Machine Shop Growth

Mike Fritz
  • 0.0 (0)
  • INVESTING
  • EVERY TWO MONTHS

The Machine Shop Growth Podcast gives a fresh perspective to help you grow your shop by focusing on 3 key factors - Sales, Marketing and Efficiency.  For decades the machine shop industry was build on a “good-ol-boys” mentality and was full of great machinists and engineers that made great parts.  What has been discovered is many of those amazing shops have plateaued or are starting to decline - because they didn’t put enough emphasis on getting more work and making more money with the work they had.  On this podcast you will hear first hand advice from machine owners and mangers how they are getting more work and how they are making more money.   Now let’s Grow Your Shop!

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Episode #29: Tool Holders, Setup Time, and the 80/20 Rule for Machine Shop Growth

    Setup time is stealing more money from your shop than you think. In this episode of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast, Kirk Phelps digs deeper into standardization—specifically, tool holders, tooling storage, inventory systems, and the 80/20 rule that every machine shop should be using. Most shops don’t lose efficiency because people aren’t working hard. They lose efficiency because too many variables are left up to chance. Different tool holders. Unclear standards. Tools scattered across drawers and toolboxes. Operators searching for what should already be ready. Setups taking longer than they need to. Kirk breaks down why standardizing your tooling and tool holders is not about making your shop rigid. It is about removing unnecessary decisions, reducing mistakes, improving repeatability, and giving your team a better system to work from. In this episode, you’ll learn how to: Build a master tool list around standard holdersReduce setup time by eliminating unnecessary variablesChoose tool holders based on application, not habitUse tooling inventory systems to save time and moneyTrack tooling usage by job, part, machine, and operatorApply the 80/20 rule to process improvementTurn spindle downtime into more production timeKirk also shares real examples of tool holder decisions that doubled tool life, reduced downtime, and helped shops make better decisions based on data—not guesswork. If your team spends too much time looking for tools, reworking setups, chasing holders, or saying “this is just how we’ve always done it,” this episode is a practical wake-up call. Because the fastest ROI in your shop may not come from buying another machine. It may come from standardizing what you already do every single day.

    55 min

  2. 5 MAY

    Episode #28: The 5 KPI’s to Track for Shop Growth

    Your shop may be busy… But is it actually growing? In this episode, Mike Fritz breaks down the 5 KPI’s every machine shop should track if they want more control over sales, production, profitability, and long-term growth. Most shops judge success by whether there’s money in the bank, parts are shipping, and customers seem happy. But that only tells part of the story. Without tracking the right numbers, a shop can miss warning signs like low margins, weak RFQ flow, poor follow-up, or dangerous customer concentration. Mike walks through the five growth KPIs that reveal what is really happening inside your shop: You’ll learn how to track: RFQ volume from new, current, and dormant customersWin rate and why you are winning or losing workPO volume and customer concentration riskShipping volume and how it connects sales to the floorMargin and how to improve profit without always raising pricesThis episode also covers why dormant customers need intentional outreach, why OEMs change vendors, how to use KPIs to drive decisions, and why growth should be measured before it becomes a crisis. If you want your shop to stop living and dying by the next PO from your biggest customer, this episode will help you start tracking the numbers that actually drive growth. Subscribe to our 2026 weekly format: Sales & Marketing — 1st & 3rd Tuesdays Operations & Engineering — 2nd & 4th Tuesdays Bonus joint episodes on 5th Tuesdays If this episode helps, please leave a review. It helps more shop owners find the show and grow their business.

    35 min

  3. 28 APR

    Episode #27: Before You Buy a Robot, Standardize Your Process

    Before you buy the robot… Fix the process. In this episode of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast: Operations Edition, Kirk Phelps breaks down what shops need to standardize before they ever think about automation, second shift, or lights-out machining. Because automation sounds exciting. But if your tooling changes every job, your workholding is inconsistent, your programmers are reinventing the wheel, and your shop floor depends on tribal knowledge… That robot may just become an expensive decoration. Kirk covers: How to stop treating every part like a brand-new processWhy standardized tooling reduces errors from programming to the floorHow workholding can make or break unattended machiningWhy high-mix, low-volume shops still need repeatable systemsThe role of CAM standardization and verification softwareWhy lights-out machining comes before full automationIf your shop wants to grow capacity without creating more chaos, this episode gives you the foundation. Start with standardization. Then scale. Subscribe to our weekly format:  1st & 3rd Tuesdays: Sales & Marketing  2nd & 4th Tuesdays: Operations & Engineering  Joint episodes: Special industry deep-dives with Mike and Kirk If this episode helps, leave a review. It helps more shop owners find the show.

    52 min

  4. 7 APR

    Episode #25: Your Price Is KILLING You

    Your shop isn’t struggling because you’re too expensive. It might be struggling because you’re still pricing like you’re afraid. In this episode of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast, Mike Fritz breaks down one of the most dangerous habits in manufacturing: USING PRICE AS YOUR MAIN SALES STRATEGY. A lot of shops think lowering prices wins more work. But in reality, it often wins the wrong work. Mike shares why shops without a niche are forced to compete on price, how underpriced jobs quietly destroy your margins, and why “cheap work” can end up being the most expensive work you ever take on. Inside this episode, you’ll learn: Why a shop without a niche is always left arguing on priceHow bad pricing creates chaos, burnout, and cash flow pressureWhy quality and delivery matter more than being the cheapestHow to find your differentiator and attract better-fit customersWhy profitable growth starts with disciplined quotingAnd here’s the twist: One of Mike’s shops increased the price on a part by nearly 80%…  and got the PO back almost immediately. That moment says a lot about what customers are really buying. If your shop is constantly busy but still feels squeezed, this episode will help you rethink pricing, quoting, and what it really takes to grow. Subscribe to our weekly format: Sales & Marketing — 1st & 3rd Tuesdays Operations & Engineering — 2nd & 4th Tuesdays Bonus joint episodes on 5th Tuesdays If this episode helps, please leave a review—it helps more shop owners find the show.

