Compass Newcomer Begins to Make His Mark
Compass only acquires really good companies. When it does, it usually inherits a solid management team, with a seasoned leader. But when R&D Machine in Oldsmar, FL joined Compass in April 2022, the former owners/general managers retired immediately. Compass selected Justin Kovscek to replace them. We recently spoke with Justin about his first 15 months on the job.
How Did You Learn About The Opportunity With Compass Running R&D Machine?
I got a phone call out of the blue from Gary Holcomb (Compass’s CEO). He had heard about me from an old boss of mine who Gary knows. We started talking and I quickly realized his view of running machine shops is very close to mine.
What About R&D Machine Appealed To You?
I was in a management position with an automotive parts manufacturing company in Alabama. I had been there for three years. They recruited me from a firm in Pittsburgh that machines aerospace and medical parts. Honestly, making aerospace and medical parts is more fun than auto parts. So right away, Compass was interesting.
What Else Influenced Your Decision To Join Compass?
I quickly felt comfortable with the kind of organization Compass is. We have few management layers, a clear direction, and no office politics. I like the adaptability built into the Compass business model by having small nimble specialized companies with different capabilities working together.
Has Anything Surprised You Since Coming On Board?
Yes. The biggest thing is that we didn’t realize how much of R&D Machine’s revenue was dependent on older, mature aerospace & defense programs. We didn’t have much built-in growth with the current part numbers we were making. So, we are quoting new work like crazy. And the results are about to show.
What Are Some of Your Biggest Accomplishments So Far?
There are four. First, we have worked really hard to improve on-time deliveries and quality. The metrics we track show we have made great strides here. Adding vision systems has really helped as it increases throughput in deburring while minimizing rejections, just like it has at Gray (Gray Manufacturing Invests in Microscope Vision System (January 17, 2023) – Compass Precision, LLC). Second, we have leveraged the good customer relationships we inherited from R&D’s former owners to aggressively seek and fulfill many more quoting opportunities. Our increased backlog shows the results from this. Third, we have embraced the Department of Defense’s cybersecurity requirements and recently announced a self-assessment score of 97 out of a possible 110 points (R&D Machine Announces CMMC Level Two Achievement (June 20, 2023) – Compass Precision, LLC). Lastly, we have figured out how to utilize our machines that do difficult, long-run-time parts to operate lights out with no one watching.
What Comes Next?
Honestly, many things. We will continue to aggressively seek new business, leveraging our strength in difficult 5-axis milling. We want to get better in everything we do, which means continually reexamining our processes for ways to make them better. We are always looking to add talented CNC machinist and programmers, in this case leveraging our good working environment. Finally, I hope to get upper management approval to buy some new machines to enhance our capabilities and capacity.
Finally, What Would You Say To Someone Looking For a Job In a CNC Machine Shop?
Don’t be a button pusher, look for a shop interested in developing your skills. There are many avenues to pursue in machining, but in the right shop that does the tough stuff, you can grow your skillset to overcome the problems with parts that most shops would avoid. Not only does it make your work valuable, but you’ll find yourself able to problem solve and grow in all avenues of life.
For more information about his experience at R&D Machine and Compass, please contact Justin Kovscek directly at [email protected]. For overall information about Compass, please reach out to CEO Gary Holcomb at [email protected].