Our owners, Leland Licciardi and Kirsten Failing, recently joined host Paul Van Metre on Episode 140 of the Machine Shop Mastery podcast, part of the MakingChips network. The conversation covers how they acquired a Winsted, Connecticut machine shop founded in 1944, and what four years of rebuilding systems has meant for the precision turned parts we ship every week.
If you source Swiss turned parts or CNC turned components for aerospace, defense, fluid control, or instrumentation programs, this episode is worth an hour of your time. Most of it is about the things that decide whether a supplier delivers: quality systems, scheduling, data, and the people running the machines.
Watch the Full Episode
Prefer audio? Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the Machine Shop Mastery website.
Episode at a Glance
| Show | Machine Shop Mastery (MakingChips network) |
| Episode | 140 — Buying a Machine Shop: Due Diligence, Systems, and the First Four Years with Fairchild Parts |
| Host | Paul Van Metre |
| Guests | Leland Licciardi and Kirsten Failing, owners of Fairchild Precision Parts |
| Released | October 28, 2026 |
| Runtime | About 1 hour, 4 minutes |
From Aerospace and Consulting to a Precision Machine Shop in Winsted, CT
Leland came to ownership from an aerospace engineering background at Lockheed Martin, and he had a personal connection to Fairchild long before he bought it: he worked at the shop during college. During due diligence, he even found the KPIs he had tracked as a student employee. Kirsten brought an industrial engineering background and years of consulting work, along with a desire to own the outcome rather than advise on it.
They spent about two years deciding before acquiring the business roughly four years ago. On the podcast, they walk through the letter of intent, SBA financing, seller financing, and what they would do differently next time. One detail stands out for anyone evaluating us as a supplier: at the time of the acquisition, 75 to 80 percent of the customer base was recurring. That is what eight decades of dependable work in Northwest Connecticut looks like.
Four Years of Building the Systems Behind Every Part
The theme of the episode is foundation work. In four years, our team rebuilt the quality management system, earned AS9100 certification, moved to a new ERP, fixed scheduling, and built accountability around the metrics that matter. None of it was glamorous. All of it shows up in the parts our customers receive.
Putting In-Process Inspection Where the Parts Are Made
Kirsten describes the change that made the biggest difference: moving in-process inspection to the machine operators and turning the quality team into roaming auditors. The team pushed back at first, which is honest and normal. Today, the people closest to each spindle own the measurements, so issues are caught while a job is running instead of after a lot is complete.
The Numbers That Moved
- First pass yield: from about 85% to 96%.
- On-time delivery: around 97% over the most recent three months.
- Rejection rate: 05%.
For a procurement team, those figures translate directly into fewer expedites, less incoming inspection, steadier line-side inventory, and a supplier scorecard that stays green.
ProShop ERP: One Source of Truth from Quote to Shipment
Leland and Kirsten credit the move to ProShop ERP with pulling the shop floor and the front office into one company. Operators now have the information to make good decisions without walking to the office, and process knowledge lives in the system instead of in individual memories. For aerospace and defense customers, that also means cleaner traceability and documentation on every job.
A Clear Focus: Swiss and CNC Turned Parts for Mission-Critical Programs
After serving thousands of customers over more than 80 years, Fairchild narrowed its focus to the work we do best: precision Swiss and CNC turned parts for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. Here is what that looks like on our floor today.
- Swiss CNC turning: Citizen Swiss-type lathes, including two recent additions, running bar stock up to 1.25″ (32 mm) diameter at volumes into the tens of thousands.
- CNC turning and milling: Doosan turning centers for larger diameters and production runs in the thousands.
- Typical parts: valve stems, seats, and poppets; fittings and adapters; pins, shafts, and spindles; bushings, sleeves, and spacers; connector and instrumentation components.
- Materials: stainless steel, steel, tool steel, aluminum, brass, copper, titanium, Inconel, PEEK, Delrin, and specialty aerospace alloys.
- Industries: aerospace, defense, fluid control, oil and gas, instrumentation, and industrial OEM, with most work supporting Tier 2 suppliers.
- Lead times: typically 6 to 8 weeks for new parts and 4 to 6 weeks for repeat orders, with blanket order programs and flexible release schedules available.
Located in Connecticut’s Aerospace Alley, our Winsted facility gives New England and Northeast manufacturers a domestic source for tight-tolerance turned components, with shorter logistics and fewer supply chain surprises.
The Moments No Forecast Includes
The episode also covers the side of ownership nobody puts in a spreadsheet: a fire sprinkler line that burst over the warehouse in January, and a custom ERP report that failed on the morning of our first AS9100 audit. Both were handled, and both reinforced why documented processes and a capable team matter more than any single plan.
What This Means When You Source Precision Turned Parts
A supplier’s internal systems are hard to see from the outside. This episode offers an unusually open look at ours. For engineers and buyers, the practical takeaways are:
- Consistent quality: operator-owned inspection and audited processes behind a 96% first pass yield.
- Predictable delivery: scheduling and ERP data that support on-time performance in the high 90s.
- Certified processes: AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 quality systems built for aerospace and defense requirements.
- A long-term partner: a Connecticut machine shop with roots back to 1944 and owners investing in its next chapter.
Advice for Anyone Considering Buying a Machine Shop
For listeners in the manufacturing community, Leland and Kirsten close with three pieces of advice: learn the industry before you buy, be honest about your tolerance for risk, and remember that ownership makes you a manager of people first. Paul notes that their experience closely matches the principles in his book, Precision Manufacturing, Precision Business.
Watch the Episode, Then Let’s Talk About Your Parts
We are grateful to Paul Van Metre and the Machine Shop Mastery team for the conversation, and to the Fairchild team whose work made the story worth telling.
If you are sourcing Swiss turned parts or CNC turned components and want a supplier with AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certified processes, measurable delivery performance, and more than 80 years of machining history in Winsted, Connecticut, send us your drawings. Our team will review your requirements and follow up with a quote and a realistic lead time.
Request a quote today or contact our team to talk through an upcoming program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What podcast featured Fairchild Precision Parts?
Fairchild Precision Parts was featured on Episode 140 of Machine Shop Mastery, hosted by Paul Van Metre and released on October 28, 2026. The episode covers the company’s acquisition and its first four years under new ownership.
Who owns Fairchild Precision Parts?
Fairchild Precision Parts is owned by Leland Licciardi and Kirsten Failing, who acquired the Winsted, Connecticut machine shop about four years ago. The company was founded in 1944.
Where is Fairchild Precision Parts located?
Fairchild Precision Parts is located in Winsted, Connecticut, in Litchfield County, within the state’s Aerospace Alley manufacturing corridor. It supplies customers across New England and the United States.
What types of parts does Fairchild machine?
Fairchild specializes in Swiss CNC turned and CNC turned parts, including valve components, fittings, pins, shafts, bushings, sleeves, spacers, and instrumentation components, primarily for aerospace, defense, fluid control, and industrial customers.
What certifications does Fairchild hold?
Fairchild Precision Parts holds AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 quality certifications.
What is Fairchild’s quality and delivery performance?
As discussed on the podcast, first pass yield improved from about 85% to 96%, on-time delivery has been around 97% over the most recent three months, and the rejection rate is 0.05%.
What materials can Fairchild machine?
Fairchild machines stainless steel, steel, tool steel, aluminum, brass, copper, titanium, Inconel, PEEK, Delrin, and specialty aerospace alloys.
What are Fairchild’s typical lead times?
New parts typically ship in 6 to 8 weeks and repeat parts in 4 to 6 weeks. Blanket order programs with flexible release schedules are available.