76. Inside Secrets of a 200+ Machine Shop

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When I first heard about Screwmatic—a shop with over 200 machines, 110 employees, and 16 buildings—I knew I had to talk to the guy behind it. In this episode, I sit down with Billy Hogge, the second-generation leader of Screwmatics out of Pageland, South Carolina. His story is incredible. His parents started the company 37 years ago with just two screw machines, and today it’s grown into one of the largest and most efficient high-volume machining operations I’ve ever seen.

We talk about how Billy and his team have scaled so effectively by staying relentlessly sales-driven—even when they’re at capacity—and by reinvesting in automation, Swiss and CNC machines, and lights-out manufacturing. One of the wildest things he shares? Their top six customers today weren’t even customers five years ago. That’s how aggressive and strategic their growth has been.

We also dive deep into workforce development. Billy’s all-in on building the next generation of machinists, partnering with local schools, serving on state workforce boards, and even helping shape tech school curriculums. He shares some great tips for how to find and keep good people—and how to help them grow within your team.

Whether you’re running a small job shop or a larger operation, there’s something here for everyone. Billy offers so much wisdom on machine strategy, culture, sales, and what it really takes to grow and modernize a shop in today’s market. This one’s packed with insights, and I’m confident you’ll walk away inspired—and probably scribbling down a few action items.

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

(0:22) Why you need to complete the Modern Machine Shop Top Shops Survey
(1:50) Overview of Screwmatics’ size, history, and impressive 16-building campus
(7:41) How they run lights-out automation and fully automated second shifts
(9:13) Learn more about Screwmatic’s global client base
(13:07) Billy’s personal journey into the business and rise to vice president
(16:09) Achieving growth without a designated sales team
(20:42) The secret sauce in Screwmatic’s process
(25:45) Operating in a high-volume environment
(28:20) Why Billy is always filling the pipeline with opportunities
(35:54) Strategic machine investments using Section 179 with strong ROI focus
(37:24) Partnering with schools and shaping curriculum for workforce development
(45:17) Their culture of individual growth, flexible pay, and long-term employee success
(48:09) Using ChatGPT to train operators on G-code and boost self-learning
(50:00) The automation implementation process at Screwmatics
(1:03:20) Why you need to listen to the Lights Out podcast