Scaling Success: Managing Growth Through Data and Culture, Ep #13

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In today’s episode of Buy the Numbers, we’re diving into the key metrics that help a company scale successfully. Growth can be both exhilarating and overwhelming, especially when you’re managing multiple locations and divisions. 

How do you ensure that each part of your business is operating smoothly while also keeping a strong grip on the culture and values that made your company successful in the first place? Our guest, Matthew Nix, shares how his company navigated these challenges and the data-driven strategies they’ve implemented to manage growth effectively.

Matthew Nix, the fifth-generation CEO of Nix Companies, discusses the importance of establishing clear metrics and systems for tracking daily operations. From staffing levels to production capacity and morale, Matthew highlights how small, consistent data points can give a real-time snapshot of a business’s health. He also shares the shift from tracking data merely for analysis to using it as a tool for action and decision-making.

One of the major themes in this episode is how to balance growth with maintaining a positive culture. Matthew explains how they’ve used feedback loops and regular check-ins to keep track of their employees’ engagement and morale. He also shares insight into how they’ve systematized their operations to manage multiple business units under one umbrella, making it easier to identify issues early on and take corrective actions before they become larger problems.

Whether you’re running a small shop or a multi-location operation, this episode will give you practical takeaways on how to implement simple, yet effective data-driven systems that help you manage growth while maintaining a focus on your culture and values.

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

• (0:00) Introduction to the episode and Matthew Nix
• (3:46) Overview of Matthew’s company, podcast, and book
• (10:49) The role of data in managing business growth
• (14:52) The data used for daily decision-making
• (20:44) How morale impacts company culture (and tracking the data)
• (25:06) Weekly metrics: The strategic priority for each business unit
• (28:28) Why you need to listen to the Lights Out Podcast
• (32:40) How to operationalize strategic goals and tie them to KPIs
• (36:58) KPIs for HR: Recruiting and turnover metrics
• (41:08) Using volume and efficiency metrics in business development
• (46:57) Why lead and lag indicators are important for long-term success
• (51:45) Encouraging employee participation in data tracking
• (54:25) Pro Fab Alliance and how they help other businesses
• (59:06) Why you need to take the Modern Machine Shop Top Shops Survey

Resources & People Mentioned

• Married to Each Other and the Business (Part 1)
• Married to Each Other and the Business (Part 2)
• Josh McKain’s Data-Driven Framework to Align Goals and Accountability, Ep #7
• The 4 Disciplines of Execution 
• Halftime
• Hire MFG Leaders
• The Modern Machine Shop Top Shops Survey

Connect with Matthew Nix

• Forging Ahead
• ProFab Alliance
• The MakingSparks Podcast

Connect With Buy the Numbers

• Follow on LinkedIn
• Connect with Mike Payne on LinkedIn

Subscribe to Buy the Numbers

on Apple + Spotify

Audio Production and Show Notes by – PODCAST FAST TRACK