44. Standardizing a Shop to Huge Success with Robert Smith from Smith & Company

44. Standardizing a Shop to Huge Success with Robert Smith from Smith & Company

Author: Paul Van Metre January 3, 2024 Duration: 1:28:49

44. Standardizing a Shop to Huge Success with Robert Smith from Smith & Company

Robert Smith is the Founder and CEO of Smith and Company,  a new machine shop founded out of the principles and best practices that Robert learned over 30+ years growing the family-run machine shop, Smith's Machine, his father started in the 70s. They found huge success by building robust standardization and processes for consistently reliable performance as they grew the company from doing repair work to being a world-class supplier to the Defense and Space industry. Those principles led to great success at Smith's Machine and are now serving him very well at Smith and Company.  Robert's talent as a storyteller and company operator comes through loud and clear in this very engaging conversation about building world-class precision machining companies.

About Smith & Company:
Smith and Company, LLC is a precision machining and manufacturing company in Birmingham, Alabama. Our goal is to provide our customers with deliverables that exceed their typical quality, delivery, and cost expectations. Innovative thinking, a can-do attitude, and eighty-plus years of experience enable us to create a partnership that customers appreciate. Their team is equipped with the latest precision 5-axis milling centers from Hermle. Additive manufacturing platforms from Markforged enable 3D printing with metal and composite materials. They produce precision components, assemblies, and value-added services that are used in a variety of industries.

Follow Robert and Smith & Company on social media:
Personal LI: /robert-smithandcompanybhmal
Company LI: /company/smith-and-company-llc
Website: www.smith-al.com
IG: @smithandco.bham


Paul Van Metre hosts Machine Shop Mastery, a conversation grounded in the real-world challenges and triumphs of running a precision manufacturing business. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a deep dive into the shop floor, focusing on the practical strategies that turn a technical skill into a sustainable and growing enterprise. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the operational, financial, and personal leadership aspects that define a successful shop, moving beyond the blueprints to talk about building a resilient business. You'll hear candid discussions about navigating client relationships, managing cash flow, investing in the right equipment, and developing a team that can execute complex work. The podcast aims to underscore the critical role these businesses play as community anchors and economic engines, often overlooked in broader industry talks. For current shop owners, the insights offer a path to refine their operations and boost profitability. For aspiring entrepreneurs with a passion for machining, these conversations provide a clear-eyed look at what it truly takes to launch and scale. Tune in for straightforward advice and stories that connect the craft of machining with the art of building a lasting legacy.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Machine Shop Mastery
Podcast Episodes
93. A Builder at Heart Pivots and Buys a Machine Shop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:57
Buying a machine shop is never simple — and for Matt Fortner, it was a leap into the unknown. Coming from backgrounds in plumbing, industrial fittings, product development, and even scrap metal buying, Matt felt a pull t…
91. Passion and Excellence Personified with Ty Haguewood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:23
As a host, I've met hundreds of shop owners, but every once in a while, I meet someone whose story stops me in my tracks. Ty Haguewood, General Manager and CFO of Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. (MTI) and Stone Mather D…
90. Burnout Killed This Machine Shop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:54
When you've poured 46 years of your life into building a thriving precision machine shop—one that grew from a one-man garage to 50 employees, world-class equipment, and top-tier aerospace customers—you don't expect it to…
89. Lessons Learned from Buying & Losing a Machine Shop | Mark Heston [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:26
In this powerful and deeply candid conversation, I sat down with Mark Heston, who first appeared on Episode 51 to share his story of buying and rebuilding an aerospace machine shop specializing in landing-gear components…
88. Learning, Building & Teaching with John Saunders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:15
I've admired John Saunders for a long time. Most of you probably know him as the force behind the NYC CNC YouTube channel, the Business of Machining podcast, and of course, Saunders Machine Works. John has been creating…
87. People and Technology: Building an Enduring Shop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:18
When I think about the shops that inspire me most, it's the ones that balance cutting-edge technology with a deep investment in people. That's exactly why I loved sitting down with Steve and Eric Van Orden of Paramount M…