my TRUE POSITION

Jim Carr

Manufacturing Professionals will receive immediate and actionable insight into high-level issues of running a small to mid-sized manufacturing company. All communicated in an easy-to-digest 20 minutes by your expert podcaster and second-generation business owner, Jim Carr.

  1. hace 6 d

    The Machines Are Here! The People Aren't.

    Chicago has spent billions building the future of manufacturing and logistics — rail yards, airport cargo systems, automation, robotics, smart factories, and advanced equipment. But here's the hard truth: machines don't create capacity by themselves. People do. In this episode, I break down the workforce crisis hiding behind the automation boom. We don't just need more technology — we need the technicians, machinists, programmers, maintenance experts, automation engineers, and leaders who can actually run it. Because the future of manufacturing won't be decided by who buys the best machines. It'll be decided by who builds the people capable of keeping them moving.

    30 min

  2. 19 jun

    The Family Business Survival Guide

    Most family businesses don't fail because they run out of money. They fail because they run out of leadership, communication, trust, and a real succession plan. In this episode, I break down why some family businesses survive for generations while others collapse the minute the founder steps away. We'll talk about entitlement, founder dependency, hard conversations, next-generation leadership, and the brutal difference between being founder-led and becoming institution-led. Because building a family business is one thing. Building one that can survive without you is something completely different.

    23 min

  3. 13 jun

    The Best Business Education I Never Paid For

    What if the most valuable business lessons you'll ever learn don't come from a college classroom, a consultant, or an MBA program? Over the last ten years, I've had the privilege of sitting behind a microphone and interviewing hundreds of CEOs, entrepreneurs, shop owners, engineers, and manufacturing leaders. What started as a podcast turned into something far more valuable—a front-row seat to the successes, failures, leadership philosophies, and hard-earned wisdom of some remarkable people. In this episode, I share the biggest lessons I've learned from a decade of conversations. We talk about why curiosity beats intelligence, why culture matters more than technology, how relationships compound over time, and why the most successful leaders are often the most humble. Whether you're running a machine shop, leading a team, building a business, or simply trying to become a better version of yourself, these are the lessons that have shaped the way I think, lead, and make decisions. This isn't an episode about podcasting. It's about what ten years of listening taught me.

    26 min

  4. 5 jun

    The Defense Manufacturing Boom Is Coming: Are You Ready?

    Defense spending is rising. Aerospace production is accelerating. Munitions demand is growing. And behind the scenes, manufacturers are preparing for what could become one of the biggest opportunities in decades. In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, Jim Carr shares what he's seeing firsthand from the front lines of aerospace and defense manufacturing. He discusses why some shops will be positioned to thrive, why others may struggle to keep up, and what leaders should be doing today to prepare for the demand that's coming tomorrow. If you're a shop owner, manufacturing executive, or anyone responsible for growth and capacity planning, this episode offers practical insights into the future of American manufacturing and the opportunities that may lie ahead. The work is coming. The real question is: will your company be ready?

    18 min

  5. 29 may

    A Young Engineer Asked Me for 3 Pieces of Advice: Here Are Ten!

    A young mechanical engineering student named Jake Masters reached out to me on LinkedIn asking for advice before stepping into his family's 70-year-old CNC manufacturing business. That message inspired this episode. In this solo episode of My TRUE POSITION, Jim Carr shares 10 hard-earned lessons about leadership, failure, culture, cash flow, technology, and what it really takes to survive in precision manufacturing. This isn't motivational fluff. It's real-world operator wisdom from someone who's lived it. Whether you're entering the family business, leading a shop, or building the next generation of manufacturing — this episode is for you. Because inheriting the company is one thing. Improving it? That's leadership.

    26 min

  6. 22 may

    MRP Is Broken: How Modern Shops Are Rebuilding Their Tech Stack

    In this episode, Jim Carr sits down with Lorin Shamos from First Resonance to break down why traditional ERP and MRP systems are falling behind—and what a modern "Factory Operating System" actually looks like. From real-time scheduling and material planning to execution, traceability, and automation, this conversation dives into how advanced manufacturers are replacing spreadsheets and firefighting with systems that actually reflect reality. If your operation still depends on manual updates, outdated data, and constant rescheduling… this episode will hit home.

    28 min

  7. 15 may

    When Failure Isn't an Option: Inside High-Reliability Manufacturing

    Not all manufacturing is created equal. Some parts can fail. Others can't. In this episode, Jim Carr sits down with Errick Egeland from The Lee Company to explore what it takes to manufacture miniature, high-reliability fluid control components used in aerospace, medical, defense, and space applications. From precision flow control to extreme repeatability, this conversation dives into the discipline required to build components where failure is not an option. If you think tight tolerances are challenging… wait until performance, pressure, and reliability are all on the line.

    33 min

  8. 8 may

    Space Junk, Collisions, and Control: Who's Managing the Chaos in Orbit?

    Space isn't just about launching satellites anymore—it's about maintaining them, inspecting them, and eventually removing them. In this episode, Jim Carr sits down with Jeff Schloemer from Astroscale to break down the emerging world of in-orbit servicing and space logistics. From satellite inspection and life extension to debris removal and collision prevention, this conversation explores how space is becoming a fully operational environment—and why that matters for the future of infrastructure, defense, and global communication. If you think manufacturing is complex on Earth… wait until you hear what it takes in orbit.

    34 min
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Información

Manufacturing Professionals will receive immediate and actionable insight into high-level issues of running a small to mid-sized manufacturing company. All communicated in an easy-to-digest 20 minutes by your expert podcaster and second-generation business owner, Jim Carr.

Ficha técnica

  • Creado por
    Jim Carr
  • Años en activo
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodios
    164
  • Clasificación
    Explícito
  • Derechos de autor
    © my TRUE POSITION 2023
  • Sitio web del podcast
    my TRUE POSITION

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