MakingChips

?? The Boring Bar Newsletter is now on LinkedIn! Tune in each week to find links to all of our episodes in one convenient place and get short introductions to each episode. We'll also routinely share interesting content, manufacturing news, and BIG updates. What else should we include? Let us know in the comments ?? Jason Zenger ???? Nick Goellner Mike Payne Paul Van Metre

Are you benchmarking your shop against the best in the industry? Paul, Nick, and I had a fantastic conversation with Brent M. Donaldson, Editor in Chief of Modern Machine Shop, talking about the 2025 Top Shops Survey. If you're not participating in Top Shops…why?! Where else can you measure your performance against industry peers across the country and get a customized report showing YOUR results? At Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication, we're incredibly proud to qualify as a Top Shop for the past few years. But it's not just about the recognition… it's about the insights. ? Where are we winning? ? Where can we improve? That's the real value. Don't miss this episode next week… and be sure to visit mmsonline.com to participate in the survey! #TopShops25 #Manufacturing #TopShops #ModernMachineShop #MFGCommunity #DataDrivenDecisions #GrowingValue #NumbersMatter #BuyTheNumbers Buy the Numbers# MakingChips Machine Shop Mastery Lights Out MakingSparks Nick Goellner Paul Van Metre Matthew Nix Casey Voelker Jennifer Dubose Kaleb Mertz Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication

?? How to Track Growth Like a Pro ?? On this week's episode of Buy the Numbers# Numbers, I sat down with Matthew Nix from Nix Industrial to talk about the KPI's he uses to track and accelerate growth in his business. If you don't know Matthew's story, its a a fascinating story of a 5th generation #MFGLeader that has lead his company through tremendous growth and built a company that lives it's culture everyday while staying true to its family oriented roots. Matthew shares powerful insights on how aligning the right metrics with your company’s goals can drive performance and ultimately improve your bottom line. ?? From sales performance to operational efficiency, Matthew breaks down what numbers matter most and how shop owners can leverage them to make smarter decisions. If you’re looking to improve your business performance and scale with confidence, this episode is a must-listen! ?? ?? Check it out now and start turning your numbers into actionable insights. BONUS: you can learn more about his story in a book that Angela Klink wrote last year, Forging Ahead Book...well worth the read! And make sure you follow and subscribe to Matthew's podcast MakingSparks where he and his co-host, Casey Voelker, cover all things metalworking, fabrication and leadership! #GrowingValue #DataDrivenDecisions #NumbersMatter #MFGLeader #MakingChips #SaveAShop Buy the Numbers# MakingChips Machine Shop Mastery Lights Out MakingSparks Nick Goellner Paul Van Metre Matthew Nix Casey Voelker Jennifer Dubose Kaleb Mertz Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication Machine Shop Growth Podcast Mike Fritz CEO Kirk Phelps

Finding Top Manufacturing Talent IS Possible! ?? We’ve all been there... ? Post on all the sites ? Call the local temp agencies ? Drop job listings on LinkedIn …and nothing. Crickets. ?? That’s why we launched HireMFGLeaders.com, and I decided to give it a shot myself. ?? Within a week, I had three solid candidates (not actively job-seeking) in my inbox. People who weren’t just “available” but were actually aligned with what we needed. Here’s what impressed me most: HireMFGLeaders.com took the time to understand Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication, our environment, and our culture. They didn’t just send crappy resumes...they surfaced people who matched our business and our values. I’m betting we’ll have a new team member in place in less than a month. ?? ? No upfront costs. ? No wasted time chasing dead-end leads. ? Just the right candidates, fast. If you’re struggling to find the right talent, give it a shot. It doesn’t cost you a penny if you don’t find what you’re looking for. #HireMFGLeaders #ManufacturingTalent #MFGHiring #ManufacturingLeadership #GrowingValue #DataDrivenDecisions #NumbersMatter #MFGLeader #MakingChips #SaveAShop Myles Rickerd Tree Top Staffing LLC Buy the Numbers# Machine Shop Growth Podcast Mike Fritz CEO Kirk Phelps Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication MakingChips Machine Shop Mastery Lights Out MakingSparks Paul Van Metre Nick Goellner Jennifer Dubose

#ThankAMachinist ???? Lots of #MFGLeaders on here that work with SpaceX... We see you... Awesome work! ???? #ThankAMachinist #Manufacturing #SpaceX #MFGCommunity #Innovation MakingChips Machine Shop Mastery Buy the Numbers# Lights Out MakingSparks Machine Shop Growth Podcast Nick Goellner Paul Van Metre Matthew Nix Casey Voelker Jennifer Dubose Kaleb Mertz Mike Fritz CEO Kirk Phelps Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication

Ready to grow your machine shop? ?? In this episode of MakingChips, we’re joined by Kirk Phelps and Mike Fritz CEO, two experts in machine shop growth. They’ve cracked the code on expanding operations and scaling business through strategic mergers and acquisitions. They share valuable insights into: ? Building a growth culture across your shop ? Improving leadership and operational efficiency ? Using M&A to increase revenue and profitability What’s even more exciting? Kirk and Mike’s Machine Shop Growth Podcast is now part of the #MakingChips family, offering actionable advice on scaling machine shops! Don’t miss out on their strategies for thriving in a competitive landscape. Tune in to this episode and get the tools you need to take your shop to the next level. ?? https://lnkd.in/e5aggV26 Mike Payne Paul Van Metre Nick Goellner #MakingChips #MachineShopGrowth #Leadership #Manufacturing #BusinessGrowth

??? Big News from the MakingChips Family! ??? Ever wonder why some machine shops experience explosive growth while others hit a ceiling? In today’s episode of MakingChips, we dive into the strategies behind scaling success with Kirk Phelps and Mike Fritz CEO ...two industry veterans who have cracked the code on growing machine shops through smart strategies and strategic acquisitions. But here’s the exciting part... ?? Introducing the NEW podcast: Machine Shop Growth Podcast ?? Kirk and Mike launched this new podcast to share their proven insights on: ? Building a growth culture that drives results ? Sales, marketing, and leadership strategies to scale your business Growth isn’t just about sales — it’s about creating a culture that empowers your team, streamlines operations, and drives results. On this podcast, Kirk and Mike will break down exactly how to make that happen. If you’re serious about taking your machine shop to the next level, this episode — and the new Machine Shop Growth Podcast — will give you the tools to make it happen. ?? Tune in now and get ready to grow! #MachineShopGrowth #ManufacturingSuccess #MakingChips #GrowingValue #MFGLeader #BusinessGrowth #NumbersMatter #DataDrivenDecisions #SaveAShop MakingChips Buy the Numbers# Machine Shop Mastery Lights Out MakingSparks Nick Goellner Paul Van Metre Matthew Nix Casey Voelker Jennifer Dubose Kaleb Mertz Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication Mike Fritz CEO Kirk Phelps

This week, we've got an exciting lineup that dives deep into the latest trends and real-world insights shaping the manufacturing world. Whether you're curious about AI's impact, improving your quoting process, or transitioning from employee to employer in the machining industry, we've got something for you! Don’t miss out on these must-listen episodes to stay ahead of the curve in the manufacturing space! Also, don’t forget to participate in the Top Shops Benchmarking Survey 2025 for your chance to gain valuable insights and earn special recognition! (Link in the newsletter) ?? Mike Payne Nick Goellner Paul Van Metre Matthew Nix Casey Voelker #Manufacturing #AI #Quoting #MachineShop #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #TopShops

The #MasterInTheArt of living makes little distinction between his work and his play...to him he's always doing both. That captures the essence of the entire James Michener quote I keep as my personal purpose. Weeks like this make it easy! After a few awesome trips to TITANS of CNC MACHINING in the Dallas area over the past few months, I had the pleasure of hosting Keith Granno here in Tulsa this week. We kicked things off with a Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication shop tour, where I had the chance to introduce Keith to a lot of our amazing team and talk shop. After that...well, we took advantage of some great weather and hit the golf course with an excellent Fuente Cigar Ltd. cigar for a well-deserved round. ???♂?(I played terrible, but let me tell ya Keith can go low!) We wrapped it all up with a great meal and an Angel's Envy Old Fashioned blending business, fun, and friendship...the perfect combination. Were we working? Were we playing? Honestly, I was doing both! Appreciate you making the trip, Keith! Looking forward to connecting again soon. #Networking #ManufacturingConnections #BusinessAndGolf #QualityParts #OnTime #EveryTime Brett Thompson Corey Bartmier Tony Lang Rip L Van Winkle DGP Manufacturing MPPI C&D Manufacturing Andrew Payne Rhett Dawson Hank Anglin Buy the Numbers#

?? Who Wants to Be a Manufacturing Millionaire? ?? If you want to win big in manufacturing… ?? You better have the right team. Because when the pressure’s on — whether you’re scaling, filling leadership gaps, or driving innovation — the right people make all the difference. ? Need top-tier manufacturing leaders? Don’t leave it to chance. ?? Visit HireMFGLeaders.com and connect with proven industry pros who can help you hit your goals. Final Answer? Easy choice. ?? #HireMFGLeaders #ManufacturingLeadership #BuildingWinningTeams #MFGCommunity #LeadershipMatters Myles Rickerd Tree Top Staffing LLC MakingChips Machine Shop Mastery Lights Out Mike Payne MakingSparks Nick Goellner Paul Van Metre Matthew Nix Casey Voelker Jennifer Dubose Kaleb Mertz Buy the Numbers#