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Artwork for Machine Shop Mastery

Machine Shop Mastery

Paul Van Metre
Machine Shop Industry
Manufacturing
Aerospace
Workforce Development
Automation
Lean Manufacturing
Leadership
Family Business
Entrepreneurship
Job Shops
Business Diversification
Additive Manufacturing
Bankruptcy
Networking
CNC Machining
Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Oil and Gas
Machine Shops
Aerospace and Defense
Proshop

The Machine Shop Mastery Podcast helps to elevate the importance of the machine shop industry and reveal the secrets of success for machine shops, to inspire other shop owners or would-be shop owners to follow their passions, start and grow their shops to be an economic driver for our economy and their stakeholders.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes135Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusiness

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Artwork for Machine Shop Mastery

Latest Episodes

Alex Fitzgerald got the keys to his first factory on January 6, 2025. Eighteen months later Isembard has 14 factories across the US, the UK, France and Germany, just under 100 people, and a business model nobody in this industry has run at scale. Ten... more

Wil Jorgensen started a machine shop at 22 with a $4,000 screw machine he found on Craigslist. He's 26 now, running Evolution CNC in Wenatchee, Washington, with seven people and a pallet automated 5-axis machine that runs close to around the clock. W... more

After more than 300 conversations across Machine Shop Mastery, MakingChips, and Manufacturing Transformed, I wrote a book.

It's called Precision Manufacturing, Precision Business, and I keep saying "we" wrote it because that's the truth. I got the ... more

I sat down with Randy Swan, who started a Swiss machining shop at 60 after a 34 year career working for other people. Five years in, RPM is growing more than 60 percent a year. Ask Randy what's behind that number and he doesn't start with machines or... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Randy Swan
Owner of RPM (Revolution Machine)
RPM, Oklahoma
Episode: 130. Starting a Machine Shop at 60: How RPM Built a High-Performance Team
Chris Beck
Founder of Innovative 3D Manufacturing
Innovative 3D Manufacturing
Episode: 129. Leverage Everything: Bootstrapping a Profitable Metal Additive Shop
Jack Watson
Fourth-generation owner of HFW Industries
HFW Industries
Episode: 128. From WWII Origins to Modern Manufacturing: The HFW Industries Journey
Josiah Fallaise
Owner of FDF Race Shop; designer and manufacturer of suspension components, race cars, and education products
Fallaise Design and Fabrication (FDF)
Episode: 127. Building a Manufacturing Brand through Social Media and Storytelling
Randy Altschuler
CEO of Xometry, host of insights on manufacturing as a scalable platform
Xometry
Episode: 126. From Zero to $5B Market Cap in 13 Years
Andrew Henry
Owner of Henry Holsters, holster manufacturer and contract metal manufacturer
Henry Holsters
Episode: 125. Benefits, Benefits and More Benefits of Lean, with Andrew Henry
Mike Marzetta
President/Owner, Altek
Altek
Episode: 124. Teamwork, Love, and Lean: The Leadership Philosophy Behind Altek's Success
Christy Subia
Owner of Bedard Machine, Bedard Machine Inc.
Bedard Machine Inc.
Episode: 123. A Daughter's Promise: Preserving Bedard Machine Through One of Life's Hardest Challenges
Andrew Borg
Owner of Borg Design, third/now fourth generation in the family business
Borg Design
Episode: 122. How Borg Design Built a 50-Machine Defense Manufacturing Powerhouse

Host

Paul Van Meter
Host of Machine Shop Mastery

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 80 ratings
  • Great Content!

