Die Craft Machining & Engineering

Last month I had the opportunity to sit down with Paul Van Metre on the Manufacturing Transformed podcast to share the Die Craft story.

We talked about what it really looks like to modernize a high-mix, low-volume shop… while protecting tribal knowledge, navigating retirements, and pushing for growth at the same time. No highlight reel — just the journey.

I’m proud of how far our team has come. What started as an ERP implementation became a full operational transformation — improving capacity, visibility, accountability, and confidence in our numbers.

It was an honor to share our experience with Paul and with fellow manufacturers who are in the trenches every day just like we are.

If you’re in this industry and thinking about what the next phase of your shop looks like, this conversation is for you.

Modernizing a High-Mix Machine Shop Lessons From DieCraft's Transformation Podcast Episode · Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories · 02/17/2026 · 1h 3m

🚨 First Look! New to Us Machine. More Muscle. Same Die Craft Reliability. 🚨

We’re installing a horizontal machining center with multi-pallet automation - a major investment that expands our capacity, flexibility, and ability to deliver when it matters most.

What this means for our customers:
✅ Faster lead times with reduced spindle downtime
✅ More capacity to support growing demand
✅ Improved efficiency across multiple SKUs and repeat work
✅ Stronger schedule reliability, even during peak periods

This system allows us to machine parts while the next job is staged—keeping spindles turning and projects moving. It’s another step in our long-term commitment to building a shop that’s ready for what’s next.

If you have upcoming programs, changing volumes, or parts that have historically been constrained by capacity or lead time, let’s take another look—with this new capability in play.

📈 More uptime. More throughput. More options.

Die Craft will be closed Monday January 26th. We will resume regular operations on Tuesday January 27th.

🎄✨ Annual Christmas Party = success! ✨🎄
We wrapped up the week the right way today at Dave & Buster’s—good food, laughs, games, and even better company. It’s always a reminder that what makes this place special isn’t the machines or the numbers… it’s the people.

Grateful for this crew, the families who support them, and another strong year behind us. Now it’s officially the holiday season—let the fun (and beating Skip at the racing games) continue! 🎮🍻
Merry Christmas from all of us! 🎅🎁