Machine Shop Growth
The Machine Shop Growth Podcast gives a fresh perspective to help you grow your shop by focusing on 3 key factors - Sales, Marketing and Efficiency. For decades the machine shop industry was build on a “good-ol-boys” mentality and was full of great machinists and engineers that made great parts. What has been discovered is many of those amazing shops have plateaued or are starting to decline - because they didn’t put enough emphasis on getting more work and making more money with the work they had.
On this podcast you will hear first hand advice from machine owners and mangers how they are getting more work and how they are making more money. Now let’s Grow Your Shop!
Machine Shop Growth
Episode #32: AS9100 Certification—What Machine Shops Need to Know Before Entering Aerospace
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Everyone talks about the opportunities in aerospace.
Very few talk about the costs.
In this episode of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast, Kirk Phelps breaks down what machine shops need to know before pursuing AS9100 certification—and why getting the certificate is actually the easy part.
From inspection equipment and calibrated gauging to ERP systems, cash flow challenges, ITAR requirements, personnel, and expensive aerospace materials, Kirk shares the realities that many shops discover only after they're already committed.
You'll learn:
✅ Why AS9100 is a culture—not a checkbox
✅ The hidden costs most shops underestimate
✅ How to evaluate whether your current equipment is aerospace-ready
✅ Why cash flow can become a major challenge in aerospace manufacturing
✅ How to enter the aerospace market without betting the entire company
If you've ever thought about pursuing aerospace work, this episode could save you from some very expensive mistakes.
And Kirk leaves us with a question:
Are you ready for AS9100—or are you only ready for the certificate?
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