    I really appreciate Paul’s interview approach with this podcast and the reason why he’s doing. I’ve learned so much about the challenges that this industry is facing. A huge help as I continue to work with clients in this industry.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BriOn!
    United States7 months ago
  • Great leaders sharing wisdom

    I can’t get enough of this show. The guests (and Paul 😂) are so real and relatable. If you’re in the machining industry, or any for that matter, the leadership lessons are gold.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Machineshopdude
    United States8 months ago
  • Love these stories

    I like that this is less tech focused and is more the stories and people who run these shops. Paul is authentic with his style and I appreciate that.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JudyCNC12
    United States10 months ago
  • Extremely valuable Mfg podcast

    If you own/operate a manufacturing facility, you need to constantly be educating yourself with the latest and greatest methodologies others are deploying across the sector. There is no better place to do that than Machine Shop Mastery.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    johnnydr@ma
    United States10 months ago
  • MakingChips

    Great podcast! I’m excited to see how this show will grow now that it is a part of the MakingChips series of manufacturing shows.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ToolingGuy
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show is appreciated for its focus on people, culture, and long-term growth over purely technical content.
Listeners praise practical, actionable insights for running a shop.
Audience finds the content inspiring and useful for attracting clients and talent.
Hosts and guests are valued for their authenticity and real-world experience.

Top Entrepreneurship Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

130. Starting a Machine Shop at 60: How RPM Built a High-Performance Team
Q: What are the most significant actions in the last five years to position the company for growth?
Focusing on team culture, transparent financials, and disciplined planning with budgets and multi-year plans, plus investing in equipment and automation to scale capacity while maintaining quality.
130. Starting a Machine Shop at 60: How RPM Built a High-Performance Team
Q: How do you approach hiring and culture to sustain growth?
They prioritize character and values, use a robust, gradual training program, hire opportunistically when potential fits arise, and emphasize internal training and mentorship to build leadership from within.
130. Starting a Machine Shop at 60: How RPM Built a High-Performance Team
Q: Once you achieved AS9100, how did you find clients in aerospace and other industries?
Persistence in sales, leveraging existing relationships and trust, and the strategic use of a dedicated sales rep helped RPM break into aerospace and later expand to other niches as capacity grew.
130. Starting a Machine Shop at 60: How RPM Built a High-Performance Team
Q: Tell us about your background and how RPM started.
Randy explains leaving a 34-year career, starting RPM at age 60, and leveraging his experience to build a shop that focuses on Swiss machining, with a deliberate strategy to validate the concept before scaling.
128. From WWII Origins to Modern Manufacturing: The HFW Industries Journey
Q: What does the business look like today in terms of people and capabilities?
Today the company employs around 60 people, offering turnkey thermal spray services along with full machining, grinding, and engineering support to serve industries like power generation and chemical processing. They emphasize in-house science, metallurgy knowledge, and coating design to deliver end-to-end solutions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Machine Shop Mastery

What is Machine Shop Mastery about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on the practical realities of running and growing machine shops, with episodes profiling family-owned shops, lean transformations, and scaling into high-value manufacturing segments like aerospace and defense. Across conversations, listeners hear hands-on leadership, workforce development, and the strategic use of automation, ERP systems, and branding to drive growth. Noteworthy threads include navigating succession in family businesses, adopting certifications and quality systems, and leveraging storytelling and community partnerships to attract customers and talent. These elements likely appeal to shop owners, operators, and industry leaders seeking actionable, real-world guidance and inspiration for sustainable growth.

Where can I find podcast stats for Machine Shop Mastery?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Machine Shop Mastery. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Machine Shop Mastery and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Machine Shop Mastery get?

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What are the audience demographics for Machine Shop Mastery?

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How many subscribers and views does Machine Shop Mastery have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Machine Shop Mastery has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Machine Shop Mastery?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Machine Shop Mastery:

1. Machine Shop Growth
2. Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders
3. Buy the Numbers
4. Lights Out: Technology and Automation Podcast by MakingChips
5. Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories

How many episodes of Machine Shop Mastery are there?

Machine Shop Mastery launched 4 years ago and published 135 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Machine Shop Mastery?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Machine Shop Mastery?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Machine Shop Mastery from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Machine Shop Mastery?

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What guests have appeared on Machine Shop Mastery?

Recent guests on Machine Shop Mastery include:

1. Randy Swan
2. Chris Beck
3. Jack Watson
4. Josiah Fallaise
5. Randy Altschuler
6. Andrew Henry
7. Mike Marzetta
8. Christy Subia

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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