Every machine shop has a story—and Chad Schmidt has made it his mission to tell them. As a sales engineer + content creator, Chad blends his technical background with a passion for storytelling. He creates authentic shop tour videos that shine a spotlight on the people, culture, and values driving the manufacturing industry. His YouTube channel has quickly gained traction, giving machinists and shop owners a platform to showcase their work in an honest and unpolished—but deeply engaging—format.
In this episode of MakingChips, Chad shares his journey from tool rep to filmmaker and how a pandemic-era discovery of shop tour videos sparked his creative pursuit. He opens up about the challenges of convincing shop owners to go on camera, the humility he sees in the most successful leaders, and the business trends shaping machine shops across the country.
The conversation dives into everything from diversification and leadership mindsets to adopting new technology and empowering the next generation of machinists. Whether you’re a seasoned shop owner or just starting out, Chad’s perspective reveals why authenticity, culture, and a willingness to evolve are essential ingredients for long-term success in manufacturing.
By capturing raw, human-centered stories, Chad isn’t just documenting the industry—he’s helping elevate it. Tune in to hear his take on where shops are thriving, where they’re struggling, and what lessons every leader can take away from the tour videos that are inspiring thousands online.
Segments
- (0:20) Grow your top and bottom line with CliftonLarsonAllen
- (2:06) How Chad got started in machining sales and what led him to shop tour videos
- (4:23) Inspiration from John Saunders’ NYC CNC channel during the pandemic
- (6:17) Balancing a sales career with filming shop tours and support from his company
- (7:12) Campro’s machine offerings and focus on job shops
- (8:19) Shop owners’ mixed reactions to being filmed and overcoming hesitations
- (11:06) Challenges of being on camera and blooper stories from filming
- (12:44) Insights from visiting shops: leadership humility, culture, and mindset trends
- (14:39) Tariffs, diversification, and the impact of customer concentration
- (17:43) Correlation between humility, ambition, and business growth
- (20:18) Balancing business ambition with family and personal life
- (20:58) Get transparency in the heat-treating process with Phoenix Heat Treating
- (22:07) Lifestyle businesses vs. growth-oriented shops and the risks of coasting
- (24:31) Stories from younger shop owners and COVID-era startups
- (26:05) Funding and customer acquisition strategies for new shops
- (27:27) How to leverage Xometry as a launchpad (time will change from this on after edit)
- (28:42) Observations on technology adoption: probing, CAM, ERP, and monitoring tools
- (33:25) Empowering younger team members and building fulfilling shop cultures
- (38:49) Shop cleanliness, lighting, and layout as indicators of culture and success
- (40:51) Biggest takeaways: zero-point workholding and inspiring shop stories
- (41:54) COVID-era entrepreneurs starting shops from scratch
- (44:58) Hire your next manufacturing leader with Hire MFG Leaders
Resources mentioned on this episode
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