195: 3 Characteristics of Machine Shops That Adopt Technology and Thrive with Paul Van Metre

Manufacturing Happy Hour · 23 Jul 2024 · 57m

What this episode covers

Paul Van Metre, Co-Founder of ProShop ERP, explains why some machine shops are thriving while others close, citing the need for sales-driven strategies, industry-specific certifications (like AS9100), and a culture of continuous improvement. He details ProShop’s journey from bootstrapping for seven years to securing growth equity from Mainsail to scale implementation capacity, and discusses his strategy for running two separate podcasts, Machine Shop Mastery and Manufacturing Transformed, to serve the industry without compromising authenticity.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 32m

    Working On the Business, Not In the Business, w/ Paul van Metre

    Paul van Metre, co-founder of ProShop ERP, explains how he transitioned from running a 75-person machine shop to building software after realizing existing ERP solutions ignored the shop floor. He argues that founders must document every role to create scalable processes, allowing them to shift from working 'in' the business to 'on' the business. Van Metre highlights that this discipline is critical for employee retention, successful audits like ISO 9000, and maximizing company valuation for potential buyers. He shares a case study of a customer who increased revenue by 20% and eliminated $30,000 in annual expediting fees by adopting his integrated ERP, MES, and QMS platform.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 39m

    Building a Digital Backbone for Your Manufacturing Business w/ Paul Van Metre

    Paul Van Metre, co-founder of ProShop ERP, explains how integrating ERP, MES, and QMS into a single digital backbone protects manufacturers from the loss of tribal knowledge and enables scalable growth. He details how this unified system streamlines compliance audits, citing a record-breaking 2-week AS9100 certification, and reduces the operational burden on business owners. Van Metre emphasizes the importance of change management and standardized processes to help leaders shift from working 'in' the business to 'on' the business, allowing for better delegation and strategic focus.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 45m

    Manufacturing's Past, Present, and Future w/ Jim Carr

    Jim Carr, President of CARR Machine & Tool, discusses the evolution of his family-owned aerospace CNC machine shop from a garage startup in 1972 to a world-class AS9100D facility. He details the technological shift from manual machining and fax machines to modern CAD/CAM workflows using MasterCam and ERP systems like ProShop. Carr also explains how implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and fostering a collaborative culture has been critical for employee retention and scaling the business in a tight labor market.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 38m

    Demystifying the Buying and Selling of a Manufacturing Business w/ Mike Payne

    Mike Payne, owner of Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication and host of the 'Buy the Numbers' podcast, discusses the realities of buying and selling manufacturing businesses. He explains that while many machinists dream of ownership, the process is daunting due to a lack of financial literacy and fear of the unknown. Payne advises sellers to focus on growing Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) and building a self-sufficient business to maximize valuation multiples, rather than just upgrading equipment. He also outlines his strategy for scaling through acquisitions, targeting tired but profitable shops to inject operational improvements.

  • Lights Out · 41m

    Are You Even Prepared to Run a Lights Out Shop? Ep #8

    Host Nick Golner is joined by Mike Payne of Moseys Production and Paul Van Metre of ProShop ERP to discuss the prerequisites for running a 'lights out' machine shop. They emphasize that process stability is the foundation of automation, warning that automating an unstable process only multiplies waste. The conversation covers critical operational details such as chip management, accurate job costing for unattended runs, and the necessity of rigorous training and preventative maintenance programs.

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