What should I ask about a machine shop’s programming and setup staff?
Ask who writes the programs, who sets up the machines, and how much of that knowledge lives only in one person’s head. In a machine shop the programmers and setup people often carry the work, so find out who they are, how long they have stayed, and what would happen if they left.
Begin with a simple map. For each machine, who programs it, who does the setup, and who checks the first part? Then ask where the programs, setup sheets and tool lists are stored. If the answer is a single computer or a single person’s notebook, that is a risk you should understand before you commit.
Ask how new people are trained and how long it takes before they work without help. A shop that has brought someone along recently has shown it can pass the skill on. Ask how pay and hours compare with other shops nearby, and whether anyone has been courted by competitors. Listen for what the seller says about the key people, and ask permission to meet them at the right stage of the process.
Raise the question of staying on. Find out whether the senior programmer would remain under new ownership, and what would help them stay. Your lawyer can advise on agreements with staff, and an honest conversation with the team often tells you more than a document does. Ask too whether the programmers use their own shortcuts or a shared method others can follow. A shared method makes a handover far easier for everyone involved.
Key takeaways
- Map who programs, sets up and inspects each machine.
- Check where programs and setup sheets are kept and who can open them.
- Ask what would keep the senior people in place after a sale.
Related reading
12 pages on the same subject, grouped by topic.
Selling
Due diligence
Buying
- Expert answerHow do I check a specialty food shop’s prepared meals and kitchen setup?
- Expert answerHow do I judge a glass shop’s cutting table and tempering supplier setup?
- Expert answerHow do I review an AV company’s programming staff before buying?
- Expert answerHow can I tell if an embroidery shop’s staff can digitize designs without the owner?
- Expert answerHow do I check a frame shop’s staff skills and who handles the delicate work?
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to reduce employee turnover
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
Deavo is an advertising and listings platform, not a brokerage, law firm or valuation firm. This page is general information, not legal, tax, accounting or valuation advice, and rules differ by province. Confirm anything you rely on with a qualified professional before you act on it.