Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders Podcast Por MakingChips LLC arte de portada

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

De: MakingChips LLC
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Manufacturing is tough—but you don't have to go it alone. If you're leading a manufacturing business, you face constant pressure: staying competitive, adopting new tech, managing people, and driving growth. MakingChips helps you tackle those challenges head-on. Since 2014, we've been equipping manufacturing leaders with the knowledge and inspiration they need to succeed. With hundreds of episodes and over a million downloads, MakingChips is a top resource for the metalworking nation—covering leadership, operations, technology, and workforce development. If making chips is part of your daily grind, this is your podcast. Join hosts Nick Goellner, Mike Payne, and Paul Van Metre for real talk on the issues that matter most. Economía Exito Profesional Gestión Gestión y Liderazgo
Episodios
  • From Lego Bricks to Aerospace Dreams: How a 21-Year-Old Is Building a Machine Shop From Scratch, 517

    From Lego Bricks to Aerospace Dreams: How a 21-Year-Old Is Building a Machine Shop From Scratch, 517
    Apr 13 2026
    What does the next generation of manufacturing ownership really look like? In this episode of MakingChips, we sit down with Mason Nicholas, a 21-year-old shop owner who's building his business one machine, one customer, and one sleepless night at a time. His journey didn't start with a formal apprenticeship or engineering degree. It started with motorcycles, model cars, a 3D printer, and a curiosity about how things are made. Mason walks through the unconventional path that led him into machining, from teaching himself CAD during COVID to interning in multiple shops while still in high school. Along the way, he learned programming, fixturing, production workflows, and the realities of shop life. That hands-on exposure eventually turned into entrepreneurial ambition, and before long he was running parts at night on a CNC knee mill, chasing work, and learning the business the hard way. The conversation dives deep into the realities of starting a shop young. Mason shares how he bootstrapped his first Haas, balanced customer work with learning, and navigated common early mistakes like chasing low-margin work and trying to be everything to everyone. The hosts also unpack the importance of niching down, building cash reserves, and choosing a long-term strategy instead of chasing short-term revenue. Looking ahead, Mason outlines his vision for building a specialized aerospace and defense shop, investing in five-axis capability, and eventually creating a talent pipeline to bring new people into manufacturing. It's an honest conversation about ambition, discipline, and what it takes to turn passion into a sustainable manufacturing business. Segments (0:00) Mason Nicholas and his unconventional path into manufacturing(3:54) Learning machining through high school programs and internships(6:52) Running parts at night, landing his first customers, and early job costing mistakes(9:57) Buying his first Haas and officially launching the business(11:33) Leaving his job and committing to entrepreneurship(14:45) Check out the Hennig WorkFlow Automated Pallet Delivery System(15:35) What his one-man shop looks like today(19:19) First IMTS experience and seeing the industry's scale(20:34) Head to the DN Solutions Manufacturing Without Limits event(21:33) Bootstrapping growth and reinvesting into tooling and equipment(23:14) Deciding when to buy the next machine(25:09) Paperless Parts is built for shops preparing for CMMC Level II (26:58) One-man shop realities and five-year growth vision(29:10) Creating a future talent pipeline and second shop concept(31:31) Technology, certifications, and preparing for aerospace work(33:16) Lights-out machining and maximizing spindle uptime(36:44) Cash flow discipline and managing capital-intensive growth(42:49) Advice for new shop owners on niching down Resources mentioned on this episode Cherry Creek Innovation CampusHennig WorkFlow Automated Pallet Delivery SystemHead to the DN Solutions Manufacturing Without Limits eventVerdant Commercial CapitalPaperless Parts is built for shops preparing for CMMC Level II Nathan Bourgeois - Owner at Ouroboros Space and DefenseMace MFGConnect with Mason on LinkedIn Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.comOn FacebookOn LinkedInOn InstagramOn TwitterOn YouTube
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    46 m
  • Turn It Up to 11: From YouTube Learning to Aerospace Growth with Nick Preece, 516

    Turn It Up to 11: From YouTube Learning to Aerospace Growth with Nick Preece, 516
    Apr 6 2026
    What happens when a college engineering student buys a CNC machine just to experiment… and accidentally builds an aerospace machine shop? That's exactly what Nick Preece did. What started as a curiosity fueled by YouTube videos and garage tinkering quickly evolved into Preece Machining & Assembly, a fast-growing shop focused on complex, high-mix aerospace work. In this Gen CNC episode, Nick shares how he bootstrapped the business from a used mill and a $1,200/month goal into a 10+ machine operation. Alongside his brother Tanner, the two built a company rooted in technical problem-solving, disciplined growth, and a willingness to learn everything the hard way, from customer concentration risk to hiring challenges. The conversation dives into how young shops can compete with larger manufacturers by focusing on complex work, building strong customer relationships, and creating positive sales pressure. Nick also explains how painful lessons around diversification forced them to rethink outreach, refine their quoting strategy, and become more intentional about the work they pursue. Nick also discusses scaling a team, investing in five-axis capability, and even bringing on strategic partners to accelerate growth. With a vision of building a full "PMA campus" and a culture built on kindness and urgency, Nick offers a real-world look at what it takes for the next generation of manufacturing leaders to grow fast without losing focus. His advice for anyone starting a shop? Don't just compete, turn it up to 11 and deliver something exceptional every single time. Segments (0:00) Introduction and welcome to Gen CNC featuring Nick Preece(2:24) Preece Machining & Assembly overview and aerospace focus(4:22) Origin story: learning machining on YouTube and starting in a garage(7:40) Working with family and division of responsibilities with Tanner(12:39) Bootstrapping the first machine to multiple machines and five-axis investments(15:00) Head to DN Solutions Manufacturing Without Limits event(15:59) How they make decisions on capital equipment(17:47) Sales and marketing strategy, customer concentration, and diversification(20:15) Building a sales process and generating positive sales pressure(21:34) First in, First Order: What is your ideal part profile?(27:7) Pricing pressure, margins, and competing during slow periods(30:54) Hiring strategy, workforce challenges, and recruiting experienced talent(33:55) Shop culture: kindness, urgency, and high performance(36:33) Why we love SMW Autoblok for workholding(38:48) Long-term vision and building a "PMA campus"(42:39) Five-axis strategy and thoughts on automation(45:10) Why you need to come see us at IMTS 2026(46:04) Bringing on investment partners and scaling the business(49:24) Nick's advice to young founders: "turn it up to 11" Resources mentioned on this episode NYC CNC/John SaundersJohn GrimsmoHead to DN Solutions Manufacturing Without Limits event: DN-Solutions.comPaperless Parts: What is your ideal part profile?Why we love SMW Autoblok for workholdingHire MFG LeadersWhy you need to come see us at IMTS 2026 Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.comOn FacebookOn LinkedInOn InstagramOn TwitterOn YouTube
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    52 m
  • From Model Trains to Machining: How a 26-Year-Old Founder Turned Passion Into Precision, 515

    From Model Trains to Machining: How a 26-Year-Old Founder Turned Passion Into Precision, 515
    Mar 30 2026

    What happens when a childhood obsession with trains turns into a manufacturing business? In this episode of MakingChips Generation CNC, we sit down with Chris Huffman, a young shop owner who launched Huffman Machining Solutions at just 21 years old. Now 26, Chris is building his business one machine, one customer, and one calculated risk at a time.

    Chris didn't grow up in a machining family, and he didn't follow the traditional path into manufacturing. Instead, his curiosity started with steam locomotives and model trains. That fascination led him to learn how parts were made, which eventually pulled him into machining. Along the way, he realized he didn't just love trains. He loved the process of turning raw material into precision components.

    That passion evolved into opportunity. Requests for custom parts began to pile up, and Chris saw a path forward. With minimal overhead, a steady job at a community college, and a willingness to take calculated risks, he bought his first machine, found a small space, and started building his shop from the ground up.

    In this conversation, Chris shares the realities of starting young. He talks through financing equipment, navigating insurance challenges, buying used machines, and learning business skills on the fly. He also opens up about the mental side of entrepreneurship, including the pressure of hiring a first employee and the responsibility that comes with building something bigger than yourself.

    This episode is a great look at what the next generation of manufacturing founders actually looks like. It's not about overnight success. It's about passion, persistence, and slowly laying the track to build a sustainable machine shop.

    Segments
    • (0:00) Introduction to Chris Huffman and the Generation CNC young founder series
    • (1:06) Starting a machine shop at 21 and the story behind Huffman Machining Solutions
    • (4:30) From model trains to machining and discovering a passion for manufacturing
    • (9:18) Why you need to come see us at IMTS 2026!
    • (11:00) Desire to work on historic locomotives and falling in love with machining itself
    • (14:10) Demand for parts lead to launching the business in 2022
    • (16:16) Transitioning from teaching machining to running a shop full-time
    • (19:30) Financing the first machine and lessons learned about tooling costs
    • (22:02) Buying a used Mazak and costly surprises after purchase
    • (25:54) Adding additional machines and building capability as a one-man shop
    • (28:43) Paperless Parts: CMMC compliant and secure option for estimating and quoting
    • (29:55) The "#ThankAMachinist" mindset and educating others about manufacturing
    • (33:20) Hiring plans, apprenticeships, and outgrowing the current space
    • (37:13) The fear and responsibility of hiring the first employee
    • (38:40) Why we created Hire MFG Leaders (and why you should use it)
    • (39:08) Learning the business side: scheduling, marketing, and sales
    • (41:39) Long-term goals including ISO certification and ERP implementation
    • (43:15) Letting go of machining work to grow the business
    • (45:21) Opportunity to acquire retiring shop owners' businesses
    • (46:50) Hosts' reflections on passion-driven paths into manufacturing
    Resources mentioned on this episode
    • IMTS 2026: https://www.imts.com/
    • Paperless Parts: https://www.paperlessparts.com/
    • Coffey Machining Group: https://coffeymg.com/
    • The E-Myth Revisited: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280
    • Huffman Machining Solutions: https://huffmanmachining.com/
    • Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-huffman-93b69423b/
    • Chris@HuffmanMachining.com
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    50 m
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