Micro manufacturing often sits in a different position to larger operations. In this episode, Martin is joined by Mike Adkins, owner of Performance Results Plus, to talk about how a micro manufacturing business can stay steady over time.

Mike shares his experience of moving from large organisations into running a smaller, niche operation, and what that shift looks like in practice. This will be relevant for owners, production managers, and engineers working in smaller or specialist environments, where flexibility, people, and day to day decisions shape how the business performs.

Our Standout Moment

One moment that stood out was Mike’s approach to building his team after taking over the business. Rather than keeping a larger workforce with mixed skill levels, he made a deliberate shift towards a smaller group of highly skilled people. The focus moved to precision, consistency, and ownership of the work.

Each person was expected to understand the full process, from design through to production, rather than working on a single task. This also changed how the shop operated day to day, with more flexibility in working hours and greater responsibility placed on individuals.

It reflects a clear decision to prioritise quality and capability over volume, and to shape the business around that model.

More in this episode:

“I would say listen to your employees and find the employees that are interested in your success. Listen to ’em and empower them, and it’s those guys that are gonna be the ones that are gonna help you grow that business and make you successful.”

Mike Adkins

🎧 Want to Hear More?

Listen to Mike Adkins full episode of Manufacturers Make Strides. Available now on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

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