Machine Shop Growth

Kirk Phelps didn't just talk about starting a shop — he went and did it.In Episode 34 of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast, Kirk gives you a raw, unfiltered look at the first 60 days of Omni Max Aerospace: two Haas machines, a 3,500 square feet building, no employees, and parts shipping in week one.This is real-world startup content from someone in the trenches every day — not theory, not hypotheticals.Key topics covered:Who to hire first (and why the answer might surprise you)Vendor negotiation tactics when cash is tight at startupWhy machine brand doesn't matter — service doesHow Kirk's decade of standardization made lights out machining possible in month oneThe real math on buying special tools vs. using what you haveZero-point work holding and single-piece flow from day oneThe first crash, the $650 tool holder, and what he learned"My standardization gives me a repeatable process right out of the box. I'm just repeating what I did last week, last month, last year, the last decade."Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

Most shops quote aerospace work the same way they quote everything else. That's the problem.In Episode 33 of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast, Kirk Phelps gets into the tactical details of how to stop underquoting and make aerospace work actually profitable — from choosing what to chase to pricing it right.Kirk introduces the Ideal Part Profile framework: a three-tier system to define the work your shop is best at, decent at, and capable of but not built for. He breaks down why variable margins matter — factoring in payment terms, material cost, workload, and critical features — and why your win rate is one of the most honest signals about whether your pricing is right. He also cuts through the noise on ITAR and CMMC, explaining who really needs to worry about each and why spending a quarter million on a cert you don't need is one of the worst strategic moves a shop can make.Key topics covered:• Building your Ideal Part Profile (3-tier framework)• Variable margin strategy for aerospace quoting• The PITA Factor: pricing high-risk, critical-feature parts• Why a 30–40% win rate is your target, not your ceiling• ITAR compliance: what's at stake and what to do• CMMC: separating policy from fear-mongering• How lead time and payment terms affect your true margin"If you're winning over 40% of your quotes, you need to seriously rethink how much you're charging." — Kirk PhelpsAvailable on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms.

Everyone talks about the opportunities in aerospace.Very few talk about the costs.In this episode of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast, Kirk Phelps breaks down what machine shops need to know before pursuing AS9100 certification—and why getting the certificate is actually the easy part.From inspection equipment and calibrated gauging to ERP systems, cash flow challenges, ITAR requirements, personnel, and expensive aerospace materials, Kirk shares the realities that many shops discover only after they're already committed.You'll learn:✅ Why AS9100 is a culture—not a checkbox✅ The hidden costs most shops underestimate✅ How to evaluate whether your current equipment is aerospace-ready✅ Why cash flow can become a major challenge in aerospace manufacturing✅ How to enter the aerospace market without betting the entire companyIf you've ever thought about pursuing aerospace work, this episode could save you from some very expensive mistakes.And Kirk leaves us with a question:Are you ready for AS9100—or are you only ready for the certificate?If you enjoy the show, please leave a review—it helps more machine shop owners find the podcast.

From Machine Operator to Shop Leader: Manufacturing Career Advice for Young Machinists | MSG Episode 31Most machinists start in the same place:Standing at a machine.Pushing a green button.Doing exactly what they're told.But what separates the people who stay there from the people who become programmers, supervisors, leaders, and shop owners?In this episode, Kirk Phelps shares the lessons that transformed his own career—from sweeping floors and running manual machines to leading manufacturing operations and helping companies grow.You'll learn:✅ Why initiative is the fastest way to earn opportunity✅ The difference between confidence and arrogance✅ How fear silently limits career growth✅ Why humility makes you more valuable than technical skills alone✅ The mindset that helped Kirk progress from operator to leaderMost people spend their careers waiting for opportunities.The people who grow create them.If you're a young machinist wondering what's next—or a shop owner trying to develop future leaders—this episode is for you.Subscribe to our weekly format:📈 Sales & Marketing (1st & 3rd Tuesdays)⚙️ Operations & Engineering (2nd & 4th Tuesdays)🎙️ Bonus episodes when opportunity strikesIf this episode helps, please leave a review and share it with someone starting their manufacturing journey.

You don’t start a machine shop by buying a machine.You start it by solving a problem.In this episode, Mike Fritz and Kirk Phelps unpack the reality behind building a machine shop from scratch—and it’s probably different than what most people expect.Everyone talks about machines.Very few talk about:• Cash flow pressure• Customer concentration risk• Investors and financing mistakes• The hidden costs nobody budgets for• Why your first customer matters more than your first machineAnd one statement from this episode flips conventional thinking upside down:"Don't buy the machine and then go find customers."If you're dreaming of launching your own shop—or wondering if now is the right time—this episode walks through the real-world decisions that determine whether you grow... or struggle before you ever get started.PLUS A MAJOR announcement about the future of Machine Shop Growth and the launch of Manufacturing M&A🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms.