Cutting Through the Noise with Jason Ray

In manufacturing, reputation is everything. A big part of your reputation is shaped by your brand, but too many shops still think of branding as just their logo and website. In reality, a lot more goes into it, and those signals can shape how potential customers perceive your business before they ever even speak with you. The way you quote, communicate, follow up, and position your business all contributes to the impression you leave. In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Jason Ray is joined by Anne Marie Tracey, Director of Marketing Solutions at Paperless Parts, to unpack some of the less obvious things shaping your shop's brand, for better or worse. From an outdated website to vague messaging, slow follow-up, and even the way you present your capabilities online, there are plenty of signals buyers pick up on before they ever contact your team. Jason and Anne Marie also cover: - How #ai is changing search behavior - Why keeping your online presence current matters more than ever - What it means to be more intentional about your brand - How to think about your ideal part profile and why it matters - How old marketing habits may be holding shops back Learn more about Paperless Parts' specialized marketing solutions for job shop manufacturers: www.paperlessparts.com/manufacturing-marketing/

As the #1 fabricator in the U.S. for 15 consecutive years, with more than 80 years in business, 2,300+ employees, and 26 locations nationwide, Mayville Engineering Company (MEC) brings a unique perspective on what it takes to modernize at scale. In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Paperless Parts CEO Jason Ray talks with Daniel Bourquin, MEC's Chief Information Officer, about the work behind building one modern manufacturing enterprise. Jason and Daniel talk about unifying systems across a growing multi-site organization, rethinking lead-to-order as a core value stream, and approaching transformation under MEC's "One MEC, One Mission" approach. They also get into change management, partner selection, and why AI should be treated as a capability built into the business, not just another piece of software to buy. Learn more about MEC: https://www.mecinc.com/ Learn more about Paperless Parts: https://www.paperlessparts.com/

Meta is putting $600 billion dollars into AI infrastructure over the next five years. If you bought $600 billion dollars worth of CNC machines, how many parts would you have to make - and what would you have to charge - to pay them off? In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Jason Ray is joined by Scott Sawyer, Paperless Parts Co-Founder & Chief Scientist, to unpack what all the AI hype actually means for manufacturers. Yes, the technology is moving fast. Yes, it is incredibly powerful. And yes, there is a real argument that AI may be as cheap as it is ever going to be right now. But that does not mean manufacturers should become overly dependent on it, start replacing critical people, or ignore the processes and business fundamentals that actually make technology valuable in the first place. Learn how Paperless Parts is approaching AI: https://www.paperlessparts.com/artificial-intelligence-in-paperless-parts/ And visit our website to learn more: https://www.paperlessparts.com/

In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Jason is joined by Paperless Parts' CISO (Chief Information Security Officer), Colton Ericksen. Jason and Colton cover the 10 most essential CMMC and cybersecurity-related questions all manufacturers should ask any software vendor they're considering working with. Stream the episode now, or view a copy of the list of 10 questions, complete with links to key resources and references, here: https://www.paperlessparts.com/wp-content/uploads/10-CMMC-Related-Questions-to-Ask-Every-Cloud-Based-Software-Vendor-Youre-Considering-Partnering-With.pdf Learn more about Paperless Parts' approach to cybersecurity and CMMC compliance here: https://www.paperlessparts.com/cmmc/

U.S. manufacturing is "coming back," but not in the way most people picture. In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Paperless Parts Co-Founder & CEO Jason Ray sits down with Bill Berrien, owner of Pindel Global Precision and founder of Liberty Precision, to talk about what Bill is seeing on the front lines of precision manufacturing. They cover: - Why profitability is the foundation of supply chain resilience, and how shops can avoid the "death spiral" of low-margin work by getting disciplined about their ideal part profile, quoting, and pricing. - Why the future of manufacturing is highly automated and driven by a smaller, highly trained, higher-paid workforce. - Bill's perspective on the culture side of transformation, including why shops should "hire for attitude, train for skill." - Why lifelong upskilling is non-negotiable as automation and AI accelerate. Learn more about Paperless Parts: https://www.paperlessparts.com/ Learn more about Pindel Globel Precision: https://www.pindel.com/ Subscribe for more conversations with people building the future of manufacturing.

