Colin Cosgrove, president and CEO of Laystrom Manufacturing in Chicago, returns to The Fabricator Podcast to discuss how a mid-sized fabrication shop can plan for growth intentionally while maintaining flexibility, culture, and operational focus.

Cosgrove shares lessons from his time at a larger manufacturer, how Laystrom collaborates with customers on design for manufacturability and cost reduction, and how the company is navigating tariffs and market uncertainty. He also discusses where artificial intelligence may fit in small manufacturing environments, workforce development challenges, how Laystrom uses book clubs as a leadership and development tool, and why manufacturing roles should be viewed as knowledge work.

Email us at podcast@fmamfg.org with any comments, questions, or suggestions.

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