#422 AI vs search engines

·49 min·4 clips

John Grimsmo and John Saunders debate whether their hands-on control is a strength or a barrier to scaling their machine shops.

["John Saunders and John Grimsmo open the episode by discussing the inherent tension in owner-operated businesses, contrasting their hands-on approach with the idea of delegating major decisions like machine tool purchases to teams.", "Grimsmo reflects on the mental shift of moving from a personal 'I' mentality to a collective 'we' culture within his company, Grimsmo Knives, which he incorporated in 2015.", "He emphasizes the importance of communication in leadership, noting that failing to convey vision leads to silent disappointment when expectations aren't met.", "Saunders introduces the topic of AI, stating he has largely replaced Google with ChatGPT for searches, describing it as a significant behavioral change akin to Target's use of big data years ago.", "He provides examples, such as using ChatGPT to get haircut style recommendations based on celebrity eras and to brainstorm solutions for workplace communication issues.", "Saunders mentions his children's generation is starting to use AI for school projects, while he and Grimsmo grew up with search engines requiring keyword discernment.", "He shares an anecdote about a friend using AI to navigate train schedules in New York, highlighting its practical utility over traditional methods.", "The conversation shifts to manufacturing, with Saunders recounting a trip to the Pacific Northwest where he visited friends like Amish and saw a vapor honing machine.", "He discusses his renewed interest in five-axis machining, inspired by new Fusion toolpaths like geodesic and multi-axis finishing, which he used to reprogram old parts.", "Grimsmo details his ongoing project to optimize the detent mechanism on his knives, explaining how blade geometry affects button denting with materials like 17-4, 440C, and M2 tool steel.", "He is testing a new 420 stainless steel from Zapp, aiming for high hardness and corrosion resistance, and has 3D printed a scaled model to visualize the geometry issues.", "Grimsmo talks about the challenge of cataloging this knowledge internally and potentially sharing it through videos to help others avoid similar struggles.", "The hosts compare the complexity of button locks versus traditional lock bars in knives, with Grimsmo noting the detent is more challenging due to tight tolerances.", "They discuss vapor honing and microblasting for surface finishes, with Grimsmo considering a Vapor Honing Technologies benchtop unit and Saunders researching Vanneman and Comco blasters.", "Saunders mentions Robin Renzetti's endorsement of Vanneman machines and outlines potential uses like decorative finishes and deburring, though notes concerns about finish mismatches after anodizing.", "Throughout, they touch on themes of skill development versus outsourcing, the make-buy decision in machining, and the balance between solving problems personally and empowering teams.", "The episode concludes with a brief mention of scheduling and a goodbye, wrapping up a wide-ranging discussion grounded in their experiences as machinists and business owners."]

As heard by us

AI, Google and machine-shop judgment meet in a grounded look at changing business habits.

Business of Machining settles on a useful signal inside a quiet shift in owner behavior: John Saunders and John Grimsmo are no longer treating Google as the default stop for every question.

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Want a shop-floor conversation about the weird moment AI actually changed two machining-business owners' Google habit?

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