How does a machinist from Canada end up leading a California tech startup? In Episode #432 of MakingChips, Al Whatmough shares his unique journey—from the shop floor to becoming the CEO of Toolpath, a company dedicated to improving machining through smart software solutions.
Al’s path is shaped by personal challenges, faith, and a passion for building—whether it’s with tools, people, or technology. Now at Toolpath, he’s focused on empowering machinists by eliminating repetitive programming tasks, so they can focus on more meaningful work.
Tune in to hear how Toolpath’s innovative approach is changing the future of manufacturing—and how Al found his way to the helm of this exciting venture.m
IMTS is where manufacturing's cutting-edge technology takes center stage, and this year was no exception. IMTS 2024 brought the future to the forefront, showcasing the most advanced solutions in the industry.
In this episode of MakingChips, Nush Ahmed and Chris Luecke join Paul, Nick, and Mike to dive into the game-changing technologies that caught their attention—from additive manufacturing and 3D printing to machine monitoring, automation, robotics, and beyond.
If you’re a manufacturing leader who’s serious about staying at the forefront of technology, you need to know what’s shaping the industry. Ttune in to catch up on the innovations that are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in manufacturing.
Why would an American company want to consider expanding operations to Mexico? With more experienced engineers retiring and a decreasing number of new blood entering the manufacturing workforce, Mexico has become a viable option for operations. But is the process worth the potential hassle?
Today’s guest is the Senior Director of Latin America for AMT and he's been an invaluable part of helping AME and Hennig rework their growth strategy and commercial structure in Mexico: Carlos Mortera.
He shares why American manufacturers should consider leveraging the Mexican market in this episode of MakingChips.
In the wake of 9/11, the aerospace and defense industry experienced a dramatic transformation, with new regulations like the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 reshaping how manufacturers handled sensitive data.
For many small shops, it was a turning point—forcing them to adapt while navigating a surge in defense demand. Companies either thrived or struggled under tighter compliance and rising production needs.
Today, the industry faces new hurdles: a looming skills gap, escalating production requirements, and the ever-present threat of data breaches. To remain competitive, manufacturers must embrace automation, invest in robust systems, and prioritize building strong customer relationships. Those prepared to align with these demands will be positioned to succeed in this evolving landscape.
Panelists Matt Torres, Mitch Free, and Heidi Schaefer join Mike Payne and Paul Van Metre in this special episode recorded live at IMTS to address what can be done to meet the challenges the manufacturing industry is facing head-on.
Theo Saville was frustrated by the lack of real-world applications for 3D printing. Then it struck him: Why not make CNC machining as simple as 3D printing? What if we could make machines smarter by installing more sensors? What if we gave the software more inputs to work with?
Theo immediately set out to disrupt a 600-billion-dollar industry and, together with Chris Emery, founded CloudNC. When Jeff Maki and Austin Whitmer came across CloudNC and their CAM Assist software, they knew they had to implement it immediately.
In this episode of MakingChips, they share the real-world impact of CAM Assist on a machine shop’s efficiency, quoting, and ability to win new business.Because if you can’t quote quickly enough, you won’t win business. And if you’re not winning new business, you’re not MakingChips, and you’re not making money. BAM!
Wouldn’t it be amazing to come up with a design for anything and turn it into a physical reality as easily as you can create something in Photoshop? What would people build if it were that easy? And what if you had machine monitoring in place for every piece of machinery, regardless of its age?
In this special episode of MakingChips recorded live at IMTS, Mike and Nick sit down with Theo Saville, CEO of CloudNC, and Camoren Schley, the Founder of Slytek. They dive into practical ways every shop can leverage AI to improve efficiency and make more chips. Because if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM!
The two biggest complaints in any business are always the quality of the toilet paper and the coffee. Joking aside—coffee is a crucial part of any shop’s function. You need to have good coffee on the shop floor.
Mike Franz and his Co-Founder Amy Teal set out to do two things when they created ShopFloor Coffee. Their first goal was to create an amazing coffee that any shop would proudly serve. Their second mission was to support workforce development programs to bring more people into manufacturing.
Mike shares how they’re working to achieve those goals in this fun episode of MakingChips. Because if your shop floor isn’t caffeinated, they won’t be efficiently MakingChips, and they won’t be making money. BAM!
