If there were a Mount Rushmore for modern manufacturing minds, Mitch Free would have a solid case for inclusion.
In a gripping interview on the Manufacturing Runs The World podcast, Mitch drops more than just wisdom—he rewrites what leadership, resilience, and strategy look like in today’s manufacturing landscape. Starting from a one-year trade school program, Mitch rose through the ranks with a six-year apprenticeship and ended up securing patents for jet engine inspection systems. That alone is impressive.
But Mitch didn’t stop there.
He founded Mfg.com in 1999, one of the earliest online custom manufacturing marketplaces—a platform so ahead of its time that even Jeff Bezos (yes, that Bezos) personally bought in. And after a cancer diagnosis temporarily took him off the entrepreneurial path, he returned to found ZYCI, a precision machining firm that operates with zero marketing budget and zero fluff. Just word-of-mouth and world-class execution.
Why does this matter? Because Mitch proves that:
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Real strategy isn’t about buzzwords—it’s about understanding sales, finance, and people. If you can't do those, you can’t lead.
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Marketing budgets are optional when your reputation speaks volumes. ZYCI gets all its work through referrals—no SEO sorcery or trade show theatrics required.
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Machinists are not just technicians—they’re strategic thinkers. Mitch argues that technical trades require and develop the kind of high-level decision-making companies usually attribute to MBAs.
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AI is coming—but not to replace humans. It’s a tool for optimization, not obsolescence.
Mitch’s story is a masterclass in reinventing yourself without losing your edge. He’s proof that manufacturing success doesn’t always require outside investors, viral videos, or massive headcounts. It requires grit, expertise, and the courage to do it differently.
If you’re leading—or building—a manufacturing business today, this episode is your blueprint.
