By Jennifer Dubose

The Business of MakingChips: From Shop Floor to CEO, 449

Many machinists dream of owning their own shop. But there’s a big difference between being great at making chips and being great at running a business—just like a skilled operator isn’t automatically a great manager.

That’s why we’re launching a new series—think of it as a MasterClass on starting, running, and growing a successful machine shop. Business school teaches general principles, but the real lessons? You learn those on the shop floor, through experience, and sometimes the hard way.

We want to bridge that gap, and we’re dedicating much of this year’s content to making it happen.

If you own or run a shop, we want to hear from you—what worked, what didn’t, and what you wish you had known. If you’re still dreaming of starting your own business, tell us what you want to learn.

And we’re not doing this alone. We’re bringing in industry experts to share their knowledge and experience.

So listen in, and let us know—what do you want to hear? What questions do you have? This series is for you, and we want to make sure it covers everything you need to succeed.

Segments

  • (0:20) Why we love Paperless Parts for estimating and quoting 
  • (2:45) Why we’re planning a masterclass 
  • (8:05) We want to hear from you
  • (11:57) How we’re structuring the series
  • (15:20) Meet us at The MFG Meeting in San Antonio 
  • (26:38) We’re collaborating with incredible partners

Resources mentioned on this episode

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