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 Designs (SMD), is one of those people.
Ty didn't grow up in manufacturing—he was a finance professional who took a random tour of a machine shop six years ago and walked out forever changed. What started as curiosity became a calling. Today, Ty helps lead two growing businesses north of Albuquerque, New Mexico—one serving precision aerospace customers and the other crafting custom lighting for major franchises like Planet Fitness and Dairy Queen.
In our conversation, Ty shares how he built his career from the ground up, starting in shipping and ordering tools to eventually running operations and financials for both companies. We talk about leadership, retention, culture, and the power of humility and self-awareness in business. Ty's perspective on intentional leadership, work-life balance, and developing people is something every manufacturing leader can learn from.
This isn't just a story about machining—it's about purpose, people, and personal transformation. Ty's passion and discipline prove that excellence isn't something you inherit. It's something you choose, build, and refine every day.
You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...
- (0:00) Why Ty Haguewood represents passion and excellence in machining
- (3:02) You'll get honesty and transparency when you work with Phoenix Heat Treating
- (4:09) Learn more about Manufacturing Technologies Inc. and Stone Mather Designs
- (9:16) Ty's unique background and what led him to MTI and SMD
- (16:25) Retaining talent: Creating a culture of humanity and intentional leadership
- (19:35) Implementing quarterly reviews and bonuses tied to performance metrics
- (20:53) The impact of shifting to four 10-hour workdays on morale and productivity
- (22:15) Guarding culture through selective hiring and investing in loyal employees
- (23:50) Balancing formal systems with organic leadership
- (25:00) Lessons learned from overcomplicating processes and simplifying systems
- (27:46) The "data or people" revelation that changed MTI's approach
- (29:47) Ty's hiring philosophy: Culture over credentials
- (34:10) Scaling leadership by developing leaders beneath you
- (35:31) Ty's favorite success story—a McDonald's employee turned machinist
- (38:04) Workholding Wisdom with SMW Autoblok: Setup Reduction
- (48:10) Paul's KFC story and discussion on unconventional manufacturing talent
- (50:50) Training at MTI: shadowing, job progression, and learning by doing
- (55:33) Standardization, tooling, and why transparency boosts performance
- (59:13) Balancing data and humanity in leadership
- (1:01:38) Ty's challenge to leaders: Take the time to become someone worth following
- (1:07:04) Facing failure, learning from hardship, and rebuilding with integrity
- (1:09:12) Company-level challenges: losing half the staff and rebuilding stronger
- (1:10:53) Growth, transparency, and leadership capacity limits
- (1:11:52) Why authentic leadership is manufacturing's future
- (1:17:05) Why you should use Hire MFG Leaders for your next hire
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Audio Production and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK
