116. 80+ Years Strong: The Reinvention Playbook Behind Jergens' Growth
About this episode
The episode discusses Jergens' evolution and operational strategies over 80 years in manufacturing.
There are certain companies in manufacturing that are so woven into the fabric of the industry that you almost stop noticing just how influential they've been. That was my realization after sitting down with Matt Schron from Jergens. Like a lot of machinists, I've spent decades around Jergens products without fully appreciating just how deep their roots go, from workholding and lifting solutions to aerospace fasteners and even the origins of what eventually became Tooling U. What stood out most in this conversation was how intentional Jergens has been about reinvention. After more than 80 years in business, they haven't survived by protecting the status quo. They've evolved alongside manufacturing itself. Matt shares how the company started making airplane seat components during World War II, transitioned into supporting the growing job shop economy after the war, and has now come full circle by becoming deeply embedded in aerospace and defense manufacturing again. We also spent a lot of time talking about what growth actually requires behind the scenes. This episode dives into the operational discipline that comes with certifications like AS9100, not as a marketing checkbox, but…
People in this episode
Host: Paul Van Metre
Guest: Matt Schron
Topics covered
- manufacturing
- reinvention
- aerospace
- operational discipline
- growth strategies
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Jergens, Tooling U, AS9100
Places: World War II
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