    36 min

  5. 24 MAR

    Episode #24: The Skilled Machinist Shortage… And Why It’s Our Fault

    The skilled labor shortage didn’t happen by accident. We built it. In this episode of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast, Kirk Phelps sits down with Andrew Skoog of Machinist X to unpack one of the hardest questions in manufacturing: How did we let the skilled machinist pipeline get this thin — and what do we do now? They dig into the real causes behind the shortage: offshoring and trade shiftsgenerational gaps in the shopgatekeeping of tribal knowledgenegative industry messagingpoor mentorship and broken career pathsBut this conversation doesn’t stop at the problem. It goes into what actually needs to change if manufacturing wants to win the next decade — from how we train and promote people, to how we talk about the trade, to why AI still won’t replace real machinists. You’ll also hear: why the “dying trade” narrative is dead wrongwhat separates operators from skilled machinistswhy effort and initiative still matter more than everhow collaboration may be the missing piece in rebuilding the workforceAnd here’s the twist: The shortage may actually create one of the best long-term opportunities this industry has seen in years… but only for the shops and people willing to adapt. If you care about the future of manufacturing, this is an episode you need to hear.

    1hr 4min

  6. 17 MAR

    Episode #23: How to Get Aerospace Work for Your Machine Shop (Certification, Margins & Strategy)

    The Truth About Aerospace Work for Machine Shops Aerospace manufacturing is often seen as the ultimate growth opportunity for machine shops. Higher margins, better customers, and long-term contracts. But here’s the reality: Aerospace isn’t just another industry. It’s a completely different way of running your shop. In this episode of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast, Mike Fritz sits down with Dan Echternkamp of AeroGrowth to break down how machine shops can actually get into aerospace and defense work without overcomplicating the process or making costly mistakes. We cover: How to get aerospace work for your machine shopWhether you really need AS9100 certification to startWhy can many shops enter aerospace industry without 5-axis machiningThe difference between aerospace vs OEM marginsHow to build relationships with aerospace companiesThe importance of GD&T, inspection, and documentationWhy cash flow (not capability) is the biggest riskHow to grow into aerospace without overbuilding your businessIf you’re a machine shop owner, operator, or manufacturing leader looking to grow your business, increase margins, and break into aerospace machining or defense manufacturing, this episode gives you a clear and practical starting point. 🎧 Listen now and learn how to position your shop for higher-value work.

    56 min

  7. 10 MAR

    Episode #22: Why Young People Aren’t Choosing Manufacturing — And How to Change That

    Young people aren’t avoiding manufacturing because they hate it. Most of them simply don’t know it exists as a career path. In this episode of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast, Kirk Phelps sits down with Mike Franz of Shop Floor Coffee to explore why fewer young people are entering the manufacturing industry — and what shop owners can do to change that. They discuss the real reasons behind the talent gap and how awareness, community engagement, and leadership inside the shop all play a role in attracting the next generation of workers. You’ll learn: • Why manufacturing still struggles with outdated perceptions • How robotics competitions and STEM programs are feeding the future workforce • Why parents and teachers influence career decisions more than most people realize • How shop culture impacts whether young employees stay or leave • Why machine shops need to market to future workers — not just customers Manufacturing offers incredible career opportunities. But if the next generation doesn’t see it, they’ll never choose it. Subscribe to our weekly format: Sales & Marketing (1st & 3rd Tuesdays) Operations & Engineering (2nd & 4th Tuesdays) Bonus joint episodes on 5th Tuesdays If this episode helps, please leave a review — it helps more shop owners discover the show.

    1hr 5min

  8. 3 MAR

    Episode #21: One of The Most Important Decisions for Your Machine Shop

    You don’t need more leads. You need the right customers. In this episode, Mike Fritz breaks down one of the most important strategic decisions you’ll ever make for your machine shop: defining your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). Most shops call themselves “job shops” and try to serve everyone. The result? Price pressure. Clogged capacity. Inconsistent margins. Your ICP changes that. We cover how to: Identify your most profitable work using your last 50–100 jobsStop saying “we make stuff” and start positioning your shop strategicallyUse ICP to filter RFQs and protect your capacityAlign your marketing, hiring, quoting, and equipment decisions around the right customersAnd one of the biggest takeaways: Your biggest customer is not always your ideal customer. If you want clearer messaging, stronger margins, and a shop that grows intentionally instead of reactively — this episode is for you. Subscribe to our weekly format: Sales & Marketing (1st & 3rd Tuesdays) Operations & Engineering (2nd & 4th Tuesdays) Bonus joint episodes on 5th Tuesdays If this episode helps, please leave a review — it helps more shop owners find the show.

    33 min
See All (30)

About

The Machine Shop Growth Podcast gives a fresh perspective to help you grow your shop by focusing on 3 key factors - Sales, Marketing and Efficiency.  For decades the machine shop industry was build on a “good-ol-boys” mentality and was full of great machinists and engineers that made great parts.  What has been discovered is many of those amazing shops have plateaued or are starting to decline - because they didn’t put enough emphasis on getting more work and making more money with the work they had.  On this podcast you will hear first hand advice from machine owners and mangers how they are getting more work and how they are making more money.   Now let’s Grow Your Shop!

Information

  • Creator
    Mike Fritz
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Machine Shop Growth
  • Show Website
    Machine Shop Growth

You Might Also Like