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
Employee Engagement
Employee Retention

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes519Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ManagementCareersBusiness

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

Latest Episodes

Finding skilled talent isn't the problem anymore, it's developing it. And in manufacturing, the shops that win aren't just the ones with the best machines, they're the ones connected to the right pipeline.

In this episode, we sit down with Gary Nad... more

What does the next generation of manufacturing ownership really look like? In this episode of MakingChips, we sit down with Mason Nicholas, a 21-year-old shop owner who's building his business one machine, one customer, and one sleepless night at a t... more

What happens when a college engineering student buys a CNC machine just to experiment… and accidentally builds an aerospace machine shop? That's exactly what Nick Preece did. What started as a curiosity fueled by YouTube videos and garage tinkering q... more

What happens when a childhood obsession with trains turns into a manufacturing business? In this episode of MakingChips Generation CNC, we sit down with Chris Huffman, a young shop owner who launched Huffman Machining Solutions at just 21 years old. ... 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

Gary Nadeau
Leader of the Westfield Technical Academy program
Westfield Technical Academy
Episode: Building the Next Generation of Machinists: Inside a 100-Year-Old Talent Pipeline, 518
Mason Nicholas
Owner of a CNC machining shop focused on aerospace/defense work
Independent shop owner
Episode: From Lego Bricks to Aerospace Dreams: How a 21-Year-Old Is Building a Machine Shop From Scratch, 517
Nick Preece
Aerospace machine shop founder
Preece Machining & Assembly (PMA)
Episode: Turn It Up to 11: From YouTube Learning to Aerospace Growth with Nick Preece, 516
Chris Huffman
Owner, Huffman Machining Solutions, LLC
Huffman Machining Solutions, LLC
Episode: From Model Trains to Machining: How a 26-Year-Old Founder Turned Passion Into Precision, 515
Keith Grano
Chief Sales Officer for Titans of CNC
Titans of CNC
Episode: Lights Out Isn't the Future—It's Already Here, 513
Michael King
Founder of The Munk Works, a one‑person metalworking shop
The Munk Works
Episode: Low Overhead, High Conviction: A 20-Year-Old's Approach to Manufacturing, 512
Walter Peters
Entrepreneur and owner of MW Machine Co.
MW Machine Co.
Episode: Building a One-Man Shop with Big Vision: Walter Peters on Low Overhead, Automation, and Freedom, 511
Zane Hengsperger
Founder and CEO of Knox Metals.
Knox Metals
Episode: Reindustrializing America: How Zane Hengsperger Is Reinventing the Metal Supply Chain, 510
Michelle Edmondson
Vice President of Exhibitions for IMTS
IMTS
Episode: Achieve the Impossible: Inside IMTS 2026 and the Power of Six Days, 509

Hosts

Nick Goellner
Host of Making Chips Podcast, focused on manufacturing leadership and shop floor optimization
Mike Payne
Co-host focusing on operational leadership and growth strategies in manufacturing
Paul Van Metre
Co-host and co-founder, brings insights on systems, process discipline, and business strategy

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 163 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 States5 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.

A few criticisms about pacing or marketing-focused segments, depending on episode.
Some listeners want more technical depth, particularly around engineering topics and advanced manufacturing practices.
Feedback often highlights the hosts' chemistry and practical, down-to-earth tone.
Many praises for networking and community-building aspects of the show.
Overall, the show is viewed as a valuable resource for small-to-mid-sized manufacturers seeking guidance and inspiration.
Listeners appreciate actionable strategies and real-world guest insights, especially on leadership and shop-floor improvements.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Turn It Up to 11: From YouTube Learning to Aerospace Growth with Nick Preece, 516
Q: What advice does Nick give to someone starting or expanding a shop?
Turn up the intensity and dedication to delivering exceptional work, as putting heart into the product and process drives differentiation; invest in capabilities and culture to sustain growth, and consider partnerships to enable faster scaling.
Turn It Up to 11: From YouTube Learning to Aerospace Growth with Nick Preece, 516
Q: How has their sales process evolved after early growth challenges?
After an initial heavy concentration of one customer, they diversified by investing in a broader outreach, revamping their website, and systematizing outreach across LinkedIn, cold calls, emails, and referrals; over about a year, they gradually built a more balanced customer base without overreliance on a single client.
Turn It Up to 11: From YouTube Learning to Aerospace Growth with Nick Preece, 516
Q: What is the impact of first-to-quote speed on winning RFQs?
Quoting fast is critical because buyers manage large part lists and need to move quickly to avoid delays that can keep assets offline; being the first to provide a quote dramatically increases win chances, especially when you can triage and target the most valuable, best-fit parts.
Lights Out Isn't the Future—It's Already Here, 513
Q: How would you advise a shop to start moving toward five-axis automation without overwhelming their budget?
Start with a stand-alone five-axis to prove the concept, then add a pallet system or workflow gradually, focusing on simple, repeatable parts to build confidence and cash flow.
Lights Out Isn't the Future—It's Already Here, 513
Q: What do you think the mindset difference is between traditional shops and those pursuing lights-out culture?
Shops pursuing lights-out are driven by growth mindset and long-term planning; they want to scale beyond manual intervention, accept higher upfront automation costs, and prioritize spindle utilization and scheduling to run parts continuously.

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?

- The show targets manufacturing leaders and shop owners, delivering leadership, operations, technology, and workforce development content rooted in real-world manufacturing challenges. Episodes routinely cover topics like automation, data-driven improvements, sales and marketing for small shops, workforce pipelines, and event/industry insights, making it a practical resource for running and growing a metalworking business. A standout pattern is the mix of tactical how-tos (systems, budgeting, process discipline) with big-picture strategic discussions (growth, industry trends, and leadership culture). The format often features actionable guest insights from shop owners, technology vendors, and industry strategists, delivered with a candid, ... 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 11 years ago and published 519 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. Gary Nadeau
2. Mason Nicholas
3. Nick Preece
4. Chris Huffman
5. Keith Grano
6. Michael King
7. Walter Peters
8. Zane Hengsperger

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