Earlier this year, Paperless Parts surveyed 200 precision manufacturers about key trends shaping the custom part manufacturing industry. We used that data to compile our 2026 Build-to-Print Supplier Readiness Report: https://www.paperlessparts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026-SupplierReadinessReport.pdf If you're an OEM or Tier 1 supplier, this is a direct line into what's really top of mind for your supply base, and includes actionable strategies for strengthening supplier relationships and building competitive advantages over the course of the next two years. In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Jason Ray and Paperless Parts' VP of Business Development, Ken Cowan, share their biggest takeaways from the report, including: - Why supply chain "resiliency" really means elasticity - The fallacy of "generic capacity" and the true cost of switching suppliers - How OEMs can reduce risk without simply paying more per part - A playbook for building a supply base that can handle shocks Want to learn how Paperless Parts can help your supply base? Visit our website today: https://www.paperlessparts.com/

Wrapping up 2025, the AI noise in manufacturing is louder than ever; and everyone seems to have a "solution." In this end-of-year episode, Jason Ray sits down with Jay Jacobs (founder of Rapid Manufacturing and Co-Founder of Paperless Parts) to talk about how shop owners can actually approach AI in 2026 without getting scattered or betting big on the wrong things. They walk through practical questions every manufacturing leader should be asking about AI right now: - How do I make AI decisions without getting scattered? - How do I pivot when things don't work out as planned? - How do I get my team actually using AI? - How do I stay current on AI without wasting hours on hype? - When I see a problem, who should solve it—me, my team, or AI? - Where’s the upper bound today (i.e. where should I NOT be investing yet?) Throughout the episode, Jason and Jay keep coming back to two core messages for manufacturers heading into 2026: 1. Automate the rote so humans can connect the dots. There's more data than ever, and AI can clear the noise so people can spend more time making better decisions. 2. This is the worst AI will ever be, so start building the muscle now. If you wait until it's perfect, you'll be behind the shops who have already experimented, trained their teams, and hired or empowered the right people (including that entry-level software engineer who can quietly 10x your internal tools). Learn more about Paperless Parts at www.paperlessparts.com.

In Episode 5 of Cutting Through the Noise, Jason sits down with Summit 7's Chief Cybersecurity Evangelist, Jacob Horne, to unpack what CMMC actually means now that it's here (as of November 10th, 2025, the DoD can start putting CMMC requirements into contracts) and what the real upside looks like for defense suppliers. Jacob spends his days translating DFARS, NIST, CMMC, and all the regulatory alphabet soup into plain English for defense manufacturers. In this conversation, he cuts through the fear, hype, and vendor logo-washing to focus on what matters most: risk, timelines, and tangible business impact. Jason and Jacob dig into: - How to think about cybersecurity as a "special process" - What a CMMC Level 2 assessment looks like, and why so many shops hit a "false start" - Realistic timelines and how to avoid backing yourself into a corner - How to spot CMMC/FedRAMP BS from software vendors and "logo salad" marketing - What FedRAMP and FedRAMP-equivalent actually mean if you're putting DoD data in the cloud - How to use your customer's acquisition forecast and PALT window to calculate your CMMC timeline - Why early movers become the easiest shops to do business with Add Jacob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-evan-horne Learn more about Summit 7: https://www.summit7.us/ Learn more about Paperless Parts: https://www.paperlessparts.com/cmmc/

