Caz, founder of CazTek Engineering and CazTek Precision, and Landon, director of Strategic Growth, share their no-nonsense approach to rapid business growth in precision manufacturing. Hear what happens when ambition collides with execution: from doubling company size to onboarding second shifts, investing in automation, and developing leadership.

The conversation covers scaling teams, striking the balance between moving fast and getting it right, hiring the right talent, iterating on core values, integrating new technology, and finding the sweet spot between innovation and discipline. If you're building, scaling, or rethinking your business operations in manufacturing or engineering, this conversation reveals real-world approaches and honest reflection you won’t want to miss.

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Connect with Jess on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaurbans/

Connect with Christina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinacasanova/

Connect with Landon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/landon-wiser-55455386/

Connect with Caz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casimir-sienkiewicz-375a20/

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About Midwest CAM Solutions:Midwest CAM Solutions is the world’s largest GibbsCAM reseller, helping manufacturers boost productivity with expert CAM software solutions, training, and support.

Learn more at: www.midwestcamsolutions.com

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00:00 CNC Underground After Hours begins00:06 Show introduction and guest overview01:07 What Caz and Landon focus on right now02:48 Making the business scalable and building a team03:55 When to chase perfection vs making progress06:38 Lessons learned: allowing new hires to make mistakes10:05 How CazTek operates day-to-day11:14 Service offerings: engineering, prototyping, manufacturing12:58 Bringing more manufacturing in-house14:15 Division of responsibilities in operations and growth15:39 Industry trends: reshoring, manufacturing growth, tariffs15:59 Pursuing AS9100 certification and entering government work17:45 What happens when things go wrong internally?18:30 Saying yes too quickly vs waiting for readiness20:13 Out-of-the-box thinking at CazTek21:15 Fostering creative and cross-disciplinary solutions23:28 Ruby bearings and innovation stories from medtech25:58 CazTek’s role as a catalyst with OEMs and product development27:13 The drivers and practical steps for 100% growth30:24 Strategy shift: building leadership and middle management33:22 What broke first during scaling—and how hiring changed35:59 Attitude vs skill in hiring practices36:31 Aligning hiring/firing/accountability with core values37:00 Creating and preserving company culture38:27 What breaks operationally as growth demands new shifts41:05 Automating, AI, and the future of lights-out manufacturing46:47 Mistakes you only want to make once49:13 Machines, people, or process: what matters most in scaling a business?51:25 Planning for growth: foundation over speed53:19 Fielding diverse perspectives and learning from disagreements54:29 Hot Takes: automation, quoting, hiring, machines vs systems58:57 Fixing problems if starting from scratch in a shop62:13 The real goal: a great workplace and making an impact63:11 Strategy, vision, and the next debate