Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories

59. 12,000 Work Orders a Year: How Low Country Aerospace Scaled Without the Chaos

How does a 38-person aerospace shop process thousands of work orders a year without letting paperwork, handoffs, and daily firefighting take over? I sat down with Hunter Russell of Low Country Aerospace to unpack the systems behind their remarkable growth. With roughly a dozen CNC machines, waterjets, routers, and a press brake, the team is on track to process nearly 12,000 work orders this year, all while maintaining the responsiveness and quality their customers count on. Hunter shares how Low Country Aerospace moved from paper travelers and disconnected processes to a fully digital, paperless operation with ProShop. We talk about building a team that takes ownership, using risk-based quoting to stay in their lane, stocking material for speed and recovery, and creating clear digital and physical workflows that keep jobs moving. This is a conversation about what happens when great people are given great systems: less chaos, more confidence, and a shop built to scale. Resources Mentioned * Low Country Aerospace: https://www.lowcountryaerospace.com/ * Hunter Russell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunter-russell-795a871b3 * Machine Shop Mastery 117 with Barry Russell: https://machineshopmastery.com/episode/117-12000-work-orders-a-year-managing-growth-with-systems-that-work/

58. They Built 3,000+ Horsepower Drivetrains—Now They're Chasing Aerospace

In this episode of Manufacturing Transformed, I sat down with Brock Graves from Quick Drive Racing, a small family-owned business building incredibly high-end drivetrain components for serious horsepower. We're talking drag racing, monster trucks, and applications designed to handle 3,000+ horsepower. As a lifelong motorhead, this was a really fun one for me. What I loved about this conversation is that Quick Drive's story is about much more than racing. Brock, his brother, and his dad recognized that as their business grew, spreadsheets, CAM notes, and tribal knowledge weren't going to give them the structure they needed for the next chapter. After bringing on ProShop, they were able to organize their processes, improve planning, get better control of inventory and purchasing, and then move aggressively toward AS9100 certification. Within just a few months, they went from racing-focused manufacturing to opening the door to aerospace. It's a great example of how a small shop can make a big, intentional pivot when the right systems and mindset are in place. Resources Mentioned * Brock Graves on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brockgraves [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brockgraves] * Quick Drive Racing: https://quickdriveracing.com [https://quickdriveracing.com] * ProShop ERP: https://proshoperp.com [https://proshoperp.com] * Space Symposium: https://www.spacesymposium.org [https://www.spacesymposium.org] * PRI Show: https://www.performanceracing.com/tradeshow [https://www.performanceracing.com/tradeshow] * Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions: https://www.roushyatesmfg.com [https://www.roushyatesmfg.com] * The Checklist Manifesto: https://www.amazon.com/Checklist-Manifesto-How-Things-Right/dp/0312430000 [https://www.amazon.com/Checklist-Manifesto-How-Things-Right/dp/0312430000] * The E-Myth Revisited: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280 [https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280]

57. From Race Engines to Defense Manufacturing: Roush Yates' Next Chapter

I've been looking forward to this conversation for a long time. Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions has been a ProShop customer since late 2018, and in a lot of ways, our two companies have grown up together. When we first started working with them, RYMS was a 35-person manufacturing operation tied closely to the legendary Roush Yates Engines business, known for building high-performance Ford NASCAR engines. Today, they've grown to around 115 employees and have evolved into a world-class contract manufacturer serving industries like aerospace, defense, space, medical, and motorsports. In this episode, I sit down with Todd English, CEO of Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions, to talk about that transformation. We get into how they moved from paper, spreadsheets, and internal engine work into a highly organized, digitally connected, and compliance-driven operation. Todd shares how ProShop has supported their growth, improved visibility on the shop floor, strengthened traceability and compliance, and helped them continue operating with the precision, speed, and attention to detail you'd expect from a company rooted in racing. Resources Mentioned * Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions: https://roushyatesmfg.com/ [https://roushyatesmfg.com/] * Roush Yates Engines: https://roushyates.com/ [https://roushyates.com/] * Todd English on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-english-b5439948 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-english-b5439948] * Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roush-yates-manufacturing-solutions [https://www.linkedin.com/company/roush-yates-manufacturing-solutions] * Roush Yates Shop Tour on ProShop: https://proshoperp.com/proshoperp-video/roush-yates-shop-tour/ [https://proshoperp.com/proshoperp-video/roush-yates-shop-tour/]

56. ProShop as the Operating System - Archer Precision

Every once in a while, I record an episode that sticks with me long after the microphones are turned off. This was one of those conversations. I sat down with Alex Mazerolle from Archer Precision expecting to talk about ERP systems, process control, and shop management. Instead, we ended up unpacking something much bigger: what it really looks like to build a modern machine shop around clarity, accountability, systems, and people. Alex shares how Archer Precision evolved from a small shop acquisition into a highly disciplined manufacturing company serving aerospace, medical, and military customers around the world, all while pursuing what he calls a "glass box" approach to manufacturing. We dive deep into the lessons learned from trying to build a custom ERP system, why they ultimately embraced ProShop ERP [https://proshoperp.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] as the operating system of their business, and how standardization has transformed everything from customer communication to employee confidence on the shop floor. What really stood out to me, though, was Alex's perspective on leadership, workforce development, and creating an environment where machinists can thrive instead of constantly firefighting. This episode originally also aired on Machine Shop Mastery as Episode 115 because there was simply too much gold in this conversation not to share with both audiences. Resources & Links * Alex Mazerolle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-mazerolle-09279946/ * https://www.archerprecision.ca/ [https://www.archerprecision.ca/] * BDC (Business Development Canada): https://www.bdc.ca/en [https://www.bdc.ca/en] * CTMA: https://ctma.com/ * The E-Myth Revisited: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280

55. Inside Rise Industries: From One-Man Shop to $1.5M Medical & Aerospace Supplier

What happens when you leave a stable career, bet on yourself, and commit to building a shop the right way from day one? In this episode of Manufacturing Transformed, Chris Schutte from Rise Industries shares how he turned a two-machine startup into a rapidly growing medical and aerospace supplier in just a few short years. Starting as a one-man operation, Chris focused on surrounding himself with trusted, highly skilled people, many of whom he had worked with before—creating a team that could execute at a high level from the beginning. But growth didn't come from people alone. Chris made early investments in systems, structure, and certifications that positioned the company for long-term success. From moving beyond spreadsheets to fully embracing ProShop, to earning ISO 9001, AS9100, and ISO 13485 certifications in rapid succession, Rise Industries built a foundation that could support serious customers and complex work. The payoff? Major opportunities—including a game-changing medical implant project that landed immediately after certification. This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to scale quickly, stay organized, and build a shop that's ready for the next level. Resources & Links * Rise Industries: https://www.riseinds.com * Christian Schutte: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-schutte-3a1121220/