From Apprentice to Fives CEO: Harold Schoch on 2008 Survival, the Cincinnati Legacy, and Why People Matter More Than Profit

In 2008, the wheels came off the global economy. Every shop was hurting. Yet, Harold Schoch’s machine tool rebuild business didn’t just survive; they had their best years.How? By refusing to treat customers like transactions.In this episode of Rapid Fire Manufacturing, Dave Turner sits down with Harold Schoch (Board of Directors for Fives North America, former CEO of Cincinnati) at the Schoch Museum to talk about what it really means to anchor a manufacturing business around people instead of just profit.Harold breaks down:The 2008 Survival Blueprint: Why struggling alongside your customers builds a bond that currency can't buy.The 3 Questions Every Leader Must Answer: Can I trust you? Are you committed to excellence? Do you care about me personally?Wartime Grit: The jaw-dropping history of Cincinnati Milling Machine producing a tool every 17 minutes during World War II.The Fives Academy: The critical need for workforce development and why the skilled trades gap will be solved by investing in people, not relying on AI.Manufacturing isn't powered by iron, automation, or algorithms. Every shop is powered by relationships. Tune in for a masterclass in industrial history, first-principles leadership, and real talk from a guy who went from an apprentice hand-scraping ways to a CEO leading global teams.