In the final segment of the first edition of At The Boring Bar, our expert panel of guests return to dive into the future of manufacturing and why manufacturing leaders need to embrace technology. They discuss the application of 3D printing and additive manufacturing and how they can be used to attract the next generation.
Jason Zenger, Nick Goellner, Mike Payne, Paul Van Metre, Peter Eelman, Nicole Wolter, Chris Luecke, and Manny Pasillas also take a look at the challenges the national security and defense industry are facing because of a lack of partnerships.
We believe hosting round-table discussions of these important issues can help move the manufacturing industry toward a solution. Don’t miss this conversation.
How do you grow a machine shop through acquisitions? What is it like working in a legacy family business? How do you find and hire talented engineers? Where does AI fit into the daily grind? These are all questions that this team of industry experts and friends seek to answer over a glass of bourbon At the Boring Bar.
Jason Zenger, Nick Goellner, Mike Payne, Paul Van Metre, Peter Eelman, Nicole Wolter, Chris Luecke, and Manny Pasillas share their unique perspectives on the manufacturing industry—and how it must adapt—in part II. Check it out!
Some of the greatest ideas in manufacturing don’t happen in boardrooms but over a drink with peers. In At the Boring Bar, Jason aims to cut deeper into the conversations that matter most to manufacturing leaders. So pull up a chair, grab a drink, and join Jason as he uncovers the insights that drive the manufacturing industry forward.
In this inaugural episode of At the Boring Bar, join Jason, Nick Goellner, Mike Payne, Paul Van Metre, Peter Eelman, Nicole Wolter, Chris Luecke, and Manny Pasillas At the Boring Bar. They cover everything from the exciting new exhibits at IMTS to one of the biggest problems the manufacturing industry faces: a mass exodus of Baby Boomers.
You’ll laugh, you may cry, and you’ll undoubtedly hear something that will provoke you to think about the future of the industry and your impact on it. Don’t miss it.
“Inspiring the extraordinary” is the theme for this year’s IMTS and that’s exactly what they’re doing. The Emerging Technology Center will showcase extraordinary advances in technology (including an exhibit by BlueForge Alliance and Apptronik's AI-Powered General Purpose Humanoid Robot).
They’re offering specific ELEVATE programs for job shops, women in manufacturing, and the first-ever ELEVATE LATAM: A half-day conference for the Spanish-speaking manufacturing technology community.
For the first time, Microsoft, AWS, and Google Cloud will be at the show in the automation sector. This year’s IMTS is a can’t-miss event. Show Boss Peter Eelman shares all of the amazing details in this episode of MakingChips.
Maintenance is something that’s essential to protect the longevity of your machines but rarely something regularly implemented in shops. It’s often a huge and costly mistake. Don’t know where to start?
In this episode, Manny Pasillas—a machine tool maintenance expert and the Founder and VP of Business Development for Tech CNCs—shares a simple yet exhaustive checklist anyone can use to properly clean and maintain their machines.
Because if you’re not cleaning your machines, they will break down, and you won’t be MakingChips, and you won’t be making money!
– Nick Goellner
AND - to get the full checklist, subscribe to our email newsletter!
What do you need to know before you launch automation in your shop? What would be signs that you’re not ready to automate? If you’re launching the process, how can you use your ERP/MRP to the fullest?
Even the smallest mistakes—like not having a process in place to deal with the chips your machines are creating while running lights out—can be costly. We want to help you avoid those costly errors.
That’s why Paul Van Metre and Mike Payne join me to tackle the important things you need to consider before you run lights out. Because if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM!
Here’s our controversial take: We believe that “automated” is more important than “operated”. It’s a stance that scares a lot of operators—but it shouldn’t. In this episode of MakingChips, Mike Payne and Kaleb Mertz return to dive into part loading and pallet loading, a mixed vs fixed mindset, and why predictive is better than reactive. We’ll connect all of it back to every shop's end goal: business results. Don’t miss it!
Machine monitoring can give us insights into our machines that can and should change how we’re operating. The end goal is to drive better business results. But how should monitoring be paired with advanced business strategies to help you achieve those results? Mike Payne, Kaleb Mertz and I connect the dots in this episode of MakingChips. Because if you’re not efficiently MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM!
– Nick Goellner
What if your life has little distinction between work and play? What if you’re so passionate about what you do that the time you spend on it is inconsequential? We began to explore the idea of work-life integration in part 1 of this series.
