Rephonic
Artwork for Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

MakingChips LLC
Manufacturing
Automation
IMTS
Manufacturing Industry
Artificial Intelligence
Workforce Development
Financial Management
Proshop ERP
Engineering
CNC Machining
Work-Life Balance
ERP Systems
Manufacturing Technology
Quality Control
Proshop
Entrepreneurship
Mergers and Acquisitions
Trade Shows
AI In Manufacturing
Employee Engagement

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 ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes535Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ManagementBusinessCareers

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

Latest Episodes

Every shop owner knows the workforce problem by heart. The trades got denigrated, tech ed programs got gutted, and a whole generation of kids never found out that a manufacturing career was even an option. We have all heard that speech a hundred time... more

IMTS is 1.2 million square feet spread across six days, and the average visitor only spends about 2.7 of them on the floor. That math is exactly why walking in without a plan means seeing a fraction of what you came for. In this episode we sit down w... more

Most machine shop owners spend twenty years learning the lesson Stone figured out before he turned 21: get great at one thing, and say no to almost everything else. He bought his first CNC at 15 to make knife handles, started taking billable work at ... more

Most shop owners have stood in front of a shiny new machine and felt the pull. Buy it, and the work will come. Tim Drinkwater of Accurate Machine Products has lived both sides of that bet, the one that nearly buried him and the one that showed up as ... 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.

Similar Podcasts

Recent Guests

Dave Hataj
Creator of Craftsman with Character program
Edgerton Gear / Craftsman with Character
Episode: Craftsman With Character: How to Mentor the Next Generation of Machinists | Ep. 534
Tim Drinkwater
Owner of Accurate Machine Products; active in workforce development
Accurate Machine Products (ampCNC.com)
Episode: Win a Machine, Grow Your Team: One Shop Owner's Playbook for Smart Growth, Ep #531
Ryan Kelly
Vice President of Technology at AMT
AMT (Association For Manufacturing Technology)
Episode: The AI Everyone Will Actually Care About at IMTS 2026, Ep #530
Brian Balthasar
Owner of Balthasar Industries, Generation CNC guest
Balthasar Industries
Episode: Why Starting a Machine Shop Felt Less Risky Than Another Corporate Job, Ep #529
Kaihan Krippendorff
Strategist and author, keynote speaker at Mfg show
Outthinker
Episode: The Fast Eat the Slow: A Strategy Playbook for the Future of Your Machine Shop, 528
Kyra Tillman
Owner of BTM Industries, third-generation manufacturer, leader in MPC
BTM Industries / Manufacturing Pathways Consortium
Episode: Stop Complaining About the Skills Gap and Do This Instead, Ep #527
Keith Lee
Co-founder and machinist
Two Brothers Box? (co-founded shop)
Episode: Two Brothers, One Tormach, and the Mission to Bring Honor Back to American Manufacturing, #526
Patrick Lee
Co-founder and machinist
Two Brothers Box? (co-founded shop)
Episode: Two Brothers, One Tormach, and the Mission to Bring Honor Back to American Manufacturing, #526
Leighton Hill
Founder of Hillco (Hill Manufacturing / Hillco)
Hillco
Episode: Built on Saying Yes: Inside a One-Man Machine Shop, 525

Hosts

Nick Goellner
Host of Making Chips, co-hosting with a focus on leadership and industry trends.
Mike Payne
Co-host focusing on operations, technology adoption, and practical manufacturing leadership.
Paul Van Metre
Co-host providing leadership, strategy, and manufacturing leadership perspectives.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 166 ratings
  • Such an important show

    This podcast is so important for the industry. The guys do a great job. I listen to every episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JudyCNC12
    United States9 months ago
  • Great podcast for the manufacturing leaders of today and tomorrow

    Podcast Addict
    blue_bleeder
    3 years ago
  • Great Podcast

    This show brings me insight and joy thank you so much

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    @TheYechGuy
    United States3 years ago
  • Moved to thank you.

    Just finished listening to your episode with Ken Parent. I am still in Northern Michigan and my story sounds a lot like Ken’s! Thanks so much for sharing Ken’s story with Metal Working Nation.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Naton 2
    United States3 years ago
  • Highly recommend

    That’s the podcasts I wait every week. Awesome vibe by the hosts and great content. A valuable source for someone on the research and academic side of manufacturing (and, especially, if you are international). Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eldarik11
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners wish for deeper technical depth in automation details.
Audiences value practical tips on automation, cash flow, and workforce development.
Episodes are lauded for real-world guest insights and relatable founder stories.
Listeners praise actionable, leadership-focused content for small manufacturers.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Starting a Machine Shop Felt Less Risky Than Another Corporate Job, Ep #529
Q: What were the first machines you chose and why?
He picked a broad envelope: a Lynx 2100 lathe and a DNM 4500 mill to cover small parts and a wide range for customers.
Why Starting a Machine Shop Felt Less Risky Than Another Corporate Job, Ep #529
Q: What prompted you to start your own shop rather than continue in corporate roles?
He saw the risk of being laid off and believed entrepreneurship offered more control over his destiny, despite the upfront challenges.
The AI Everyone Will Actually Care About at IMTS 2026, Ep #530
Q: What would you advise a shop owner to frame their AI search so it's tactical and meaningful rather than just buzzwords?
Evaluate the problem first, bring the problem to the vendor, and treat AI like any other capital investment—assess readiness, data foundations, and the potential ROI before committing.
The AI Everyone Will Actually Care About at IMTS 2026, Ep #530
Q: Ryan, maybe you could give us a bit of background on your role with AMT, and why they bottled and told you you're going to be on today to help us talk about the tech at the IMTS this year.
Ryan explains his role as VP of Technology at AMT, focusing on AI, automation, and IMTS exhibits like the Industrial AI Arena and the Industrial AI Conference, and why these topics matter for manufacturers at the show.
SendCutSend and the Future of Manufacturing: Speed, Scale, and Specialization, 523
Q: How do you keep up with explosive growth?
We focus on culture, automation, and disciplined processes, balancing capacity and lead time, and continually refining our internal app and workflows to keep parts flowing while maintaining quality.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on leadership, operations, and growth within small to mid-sized manufacturing, with a steady focus on practical tactics for scaling, automation, and supply chain resilience. Episodes frequently feature founders, shop owners, and educators who share real-world experiences—from implementing five-axis automation and pallet systems to navigating workforce development and niche markets. A recurring strength is connecting hands-on manufacturing realities to strategic decisions, offering actionable tips on budgeting, capital discipline, and partnerships that help shops compete at scale. The format blends founder stories, industry trends, and pragmatic guidance, making it a solid resource for leaders seeking both inspiration and i... more

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. 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 this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast 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 this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

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

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 12 years ago and published 535 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 this podcast?

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 this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Dave Hataj
2. Tim Drinkwater
3. Ryan Kelly
4. Brian Balthasar
5. Kaihan Krippendorff
6. Kyra Tillman
7. Keith Lee
8. Patrick Lee

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days