“I’m a real big culture guy…
You spend a lot of time at work. You want a culture of people working as a team, all seeing the vision.”
— Dan Plath, VP of Operations at MedFab Precision Solutions in Lakeville, MN
What happens when you decide to bet on yourself and back it up with clear goals, data, and follow-through?
In this episode of Manufacturing Mavericks, Greg sits down with Dan Plath, VP of Operations at MedFab Precision Solutions, to talk about what it means to take ownership of your career and your company’s future. Dan shares how he went from being a bored student to driving cultural and operational change on the shop floor. One meeting, metric, and mindset shift at a time.
They explore why trusting yourself is only part of the equation and how pairing that drive with data and the right technologies creates real momentum. Dan shares his mindset on automation, the tools he’s using to unlock more from his team, and why embracing change is the key to staying competitive.
You’ll also hear how the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) is helping MedFab align every part of the business, from leadership to the shop floor, and how data is driving smarter decisions, clearer priorities, and continuous improvement at every level.
“Pick a direction, set goals, and don’t let anything stop you from reaching those… It’s completely okay if you change direction. That’s completely natural.”
— Dan Plath, VP of Operations at MedFab Precision Solutions in Lakeville, MN
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- 1:30 – How a CNC class sparked Dan’s passion for manufacturing
- 5:30 – Comparing big company structure vs. small company impact
- 7:30 – Why Dan left stability behind to bet on himself
- 12:00 – How life stages influence career decisions in manufacturing
- 14:00 – How adding an EOS drove positive cultural change
- 25:30 – Using data to drive smart decisions and avoid missteps
- 32:50 – Inside Med Fab’s test of in-machine automation
- 38:00 – Dan’s advice to anyone unsure of where they’re headed
Links Referenced:
- MedFab Precision Solutions
- Datanomix: https://datanomix.io/
- mfgmavericks.com: https://mfgmavericks.com