The Fabricator Podcast

Planning, investing, and taking risks in a small fabrication business

2026-03-10 · 09:35 UTC ·Fabricators and Manufacturers Association ·0 min read

Brief

Lisa Wertzbaugher of Iowa-based Wertzbaugher Services returns to the podcast to give practical, experience-driven guidance for small fabrication shops: plan investments carefully, use data to assess risk and when to pivot, develop sales strategies, and prioritize workforce training (including hiring younger workers). She illustrates points with examples from her welding, fabrication, and repair work.

Source evidence

title: Planning, investing, and taking risks in a small fabrication business
author: Fabricators and Manufacturers Association
contenttype: podcast
publication: The Fabricator Podcast
published: 2026-03-10T09:35:00+00:00
sourceurl: https://www.thefabricator.com/podcast/episode/the-fabricator-podcast/planning-investing-and-taking-risks-in-a-small-fabrication-business

word_count: 106

Lisa Wertzbaugher of Iowa-based metal fabrication shop Wertzbaugher Services returns to the podcast to discuss the realities of running a small manufacturing business and offer practical advice for shop owners. She shares lessons on planning, investing in equipment, building a sales strategy, training a workforce, and using data to evaluate risk. Wertzbaugher also discusses the value of hiring younger workers and knowing when to move on from approaches that aren’t working. Her company specializes in custom welding, steel fabrication, equipment repair, and material-handling products such as racks and baskets, along with trailer and farm equipment repair. Email us at podcast@fmamfg.org with any comments, questions, or suggestions.