institute of Technology where he received his BS in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in manufacturing.

Grady Cope of Reata Engineering and Machine Works outside Denver, Colorado joins us on this episode! Grady is not only the owner of a very successful multi-dimensional machine shop, starting from ground zero 27 years ago, he is the past President of the NTMA, and a founder of the Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Association.

Jay interviews a true Champion of U.S. Manufacturing; Terry Iverson. While Terry’s day job is running Iverson & Co a seller of new and used machine tools; Terry’s true passion is to educate our country on the importance of Manufacturing in the USA.

Bill Berrien, owner of Pindel Global Precision in New Berlin Wisconsin joins us on this exciting episode! Pindel is a global manufacturer of precision machine components that has been in business since 1947 and acquired by Bill in 2012.

Jay chats with Ryan Murray, General Manager of A&E Manufacturing; a precision sheet metal shop out of Levittown, Pennsylvania. A&E is a multi-generational family owned and operated shop which creates its own set of unique dynamics. Ryan also shares how technology like Microsoft Teams and Zoom are keeping his team connected and organized through the pandemic. Enjoy!

Do you want to spend more time working on your business rather than in your business? In other words, does your business drive your day to day activities and you spend your time fighting fires yet you know that to grow your business you need to be more intentional and proactive in working on things that will make you and your company better tomorrow? Our guest today, Jamie Spitzer President of Precision Machine has figured out some of those answers! Enjoy!