Is Coaching the Key to Lights-Out Success? Ep #16

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What happens when cutting-edge CAM automation meets boots-on-the-ground manufacturing know-how? You get an eye-opening conversation that will challenge the way you think about the future of your shop—and your role in it.

In this episode of Lights Out, we sit down with David Vuyk, a guy who’s walked every inch of the shop floor and now finds himself at the forefront of digital manufacturing transformation with CloudNC. But don’t expect a tech sales pitch—this is a candid, no-holds-barred look at the human side of automation and why real success hinges on more than just software.

If you’ve ever felt the tension between adopting new technology and keeping your team engaged, this episode is for you. David shares his journey from mechanical designer, to job shop operator, to now driving customer success for bleeding-edge CAM automation.

Along the way, he tackles the tough questions: What happens when programmers fear being replaced? How do you overcome resistance from the shop floor? And why is customer success just as important—if not more—than sales when it comes to scaling disruptive tech?

But this isn’t just about change management—it’s about reimagining what your people can achieve when they’re empowered, not threatened, by automation. We dive deep into the mindset shifts that shop owners and frontline leaders need to make to truly go Lights Out. Plus, they reveal why failing to engage your team can lead to churn, wasted tech investments, and missed opportunities for growth.

Whether you’re a shop owner, an operations leader, or just someone who wants to future-proof your manufacturing business, you’ll leave this episode with a fresh perspective on how to turn resistance into results. The message is clear: if you can run lights out, you must run lights out—and it all starts with making your people the heroes of your automation journey.

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

(0:47) Why you need to complete the Top Shops benchmarking survey
(2:30) David Vuyk’s journey from mechanical design to CNC machining to tech solutions
(10:31) Navigating resistance on the shop floor and managing change
(13:03) Engaging frontline workers and leadership for tech adoption
(14:53) Dave’s role at CloudNC and how he works with decision-makers
(18:45) Elevating employees through automation, not replacing them
(22:27) The CloudNC phased approach to customer success
(25:04) Grow your top and bottom line with CLA
(26:57) The StoryBrand framework: Communicating your company’s true value
(34:17) Thinking beyond your product: Coaching customers for long-term lights-out success
(38:42) Solving constraints beyond your offering (tools, processes, mindsets)
(41:23) The responsibility of software teams to simplify adoption
(42:16) Our final takeaways from the conversation
(51:37) Check out the Machine Shop Mastery podcast!