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my TRUE POSITION

Jim Carr

Manufacturing Professionals will receive immediate and actionable insight into high-level issues of running a small to mid-sized manufacturing company. All communicated in an easy-to-digest 20 minutes by your expert podcaster and second-generation business owner, Jim Carr.

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  • 27 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 26 min
  • English

Episodes 27

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Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • #157
    May 8 · 33 min

    Space Junk, Collisions, and Control: Who's Managing the Chaos in Orbit?

    Space isn't just about launching satellites anymore—it's about maintaining them, inspecting them, and eventually removing them. In this episode, Jim Carr sits down with Jeff Schloemer from Astroscale to break down the emerging world of in-orbit servicing and space logistics. From satellite inspection and life extension to debris removal and collision prevention, this conversation explores how space is becoming a fully operational environment—and why that matters for the future of infrastructure, defense, and global communication. If you think manufacturing is complex on Earth… wait until you hear what it takes in orbit.

  • #156
    May 1 · 32 min

    Rework Is Killing Your Margin: Here's How Top Shops Are Fixing It

    Most shops aren't losing money on bad machining—they're losing it on bad execution. In this episode, Jim Carr sits down with Patrick Diggins from Aligned Vision to break down one of the biggest hidden problems in manufacturing: the gap between what engineering designs and what actually gets built on the shop floor. We're talking laser-guided assembly, AI-driven inspection, and real-time digital work instructions that eliminate guesswork, reduce rework, and lock in precision from start to finish. If you're still relying on prints, tribal knowledge, and hoping your team gets it right the first time… this conversation is going to challenge that mindset. This is about building it right the first time—and protecting your margin while you do it.

  • #155
    April 24 · 29 min

    Who Packed Your Parachute? When the Supply Chain Breaks—But the Mission Doesn't

    What happens when a critical aerospace part disappears—but the mission doesn't? In this episode, Jim sits down with Sam Thevanayagam, CEO of Parts Life and DeVal Lifecycle Support, to unpack the hidden world of DMSMS, reverse engineering, and supply chain failure in aerospace and defense. We're talking about: Rebuilding parts with no data Solving obsolescence when OEMs walk away Keeping mission-critical systems alive under pressure And turning around a failing inner-city manufacturing company into a 400% growth story This isn't a theory. This is real-world problem solving where failure isn't an option. If you think supply chain issues don't affect you—think again. Because when the part's gone… somebody still has to make it work.

  • April 17 · 22 min

    Three Generations, One Exit: What It Really Takes to Sell a Machine Shop (Part Two)

    In this continuation of Three Generations, One Exit, we move past the idea of selling and into the reality of doing it. The conversations get tougher, the stakes get higher, and the margin for error gets smaller. We unpack what really happens during the deal process—negotiations, diligence, second-guessing, and the pressure that builds when legacy, money, and identity all collide. This is the phase where you find out if your business is truly ready… and if you are. If you're a shop owner thinking about an exit someday, this is the part you need to understand. Because getting interest is one thing—getting a deal done the right way is something else entirely.

  • #153
    April 10 · 29 min

    Three Generations, One Exit: What It Really Takes to Sell a Machine Shop (Part 1)

    This episode hits home. I sat down with a close friend—a third-generation machine shop owner—who took his family business all the way through a private equity exit. From the outside, it looks like a win… but behind the scenes, it was anything but simple. We get into the real story: the pressure, the complexity, the emotional weight of legacy, and what it actually takes to navigate a deal like this the right way. If you've ever thought about selling your shop—or even wondered what that path looks like—this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

  • #152
    March 27 · 35 min

    Choosing the Wrong Automation Partner: A Shop Floor Story (Part 2)

    Automation didn't fail us—the wrong partner did. In Part 2 of this two-part series, Jim Carr and Ryan Carr finish the story behind a CNC automation retrofit that went off the rails—and get into what really matters: the lessons. This is where they break down what it actually cost, what they would do differently, and how to properly vet an automation company before you hand over your time, money, and trust. From missed expectations to hard conversations, this episode is about accountability, due diligence, and protecting your shop from making the same mistake. If you're serious about automation, this is the part you can't afford to skip—because the difference between success and failure isn't the technology… It's who you choose to work with.

  • #151
    March 20 · 20 min

    Choosing the Wrong Automation Partner: A Shop Floor Story (Part 1)

    Automation is supposed to make your shop faster, leaner, and more profitable. But what happens when the company you trust to retrofit your CNC turns out to be the wrong partner? In this episode, Jim Carr sits down with Ryan Carr for the first of many co-hosted conversations on My TRUE POSITION. They unpack the real story behind a CNC automation retrofit that didn't go the way it was supposed to. What started as a smart investment quickly exposed a hard truth: choosing the wrong automation partner can cost time, money, and a lot of frustration on the shop floor. In Part 1, Jim and Ryan walk through how the decision was made, what promises were on the table, and the early warning signs they wish they had paid more attention to. If you're thinking about automating your shop—or partnering with anyone to do it—this is a conversation worth hearing before you sign the check.

Showing 21–27 of 27 episodes