27. Dedicated to Improvement - Andy Reinwald at Ripley Machine, Ep 27
Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories
Release Date: 04/16/2025
27. Dedicated to Improvement - Andy Reinwald at Ripley Machine, Ep 27
Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories
Running a shop often means wearing every hat and holding every answer. For Andy Reinwald at Ripley Machine, that translated to years of nonstop work, nearly no time off, and the weight of every open order living in his head. It was sustainable until it wasn’t. Things came to a head after a rough year in 2016. Revenue was slipping, customer service was lagging, and the company was running on outdated systems. Andy knew he couldn’t keep leading the shop this way and expect different results. That realization kicked off a steady climb. Andy pursued ISO certification, leaned into lean...
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26. Proud to Own a World Class Shop - Phil Gurecki of Accurate Machine, Ep 26
Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories
Most shop owners don’t realize how much stress is baked into their day-to-day. They’re running jobs, juggling people, chasing parts—and slowly getting used to the constant pressure. For Phil Gurecki, it was normal to be the only one who knew where everything was, how it worked, and what came next. Until it wasn’t. As Accurate Machine grew, so did the complexity. Assemblies got tougher. Tooling got chaotic. Binders multiplied. And the cost of relying on Phil’s memory—or a key employee’s tribal knowledge—became impossible to ignore. He tried two ERPs. Neither stuck. It wasn’t...
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25. Perfecting Processes & Systems to Success - Marvin Rodriguez with True Precision Machining
Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories
Most machine shops are filled with skilled workers, powerful machines, and a relentless drive to get parts out the door. But behind the scenes, inefficiencies can quietly eat away at profitability, morale, and even long-term survival. Many shops rely on outdated systems, fragmented information, and tribal knowledge that vanishes when key employees leave. The result? Missed deadlines, costly mistakes, and constant firefighting. Marvin Rodriguez of True Precision Machining shares how his company faced these very challenges and found a way to transform operations through a strategic shift in...
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24. From Pirate Ship to Proven Process - Matt Gawlik of 3D Graphite Machining
Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories
Most job shops turn to ERP systems expecting more efficiency but end up with more headaches, more spreadsheets, and more frustration. Most ERPs weren’t built for job shops—high-mix, low-volume work, constant scheduling changes, and the need for real-time visibility. Instead of fixing the chaos, they add layers of complexity, leaving shops struggling to keep up. Traditional ERP systems were designed for large-scale manufacturing, where jobs are predictable and repeatable. A job shop doesn’t operate that way. Custom parts, shifting lead times, and last-minute jobs require flexibility. The...
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23. Technology as a Force Multiplier
Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories
Most manufacturers don’t realize just how much inefficiency is baked into their daily operations—until they start pulling back the layers. That was the case for Johnny Goode, President of MSP Manufacturing, who stepped into the family business in 2020 and immediately saw opportunities for change. Paper-based processes, siloed systems, and hidden inefficiencies were costing the shop time, money, and agility. But change wasn’t easy—especially for a team that had been doing things the same way for years. Johnny shares how MSP systematically broke free from outdated habits,...
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22. Nobody Can Do It Better Than Me - Ron Wallace with Ace Machining
Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories
In this episode of Manufacturing Transformed, I sit down with Ron Wallace, the owner of Ace Machining, a leading job shop located in Nova Scotia, Canada. Ron shares the remarkable story of how he went from starting his business with just a few machines to now overseeing a thriving operation with advanced equipment like Swiss lathes, waterjets, and five-axis mills. Ron’s journey has been filled with growth, challenges, and innovation. After years of trial and error, including multiple relocations and expanding the team, Ron realized that embracing technology was the key to taking his business...
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21. How Zimmer Design & Manufacturing Achieved 70% Growth with ProShop
Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories
Zimmer Design & Manufacturing, an ITAR-registered AS9100 Contract Manufacturing machine shop in Austin, TX, has experienced remarkable growth—70% since its launch in 2020. Founder Adam Zimmer started the company in his garage, crafting cigar stands and ashtrays as a hobby with a manual lathe and mill. A pivotal moment came when he purchased equipment and customers from a friend closing his shop, which set the stage for his transition into a thriving business. From day one, Adam knew he wanted to scale, so he invested in ProShop ERP for its functionality, scalability, and...
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20. From Repair Shop Roots to Aerospace Excellence: Faircloth Machine Shop’s Remarkable Journey
Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories
In this episode of Manufacturing Transformed, Brannon McKinney, General Manager at Faircloth Machine Shop, shares the incredible evolution of a small repair shop into an AS9100-certified leader in aerospace manufacturing. When Brannon joined Faircloth 16 years ago, fresh out of community college, the shop had just eight employees and relied on conventional machines and a homemade ERP system. Today, with the help of ProShop ERP, they’ve streamlined operations, embraced innovation, and achieved certifications that transformed their business. Brannon discusses how ProShop...
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19. Vision + Culture + Technology = Transformation with Jim & Ryan Carr of CARR Machine
Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories
This third-generation precision machining business is thriving and growing thanks to a well-executed vision, a focus on culture, and the adoption of the best technology, like ProShop ERP. The transformation that CARR Machine has seen in the past five years has been nothing short of remarkable. Jim and Ryan are aligned in the vision of the company, they use their core values to drive the hiring, firing and alignment of their team, and along with a strong marketing focus, they have grown ...
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18. Breaking Free from Manual Processes: How Modern ERP Transforms Manufacturing with John Zmuda from Moseys Production Machinists
Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories
In this episode, we sit down with John Zmuda, President of Moseys Production Machinists, to uncover how his team revolutionized their operations by ditching outdated manual processes. From the frustrations of late-night spreadsheet marathons to unlocking double-digit growth, John shares the transformative impact of adopting modern ERP and QMS software.Learn how transitioning to a machine shop ERP system gave Moseys the tools to streamline workflows, improve customer communication, and free up...
info_outlineRunning a shop often means wearing every hat and holding every answer. For Andy Reinwald at Ripley Machine, that translated to years of nonstop work, nearly no time off, and the weight of every open order living in his head. It was sustainable until it wasn’t.
Things came to a head after a rough year in 2016. Revenue was slipping, customer service was lagging, and the company was running on outdated systems. Andy knew he couldn’t keep leading the shop this way and expect different results.
That realization kicked off a steady climb. Andy pursued ISO certification, leaned into lean thinking, and began to untangle Ripley Machine from manual processes and memory-based management. Still, the tools he had weren’t suited for the kind of shop he wanted to run.
It wasn’t until Andy implemented ProShop that the fundamental transformation took hold.
The team got access to the same information, tooling, and setups became easier to manage, and planning work no longer relied on his constant oversight. Late orders dropped, morale lifted, and quoting, scheduling, and tracking got faster.
Now, Andy runs a growing shop with more efficient systems, higher standards, and the breathing room to take a fully unplugged vacation. His story isn’t about flashy leaps, it’s about what happens when a shop owner truly commits to improving, one decision at a time.
LinkedIn - Andy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyreinwald/
Ripley Machine - https://www.ripley-machine.com/
Audio and Video Production and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK