Managing chaos, manufacturing innovation, rolling up with Brian Steel

In this podcast episode, Brian Steel, CEO of Cadrex Manufacturing, discusses the challenges of acquiring, merging, and integrating multiple metal fabrication businesses under one organization.

He emphasizes the importance of aligning technical expertise, managing capacity, and implementing ERP systems. Steel highlights the need for speed and agility in the industry and the importance of people and culture in the integration process. He also discusses the use of data and automation in improving efficiency and decision-making. Steel sees the acquisition strategy as a way to build trusted partnerships with innovative companies and rapidly bring their ideas from concept to scale.

Steel believes there is a need for large, fully integrated mechanical solution providers in North America and sees the opportunity for organic growth in the industry as well. He also emphasizes how he’s optimistic about the future of the fabrication industry and sees it as a great time to be in the business.

At the top, the guys talk about Cadrex's impressive and aggressive roll-up strategy, and how's it's impacted The Fabricator's FAB 40 list. There's also a mention of Dig Dug.

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