In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I sat down with Barry Walter Jr., and I have to say—this one lit me up. Barry's a machine shop leader who brings heart, humility, and a whole lot of wisdom to the mic. From rebuilding a multi-generational business to designing a culture where "shit flows uphill" (his words!), Barry has transformed a plumbing parts OEM into an 8-figure, high-mix/low-volume powerhouse with 37 team members, 15 CNC lathes, and a customer service model that makes his buyers the heroes.
What struck me most is how intentional Barry is—not just with his machines or his marketing, but with how he leads. From rigorous multi-stage hiring to monthly team celebrations to offering PTO in exchange for nonprofit volunteering, Barry's built a workplace that lives out its core values every single day. Family first. Serve others. Made in America matters. And yes—work should be fulfilling.
We also dive into the financial roadblocks that nearly brought the company to its knees and how Barry led the turnaround through culture, cost discipline, and strategic pricing. You'll also hear how he's passing the torch to the next generation—with three of his kids now working in the business—and why he replaced third-party sales reps with his own son, who now makes 60+ customer visits per week across the western U.S.
This episode is packed with lessons on leadership, lean operations, OEM manufacturing, and building a resilient business that people actually want to work for. I think you're going to love this conversation as much as I did.
You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...
- (0:10) Grow your top and bottom-line with CLA
- (1:20) Barry's podcast obsession and love for the machining community
- (3:20) The origin story: From Navy machinist to garage startup
- (7:00?) Surviving multiple failed business partnerships before the family took over
- (9:34) Barry's journey from psych hospital worker to screw machine operator
- (10:51) Growing to 15 CNC lathes and 37 team members—still hiring
- (14:00) Taking over the business from his father in 2015
- (18:33) Creating a workplace culture of trust, transparency, and ownership
- (21:00) What makes the culture at Barry E Walter Sr Co different
- (24:19) The financial reckoning: Working with EBITDA Growth Systems to level up operations
- (29:28) Building a national B2B customer base and using tech like HubSpot + MapMyCustomer
- (34:17) Stay tuned for Top Shops 2025 registration
- (35:28) Competitive edge: responsiveness, service, and American-made value
- (39:10) Impact of cultural change on employee retention and buy-in
- (41:09) Their 3-4 step hiring process, including "spousal interviews" and cultural fit
- (45:51) Final core value: Work should be fulfilling
- (48:09) In-house machinist training: from programming to tool grinding
- (55:22) Acquiring businesses to build their portfolio
- (1:00:18) The power of storytelling, shared values, and servant leadership
- (1:04:16) Recruit the right leaders for your shop with Hire MFG Leaders
Resources & People Mentioned
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