In part 2, we dive into the creative ways we integrate our work and personal lives so that we can be fully present whenever possible. Because when we take a break from MakingChips, our business must still be MakingChips to make money!
– Nick Goellner
Work-life balance. It’s a phrase that’s often thrown around. Many of us struggle feeling like we’ll never achieve some sort of balance. Work usually fills a greater space than we think it should. But what if that’s okay?
Everyone’s heard the adage, “Find something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” What if you love your work? What if you don’t mind when work bleeds outside of designated work hours? Is it ever a problem?
That’s the topic that Mike and I dive into in this episode of MakingChips. Especially because you have to be MakingChips to be making money. BAM!
– Nick Goellner
There are over 1 billion users on LinkedIn worldwide, 200 million of which are in the United States. Manufacturing is one of the largest industry segments represented on LinkedIn. Interestingly, LinkedIn is rewarding people who create content and share it on their platform. Why? It’s simple—they need more content.
It’s time for manufacturing and fabrication businesses to take advantage of these facts. But how? In this episode of MakingSparks, Preston Hadley—the President & Founder of Envision Automation & Controls—shares how his content strategy on LinkedIn not only grew his following but transformed his business.
– Matthew Nix
What’s keeping you up at night? What are you excited about? It’s important to reflect on the good, the bad, and the ugly. Why? First and foremost, to learn from our mistakes. But secondly, to embrace gratitude. Even despite challenges and setbacks, there’s always room for gratefulness and thankfulness.
So in this episode of MakingSparks, Casey and I sit down to discuss the challenges we’re facing and exciting changes happening in our businesses. We also share why we don’t let worry consume us and instead, practice gratitude.
– Matthew Nix
Have questions? Want to be a guest? Reach out to us on LinkedIn! We’d love to hear from you.
Gamification. Gamification is a highly successful strategy in the world of marketing. It’s used all the time to enhance engagement in children’s education. How can we apply gamification concepts to manufacturing education?
Mike Payne, Paul Van Metre, Gabe Kooyers, and Chris Townsend joined me in this discussion and nailed down some incredible ways to leverage gamification. Because if you’re not motivating your students (or employees), then you’re not MakingChips. If you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM!
– Nick Goellner
How do we train the next generation of manufacturing leaders so employers are ready to hire them immediately? Do students still need to learn manual machinery? Or do employers only want skilled CNC machinists?
These are just a few questions we dissect in this conversation with special guest and long-term educator Gabe Kooyers. Because if we’re not properly training machinists to make chips, they’re not getting hired, and no one’s making money. BAM!
– Nick Goellner
Did you know that only about 6% of welders are women? Women bring a much-needed perspective and expertise to the table. So how do we get more women in welding? NIX has actively been trying to recruit, hire, and retain more women.
In this episode of MakingSparks, we sit down with Tori Guzman and Aubree Beyer to hear what they think we can do—or continue doing—to draw more female interest to the welding industry. Listen to learn what you can do to change the welding workforce.
– Casey Voelker
Where is the United States with reshoring initiatives? Do we still have huge vulnerabilities in our supply chain(s) that need to be addressed? If we continue to reshore manufacturing, will companies remain competitive?
Reshoring impacts supply chains. Reshoring brings more jobs and opportunities to the US. These are all valid questions that are playing in people’s minds.
So in this special episode of MakingChips, Rosemary Coates—the Founder and Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute—will answer some of these burning questions. Because, ultimately, if we’re not manufacturing chips in the US, the US isn’t making money.
– Nick
Can small shops begin to automate their processes? Where do they start with automation? In this episode of MakingChips, the CNC Samurai, Steve Courchane, returns to share his passion for automation. He lays out his 3M process and how it changes the way you view automation. Because if you’re not modeling, making, or measuring—you’re not MakingChips. And if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM!
– Jason Zenger
Whether you’re a small business or a growing enterprise, you need to seek out new customers and build relationships with them while pushing them through your sales pipeline. The reality is that you have to make more sales to grow your business.
You need a way to track and measure your progress with potential customers (and current key accounts). In this episode of MakingChips, Jason returns to help us get back to the basics of business. Because if you’re not managing the sales pipeline, you’re not MakingChips, and if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM!