『CNC Underground: Afterhours』のカバーアート

CNC Underground: Afterhours

CNC Underground: Afterhours

著者： Jessica Bird
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CNC Underground: Afterhours is a candid manufacturing podcast for the people behind CNC machining, CAM, and modern machine shops. Hosted by Jessica Bird, each episode brings real conversations with industry voices about shop culture, technology, tooling, leadership, business, and the future of manufacturing. It is thoughtful, practical, occasionally funny, and always rooted in the real world of making parts and keeping shops moving.Jessica Bird
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  • 22. Hiring Nightmares and Winning Formulas: What Breaks First When Your CNC Shop Booms?

    22. Hiring Nightmares and Winning Formulas: What Breaks First When Your CNC Shop Booms?
    2026/06/10
    Caz, founder of Caztek Engineering and Caztek Precision, and Landon, director of Strategic Growth, share their no-nonsense approach to rapid business growth in precision manufacturing. Hear what happens when ambition collides with execution: from doubling company size to onboarding second shifts, investing in automation, and developing leadership. The conversation covers scaling teams, striking the balance between moving fast and getting it right, hiring the right talent, iterating on core values, integrating new technology, and finding the sweet spot between innovation and discipline. If you're building, scaling, or rethinking your business operations in manufacturing or engineering, this conversation reveals real-world approaches and honest reflection you won’t want to miss.———Connect with Jess on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaurbans/Connect with Christina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinacasanova/Connect with Landon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/landon-wiser-55455386/ Connect with Caz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casimir-sienkiewicz-375a20/ ———Join CNC Underground Newsletter! https://swiy.co/cncundergroundJoin CNC Underground — the go-to weekly newsletter read by 6,000+ elite machinists and programmers. Get cutting-edge tips, tooling strategies, CAM shortcuts, and industry updates in one tight, no-fluff email.————About Midwest CAM Solutions:Midwest CAM Solutions is the world’s largest GibbsCAM reseller, helping manufacturers boost productivity with expert CAM software solutions, training, and support.Learn more at: www.midwestcamsolutions.com—————————————————————————————————00:00 CNC Underground After Hours begins00:06 Show introduction and guest overview01:07 What Caz and Landon focus on right now02:48 Making the business scalable and building a team03:55 When to chase perfection vs making progress06:38 Lessons learned: allowing new hires to make mistakes10:05 How CazTek operates day-to-day11:14 Service offerings: engineering, prototyping, manufacturing12:58 Bringing more manufacturing in-house14:15 Division of responsibilities in operations and growth15:39 Industry trends: reshoring, manufacturing growth, tariffs15:59 Pursuing AS9100 certification and entering government work17:45 What happens when things go wrong internally?18:30 Saying yes too quickly vs waiting for readiness20:13 Out-of-the-box thinking at CazTek21:15 Fostering creative and cross-disciplinary solutions23:28 Ruby bearings and innovation stories from medtech25:58 CazTek’s role as a catalyst with OEMs and product development27:13 The drivers and practical steps for 100% growth30:24 Strategy shift: building leadership and middle management33:22 What broke first during scaling—and how hiring changed35:59 Attitude vs skill in hiring practices36:31 Aligning hiring/firing/accountability with core values37:00 Creating and preserving company culture38:27 What breaks operationally as growth demands new shifts41:05 Automating, AI, and the future of lights-out manufacturing46:47 Mistakes you only want to make once49:13 Machines, people, or process: what matters most in scaling a business?51:25 Planning for growth: foundation over speed53:19 Fielding diverse perspectives and learning from disagreements54:29 Hot Takes: automation, quoting, hiring, machines vs systems58:57 Fixing problems if starting from scratch in a shop62:13 The real goal: a great workplace and making an impact63:11 Strategy, vision, and the next debate
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    1 時間 6 分
  • 21. Single Source of Truth or Epic Myth? The Wild World of PLM with Michael Finocchiaro

    21. Single Source of Truth or Epic Myth? The Wild World of PLM with Michael Finocchiaro
    2026/05/27
    PLM: buzzword or necessity? Jessica welcomes Michael Finocchiaro, a product lifecycle management veteran, startup advisor, and outspoken industry observer, for a no-nonsense conversation about what PLM is, what it actually solves, lingering shop floor headaches, and why “single source of truth” might be the most misleading promise in digital manufacturing.Get straight talk about the evolution of CAD data management, the realities of digital threads, the hype versus substance of buzzwords like AI and the metaverse, and how startups are shaking up a space long dominated by enterprise giants. Michael breaks down the intersection of engineering and manufacturing, the fragmentation of today’s tools, and the future shape of digital shop floors. Whether you’re on the production line, in management, or wrangling unruly BOMs, this episode brings sharp insights and practical advice.———Connect with Jess on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaurbans/Connect with Christina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinacasanova/Connect with Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mfinocchiaro/ Michaels YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFutureOfPLM Websites: www.demystifyingplm.com. www.threaded.live ———Join CNC Underground Newsletter! https://swiy.co/cncundergroundJoin CNC Underground — the go-to weekly newsletter read by 6,000+ elite machinists and programmers. Get cutting-edge tips, tooling strategies, CAM shortcuts, and industry updates in one tight, no-fluff email.————About Midwest CAM Solutions:Midwest CAM Solutions is the world’s largest GibbsCAM reseller, helping manufacturers boost productivity with expert CAM software solutions, training, and support.Learn more at: www.midwestcamsolutions.com—————————————————————————————————00:00 AI Bubble or Forest Fire?00:30 Introducing Michael Finocchiaro & PLM 10102:26 CAD Origins and Product Data Management03:11 Why PLM Grew Beyond Files05:18 Bill of Materials & Truth Myths06:31 What PLM Actually Solves08:22 What Goes Wrong with PLM Implementations10:12 Why PLM & Manufacturing Remain Disconnected11:28 The Challenge of Tribal Knowledge12:26 Startups vs. Big Companies in Knowledge Capture12:52 Buzzword Bingo: Digital Thread, Twin, AI, and More15:26 Why Integration is Still Elusive16:03 Connecting Shop Floor, ERP, and PLM17:23 Does the Demand for Integration Actually Exist?18:57 Should Companies Go Early on AI?19:53 Startups Building Faster Solutions20:19 In-House Hack Jobs vs. Scalable Solutions22:17 How Cloud & “Best in Class” Are Actually Playing Out23:26 Is Metaverse Real for the Shop Floor?25:13 Why Mining Leads in Digital Twins & Automation26:40 Buzzwords Michael Thinks Will Fade27:38 What Makes Startups Exciting Right Now28:47 The Risks of Overhype & Why Fundamentals Win31:45 AI Bubble or Forest Fire Revisited33:09 Fundamentals: Real Engineering Still Matters35:40 Red Flags in Software Pitches38:03 How Creativity from Art & Music Influences Engineering39:56 Staying Open, Avoiding Tunnel Vision41:15 Where to Find Michael Finocchiaro42:06 Best Advice for Evaluating Software Demos43:03 Episode Wrap—————————————————————————————————
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    43 分
  • 20. Make or Break Decisions: Shop Owners Reveal Hard Lessons with Tyler Stilson

    20. Make or Break Decisions: Shop Owners Reveal Hard Lessons with Tyler Stilson
    2026/05/13

    Tyler Stillson, president and owner of Operose Manufacturing, joins host Jessica for an honest discussion about growth, risk, and technology in modern manufacturing.


    From walking away from engineering school to building a multi-location business, Tyler shares the decisions, challenges, and lessons behind the scenes, from automation investments and scaling through acquisition, to the realities of losing customers and starting new product lines.


    Also covered are the shifting demands in equipment, the impact of AI on small business operations, and the truths every shop owner should face about cash flow and growth.

    Whether you’re a shop owner, machinist, or simply interested in how real-world manufacturing works today, this episode brings clarity to the pressures, opportunities, and responsibilities behind every investment and expansion.

    ———

    Connect with Jess on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaurbans/

    Connect with Christina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinacasanova/

    Connect with Tyler on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-stilson-1715416/

    The OpOne Group: https://op1group.com/


    ———

    Join CNC Underground Newsletter! https://swiy.co/cncunderground

    Join CNC Underground — the go-to weekly newsletter read by 6,000+ elite machinists and programmers. Get cutting-edge tips, tooling strategies, CAM shortcuts, and industry updates in one tight, no-fluff email.

    ————

    About Midwest CAM Solutions:Midwest CAM Solutions is the world’s largest GibbsCAM reseller, helping manufacturers boost productivity with expert CAM software solutions, training, and support.

    Learn more at: www.midwestcamsolutions.com

    ————————————————————————————————

    Chapters:00:00 Hidden Stress & Realities of Ownership00:19 CNC Underground After Hours—Introduction01:12 Leaving Engineering School for Machining02:02 First Steps in the Machine Shop03:08 Getting Started with CNC Machines04:16 Long Commutes and the Leap to Ownership05:01 Moving to Minnesota & Changing Markets06:45 Operose: Then vs. Now08:30 Building OP1 Group and Acquisitions10:00 Different Shop Specialties & Capabilities11:16 What Capabilities Matter Most Today?12:13 The Decline of Wire EDM Demand14:16 Rapid-Fire: Good Idea or Expensive Mistake15:43 Investing in Equipment Before the Work18:06 Risks of Relying on One Big Customer19:11 Starting a Product Line Within a Shop21:22 Automation for Solving Labor Shortages22:21 Automation for High Mix, Low Volume23:49 Recovering After Losing a Major Customer24:54 Filling Gaps With Product Innovation25:54 Risk Lessons From Losing Customers28:00 Using Automation to Manage Workflows & Labor30:23 Scaling Production Without More Hires31:02 Downsides of Automation: Scrap Risks32:28 The Version You Don’t See: Buying Machines, Leadership Stress36:02 What Really Happens After Acquisitions39:05 Building Trust Post-Acquisition41:05 Does AI Move the Needle for Small Shops?42:02 Building DIY Tools with AI for Operations45:14 Measuring Productivity in Automated Shops46:14 First Steps Into Automation for CNC Shops47:40 Real Concerns and Opportunities With AI49:00 AI Lowering Barriers for Small Businesses50:51 The Growing Dependence on AI52:13 Leadership Lessons From Scaling Operations56:25 Why Standardizing Across Shops Can Fail57:26 The Hazards of “Build It and They Will Come”58:25 Cash Flow, Invoices, and Payment Struggles59:11 Where to Find More About OP1 Group1:00:32 Final Takeaways and Closing
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    1 時間 1 分
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