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 ready to take your shop to the next level? In the latest episode of MakingChips, we’re kicking off a brand-new series in collaboration with Modern Machine Shop: ?? The Machine Shop MBA: How to Become a Top Shop dives deep into the Top Shops program and how you can use it to benchmark your shop's performance against the best in the industry. Learn how key performance indicators (KPIs) can help you identify areas for improvement, optimize operations, and boost profitability. Plus, hear real-world insights on how we’ve applied these strategies in our own businesses! Listen to the full episode now ?? https://lnkd.in/eafCmH4K Brought to you by CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) and Modern Machine Shop ?? #MakingChips #ModernMachineShop #TopShops #Manufacturing #MachineShop #KPIs #Leadership #BusinessSuccess

The Secret Weapon for Machine Shop Success ?? When I first started filling out the Top Shops survey 7 years ago, it wasn’t for recognition… I just wanted to know how Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication stacked up. It gave me real data, showing me where we were winning and where we needed to improve. ?? ?? That data shaped our roadmap, and today, we’re a bigger, better, faster and stronger shop because of it.?? ???That's why I'm excited about today's MakingChips episode. Nick Goellner, Paul Van Metre, and I talked to Brent M. Donaldson from Modern Machine Shop about the Top Shops survey It's the perfect kickoff to our Machine Shop MBA series. ?? If you’ve never filled out the survey, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s not just about recognition, it’s about benchmarking your shop against the best in the country. ?? Learn where your shop excels. ?? Uncover areas you need to improve. ?? Build a data-driven plan to become a stronger business. ?? Listen to this episode to learn more, fill out the survey, and follow along with our Machine Shop MBA series. You can find the episode on your favorite podcast player, YouTube or makingchips.com Special thank you to Modern Machine Shop and CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) for bringing this powerful series to the #MetalWorkingNation! #TopShops #ManufacturingExcellence #MachineShopMBA #MFGLeader #DataDrivenDecisions #NumbersMatter #BuyTheNumbers #MFGCommunity #ModernMachineShop #MakingChips MakingChips Machine Shop Mastery Lights Out Buy the Numbers# MakingSparks Machine Shop Growth Podcast Matthew Nix Casey Voelker Mike Fritz CEO Kirk Phelps Jennifer Dubose Bryce Ellis

This week on MakingChips was all about growth! Let’s take a look at The Boring Bar newsletter for a recap! ?? We announced the expansion of our podcast network with Machine Shop Growth Podcast hosted by Mike Fritz CEO and Kirk Phelps ??? In their latest episode of Machine Shop Growth Podcast Mike and Kirk explored the importance of cultivating a growth culture — one that impacts sales, marketing, leadership, and operations. #?? On Buy the Numbers# I had Matthew Nix join me to break down the KPIs you need to track to keep your growth on course. ??Growing your team? Check out HireMFGLeaders.com! Don’t miss this week’s Boring Bar and be sure to subscribe to the newsletter to stay on top of everything happening in the MakingChips family. Because if you’re not making chips… you’re not making money! Bam!?? CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology IMTS - International Manufacturing Technology Show ProShop ERP Modern Machine Shop Paperless Parts Tree Top Staffing LLC #GrowingValue #DataDrivenDecisions #NumbersMatter #MFGLeader #MakingChips #SaveAShop 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 Myles Rickerd

Are you tired of achieving massive growth in your business? ?? We sure hope not! Because we're hoping to accelerate your business's success by adding another amazing podcast to the MakingChips family: Machine Shop Growth Podcast. Hosted by Mike Fritz CEO and Kirk Phelps, there first three episodes are packed with concepts you need to know to get a firm grasp on sales and marketing. You know our goal is to equip & inspire and help YOU make more chips. Learn more in this week's newsletter! ?? AND catch the first three episodes of Machine Shop Growth ?? https://lnkd.in/eu3f8dRx #MakingChips #MachineShopGrowth #MachineShopMastery #BuyTheNumbers #MakingSparks #LightsOut Mike Payne Nick Goellner Paul Van Metre Jennifer Dubose

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