120. From Startup to Seven Figures: Kenny Williams' Manufacturing Playbook

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In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I got to sit down with Kenny Williams of Native Aerospace and Defense. Kenny has a really interesting background because he did not come into manufacturing through the traditional path. He started in technology, worked with major ERP companies, served as a CIO for several manufacturing companies, and saw firsthand how deeply connected systems, process, people, and business really are.

What I really appreciated about this conversation is that Kenny has lived the lessons he shares. He started a shop, grew it from zero revenue into a seven-figure aerospace and defense business in less than two and a half years, and eventually sold it. Now, through Native Aerospace and Defense, he is looking at his next chapter: acquiring and growing shops with the right foundation, systems, and opportunity.

We talked about the realities that many new shop owners do not fully understand when they first get started. Kenny shares how he and his partner expected some large purchase orders to materialize early on, only to realize that relationships, trust, cash flow, capacity, and execution matter far more than simply having machines on the floor. His perspective on starting with the right size work, asking for money up front, managing cash, and growing at a sustainable pace is full of hard-earned wisdom.

We also dug into what it takes to build a real business instead of just creating a job for yourself. Kenny shares why he fired roughly a third of his early customers, how he thought about moving into more complex and higher-value work, and why systems are the backbone of a scalable shop. Toward the end, we also got into CMMC, IT infrastructure, cloud platforms, and why Kenny believes machine shops should stay focused on their core competency: making great parts, serving customers, and building strong teams.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in…

(0:00) Kenny Williams and his journey from IT, ERP, and manufacturing systems into machine shop ownership
(2:51) Kenny shares how his background in technology and ERP shaped his understanding of people, process, systems, and change management
(7:43) How Kenny and his partner launched Phoenix Products through Kickstarter before growing into aerospace and defense work
(10:14) High end parts, high end capability, and high end thinking with DN Solutions
(11:25) The importance of proper change management in an organization
(16:03) The early startup lessons Kenny learned (relationships, cashflow, execution, etc.)
(18:46) The hidden costs of outgrowing a facility and why moving a machine shop is far more disruptive than most owners expect
(21:42) Your buyers have technical questions. Navu delivers reliable, accurate answers.
(22:54) Why small purchase orders can create just as much work as larger ones, and how young shops should think about sustainable growth
(25:18) How large purchase orders can become a cash flow problem if the shop is not prepared to fund materials, labor, and delivery
(27:56) Why Kenny recommends asking for money up front, charging for NREs, and building deposits into quotes
(30:50) How Kenny learned to identify the right customers, fire the wrong ones, and move toward better-fit work
(34:32) Why strong systems are the backbone of a scalable shop and help turn a job into a real business
(35:13) What Kenny is looking for as he searches for shops to acquire through Native Aerospace and Defense
(39:10) Why you need to join us at IMTS 2026!
(40:02) The challenge of buying shops that are still completely dependent on the owner
(44:55) Why Kenny believes manufacturing needs to be positioned as a technology-driven career path for younger workers
(46:50) How shop owners can support workforce development by engaging schools, offering internships, and speaking up about opportunity
(48:49) Kenny explains why CMMC and IT decisions should start with a question about a shop’s true core competency
(51:00) Why Kenny believes shops should lean on experienced MSPs and major government cloud providers instead of trying to build everything themselves
(54:43) Why MSPs need configurable CMMC solutions that actually fit small and midsize manufacturers
(58:12) How to connect with Kenny and what types of shops he is interested in acquiring

Resources & People Mentioned

High end parts, high end capability, and high end capability with DN Solutions
Your buyers have technical questions. Navu delivers reliable, accurate answers. Learn more at Navu.co/MakingChips
Why you need to join us at IMTS 2026!

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