54: Breaking the $3M Ceiling: How Pivot Manufacturing Unlocked Its Next Phase

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/

54: Breaking the $3M Ceiling: How Pivot Manufacturing Unlocked Its Next Phase

What does it actually take to break through the $3M ceiling in a machine shop? For many manufacturers, that plateau isn't about lack of opportunity. It's about systems, structure, and the ability to scale without everything breaking. In this episode, Steve Macias of Pivot Manufacturing shares the real story behind that transition, from surviving early volatility to building a business capable of sustained growth in the defense sector. After decades of steady but capped performance, Pivot made a series of intentional moves: investing in higher-end equipment, remodeling their facility, and most importantly, replacing outdated, paper-heavy processes with a fully integrated system using ProShop ERP. What followed wasn't just incremental improvement. It was a shift in how the entire company operates. Quotes became orders in seconds instead of days, audits became seamless, and the team gained visibility into every part moving through the shop. But the transformation goes beyond software and machines. Steve shares how empowering a younger, more tech-forward workforce, letting go of control as an owner, and building a culture of accountability all played a critical role in unlocking the next phase of growth. The result is a shop that not only looks modern on the surface, but runs with the structure, clarity, and confidence needed to scale toward $8M to $10M and beyond. Resources & Links * Pivot Manufacturing: https://pivotmfg.com/ [https://pivotmfg.com/] * Steve Macias on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-macias-1876303/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-macias-1876303/] * SMacias@PivotMFG.com