64. Tribal Knowledge Killed This Shop: A Machine Shop Owner Tells the Story with Jereme Rogers

64. Tribal Knowledge Killed This Shop: A Machine Shop Owner Tells the Story with Jereme Rogers

Author: Paul Van Metre October 9, 2024 Duration: 1:12:28

64. Tribal Knowledge Killed this Shop: A Machine Shop Owner Tells the Story with Jereme Rogers

After a near-death motorcycle accident, Jereme Rogers fell in love with the machining industry and decided that he wanted to own a shop someday. When the owners of TK Machine decided they wanted to retire, Jereme and they eventually came to an agreement that he would buy the shop. After finalizing the transaction, Jereme soon realized there was a lot more to owning a business than he ever realized, and that it was much harder than it appeared from the outside. When another local company recruited away his top 4 most experienced machinists, and years of tribal knowledge walked out the door, followed by his top 4 customers swamped him with new work, the dominos started falling. Jereme fought as hard as he could, but ultimately decided to close down the business. This is the first time Jereme's story has been told publicly, and we thank him for the courage to share with the goal of helping others by being transparent about the realities of owning a precision machining company.

Follow Jereme on Social Media:
Personal LI: /jereme-rogers-17427389


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
94. How Losing a Machine Shop Led to Gabe Draper's Calling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:43
Some conversations stay with you long after you hit "stop" on the recorder—and my time with Gabe Draper is absolutely one of them. I've known Gabe for years, but I never fully understood the depth of the journey he endur…
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…