Hey there - I’m Dave. I help manufacturing business owners move forward.

If you’re in manufacturing, you’re a builder. You make things happen.

And let’s be honest: this industry brings a ton of new challenges. Competition, team development, tech adoption, supply chain headaches - it can be a lot.

Most people get into manufacturing because they love building things, solving problems, and taking pride in creating tangible results. But sometimes, the job can start to feel like nonstop chaos instead of progress.

Long hours. Constant pressure. Little time to think, let alone lead.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep running on fumes just to keep things moving.

I believe manufacturers can grow stronger operations without burning themselves out in the process.

Smarter systems. Better processes. Clearer communication. Defined priorities. Not more noise, just the right tools, plan, and mindset to drive real improvement.

Because at the end of the day, most of us want three things:

✅ To succeed doing work we care about
✅ To strengthen and protect domestic manufacturing
✅ To build a business that supports our life rather than consume it

So the real question becomes:

What’s holding you back from building the business you know you’re capable of?

My mission here is simple:

Share practical strategies that help manufacturers grow, operate with clarity, and build operations that thrive long-term.

If you ever want to talk shop, have a question, or just want to bounce around ideas, please shoot me a message!

Build it to last,

-Dave

David Vuyk, C.E.T.

I was in a friend's CNC shop yesterday. 

He's buried in work. Not a bad problem to have!

Here's what he told me which I've been hearing a lot lately: "I need more people, more machines, and I'm looking hard at automation systems to boost throughput without adding square footage." 

That's not an unfamiliar sentiment.

North America's CNC milling machine market is growing at nearly 10% CAGR. We're talking $1.63B in 2023 climbing to $2.60B by 2028. 

The U.S. is leading that charge - over 74% of regional demand - driven by aerospace, defense, and automotive component work. 

The opportunity is real. The demand is there. 

But buying more machines and adding automation without fixing your foundation first? That's pretty risky if you ask me. 

Before you add machines, ask yourself: Do we actually know our OEE? Are we tracking downtime causes? Can we predict maintenance issues before they kill a production run? 

So many shops can't answer yes to those questions. And that's the gap. You can't optimize what you don't measure. You can't scale what you don't understand. 

The shops that will win in 2026 aren't just the ones buying multi-axis machines or adding automation. They're the ones building a data-driven foundation first - then layering in technology and talent strategically. 

Process improvement isn't the boring part. It's the leverage. 

What's your biggest capacity challenge heading into 2026?

Source: https://lnkd.in/eynmRx4m

David Vuyk

I simplify revenue growth for machine shops by connecting teams, technology & processes.

Last Saturday, I spent 12 hours making 1000 pounds of sausage with my family. 

This was our second year doing it, so everyone knew their role. 

9 people. Clear division of labor. One team weighing spices. Another mixing them into the meat. Someone stuffing casings. Someone else twisting links. The last crew wrapping everything in pink butcher paper. 

We worked like a machine. 

Well, almost. 

At one point, I went to pull the hopper back on the stuffer while my brother-in-law's hand was still inside cleaning it out. Nearly broke his finger. That got everyone's attention real quick. 

But we pushed through. Took a couple short breaks. By the end of the day, every chest freezer in the family was packed. We're set for the year. 

Honestly, it's wild how much you can accomplish when everyone shows up, knows their job, and just executes. 

Plus, it's fun.

This morning Nick, Eric, and I interviewed Michael King, a 20-year-old machine shop owner at The Munkworks (https://munkworks.com/) for the Lights Out Podcast.

What stood out wasn't just his age or his shop's growth.

It was what he said about automation.

"I'm using technology to run the shop in an automated way so I can be more present with my family."

Time freedom over just revenue and profitability. That hit me.

The data backs up what Michael is already doing. 

Grand View Research projects the U.S. machine tools market growing from $11.3B in 2024 to $14.5B by 2030. 

Mordor Intelligence sees it even larger - $25.34B in 2025 to $31.19B by 2030.

Automation is one of the key drivers behind that growth.

Here's why this matters for shop owners: 

The opportunity isn't just about increasing output. It's about reclaiming your time, improving processes, and building a business that doesn't require you to be on the floor 70 hours a week.

Manufacturing has a bright future. But only for the shops willing to invest in the technology that makes growth sustainable.

Love that I get to partner with manufacturing leaders who see this shift and want to be ahead of it, not behind it.

If you're a shop owner thinking about automation but not sure where to start, let's talk.

P.S. Full interview with Michael drops soon. If you want to hear how a 20-year-old is building a modern machine shop, stay tuned.

Sources 
https://lnkd.in/eF9WFPYt?
https://lnkd.in/erp8WYeb?

Walked into a local shop Friday afternoon. Five spindles. Only one was turning. 

The owner? Running around putting out fires. 

His one employee? Waiting on the next job because the boss is too buried to set him up. (and because I was there chatting his ear off! - oops!)

Joking aside, it looked like a classic case of being too busy to sharpen the saw. And honestly, this is pretty common for shop owners I speak with who are in the sub-$2M revenue category. 

