Libsyn Directory

Cybersecurity Requirements for DoD Contractors: A Deep Dive into CMMC with Jacob Horne, 453

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

Release Date: 03/03/2025

Gorilla 76 In the House: A New Era for Manufacturing Media, 464

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

What happens when a young marketer decides to stop chasing every client and instead zeroes in on one industry? You get Gorilla 76—a leading agency that’s spent nearly two decades helping B2B manufacturers connect, grow, and lead. In this special episode of MakingChips, the team sits down with Joe Sullivan, co-founder of Gorilla 76 and host of three powerhouse podcasts, to officially welcome him into the MakingChips Network. Joe opens up about the early missteps of trying to be everything to everyone—and how discovering a niche in mid-size manufacturers changed the game. The conversation...

The Home of MFG: Uniting Events, Podcasts, and Tools for the Manufacturing Nation, 463

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

What if every trade show, manufacturing podcast, and business resource you needed was just a few clicks away? That’s the vision behind The Home of MFG, a new online hub created by Chris Stevens—a manufacturing leader who got tired of fragmented information and decided to build a centralized, open-access platform for the industry. In this episode, we dig into Chris’s journey from sweeping shop floors to launching an ambitious initiative aimed at organizing the chaos of manufacturing content. We talk candidly about how hard it’s been to simply find the right events to...

Meet MAESTRO: How Hexagon is Turning Quality Into a Power Play, 462

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

If inspection is the bottleneck in your shop, you’re not alone—and this episode might just be your blueprint for breaking through it. We sat down with the team behind MAESTRO, the latest release from Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division, to explore how a complete reinvention of the coordinate measuring machine (CMM) is shifting quality control from a necessary evil to a productivity enabler. MAESTRO isn’t just faster or sleeker—it’s smarter. Built from the ground up with the realities of today’s shops in mind, it tackles challenges like workforce shortages, inconsistent...

Machines Are Just the Start (How to Build a Shop That Lasts), 461

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

If you’re in the trenches of manufacturing like we are—running a shop, growing a business, or even dreaming of starting your own—this episode is going to hit home. We’re diving deep into the real challenges and choices that come with equipping a machine shop. It’s not just about what machine to buy; it’s about how to make smart, future-proof decisions that keep your business agile and competitive. We walk through what it really takes to get started, from the very first piece of equipment to building an infrastructure that can handle growth. It’s a real-world conversation on...

Funding Your Dream Shop: Creative Ownership Strategies You Haven’t Heard Yet, 460

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

Dreaming of owning your own machine shop but hitting a wall when it comes to the money? You’re not alone—and you’re definitely not out of options. In this episode of MakingChips’ Machine Shop MBA series, host Mike Payne sits down with Jon Hughes, Principal and CFO Consultant at CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), to unpack what it really takes to fund a manufacturing business in today’s economy. Too many would-be shop owners assume they need a mountain of cash sitting in the bank before they can even begin. But what if we told you that buying an existing shop—yes, even one with tired...

The Quiet Cut That's Loudly Threatening Small Manufacturing

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

Most small manufacturers don’t realize they’re being quietly supported by one of the most impactful public-private partnerships in the country. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) has long been the hidden backbone behind training programs, grant facilitation, process improvements, and critical tech upgrades for shops across the U.S. But recent Federal decisions to defund these programs—without clear communication or reasoning—have sparked confusion and alarm among industry insiders. In this episode, a passionate roundtable of manufacturers and advocates reveals just how...

The Legal + Financial Stuff No One Warns You About When Starting a Machine Shop, 459

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

Most people who dream of launching a manufacturing business obsess over machines, processes, and parts. But here’s the thing: that dream can die before a single spindle turns—if you miss a few less-glamorous (but absolutely critical) steps on the front end. Legal structure? Tax setup? Insurance? Naming your shop? These early decisions carry more weight than most first-timers realize. In this episode of MakingChips, we pick up where part one left off and get granular with the real-life process of starting your shop the right way. Guests Brad Boettcher and Nick Vargosko of CLA return to walk...

Shop Formation 101: Entity Types, Tax Traps, and Long-Term Strategy, 458

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

In this episode of the Machine Shop MBA series, we go beyond vision boards and get into the meat and potatoes of launching your shop legally—with the right entity type and structure to support your short and long-term goals. Whether you’re looking to stay solo, bring on partners, or position for future investment or acquisition, your business formation choice can be the foundation—or the friction—of your growth. In this episode, the team dives deep into the critical, yet often overlooked, process of legally forming a manufacturing business. The hosts, alongside experts Nick...

Breaking Boundaries: Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset, 457

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

In this episode of MakingChips, we dive into the entrepreneurial mindset, drawing inspiration from three of the most influential figures in modern business: Titan Gilroy, Elon Musk, and Steve Jobs. Through clips from these legendary leaders, we explore the grit, vision, and resilience required to launch and grow a business in the challenging world of manufacturing. As we share our experiences and reflect on the realities of entrepreneurship, you’ll gain a firsthand look at the mindset necessary to succeed—if you dare to take the plunge. This episode is essential for anyone...

Machine Shop MBA: How to Become a Top Shop with Brent Donaldson, 456

Making Chips Podcast for Manufacturing Leaders

What if you could measure your shop's success against the industry’s best—and discover exactly where you can improve? In this episode, we’re launching a groundbreaking new series with Modern Machine Shop to help you do just that. We’re joined by Brent Donaldson, who walks us through the powerful Top Shops program—a game-changing benchmarking tool that reveals everything from machine utilization to employee engagement. The Top Shops survey isn’t just another tool; it’s a blueprint for success. By comparing your shop to the industry’s top performers, you’ll uncover where...

More Episodes

In this episode of MakingChips, we take a deep-dive into the complexities of cybersecurity requirements for manufacturers working with the Department of Defense (DoD) with expert Jacob Horne.

Jacob, the Chief Cybersecurity Evangelist at Summit 7, brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation, especially as it relates to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). His deep dive into the CMMC program offers invaluable insights for manufacturers navigating the rapidly changing landscape of DoD regulations.

Jacob takes us through the origins and evolution of CMMC, explaining how its implementation is designed to ensure defense contractors meet stringent cybersecurity standards to protect sensitive data.

He clarifies the importance of CMMC certification for manufacturers who supply to the DoD, breaking down how companies can prepare for the upcoming requirements. This is a crucial discussion for anyone in the manufacturing sector who plans to continue or start working with the DoD.

Why should you listen to this episode? If you're a manufacturer handling government contracts or are considering entering that space, understanding CMMC is no longer optional. Jacob's expertise offers a roadmap for compliance, helping you avoid costly delays and penalties. The conversation explores practical steps to align your business with the required standards, ensuring you're not left behind as the regulations tighten in 2025.

Jacob breaks down the technicalities of CMMC in a way that’s both approachable and actionable. He shares real-world examples of how businesses are already navigating the process, shedding light on the obstacles ahead and how to overcome them.

Whether you’re already engaged with defense contracts or looking to position your company for future opportunities, this episode will arm you with the knowledge to take the next step toward CMMC compliance. This is a crucial episode that can help safeguard your business’s future in an increasingly regulated market.

Segments

(0:28) Check out Paperless Parts for quoting and estimating
(1:51) Jacob’s background in cybersecurity
(6:06) Why CMMC was implemented and how it aims to prevent cyber threats
(15:04) The announcement of CMMC 2.0 + the rule-making process
(17:28) The basic requirements of cybersecurity/CMMC
(19:48) The challenges manufacturers face when implementing cybersecurity requirements
(23:03) The importance of securing the supply chain and how it relates to CMMC compliance
(25:30) Understanding the role of waivers and exceptions in the certification process
(30:12) Dissecting the reasons why CMMC is not going away
(33:31) How to get ahead in the CMMC certification process and avoid falling behind
(35:34) Why you need to check out the Lights Out podcast
(36:49) The process of going from “zero” to assessment ready
(39:02) How many manufacturers need to get level 2 certification?
(45:53) The connection between CMMC and quality management systems like NADCAP
(50:18) Potential costs behind CMMC certification and long-term financial implications
(54:03) The role of mergers and acquisitions in the changing cybersecurity landscape
(56:49) Controlled and classified information vs controlled unclassified information (CUI)
(1:05:33) Dissecting some of the gray areas left to interpretation

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