Makingchips | Equipping Manufacturing Leaders

When you're launching or scaling a machine shop, it’s easy to think of software as a cost—something you "have to have" just to get by. But what if your tech stack could become your sharpest competitive edge?  In this episode of the Machine Shop MBA series, we are joined by returning guest and digital strategy expert Bryce Barnes to unpack why your software decisions might matter more than your next CNC machine purchase. They explore how an intentional, integrated digital backbone isn’t just for managing data—it’s about accelerating sales, boosting throughput, and future-proofing your shop. We share our own journeys with building digital infrastructure from scratch, transitioning off spreadsheets, and how we now see our systems as a key part of our brand. The reality is, when your systems are dialed in, they don’t just save time—they win work. We’ve seen it ourselves: customers are more confident, audits are smoother, and top talent is easier to attract when you run a modern, connected operation. We break down