The Job Shop Show

Episode 12: Aurora Machine

Our guest is Jordan Amoia of of Aurora Machine - a one stop metal shop - outside Buffalo, NY.  Jordan and his brother, Jonathan acquired Aurora in 2013 and quickly grew the shop from 4 to 40 employees.  Having no machining experience, the two brothers having applied common sense and practical business philosophies to custom manufacturing and have been extremely successful!  Jordan offers his experience and ideas that other Job Shop Owners can apply to to their own businesses.

Episode 11: Hirsh Precision Products

Peter Doyle is the owner and President/CEO of Hirsh Precision Products.  Hirsh designs and manufactures precision machined parts and assemblies, and is know for taking on the tough jobs others don’t want or just can’t manufacture.  They are a 2018 Modern Machine Shop magazine’s Top Show honors program winner as well a five years running winner of the National Tooling and Machining Association’s 6S award. We will talk about those awards as well as the competitive advantage they have gained through deployed technology as well as some culture attributes that have created a cohesive team environment.

Links to the books Peter recommends:

Two Second Lean

Own the Gap

Episode 10: Commercial Banking with Len Morrissey

In this week's episode, Jay interviews Len Morrissey, former CFO and President at RAPID.  Len shares tips and recommendations on how job shops can work successfully with banks, leveraging the 17 years he spent in commercial banking before moving into manufacturing.

Episode 9: Metalmite

Metalmite is a full service machine shop and Tom is a second generation owner as well as a third generation machinist.  We will talk about the handing off of a business from one generation to another from the son perspective as well as gears and splines, very tricky parts to machine!

Episode 8: Datron Dynamics

We change things up a bit on this episode and speak with Chris Hopkins of Datron Dynamics, a manufacturer of high speed milling machines.  We will talk about some of the things Chris sees that successful shops are implementing as well as the advantages of high speed milling, where it fits in and how best to use it. 

Episode 7: Focused on Machining

On this episode we speak with Justin Quinn, owner of Focused on Machining in Denver, Colorado.  Justin bought Focused on Machining eight years after it started.  As a former commercial banker Justin offers us a unique perspective on buying a shop through the bank's perspective, including what is underwriting, how banks make money and how to make your shop look attractive to a bank.

Episode 6: Columbus Advanced Manufacturing Systems

Jay speaks with Jeff Trevorrow, owner of Columbus Advanced Manufacturing Systems (CAMS).  While CAMS can print and machine parts, they are unique in that they also offer solutions for software, training, printers and systems.  

Episode 5: Wesco Machine and Tool

We speak with Joel Niekamp of Wesco Machine and Tool.  After a career in private equity and investment banking with a specialty in mergers and acquisitions Joel opted to switch gears and purchased a Job Shop himself. Many job shop owners are reaching the point where they're looking to exit their business. And this is a great opportunity to get the perspective of someone on the other side who actually pulled the trigger and bought a shop.

Episode 4: Mammoth Machine & Design

On today’s episode, Ali Bahar discusses how he and his neighbor, George Brinzey conceived their idea for Mammoth Machine while hanging out on Friday nights.  Hear how they have developed their scanning technology to allow them to reverse engineer challenging parts.

Episode 3: S&S Machine

On this episode we speak with Peter Sameulson of S&S Machine, another family run business here in New Hampshire.  Hear how Peter's early career in tooling gives his shop a unique advantage and perspective on cutting tools. Also, hear how S&S wins the hard jobs that other shops are to afraid to even quote!