Makingchips | Equipping Manufacturing Leaders

Once the PO comes in, it’s easy to fall into the trap of “just get it done.” But if we don’t manage orders with intention and clarity, we’re setting ourselves—and our teams—up for chaos. In this episode of the Machine Shop MBA series, we break down what it really takes to run a smooth, efficient production floor. This isn’t just about buying software or printing a checklist. It’s about building a culture where planning is seen as an act of leadership, not overhead. We share lessons from our own experiences—like rebuilding internal systems from scratch and learning the hard way that quoting means nothing if we can’t deliver on time. We explore how order management touches everything: lead times, stress levels, team morale, and profit margins. We talk about what it means to serve internal customers, how to build standards everyone can actually follow, and why checklists might just be the most underrated tool in your shop. If we want to stop firefighting, reduce turnover, and grow a business that lasts, we need