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M & M MACHINE
AUBURN, CA. JOB SHOP EMBRACING 5 AXIS MACHINING
J Article by Sean Buur Photos by Sean Buur & supplied by M&M Machine & Aimee O’Brien Photography
on Duckett is laying the foundation to become sell the business. Business was good, but technology was the 3rd generation of owner at M&M Machine at a standstill. With retirement on the horizon, investing in Auburn, Ca. Since 1972, M&M has been a job in new machines wasn’t in the cards. “It’s funny that what
shop serving niche markets within northern California. used to be punishment is now what I love,” explains Jon
M&M Machine in Auburn, Ca. outperforms similar sized operations by investing in technology and treating employees as part of the family.
The company was founded by Richard Mitchell in his Mountain View, Ca. garage. His daughter Janis and her husband Chris Duckett took ownership in 1980. Their son Jon has lofty goals and ambitions as the company nears its 50th anniversary.
Jon’s punishment for being suspended in high school was having to work on the M&M’s old machines in the back of the shop. It was a fitting chastisement that most family-owned operations dole out to their misbehaving children when given the opportunity. Through the years it became less of a penalty and more of a way to earn a few bucks while attending classes to become an accountant. At the time of Jon’s college graduation, Chris was gearing up for retirement and setting in motion plans to eventually
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Duckett, Operations Manager and future owner of M&M Machine. “I graduated college in 2014 with a degree in accounting but decided being close to family was more important than traveling all over with the large firm that had hired me. It was a difficult decision, but not really if that makes sense. I love the math and numbers that goes along with accounting, but I get the same satisfaction out of CNC manufacturing. I worked my way through college taking classes 3 days a week and working at M&M 3 days a week, so I already knew the ins and outs of the operation. I called my dad and asked if he would be interested in selling me the business and staying on for as long as he wants to help with the transition. This business is my dad’s baby. His experience is more valuable than anything
CNC WEST February/March 2021