# Growing a Manufacturing Business Across Three Generations w/ Greg Hartwig

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2024-01-09
- Length: 36m
- Episode: 187
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-01-09-growing-a-manufacturing-business-across-three-generations-w-greg-hartwig
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-3a76bf45-f7eb-4637-9b31-5b594362e556

## Summary

Greg Hartwig, a third-generation vice president at Hartwig Inc., a St. Louis-based machine tool distributor, discusses the evolution of his family business from a one-man service operation in 1960 to a 200-employee company with seven locations. He details the challenges of transitioning leadership to the third generation, emphasizing a conservative financial strategy that avoided layoffs during economic downturns and fostered a culture of accountability and mutual respect. Hartwig also outlines the company's strategic pivot into additive manufacturing and industrial automation, highlighting the difficulties of adapting their traditional sales force to these new technologies and the growing demand for high-tech, multi-axis machining support.

## Chapters

- [0:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-01-09-growing-a-manufacturing-business-across-three-generations-w-greg-hartwig#t=35) Introduction and Company History
- [6:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-01-09-growing-a-manufacturing-business-across-three-generations-w-greg-hartwig#t=414) Third-Generation Leadership Transition
- [10:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-01-09-growing-a-manufacturing-business-across-three-generations-w-greg-hartwig#t=650) Building Company Culture and Loyalty
- [14:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-01-09-growing-a-manufacturing-business-across-three-generations-w-greg-hartwig#t=867) Horizontal Management Structure
- [18:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-01-09-growing-a-manufacturing-business-across-three-generations-w-greg-hartwig#t=1128) Strategic Pivot to Additive Manufacturing
- [18:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-01-09-growing-a-manufacturing-business-across-three-generations-w-greg-hartwig#t=1128) Expansion into Industrial Automation
- [26:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-01-09-growing-a-manufacturing-business-across-three-generations-w-greg-hartwig#t=1607) Industry 4.0 and Future Technology Trends
- [29:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-01-09-growing-a-manufacturing-business-across-three-generations-w-greg-hartwig#t=1742) Workforce Development and Future Outlook

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Hartwig Inc. (company)
- Gorilla 76 (company)
- Emerson Electric (company)
- Bridgeport (product)
- Pasco Automation (company)
- Industrial Marketing Summit (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Tier 1 Automotive, Sporting Goods, and More with Zach Arnold, President of Arnold Machine Inc. (AMI)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-04-06-tier-1-automotive-sporting-goods-and-more-with-zach-arnold-president-of-arnold-m) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [160: Buying a Manufacturing Company and Reimagining Upskilling with Bill Berrien, CEO of Pindel Global Precision](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-07-160-buying-a-manufacturing-company-and-reimagining-upskilling-with-bill-berrien) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [180: Made in Missouri, Live from the 2024 Midwest Manufacturers Trade Show & Conference](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-04-09-180-made-in-missouri-live-from-the-2024-midwest-manufacturers-trade-show-confere) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Carrying the Legacy Forward: Yuto Matsuura on Family, Precision, and the Future of Automation, Ep #23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-08-29-carrying-the-legacy-forward-yuto-matsuura-on-family-precision-and-the-future-of) (Lights Out)
- [Phil Linscheid (Machining Operations Director, SendCutSend)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2025-09-17-phil-linscheid-machining-operations-director-sendcutsend) (Just Gonna Send It)

## Citing this page

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