Manufacturing doesn't always start with a perfectly funded plan or a shop full of machines. Sometimes it starts in a garage, with curiosity, grit, and a willingness to learn by doing.
In this episode, we sit down with Caleb Harris, founder of Covenant Manufacturing, to talk about what it really looks like to start a CNC business at a young age. Caleb didn't inherit a shop or wait until everything felt safe. He learned by working in high-mix job shops, making mistakes, taking calculated risks, and slowly building confidence as both a machinist and a business owner.
We dig into the early decisions that mattered most, from buying the first machine and pricing early jobs to managing cash, handling subcontracting issues, and building trust with customers. Along the way, Caleb shares honest lessons about risk, accountability, and why reputation matters even more when you're small.
This conversation kicks off a new chapter of MakingChips focused on young founders who are stepping into manufacturing early and building businesses with intention. If you're under 30, thinking about ownership, or simply curious what the next generation of shop leaders is learning the hard way, this episode offers a real, unfiltered look at the journey.
Segments
- (0:00) Why we're focusing on young founders and early ownership stories
- (2:24) Meeting Caleb Harris and how Covenant Manufacturing got its start
- (4:12) Get a free demo of Scaylor and finally unify your business data once and for all
- (5:25) Growing up homeschooled and discovering a passion for making
- (7:28) Knife making, early entrepreneurship, and learning what doesn't scale
- (10:01) Caleb's first exposure to CNC machining and seeing a viable business path
- (15:47) Working in a job shop to learn programming, setup, and workflow
- (20:26) Learning under pressure in a high-mix manufacturing environment
- (24:07) Understanding shop economics and thinking like an owner
- (31:07) Deciding to start a shop while still employed full time
- (32:47) Buying a first machine with limited capital and unloading it solo
- (35:32) Landing early jobs and growing through overflow work
- (41:32) Why you need to join us at IMTS 2026
- (42:21) Managing risk without putting the business in danger
- (44:03) A subcontracting mistake and lessons on accountability
- (50:12) Building trust, culture, and reputation as a small shop
- (53:02) What growth looks like next for Covenant Manufacturing
- (57:46) Being young in manufacturing and turning age into an advantage
- (1:01:13) Advice for younger founders thinking about starting a shop
- (1:04:40) The role of community, mentorship, and industry relationships
- (1:07:50) Why we love SMW Autoblok workholding
- (1:09:01) Why these stories matter for the future of manufacturing
Resources mentioned on this episode
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