Buy the Numbers

Quality is often treated like a cost center in manufacturing. Something we have to do to satisfy customers, auditors, or certifications. But in my experience, quality is much more than that. It's one of the biggest drivers of cash flow, reputation, and long-term profitability in a shop. In this episode of Buy the Numbers, I sat down with Mehul from Ground Control to talk through the real, often hidden, cost of quality. Our conversation starts with a simple but critical idea: parts don't get paid for unless the paperwork is right. You can machine a perfect part, ship it on time, and still watch payment get delayed weeks or months because an inspection report or FAI is missing or incorrect. That reality reframes quality documentation from "extra work" into a core financial process. We walk through the full value chain of quality, from inspection planning and bubbled prints to in-process checks, scrap, rework, and external escapes. Along the way, we talk about where shops lose the most time and money, how better systems can prevent problems before they happen, and why catching issues internally is always cheaper than letting them reach the customer. This episode is a practical look at quality as prevention, protection, and leverage. If you've ever dealt with late payments, chargebacks, rejected paperwork, or rework that quietly eats margin, this conversation will change how you think about the true cost of quality. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (0:00) A real-world quality failure and why documentation mistakes are so costly (1:30) Meeting Mehul and the origin story behind Ground Control (5:01) Grow your top and bottom-line with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) (6:12) Why quality documentation is directly tied to getting paid (12:00) Why bubbled prints are the essential first step of quality planning  (14:16) Using automation and AI in quality without removing human judgment (15:15) How Factur can help you fill a qualified sales pipeline  (16:21) The time and labor cost of manual quality processes (19:07) Prevention vs correction: how better planning reduces scrap and rework (20:31) The importance of in-process checks and smarter inspection strategies (23:26) Why quality education must extend beyond the quality department (24:07) Mark your calendars and come see us at IMTS 2026 (25:07) Reporting quality data with or without a fully integrated QMS (26:54) Internal vs external failures and why external escapes are far more expensive (28:55) Supplier scorecards, penalties, and long-term reputation risk (31:40) How paperwork errors can erase margins and delay cash flow (35:56) Reframing quality as a revenue generator, not just a cost center (39:56) When quality failures become safety, legal, and life-or-death issues (41:48) Quick hits: key KPIs, common myths, and no-cost improvements (44:10) How to connect with Mehul and learn more about Ground Control Resources & People Mentioned Grow your top and bottom-line with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) Get a free report of opportunities in your industry from facturmfg.com/chips Mark your calendars and come see us at IMTS 2026 Connect with Mehul Shah Ground Control Connect on LinkedIn Connect With Buy the Numbers Follow on LinkedIn Connect with Mike Payne on LinkedIn Subscribe to Buy the Numbers on Apple + Spotify Audio Production and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK