We're speaking with Hernan Ricaurte, President and Co-Owner of Ricaurte Precision, a precision manufacturer in Southern California which he and his sister bought from their parents in 2016. We dig deep into the financial attributes of a shop, then discuss amongst other things the GAP concept of accounting, how the shop has transformed over the last five years and how living and working in Japan for almost 20 years has shaped how Hernan looks at running a company.

Have you ever wondered whether having a robot in your shop makes sense? Are you worried about the cost of buying one, getting it up and running and then maintaing it? Saman Farid founded Formic Technologies with the goal to make robot implementation much easier for Manufacturers. Formic owns, installs, and then leases robots to manufacturers at an hourly rate, much less than the human team member. Listen and learn how you can get robot automation implemented in your shop with minimal risk!

Bill Bonner is here today to talk about the unique challenges of supporting IT in small organizations, especially those going through rapid growth. He has experience dealing with cyber threats and building better systems to combat them. We will be discussing that as well as some of the latest trends in information technology.

Imagine being able to earn passive income and build long term wealth while gaining total freedom from you business or job! Spend less time working and more time with your spouse, family and friends. That is what Lifestyle investing is all about. On this episode, friend, mentor, and wildly successful investor and family man, Justin Donald, the creator of the "The Lifestyle Investor" explains how cash flow investing creates passive income. This isn't theory - Justin used these tools to achieve eight figure wealth by the age of 40. We hope after listening, you have a new path to explore yourself which can help you achieve your own financial freedom!

Precision Parts Fast (formerly Precision Additive) is an industrial 3D printing, CNC machining, and manufacturing design & consulting company based outside Denver, Colorado. Founded by brothers, Jason Korbelik and Brian Korbelik, in early 2021; Sensing an opportunity to bring precision additive manufacturing to the Rocky mountain roots, they have taken the plunge. We explore thoughts behind starting a business, challenges they're facing how they think differently than someone coming directly from additive manufacturing, and even answer some questions they have regarding redundancy, generating leads, expedite markups, and equipment strategy

Jonathon Friedl and his brother Isaac Houchens are the owners of Black Mountain Manufacturing just outside Denver. As a young shop owner, Jonathon shares his non-traditional background, his struggles of being a shop owner in the early days. How he built up his company quickly just to have it crash and how he's successfully rebounded. This episode is full of personal experience and inspiration.

Sam Gupta of ElevatIQ joins us as we take a deep dive into ERP Systems. Why do you need one? How do you chose one? How does it help with business transformation? ElevatIQ consults with companies to assist with the procurment of business systems such as ERP and provides implementaion assistance. Sam is also host of the popular program WBSRocks; a community and a media company focused on digital transformation and business growth. It runs several initiatives including a podcast, clubhouse rooms, happy hours, Twitter chat, slack, and LinkedIn communities, and a network of LinkedIn influencers.

Ari Santiago, CEO of CompassMSP and Host of the popular Made in America Podcast joins us on this episode! CompassMSP's mission is to help small to medium size businesses utilize the power of technology to help reach their goals. Ari has worked with a number of Connecticut Manufacturers and his passion for manufacturing led him to start his own podcast made in America two years ago. He interviews some of the Manufacturing leaders and pioneers in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts; the importance of technology in business and what lessons Ari has learned from talking with manufacturing leaders.

In this Bonus episode, Jeremy Dustin of Metalcraft Technologies picks Jay's brain on how he can efficiently offer expedites in his shop. Jay shares his experiences and ideas for managing and pricing expedites. If you're contemplating adding expedites to your shop or already offer them, this episode is not to be missed!

Today we speak with the owner and CEO of Boston Centerless, Steve Tamasi. Boston centerless supplies precision ground bar materials and grinding services specializing in extremely close tolerances. A classy shop doing things right in a very tight margin business. Steve has made constant incremental steps of continuous improvement and re-invests in all aspects of his company.

Jay is joined by Nick Polanosky of P3D Creations, outside of Orlando, Florida. They delve into the world of automation; from quoting to inspection and everything in between. When Nick comes across a process he doesn’t want to have to do again, he finds a way to automate it!

Juan March owns Jacksonville Precision Manufacturing, specializing in quick-turn prototyping, short to medium-run production, and one-off specialty components primarily for the automation industry. Juan is passionate about robotic educational programs and shares his experiences being involved with FIRST Robotics.

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.