In Episode 4 of Cutting Through the Noise, Jason and Strategic Account Director Estephen Saliba to dig into one of the most defining trends in manufacturing right now: acquisition. Estephen works closely with private equity firms and multisite manufacturers and sees a broad spectrum of challenges in his role every day, from ERP headaches and change management to cultural friction and brand dilution. Whether your shop has already been rolled up, is in the process of being acquired, or you're preparing for what's next, this episode breaks down what it actually takes to grow before, during, and after the deal: – Why some roll-ups stall more than others – How to retain talent and trust during transitions – The role of process visibility and centralized data – What smart shops are doing to align teams across sites – How to avoid the "one-size-fits-none" trap Whether you're a shop owner, operator, or investor, this episode offers a real-world look at what growth actually requires in today’s acquisition-heavy landscape. Learn more about how Paperless Parts' tech is shaping the future of manufacturing: www.paperlessparts.com

In Episode 3 of Cutting Through the Noise, Jason Ray sits down with Jay Jacobs, co-founder of Paperless Parts and former owner of Rapid Manufacturing, to break down what it really takes for a job shop to make the leap into production work. Using a real-world scenario from a fast-growing shop, they dig into what works, what doesn't, and how to scale smarter. They cover: - How to strategically add shifts without overextending your team - The minimum EBITDA percentage that fuels sustainable growth - The maximum material cost percentage you should target - Navigating payment terms and managing cash flow - The importance of understanding the difference between fixed and variable costs - Shifting your growth mindset from a curve to a step function - Level setting with buyers' "should-cost" expectations - Why scaling requires taking calculated risks - The importance of getting your whole team on board with a growth mentality - How OEMs benefit from true partnerships with their suppliers, rather than seeing them as vendors - Why better cost insights drive resilience and profitability To learn more about how Paperless Parts can help you scale efficiently and make smarter business decisions, visit www.paperlessparts.com.

Why is it so hard to turn a computer-designed product into something a supplier can actually make correctly and efficiently? While design software has come a long way over the years, different companies use different systems that don't always work well together. Instead of smoothly sharing 3D models, many still rely on old-school 2D PDFs because they're the only files everyone can open—even though they lack critical information. In Episode 2 of Cutting Through the Noise with Jason Ray, Jason sits down with Paperless Parts Vice President of Business Development Ken Cowan. Jason and Ken break down how we got here, from the early days of 2D drawings to today's advanced 3D models, and why new solutions like STEP files and Model Based Definition (MBD) haven’t fully solved the problem. As supply chains become more complex and experienced employees retire, the struggle to get the right data to the right people is only getting harder. If we could fix these broken systems, manufacturing—and innovation—could move a lot faster and more efficiently. To learn more about how Paperless Parts is connecting the nodes of the industrial supply chain, visit www.paperlessparts.com. #ManufacturingTechnology #CADDesign #SupplyChain #3DModeling #DigitalManufacturing #PaperlessParts #EngineeringDesign #SupplyChainChallenges #ModelBasedDefinition #STEPFiles

We're excited to launch Cutting Through the Noise, a new video series with Paperless Parts' Co-Founder & CEO Jason Ray. With so much information (and misinformation) out there about manufacturing, we're getting straight to the point when breaking down macro trends and hot industry topics—all in short, digestible videos. In our first episode, Jason sits down with Paperless Parts' Co-Founder & Chief Scientist Scott Sawyer to unpack the reality of FedRAMP compliance in an AI-driven world. With so many vendors claiming to be "FedRAMP-compliant," how can manufacturers separate fact from fiction? Jason and Scott expose the compliance house of cards—discussing what true FedRAMP authorization requires, the risks of misleading claims, and why continuous monitoring is critical. They also dive into: ✅ The cost and complexity of real compliance ✅ On-prem software vs. cloud security misconceptions ✅ The consequences of working with non-compliant vendors ✅ Key questions to ask vendors before trusting them with your data If you’re navigating CMMC, ITAR, or FedRAMP requirements, this is a must-watch. Visit www.paperlessparts.com to learn how we can help your shop digitize the front office while ensuring your data remains secure.