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Chris Follin

Shop manager / designer / fabricator

Custom CNC router table in Chris Follin's shop
Chris Follin
Current roleCustom Fabrication ManagerEmpire Metal Products / 2010–Present
Phoenix, Arizona20+ YearsSelf-TaughtI-CAR Certified

Fabricator + designer + manager

I understand the work from the quote to the shop floor.

I manage custom fabrication at Empire Metal Products in Phoenix. I started there as a fabricator and welder in 2005, left to run CNC equipment at PMA Photo Metals, and was called back in 2010 to take over custom fabrication.

I now manage the customer, design, material, people, schedule, and production decisions behind one-off products, production parts, prototypes, OEM work, and specialty fabrication.

I can talk to the customer, draw the work, plan the material, manage the people, troubleshoot production, and get the job out the door.

What I actually manage

Customers + salesProduct development, cost analysis, estimating, order placement, and project implementation
DesignAutoCAD 2D/3D, models, shop drawings, layouts, renderings, weldments, and duct systems
ProductionWorkflow, staffing, schedules, work instructions, material use, processes, and profitability
PurchasingMaterial sourcing, inventory, invoicing, parts, service planning, and internal documentation
Shop + safetyTraining, enforcement, SDS, internal policy, equipment, vehicles, and facility support
Type of workOne-off products, production runs, prototypes, OEM work, and specialty fabrication

Professional experience

2010–Present
Custom Fabrication ManagerEmpire Metal Products

Custom manufacturing, sales and design, CAD, purchasing, staffing, scheduling, production, safety, facility support, and profitability.

2008–2010
CNC Technician / FabricatorPMA Photo Metals

Programming, operation, and maintenance of Amada laser, turret press, router, mill, shear, and related equipment.

2005–2008
Fabricator / WelderEmpire Metal Products

Forming, machining, shearing, sawing, welding, grinding, finishing, customer design, and cost analysis.

2003–2005
Collision Repair / PaintAuto Body World

I-CAR-certified medium-heavy repair: tear-down, damage analysis, estimating, heavy body repair, panel replacement, and auto glass.

Before the trade: McDonald’s from age 14 into my late teens, followed by a short period as a store manager for another owner-operator. Before that, I delivered newspapers by bicycle.

Tools, processes, and systems

Welding + fabrication

MIG, TIG, flux-core, dual-shield, arc, air-arc, and spot welding in all metals. Machining, forming, shearing, cutting, grinding, drilling, tapping, and finishing.

CAD + business

AutoCAD 2D/3D, Trimble Fab Shop, QuickBooks, Microsoft and Google suites, Corel, and Adobe.

CNC + equipment

Amada laser and turret, Fanuc controls, MultiCam router, Vulcan and Sabre CNC systems, plasma, mills, shears, forming equipment, forklifts, and material handling.

“I take everything to the max. I want to be the best at whatever I decide to do.”
PUT THE EXPERIENCE TO WORK

See what I’ve built, or bring me the next problem.

Start with the project archive, or send me what you are trying to get done.

View projects Contact Chris →