# Machine Shops, Reshoring, and Addressing the “Management Gap” with Paperless Parts’ Jason T. Ray

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2023-01-03
- Length: 43m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-01-03-machine-shops-reshoring-and-addressing-the-management-gap-with-paperless-parts-j
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Jason T. Ray, Co-Founder and CEO of Paperless Parts, discusses the reshoring of manufacturing to the U.S., driven by the shift from lowest-price sourcing to total ownership cost and supply chain risk mitigation. He argues that the perceived manufacturing skills gap is actually a 'management gap,' urging shop owners to adopt active leadership, transparent profit-sharing, and modern tech stacks to attract talent. Ray also highlights the critical importance of cybersecurity compliance, specifically the upcoming CMMC requirements for defense contractors, and explains how Paperless Parts helps job shops quote faster and win more work.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-01-03-machine-shops-reshoring-and-addressing-the-management-gap-with-paperless-parts-j#t=0) Introduction and Paperless Parts Overview
- [7:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-01-03-machine-shops-reshoring-and-addressing-the-management-gap-with-paperless-parts-j#t=476) Reshoring and Total Ownership Cost
- [11:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-01-03-machine-shops-reshoring-and-addressing-the-management-gap-with-paperless-parts-j#t=700) Supply Chain Fidelity and PEM Partnership
- [15:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-01-03-machine-shops-reshoring-and-addressing-the-management-gap-with-paperless-parts-j#t=924) The Manufacturing Tech Stack and Cloud Adoption
- [22:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-01-03-machine-shops-reshoring-and-addressing-the-management-gap-with-paperless-parts-j#t=1358) Addressing the 'Management Gap' and Talent Retention
- [28:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-01-03-machine-shops-reshoring-and-addressing-the-management-gap-with-paperless-parts-j#t=1723) Agility, Profit Transparency, and CMMC Compliance

## Topics

- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Paperless Parts (company)
- PEM Engineering (company)
- D.B. Roberts (company)
- Swayco (company)
- IMTS (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Cyber Security in Manufacturing w/ Jason Ray](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-04-11-cyber-security-in-manufacturing-w-jason-ray) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Obstacles to Quickly Reshoring American Manufacturing w/ Rylan Pyciak](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-05-13-obstacles-to-quickly-reshoring-american-manufacturing-w-rylan-pyciak) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Bring 5 Million Manufacturing Jobs Back to the U.S. w/ Harry Moser](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-06-01-bring-5-million-manufacturing-jobs-back-to-the-u-s-w-harry-moser) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Systematizing Machine Shops to Strengthen National Security w/ Justin Baucum](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-02-24-systematizing-machine-shops-to-strengthen-national-security-w-justin-baucum) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [The Way We See It: Day One Wrap with EMSNOW's Eric Miscoll and Koh Young's Joel Scutchfield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-07-08-the-way-we-see-it-day-one-wrap-with-emsnows-eric-miscoll-and-koh-youngs-joel-scu) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

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