Machine Shops, Reshoring, and Addressing the “Management Gap” with Paperless Parts’ Jason T. Ray

Is there really a manufacturing skills gap? Why is manufacturing moving back to the U.S.? And how can machine shop owners switch to an investment mindset? These are all great questions that we answer in this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour. 

Jason T. Ray is the Co-Founder and CEO of Paperless Parts and a former Manufacturing Happy Hour guest. He jumps back on the show for a discussion on machine shops, reshoring, the importance of profit and investment, the skills gap, and everything in between. We hear his take on how COVID affected supply chains and led to more shop owners buying from American companies, and the different ways business owners have changed their mindset in the past few years. 

Jason also explains that if we want to solve the skills gap in manufacturing, we need to “look in the mirror” and figure out where we’re going wrong from a management perspective. There’s plenty of food for thought in this episode, so check it out to hear more of Jason’s words of wisdom. 

In this episode, find out: 

• The state of manufacturing in the U.S. 
• Why shop owners are increasingly considering “ownership cost” 
• What’s bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. 
• How the manufacturing tech stack is evolving 
• How different generations solve problems 
• How new tech affects profit and investment 
• Why we need to shift from an expense mindset to an investment mindset 
• Why the skills gap is more of a “management gap” 
• The importance of active over passive management 
• Why agility and speed in business are down to good systems and processes 
• Why manufacturing is essential to innovation 

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Tweetable Quotes: 

• “Now there's this concept called total ownership cost. And that includes shipping and storage and everything else associated with buying those parts.” 
• “Manufacturers aren't just showing up to look at the machines and buy equipment. They're actively coming out and looking for software solutions to solve problems in their business.” 
• “When shops, rather than having an expense mindset, go in with an investment mindset – where they look at dollars out as investments, you start to see a shift in the type of team members they're attracting.” 

Links & mentions: 

• Paperless Parts, helping machine shops quote faster and win more jobs 
• In The Shop, a publication from Paperless Parts, including this post “CMMC: Coming Soon to a Contract Near You” 
• “Pentagon updates timeline for CMMC cybersecurity initiative,” important news for job shop owners going into effect in May 2023 
• Tip Tap Room, an upscale pub that serves beer, wild game, and inventive brunch dishes in an open, modern space in Boston, MA 
• Alcove, located in the Boston Harbor on Lovejoy Wharf, serving regionally sourced, Mediterranean-inspired fare in stylishly decorated surroundings  

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.