Here's the thing - we're staring down 1.9 million unfilled manufacturing jobs by 2030. (maybe more?) 

We have a labour shortage. But many shop owners still think automation, advanced technology, process monitoring, etc are only for the big players with deeper pockets. That it's too expensive, too complex, or the ROI just isn't there. 

I get it. It's hard to see the return when you're drowning in the day-to-day. 

But here's what the data actually shows: 

Process monitoring and predictive maintenance powered by IoT can cut downtime by up to 40% drastically increasing your machine availability. 

Real-time monitoring gives you the intelligence to optimize your process and reduce (attack!) waste. 

Shops that commit to being process and technology-forward tend to set real performance metrics for their business. They often see up to a 20% increase in throughput as a result. 

These tools aren't just for the big boys. They're for anyone willing to stop firefighting, start building systems, watch their OEE increase all while seeing a positive ROI on those efforts and investments. 

Side note - Eric Nekich and I broke down the topic of ROI for machine shop automation in a 3-part series on the Lights Out Podcast. If you want to go deeper - check those out.  

But right now, I want you to do something simple:

Audit your shop today. Look at your spindle uptime. Look at where your team is spending (wasting?) time. Know your numbers on availability, performance, and quality. 

Then ask yourself - what would a 20% increase in throughput do for your business?

This cold, crisp Canadian morning has me thinking about the fast-approaching Machining Summit on the Summit!

Woke up to snow-covered spruce trees with the sun rising behind them, and I can't help but feel excited for this awesome event happening in April at Mammoth Lakes. 

Big Shout-out to Al Whatmough for putting this together. What he's building at Toolpath is impressive, but bringing the CNC machining community together for an event like this? That's next level. 

I'm heading out there as co-host of the Lights Out podcast and to learn how machine shop automation connects with being a data and process-driven organization. 

Already signed up for two sessions I'm pumped about: 

- Optimized Machining Parameter Selection with Tony Schmitz, Distinguished Technical Fellow 

- Hard-Won Lessons in CNC Automation with Graham Francis

The networking alone is worth the trip. Getting to learn from other shop owners, operators, engineers, CNC builders, cutting tool suppliers, and software innovators in one place is an awesome opportunity. 

I'm a little nervous about the skiing though. Every time I do an extreme sport (skiing, wake-boarding, aggressive ping-pong), I dislocate a kneecap or two. Time to strengthen these legs before April and maybe stick to the bunny hills!

If you're a machine shop owner, manufacturing leader, or anyone serving the CNC machining industry, you should be there. 

Sign up at https://lnkd.in/ekycr3pb 

Who else is going?

Valentine Boyev

CEO at Halo Lab ✦ Helped 500+ companies to raise 💲revenue and investments through digital design and marketing → $500M+ in client total funding

With a passion for creating unique and scalable digital products, I help brands achieve their goals and enhance their online presence.

Key Achievements:

✅ $500m+ in client total funding

✅ 500+ happy clients

✅ 99+ international awards

✅ 120+ glowing reviews


I specialize in:

⤷  Web Design Services: Creating eye-catching and user-friendly websites that grab attention and drive results.

⤷  Website Development: Building strong, reliable websites that fit your business perfectly.

⤷  User Experience Design: Making sure your users have a smooth and enjoyable experience.

⤷  Brand Design: Crafting unique brand identities that really pop.

⤷  Conversion Optimization: Helping turn your visitors into loyal customers.

⤷  Digital Web Solutions: Providing all the web solutions you need in one place.

⤷  Website Redesign for Results: Giving your old website a makeover to boost performance and engagement.

———————————————————————————

My Journey

My career began 15 years ago as a UI/UX designer, driven by a passion for creativity and beauty. For me, design is more than a job—it’s a way of life, an ever-exciting, fantastic world.

I believe in thinking outside the box and continuously renewing my knowledge. This mindset has guided me in helping people fall in love with brands and assisting agencies in winning new business.

———————————————————————————

Halo Lab

Another passion I discovered is mentoring young designers at Halo Lab, where I help them become true professionals. Sharing my knowledge not only helps others but also fuels my own learning journey.

———————————————————————————

Have a BIG idea in mind?

Contact me directly: inquiry@halo-lab.com

Co-Founder & CEO

Halo Lab is a full-stack design & development team.

We created digital projects almost every day since 2013.

We work with a diverse range of innovative startups and established companies. We've launched over 350 projects, helping our clients secure a total of $370M in funding. 

Some of our standout projects include:

- Kinetik: A healthcare platform with over 3,500 integrated providers.
- Bookclub24: A German online library for book collectors.
- Raven.gg: A leading brand in custom esports clothing design.
- Mighty Buildings: Pioneers in sustainable 3D-printed houses.

“How much does it cost to design a website?”

Classic answer: “It depends.”

But that’s not helpful, especially when you’re trying to plan budgets and justify ROI to your board or investors.

So let’s break it down.

1. Landing page.
$1000–$5,000
A single conversion-focused page - ideal for campaigns or product launches.
Quick, simple, measurable. But every word and visual must work perfectly together.

2. Small business website.
$5,000 – $15,000
Usually 4–6 pages (Home, Services, About, Contact, maybe a Blog).
You get custom branding, a consistent UI, and a trustworthy structure that helps people understand and act.

3. eCommerce website.
$25,000 – $100,000
Product pages, filters, checkout flow, mobile optimization.
At this range, you’re investing in UX that prevents drop-offs and builds trust.

4. SaaS website.
$75,000 – $300,000
A good SaaS site tells your story, guides visitors to demos, and aligns with your product UI.

5. Enterprise website.
$20,000–$100,000+
Think of this as a digital ecosystem - dozens of templates, multilingual layouts, case studies, and complex integrations.

A website isn’t an expense. 
It’s your digital sales team that works 24/7.
And like any high-performer, it needs training, systems, and strategy behind it.

So the next time someone asks, “How much does it cost to design a website?”
The better question is “How much revenue am I losing by not investing in a site that converts?”

You can calculate the cost of your project on our website using the smart calculator - https://lnkd.in/dZMaFF5E

♻️ Share this to help others estimate better.
🔔 Follow Valentine Boyev for more updates!

CEO @ Halo Lab ✦ Leading a 130+ design-driven B2B software company → 500+ products shipped & scaled

Website design cost

Most MVPs are built to present.

Very few are built to produce.

That’s the difference between a demo and a business.

An MVP doesn’t have to be the smallest version of your product.
An MVP is the smallest collection of components required to provide value.

→ What is the one thing a user will need to do repeatedly?
→ What elements do you need to incorporate into your design so that it runs immediately, independent of any human activity?
→ When is the moment that you will take all of the variables and make one conclusion -insight, application, analysis, and improvements?

When you look at it through this lens, the MVP is a live vehicle.
The intended result is:

1. One workflow: the only way users will need to interact with your product.
2. A single loop that will continue to serve you every time you iterate.
3. The least amount of interference to provide that measure.
4. The most convenient manner to interact with it.
5. One measure of success, not an explanation.
6. Nothing else supports those goals.

This sets the stage for how you build early traction.
You don’t do that by shipping less of your product.
You do that by shipping the right product.

Build the smallest collection of components that can generate value for others and is therefore your MVP.
That is the difference between a demo and a business.

🔔 Follow Valentine Boyev for more updates!

The MVP You Actually Need

Most leaders will agree that "good UX matters."

But few can prove it in financial terms.

That’s where growth is slowly leaking.

When design is measurable, it is also scalable.
When it is scaleable, it is a competitive advantage.

This is what the math shows:

✦ Each $1 spent on UX returns between $2 and $100. (Forrester)

✦ A load time faster by 0.1 seconds can boost conversion up to 10%. (Deloitte)

✦ 18% of customers abandon the website because the site is hard to use. Baymard Institute)

✦ Companies with design maturity outperform similar companies by 2x in revenue and shareholder returns. (McKinsey Design Index)

So why measure your UX ROI?
Because if you do not measure it, design becomes "subjective."

When you measure it, you have a lever to influence:

1. Conversion rates and average order value.
2. Operational efficiency and support costs.
3. Customer lifetime value and churn.

Here’s how leading companies do it:

1. Benchmark experience metrics – funnel conversion, time-to-task, support volume.
2. Make UX optimizations – simplify flows, reduce friction, increase clarity.
3. Measure the delta – either revenue, savings or time.
4. Quantify into dollars.

UX isn't about how good your product looks.
It's about how much it earns.
When organizations measure that, UX is no longer subjective.

♻️ Share this to help others measure UX ROI.
🔔 Follow Valentine Boyev for more updates!

A few months ago, one of our partners came up with a challenge.

"We’ve raised our Series A, we have product-market fit, but we’re stuck in endless design-dev loops. Can we ship an MVP that investors can demo this quarter, not next?”

We delivered it in 42 days.
Here’s what actually made it possible.

1. 10-day strategy sprint.
We used a pre-built discovery framework with templates for personas, flows, and decisions on technology stacks.
We only focused on the unknowns and skipped documenting the things that the team has already validated.
The result was a 70% faster alignment phase while maintaining context.

2. Parallel design & development.
In traditional teams, design "hands off" to devs, and that is where weeks go to die.
We run parallel pipelines: The dev team starts building the architecture and reusable components in parallel.
We do design QA in a sprint and not at the end.
The result: Reduced the cycle from design → dev delay from 3 weeks to 10 days.

3. Reusable design systems.

4. Senior leads keep hands-on.
Every project has a lead designer, tech lead, and PM who stay involved daily, not just at kickoff.
You speed delivery up by removing the invisible friction between discovery, design, and dev.

At Halo Lab — Your Digital Partner, we build like product teams.

If you’re a founder racing toward your next funding milestone, DM me.

🔔 Follow Valentine Boyev for more updates!

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David Vuyk, C.E.T.

Valentine Boyev

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The Battle

David Vuyk, C.E.T.

Valentine Boyev

Followers

Posts

Engagements

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