Cutting Through the Noise with Jason Ray

In Episode 5 of Cutting Through the Noise, Jason sits down with Summit 7's Chief Cybersecurity Evangelist, Jacob Horne, to unpack what CMMC actually means now that it's here (as of November 10th, 2025, the DoD can start putting CMMC requirements into contracts) and what the real upside looks like for defense suppliers.Jacob spends his days translating DFARS, NIST, CMMC, and all the regulatory alphabet soup into plain English for defense manufacturers. In this conversation, he cuts through the fear, hype, and vendor logo-washing to focus on what matters most: risk, timelines, and tangible business impact.Jason and Jacob dig into:- How to think about cybersecurity as a "special process" - What a CMMC Level 2 assessment looks like, and why so many shops hit a "false start"- Realistic timelines and how to avoid backing yourself into a corner- How to spot CMMC/FedRAMP BS from software vendors and "logo salad" marketing- What FedRAMP and FedRAMP-equivalent actually mean if you're putting DoD data in the cloud- How to use your customer's acquisition forecast and PALT window to calculate your CMMC timeline- Why early movers become the easiest shops to do business withAdd Jacob on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-evan-horneLearn more about Summit 7:https://www.summit7.us/Learn more about Paperless Parts:https://www.paperlessparts.com/cmmc/

In Episode 4 of Cutting Through the Noise, Jason and Strategic Account Director Estephen Saliba to dig into one of the most defining trends in manufacturing right now: acquisition.Estephen works closely with private equity firms and multisite manufacturers and sees a broad spectrum of challenges in his role every day, from ERP headaches and change management to cultural friction and brand dilution.Whether your shop has already been rolled up, is in the process of being acquired, or you're preparing for what's next, this episode breaks down what it actually takes to grow before, during, and after the deal: – Why some roll-ups stall more than others– How to retain talent and trust during transitions– The role of process visibility and centralized data– What smart shops are doing to align teams across sites– How to avoid the "one-size-fits-none" trap Whether you're a shop owner, operator, or investor, this episode offers a real-world look at what growth actually requires in today’s acquisition-heavy landscape.Learn more about how Paperless Parts' tech is shaping the future of manufacturing: www.paperlessparts.com

In Episode 3 of Cutting Through the Noise, Jason Ray sits down with Jay Jacobs, co-founder of Paperless Parts and former owner of Rapid Manufacturing, to break down what it really takes for a job shop to make the leap into production work. Using a real-world scenario from a fast-growing shop, they dig into what works, what doesn't, and how to scale smarter. They cover:- How to strategically add shifts without overextending your team- The minimum EBITDA percentage that fuels sustainable growth- The maximum material cost percentage you should target- Navigating payment terms and managing cash flow- The importance of understanding the difference between fixed and variable costs- Shifting your growth mindset from a curve to a step function- Level setting with buyers' "should-cost" expectations- Why scaling requires taking calculated risks- The importance of getting your whole team on board with a growth mentality- How OEMs benefit from true partnerships with their suppliers, rather than seeing them as vendors- Why better cost insights drive resilience and profitabilityTo learn more about how Paperless Parts can help you scale efficiently and make smarter business decisions, visit www.paperlessparts.com.

Why is it so hard to turn a computer-designed product into something a supplier can actually make correctly and efficiently? While design software has come a long way over the years, different companies use different systems that don't always work well together. Instead of smoothly sharing 3D models, many still rely on old-school 2D PDFs because they're the only files everyone can open—even though they lack critical information.In Episode 2 of Cutting Through the Noise with Jason Ray, Jason sits down with Paperless Parts Vice President of Business Development Ken Cowan. Jason and Ken break down how we got here, from the early days of 2D drawings to today's advanced 3D models, and why new solutions like STEP files and Model Based Definition (MBD) haven’t fully solved the problem. As supply chains become more complex and experienced employees retire, the struggle to get the right data to the right people is only getting harder. If we could fix these broken systems, manufacturing—and innovation—could move a lot faster and more efficiently.To learn more about how Paperless Parts is connecting the nodes of the industrial supply chain, visit www.paperlessparts.com.#ManufacturingTechnology #CADDesign #SupplyChain #3DModeling#DigitalManufacturing #PaperlessParts #EngineeringDesign #SupplyChainChallenges #ModelBasedDefinition #STEPFiles

We're excited to launch Cutting Through the Noise, a new video series with Paperless Parts' Co-Founder & CEO Jason Ray. With so much information (and misinformation) out there about manufacturing, we're getting straight to the point when breaking down macro trends and hot industry topics—all in short, digestible videos. In our first episode, Jason sits down with Paperless Parts' Co-Founder & Chief Scientist Scott Sawyer to unpack the reality of FedRAMP compliance in an AI-driven world. With so many vendors claiming to be "FedRAMP-compliant," how can manufacturers separate fact from fiction? Jason and Scott expose the compliance house of cards—discussing what true FedRAMP authorization requires, the risks of misleading claims, and why continuous monitoring is critical. They also dive into:
✅ The cost and complexity of real compliance
✅ On-prem software vs. cloud security misconceptions
✅ The consequences of working with non-compliant vendors
✅ Key questions to ask vendors before trusting them with your data
If you’re navigating CMMC, ITAR, or FedRAMP requirements, this is a must-watch. Visit www.paperlessparts.com to learn how we can help your shop digitize the front office while ensuring your data remains secure.