What happens when a machine shop does everything right operationally but still feels exposed when markets shift, customers pull back, or one industry cools overnight? In this episode of MakingChips, the conversation turns squarely toward one of the most uncomfortable and misunderstood areas of manufacturing leadership: proactive sales and diversification.

We're joined by Gabe Draper, founder of Factur, and Alan Hartmann, CEO of Hartmann's Inc., a multi-generation Texas manufacturer. Gabe shares a raw and honest origin story that starts with growing up in a manufacturing family, fighting to save a struggling shop, riding the oil and gas rollercoaster, and ultimately losing nearly everything when the downturn hit. That experience became the catalyst for building Factur, a company designed to help shops avoid reactive, last-minute sales cycles by intentionally filling their pipeline.

Alan brings the perspective of a well-run, highly capable shop that realized success alone wasn't protection. With major customers concentrated in just a few industries, Hartmann's needed diversification, not because business was slow, but because resilience matters. Through their partnership with Factur, Alan explains how proactive sales, clearer positioning, and market intelligence led to rapid customer growth, industry expansion, and the confidence to invest in new capabilities.

We unpack the difference between scarcity and abundance mindsets, why most shops accidentally commoditize themselves, and how sales, operations, and finance must work together as equal legs of the stool. From aerospace and medical to space flight and Swiss machining, this episode offers a candid look at how manufacturers can stop waiting for the phone to ring and start taking control of their future.

• (0:00) Holiday banter and introducing guests Gabe Draper and Alan Hartmann
• (4:32) Grow your top and bottom-line with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA)
• (5:09) Gabe Draper's origin story and what led to founding Factur
• (10:53) The danger of customer and industry concentration
• (13:55) Alan Hartmann's multi-generation shop story and long-term customer relationships
• (18:22) Reactive vs proactive sales and why diversification matters
• (22:31) Breaking down Factur's full sales funnel
• (26:03) Why technical "hunters" outperform generalist sales roles
• (28:16) "What's Your Method": Aerospace Success with Zach from Methods
• (34:50) Check out the SMW Autoblok catalog for your workholding
• (36:04) Choosing the right sales and marketing services with Factur
• (40:02) Scarcity vs abundance mindset in shop growth
• (42:58) Using sales insights to justify equipment investments
• (46:05) How one new customer quickly became a top account
• (48:37) Managing risk across aerospace, medical, and space markets
• (51:11) Filling your capacity with the right work first
• (55:30) Sales specialization as shops scale
• (56:22) How manufacturers can engage Factur for market intelligence
• (1:00:13) Talent challenges and Hire MFG Leaders

• Grow your top and bottom-line with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA)
• Methods Machine Tools
• Check out the SMW Autoblok catalog for your workholding
• Get your free market intel report at https://facturmfg.com/chips/
• Hire your next leader using our recruiting service—Hire MFG Leaders

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