Continuous Improvement at KCSP Machine: Our ProShop Journey
At KCSP Machine, we believe in the power of continuous improvement. It’s how we deliver better quality, greater visibility, stronger communication, and faster turnaround times. Essentially, it’s what has driven our evolution from our beginnings as a screw machine shop back in the 1940s to the highly capable precision machine shop we represent today.
One of our biggest steps forward has been adopting ProShop ERP, a system designed specifically for job shops like ours. Our journey with ProShop has laid the groundwork to grow, adapt, and keep providing the reliable precision machining services we’re known for.
Why We Needed a Change
When our owner, Brandon Worrell, bought KCSP Machine, the shop was running on paper travelers, job cards, and spreadsheets. Brandon knew that scaling the business with paper systems would eventually lead to inefficiencies because we serve demanding industries with tight tolerances and critical requirements. From CNC turning services to multi-axis CNC machining, precision and consistency are non-negotiable.
Because of his software background, he wasn’t intimidated by technology. Rather, he was curious about it. After evaluating multiple ERPs and speaking with other shops through the Kansas City Manufacturing Network and the National Tooling and Machining Association, he found ProShop to be the right fit, built specifically for small to mid-sized CNC machine shops just like us.
Implementing ProShop
We officially signed on with ProShop at the end of last year. As our bookings and backlog grew, onboarding took longer than expected, but by July, we were fully live. And the impact has been evident.
Process optimization
Before ProShop, our job review process was informal and inconsistent. Now, ProShop provides an upfront checklist that ensures we fully understand every order before it moves forward, covering materials, tooling, outside processes, operations, and timing. This has improved efficiency and throughput for both prototypes and production runs.
Smarter scheduling
ProShop allows us to break down orders operation by operation. This means better scheduling, improved capacity planning, and more visibility into which machines and processes are required. For our customers, it has led to faster turnarounds and more confidence that we can meet their delivery dates.
Stronger quality
Quality is at the core of everything we do here at KCSP Machine. ProShop’s built-in inspection tools have been a game-changer:
First Article Inspection (FAI) and in-process inspection directly in the system
Full traceability for material certifications and outside services
Better recordkeeping for repeat jobs and future runs
These tools lay the groundwork for our growing quality system and make it easier to support industries like medical and aerospace that require rigorous compliance. With stronger documentation, customers benefit from greater transparency and consistency.
Visibility for our internal stakeholders
Another benefit of ProShop is how it empowers our team. Digital prints, complete job histories, and operation-level details are now accessible at a glance. Our machinists can see the full picture of how a project moves through the shop, whether it consists of precision machined parts headed to outside processing or complex assemblies with multiple steps.
That level of visibility helps our team understand not only the “what” but also the “why” of every job, which leads to better decision-making and ultimately better results for customers.
Continuous Improvement for the Future of KCSP Machine
Adopting ProShop is just one step in our larger mission of continuous improvement. From expanding our capabilities to adding new software that levels up what we’re capable of, we are committed to making every process better and every customer interaction smoother.
Partner with a team focused on improving your outcomes and delivering the best results, every time.