How do I find out how old a machine shop’s workforce is and who will retire soon?

Skilled machinists are hard to replace, so a shop full of people near the end of their careers is a real planning issue. Start with the owner and ask for a skills map: each person, the work they do, the machines they run and how long they have been there. Ask who the shop depends on most, and what would stop if that person left.

Be careful with personal information. Questions about age or health can raise problems, so ask your lawyer how to handle them before you talk to staff. A better route is to ask the owner what plans the team has shared and how the shop deals with retirements and recruiting.

Ask about the pipeline. Does the shop train apprentices, and have they stayed? How long does it take to find a skilled hire locally? Look at wages compared with the local market. After you have the picture, plan a gradual transfer of knowledge with the key people, and consider retention terms. A broker or advisor can also help you find out how common workforce concerns are for shops of this kind. Keep notes on what you learn, and update your plan for hiring and training before you commit to a purchase.

Key takeaways

• Request a skills map of roles, machines and tenure rather than individual ages.
• Ask your lawyer how to handle questions about retirement plans.
• Check whether the shop trains apprentices and keeps them.
• Plan knowledge transfer with the people the shop depends on most.