Quality Products Machinists Displaying Strong Leadership
CHARLOTTE, NC – April 15, 2025 – Mo Ashraf and Minh Hong have shared a lot in common over the past several decades. So it’s only fitting for them to also share the latest Compass Precision spotlight together.
”We are incredibly fortunate to have Mo and Minh in our organization,” exclaimed Compass CEO Gary Holcomb. “Always smiling, unbelievably productive, constantly pushing to achieve more. These two guys are amazing.”
Both Mo and Minh have served as Quality Products machinists for the past quarter of a century. Together, they have begun assuming more managerial responsibilities around the shop over the past month.
It’s a role the two machinists have filled unofficially for more than a decade. But with the recent rearrangement of the operating company’s CNC machining organization, Mo and Minh have fulfilled managerial duties on a more official basis.
“There’s more responsibility to make sure things are running smoothly and everyone has things to do,” Minh said. “There’s a lot to get done in order to make sure we get the parts shipped on time.”
The pair never shy away from a challenge, though, as evidenced by the successful and difficult fast-track project the two worked together on during the first half of 2024. Mo and Minh worked on that project in collaboration with Gray Manufacturing’s Evan Grose and Chris Adkins.
Since the departure of Quality Products’ previous shop floor lead, Mo and Minh ensure all the machines are running properly every day. They also help other operators with setups and machining questions.
With the new official responsibilities, Mo is utilizing managerial training he first gained 30 years ago at Titan Tools & Machining Company in Oakland, NJ. Mo worked in that shop for about four years before moving to North Carolina.
He moved to the United States from India after marrying his American wife in 1990. Minh immigrated to the U.S. as well from Vietnam.
As if the pair didn’t already have enough in common, Minh started his manufacturing career in New Jersey roughly an hour from Mo in Elizabeth, NJ.
With their more than 60 years of machining experience, Mo doesn’t anticipate a situation arising that the pair can’t handle.
“Anything the bosses want, I feel like we can do it. If they say I want it shipped today, we can do it,” Mo said. “I like challenges. I always say to COO Bill Canning, ‘Give me the challenge.’
“Minh and I have a good understanding of each other. That’s the most important part. If I know I can’t handle something, I always ask him for help, and he helps out. Then I help him whenever he needs it.”
Mo started at Quality Products in 1995. He will celebrate his 30th anniversary with the company in October.
Minh briefly left the machining industry in the mid-1990s when he moved to North Carolina. For three years, he worked in the hotel services industry in uptown Charlotte.
But he missed manufacturing too much to not return to a machine shop.
“While I was away, I missed it,” Minh said. “I like to make a piece of metal into a part that we can use for something for a customer.”
After 25 years of Minh and Mo doing that together at Quality Products, the Compass operating company is a home away from home for both machinists.
“It’s like home. When you work at a place that long, you start to treat the place like home,” said Minh.
Mo and Minh have other personal things in common with each other. Both machinists are still married and have one daughter. It’s also been a couple years since each of their daughters graduated from college.
In their free time, Mo loves watching football, particularly the Carolina Panthers. Ironically, he moved to Charlotte the same year as the team’s inaugural season.
Minh enjoys fishing and quiet time on the beach.