Ted Wilcome on Why Responsiveness Is the Future of Manufacturing | Radical Job Shop Show

In this episode of The Radical Job Shop Show, Emily Joann Wilkins sits down with Ted Wilcome, Co-Founder of Innov8 Manufacturing, a shop that’s grown from one CNC in a tiny room to more than 16 machines in just five years.Ted is an engineer-turned-entrepreneur who got tired of begging shops for quotes and reasonable lead times — so he built the machining partner he always wished he could find. Today, Innov8 has a 98.5% quote rate, a hands-on apprenticeship program, and a customer experience built entirely around one core value: responsiveness.We dig into:– Why responsiveness is the next competitive advantage in U.S. manufacturing– How Innov8 cut wasted time from quoting and production– What engineers really want from their suppliers– Building a company culture where people can grow at their own pace– The leadership challenges (and rewards) of scaling fastWhether you’re struggling to keep up with RFQs, trying to improve turnaround times, or gearing up to scale your shop — this conversation is packed with insight.Thanks to our friends at Creston Industrial Sales who've backed our mission since day one. We were able to kick things off live at the Advanced Manufacturing Expo in Grand Rapids, Michigan.🚀 Want a brand that attracts better-fit customers?Start with The Setup: https://www.marketingmetal.com/the-setupExplore more of our work with Radical job shops:https://www.marketingmetal.comTimestamps00:00 – Intro: Meet Ted Wilcome of Innov8 Manufacturing00:34 – From engineer to machine shop founder02:00 – The frustration that sparked Innov803:00 – Why responsiveness beats low pricing04:00 – Growing from 1 CNC to 16 machines in 5 years05:00 – Bringing engineering + manufacturing together06:00 – 98.5% quote rate and solution-first thinking07:00 – Innov8’s apprenticeship model08:00 – Building talent pipelines and “talent escalators”09:00 – What really motivates Ted10:00 – Why great candidates keep choosing Innov811:00 – Clean, modern environment and variety of work11:40 – The secret sauce: customer service12:00 – Leadership challenge: letting go and delegating13:00 – Reducing quoting times from days to hours14:00 – Cutting waste out of U.S. manufacturing15:00 – Competing with overseas suppliers through speed15:40 – Closing thoughts & gratitude