How Hirsh Precision and Productivity Inc. Are Building the Future of Manufacturing

In high-stakes industries like aerospace, medical devices, and biotechnology, precision isn’t just a technical requirement—it’s the foundation of trust. At Hirsh Precision, that trust is earned every day through rigorous quality control, engineering collaboration, and a problem-solving culture rooted in accountability.

“We’re not here to be a transactional job shop,” says Peter Doyle, CEO and Owner of Hirsh Precision. “Our value lies in being a partner who helps customers move faster, design smarter, and scale production—without ever compromising quality.”

Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Frederick, Colorado, Hirsh is a Veteran Owned business that has grown into one of the region’s most respected CNC machining operations. Today, it supports everything f rom rapid prototyping to full scale production. Since taking the helm as CEO in 2017 and acquiring the business in 2019, Doyle and his leadership team (pictured above) have driven a strategic transformation through disciplined operations, automation, and customer focus.

Built to Solve Problems—Not Just Machine Parts

Hirsh serves customers in aerospace, medical, optics, and life sciences— industries where timelines are tight, tolerances are unforgiving, and manufacturers must act as true engineering partners.

“Our goal is to create value beyond just machining,” Doyle explains. “We want to be in the room when manufacturability is being evaluated. That’s when we’re at our best.”

From the earliest stages, Hirsh’s engineering and quality teams collaborate with customers to ensure designs are feasible, repeatable, and compliant. “If we can identify a tolerance risk early, we can save the customer weeks— and often thousands of dollars,” Doyle says.

To accelerate new product development, the company established a dedicated New Product Introduction (NPI) team, equipped with Haas machining centers specifically for prototyping and early-stage builds.

Investing in People, Process, and Technology

Under Doyle’s leadership—alongside founder Steve Hirsh pictured to the left—the company has grown from 55 to nearly 100 employees. With that growth came an increased emphasis on systems, training, and scalability.

“We’ve implemented digital systems that give us real-time visibility into shop performance— machine utilization, job progress, scrap rates, and labor efficiency,” Doyle explains. “That’s fundamentally changed how we manage production.”

Hirsh has also invested in robotic part handling and palletized machining centers to boost throughput and reduce manual labor. But, as Doyle emphasizes, technology is only part of the equation. “Tools and equipment don’t create value on their own. It’s how you apply them—and who helps you apply them—that really makes the difference.”

Productivity Inc.: A Strategic Partner in Growth

For Hirsh, one of those key partners is Productivity Inc., a leading machine tool distributor and automation integrator headquartered in Minnesota, with regional offices in Colorado and Utah.

Productivity brings deep manufacturing insight, backed by an ecosystem of affiliated companies—including MachinesUsed.com, Productivity Quality Inc. and Advanced Inspection Services. Together, these firms offer comprehensive support across machining, metrology and automation.

“Productivity has taken the time to understand our business, our goals, and our culture,” says Chris Castaneda, Hirsh’s Manufacturing Engineer. “That shows up in every project, from technology evaluations to install support.”

Sales Engineer Cory Lottman and the Productivity team work closely with Hirsh’s team to ensure that every capital investment is aligned with operational goals. “They’re not just quoting equipment,” Castaneda says. “They’re helping us solve problems.”

Cory says, “Within the Productivity Tooling and Industrial Supply Division, we represent some of the industry’s leading tooling and industrial supply lines. Recently, in collaboration with Ingersoll, we organized the ‘Ingersoll Big Cutter Day’ at Hirsh. The event included a barbecue lunch for all employees, who also had the opportunity to examine the tools firsthand and engage directly with experts, getting tips on how to optimize tool performance and production.” He continued, “At Productivity, we regularly host ‘Lunch and Learn’ events for our customers as part of our ongoing commitment to education and support.”

Smarter Tooling with Advanced Supply

One area where Productivity has delivered measurable impact is with tooling, industrial supply and inventory management through its Advanced Supply program. Roughly a year ago, Hirsh implemented Productivity’s point-of-use inventory system Fast Track to improve tool access, security and simplify procurement.

“It’s made the purchasing process more efficient,” says Tool Crib Manager Jim McCaslin. “The system tracks usage in real time, and our Productivity rep monitors inventory weekly. We can also run reports remotely.”

Industrial Buyer Bay Miller adds: “Productivity’s pricing is outstanding, and their online portal is easy to use and provides visibility we didn’t previously have into our inventory. The reporting is fantastic and eliminates excess inventory and gives us a real-time view of usage across the shop.”

With a 30-person Advanced Supply team behind it, Hirsh benefits from:

• Tool kitting and standardization

• Real-time usage tracking

• Automated inventory reduction

• Fewer emergency orders

• Streamlined replenishment

  
  

“Advanced Supply helps us maintain our inventory without physically having to check stock, which gives us control without adding overhead,” Miller says. “It’s made our operation leaner and smarter.”

Quality as a Competitive Advantage

Hirsh Precision holds ISO 13485:2016, AS9100D, and ITAR certifications, and is FDA registered—credentials that enable it to serve some of the most demanding markets in the world. But for Doyle, quality goes deeper than compliance.

“We see quality as a philosophy, not a department,” he says. “It’s about doing things right the first time, every time— and making sure everyone on the floor feels responsible for that standard.”

With seven high-end metrology CMMs in a climate-controlled quality lab and a strong investment in root-cause analysis and preventive measures, Hirsh’s quality infrastructure is built to exceed expectations.

A Culture of Ownership

When Peter Doyle became the first non-family owner in the company’s 46-year history, he brought a background steeped in leadership and operational rigor. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and former management consultant at Deloitte, Doyle had previously served as Hirsh’s COO—a role that gave him deep insight into its culture, people, and processes. “We have a culture of ownership,” he says. “Everyone here—from machinists to engineers to support staff—feels a sense of responsibility to our customers and to each other.”

Looking Ahead

Looking Ahead As innovation accelerates across aerospace, medical devices, and advanced manufacturing, Doyle sees significant opportunity for companies that can adapt quickly and deliver with precision.

“Timelines are shrinking. Tolerances are tightening. Expectations are rising,” he says. “That creates enormous opportunity for shops that can innovate and automate— without cutting corners.”

To stay ahead, Hirsh will continue to invest in talent, quality systems, and automation— and in partnerships like the one it has with Productivity Inc. “

We don’t believe in standing still,” Doyle says. “We aren’t perfect and we never will be…. but we learn each day and we keep getting better!”

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Join the Team at Hirsh Precision With a collaborative work environment that values innovation, accountability, and professional growth, Hirsh Precision is actively hiring experienced machinists and CNC programmers to help bring new products to life. Interested candidates can call (303) 530-3131 or visit hppi.com.

Learn how Productivity Inc. can support your manufacturing goals:

CO, NM, Eastern WY: (303) 571-4933 UT, MT, ID, Western WY: (801) 886-2221

Or visit Productivity.com