Episodios

  • Smart Specs, Dumb Risk: Ray-Ban Meta vs. ITAR Reality
    Jul 11 2025

    What happens when AI-powered Ray-Ban glasses stroll onto your ITAR-regulated shop floor?

    In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, I unpack how one slick-looking gadget could blow a hole in your compliance, expose your customer’s IP, and turn your machine shop into a liability overnight.

    From real-world risks to hardline strategies, I’m calling this tech what it is: a threat to every shop that makes serious parts.

    Smart specs. Dumb risk. Listen up.

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    19 m
  • The Great Divide: Why Machinists Don’t Belong in Quality
    18 m
  • Low-Mix, High-Volume: Our Big Shift — and What It’s Teaching Me
    Jun 27 2025

    Too many part numbers. Too many changeovers. Too much chaos. For years, we ran a low-volume, high-mix job shop — and it was eating us alive. Until we flipped the model.

    In this episode, I break down our full-on shift to high-volume, low-mix production: what pushed us over the edge, how we pulled it off, and what every shop owner needs to hear if you’re tired of running in circles. I’m talking about the pain of quoting chaos, the burnout from nonstop setups, and what we gained when we finally focused on the right kind of work.

    If your machines are quiet because you’re buried in prep, not production — this one’s for you.

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    24 m
  • Get Out and Kiss Babies: Why Your Customers Need to See Your Face
    Jun 20 2025

    You’re the face of the shop — act like it. In this episode, Jim Carr unpacks why getting out of the office, shaking hands, and “kissing babies” isn’t politics… it’s leadership. Whether it’s a customer visit, trade show, or just showing up when it counts, your presence is your most powerful tool.

    Inside This Episode:

    What “kissing babies” really means in manufacturing

    How trust builds faster in person — and why that boosts your bottom line

    • Real examples from the field where face-time made the difference

    • How to make customer visits a strategic weapon, not a time suck

    • If you’re hiding behind email or think your sales team’s got it covered — this one’s for you.

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    20 m
  • Leads, Lies, and Lanyards: The Real Cost of Exhibiting
    Jun 13 2025

    Dropped $10K on a booth and walked away with a pocketful of business cards and no leads? You’re not alone. In this gritty solo episode, I pull back the curtain on the real ROI of trade shows—what works, what doesn’t, and how to stop wasting money on flashy displays with zero follow-up.

    Whether you're a shop owner, ops manager, or just trying to make sense of your marketing spend, I’m giving you hard numbers, straight talk, and actionable tips to turn your next trade show into a revenue engine.

    Metrics, mistakes, and money—this one’s got it all.

    Trade shows aren’t about who stops by your booth—it’s what you do after they leave.

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    30 m
  • Receivables Redefined: Be Firm. Be Fair. Get Paid.
    Jun 6 2025

    Are you tired of chasing down payments like it’s part of your job description? In this episode, Jim Carr strips down the BS and breaks down how to manage your receivables like a pro—without blowing up good customer relationships. From setting clear payment terms and dealing with Accounts Payable, to knowing exactly when to apply pressure or put someone on credit hold, Jim shares real-world tactics from the shop floor.

    This ain’t a finance lecture—it’s a no-fluff guide to getting what you earned. If you're running a shop, this episode could save your cash flow—and your sanity.

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    26 m
  • Blueprints & Blood Pressure: Why GD&T Still Gets Misread
    May 30 2025

    Why does GD&T still trip people up? In this episode, I break down the real reasons prints get misread — and how it leads to confusion, wasted time, and bad parts. If you’ve ever scratched your head over a feature control frame, this one's for you.

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    25 m
  • Talk Dirty to Me: The Language of the Trade
    May 23 2025

    From bird’s nests to cowboy cuts, we’re breakin’ down the raw, unfiltered slang of the shop floor. It’s gritty, it’s funny, and yeah—we swear a little. This ain’t your HR-approved glossary. Let’s talk dirty.

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    19 m