Teasers, Tidbits and Takeaways from “A Manufacturing Story”

Matt Guse, founder and president of MRS Machining, brings a refreshingly human approach to manufacturing leadership — one built on genuine relationships and workforce development. He leads with patience, trusts his team's abilities and treats mistakes as opportunities to learn. His philosophy — "listening to people, hearing their struggles, sharing your journey" — has transformed a small rural Wisconsin shop into a thriving manufacturing business.

All of this comes through beautifully in his debut book, A Manufacturing Story, which chronicles his journey through the industry and the people, problems and possibilities he encountered along the way.

Rather than recap the entire book, I want to share some teasers, tidbits and takeaways that capture what makes his story worth reading.

We never set out to build a big business. We just wanted to do right by our community and take care of our people.
[His decision] was made with a machinist’s practicality and a neighbor’s heart.
… building trust one part at a time.
God gave [him] a second chance, so we needed to give others their first chance.
Never underestimate the power of asking questions and maintaining professional relationships across your industry ecosystems.
Quality isn’t just about the initial performance; it’s about sustained value and reliability.
We understand that success isn’t just about transactions; it’s about relationships.
Sometimes the best education doesn’t come from textbooks or lectures, but from people who’ve walked the path before you.
Work with a professional recruitment consultant, create comprehensive onboarding plans and maintain clear professional boundaries.
Feedback isn’t just about honesty. It’s about compassion, respect and understanding.
A true leader builds people up rather than tearing them down.
Fail fast, fix fast and forget fast.
Communication should unite, not divide.
Sometimes the most important conversations are the ones you are afraid to have.
In our rush to solve the skills gap, we overlooked a crucial element: teaching soft skills and maintaining a clear distinction between training and production.
Retention bonuses show you’re committed to keeping great talent by valuing someone’s ongoing contribution.
One hand is for receiving and the other for giving.
We’ll figure it out.
Sometimes the most valuable investments are the ones that put people first.
Instead of announcing layoffs, we got creative.
Survival requires unconventional thinking.
Stick with us and we’ll stick with you.
Survival during tough times isn’t just about having a plan. It’s about executing that plan with everything you’ve got.
I believe it was more than luck. I believe God was working behind the scenes, providing for us when all hope seemed lost.
Great ideas don’t just happen; they’re crafted through persistence, creativity and the willingness to learn from every twist and turn.
Sometimes the real value is in the process of innovation itself.
Sometimes the best way to grow isn’t through formal meetings or sales pitches but through good old-fashioned hospitality and great food.
Behind every professional journey lies a deeply human one.
It just goes to show what happens when pride gets in the way of good business sense.
What started as an intimidating certification process became a catalyst for operational excellence and business growth.
Being nice is important in business, but so is standing up for what you’re owed.
If you’re a company owner who is on the fence about running for your local school board, I say go for it!
Sports officiating builds transferable skills that benefit both the individual and the broader community.
I‘m witnessing the power of sports to shape character.
… the enduring power of family bonds that transcend even death itself.
Time doesn’t heal all wounds, but it does give us the strength to carry them.
The journey taught me that healing isn’t linear. It’s more a winding path with its own timeline. But with patience, love, and the courage to face our pain, we can find our way back to life, one small step at a time.
Only through God, through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, did I find the strength to endure such profound losses. He carried me through the darkness when I couldn’t see the path forward myself.
When disaster strikes, we don’t just survive, we stand shoulder to shoulder helping each other. That’s because our community isn’t just a place. It’s a promise we keep to each other.
Sometimes, the best victory is proving your critics wrong and getting them to publicly rectify at least a part of their wrongdoing through careful planning and determination.
Sometimes the best answers come from thinking outside the box and leveraging your network.
Maintaining good business relationships can pay off in unexpected ways.
I’d like to tell you that I instituted a profit-sharing program to produce results, but it was actually a happy byproduct of simply wanting to do the right thing by a team that had always done the right thing by the company.
One of my favorite activities as a business owner is handing out bonus checks.
Your health isn’t about you. It’s about everyone who depends on you.
Start treating your well-being as a strategic priority, because it is, and watch how that decision elevates every aspect of your business journey.
Stay active even when results aren’t immediate.
Focus on building genuine relationships, not just selling.
Share expertise freely.
Keep conversations natural and authentic.
Sometimes the best opportunities come from simply showing up consistently and being willing to engage.
The biggest risks bring the greatest rewards — but only if you’re willing to put in the work and stay true to your principles.
It’s important to develop a detailed plan when taking young adults to trade shows. Create a list of exhibitors for them to see and use the show planner to set up check-ins at those booths for accountability. The trick is to find that elusive balance between professional development and fun.
Maintenance isn’t just about keeping equipment running. It’s also about maintaining relationships, wisdom and the delicate balance of a workplace family.
Sometimes, documentation is the most potent weapon.
Documentation can play a vital role in manufacturing and quality control processes, serving as an indispensable tool not just for protecting business interests but for preventing future mishaps.
Sometimes the best business deals don’t happen in a conference room. They happen on a quiet country road while you’re just doing what you love.
Even the toughest circumstances can lead to unexpected opportunities.
Sometimes it takes a crisis to show you who’s really in your corner — and who isn’t.
Sometimes the biggest opportunities come from just being yourself and being willing to take a chance — even if that chance starts with an accidentally deleted email!
If someone shows up with big promises but no documentation, if their stories don’t quite add up, and especially if they keep their crucial equipment mysteriously out of reach — walk away.
Some deals aren’t worth the headache, no matter how promising they might seem.
The question isn’t whether this crisis will hit us; it’s whether we’ll still have the capacity to respond when it does.
Diversification isn’t just a business strategy; it's a fundamental principle. It’s a path to sustainable growth and resilience.
Standardization was our path to manufacturing excellence.
The most significant returns come from the smallest investments in your people’s well-being. That’s not just good leadership. That’s good business.
Life people up.
Make them feel valued.
May these words serve as a reminder that all glory belongs to God.
Save your fork. The best is yet to come.
May you find in your time that we rose to meet our moment, that our hopes weren’t misplaced and that the spirit of American innovation and production continues to light the way forward.