Mike Payne has spent the last 20+ years deeply entrenched in the M&A process with dozens of companies throughout Oklahoma. Early in his career, he realized he loved the world of manufacturing. He also learned that he enjoyed operating a business. He was just waiting for the right opportunity to unfold.

Then it happened: Six years ago, Mike was able to purchase Hill Manufacturing. In this episode of MakingSparks, we chat with Mike about his work in the M&A space, why he made acquisitions close to home, and what led to his passion for manufacturing.

– Matthew Nix

• [1:10] Chit-chatting with Mike Payne
• [5:26] Spark of Knowledge: Strategic Planning
• [6:39] Casey’s dad joke
• [7:29] Mike’s background in manufacturing
• [9:32] Mike’s work in the M&A space
• [12:30] Why start with acquisitions close to home?
  [17:54] Get NetSuite by Oracle
• [19:11] Why Mike decided to run a business
• [26:02] Why build relationships within the industry?

• Warren Buffett's 2024 Annual Letter To Shareholders
• Get NetSuite by Oracle
• The Six Types of Working Genius

• www.MakingChips.com
• On Facebook
• On LinkedIn
• On Instagram
• On Twitter
• On YouTube

Are you the type of manufacturing leader who prefers to do everything yourself? You learn and innovate as you go, right? We’ve learned from experience: There is an art and a science to recruiting. I’ve muddled through using LinkedIn Recruiter to make some hires. And while it’s a great tool, it can only do so much.

So in this episode of MakingChips, Trevor O’Malley joins us to discuss all aspects of recruiting, from finding the right technical fit to the right person for your culture. Because if you can’t recruit the right people, you won’t be MakingChips, and you won’t make money. BAM!

• [0:13] Join the AMT Community
• [3:36] Machine Shop Master Class
• [10:41] Introducing Trevor O’Malley
• [13:54] Trevor’s favorite memory of AME
• [15:22] Understand the world of recruiting
• [20:30] Everyone needs to be on LinkedIn
• [22:35] Connecting the right people to the right culture
• [34:27] Recruiting people who are already employed

• Join the AMT Community!
• ProShop ERP
• CiderScene
• Connect with Trevor O’Malley on LinkedIn

• www.MakingChips.com
• On Facebook
• On LinkedIn
• On Instagram
• On Twitter
• On YouTube

My shop has been restoring a 1959 Ford F10. When we decided to recreate a digital dash for the truck, we decided to ask the LinkedIn world for help. That’s when I met Ira Laughy with rapid3D.

Rapid3D exists to solve complex measurement challenges to empower confident decision-making. We scanned the space and current dash and Ira and his team helped us reverse-engineer the process to design a CAD model to ultimately create the part we need.

Ira shares how you can use a 3D scanner to reverse engineer a part in this fascinating forward-thinking episode of MakingChips. Because if you can’t make the part you need, you won’t be MakingChips, and you won’t be making money. BAM!

— Mike Payne

• [2:28] Manufacturing Leadership Spotlight: Robin Moore
• [5:37] Introducing Ira Laughy with Rapid3D
• [9:44] What inspired Ira to launch Rapid3D
• [12:18] The cost associated with a 3D scanner
• [16:51] From scan to CAD to part
• [20:50] Make the move to Netsuite by Oracle
• [22:10] Ira’s experience bringing designs to life
• [24:22] Working through a real-life scenario
• [28:41] The future of 3D scanning technology

• Rapid3D.ca
• Email Ira at Ira@Rapid3D.ca
• Connect with Ira on LinkedIn
• Creaform 3D scanners
• Geomagic Design X
• Autodesk Inventor
• SOLIDWORKS
• Netsuite by Oracle

• www.MakingChips.com
• On Facebook
• On LinkedIn
• On Instagram
• On Twitter
• On YouTube