By: Georgette Virgo
The manufacturing industry has significantly shifted in recent years, with advanced technologies enhancing production processes.
Automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics have streamlined operations, increased output, and reduced costs across various sectors. In custom component manufacturing, 3D printing, computer-aided design (CAD), and computer numerical control (CNC) machining have transformed production, enabling rapid prototyping and precision production at unprecedented speeds.
However, this technological revolution has inadvertently sidelined a critical element: the human touch.
Jared Probst, founder and president of Rapid Axis, observed this and noticed that as processes became more automated, customer service and communication took a backseat, often resulting in low component quality.
“In our rush to embrace new technologies, we’ve sometimes forgotten that manufacturing is ultimately about people serving people,” Jared Probst shares. “I saw an opportunity to bring back the focus on customer needs while leveraging cutting-edge manufacturing capabilities.”
From Humble Beginnings to Industry Visionary
Probst’s extensive 25-year journey through the manufacturing industry gave him a unique, ground-level perspective of the sector’s inner workings.
Raised in Fremont, California, he started as a teenage drafter in a machine shop. Probst immersed himself in the technical aspects of manufacturing, gaining hands-on experience with various processes and technologies.
Probst eventually gained more professional experience, and he held multiple executive positions at leading U.S. manufacturing organizations. He eventually developed a more comprehensive understanding of the industry’s challenges, client needs, and operational intricacies.
Jared Probst mentions, “I saw how technologies introduced changes in the manufacturing process. I can’t deny how they improved some traditional and often laborious processes. However, as manufacturing processes became increasingly automated, there was a decline in customer communication, attention to component quality, and reliance on technology.”
Rather than accepting this as the consequence of advancements, Probst saw an opportunity to make a difference. This realization led him to establish Rapid Axis in 2019, a company that blends technology with human proficiency. This produces high-quality components delivered to the customer, proving that technological advancement and customer-centric service can go hand in hand.
How Jared Probst Turned Vision to Reality
When Jared Probst founded Rapid Axis, its mission was clear: to bring back customer focus and high-end component manufacturing to prototype machining and production machining work. To achieve this, Probst’s experience in sales and operations management, strategic planning, and business development proved invaluable.
One critical strategy he developed was building in-house fabrication services while cultivating a small, highly curated network of manufacturing partners. This dual strategy allowed the company to manage volume efficiently while maintaining the high-quality standards that Probst envisioned.
Jared Probst explains, “The company could establish consistent quality control and maintain direct oversight of production processes by keeping core capabilities in-house and carefully selecting external partners.”
Equally crucial to Probst’s vision was assembling high-performing teams to operate the company’s diverse range of technologies. Rapid Axis invested in multiple fabrication methods, from CNC machining and sheet metal to injection molding, die casting, and 3D printing, but he understood that advanced technology alone wasn’t enough.
Jared Probst made certain that real humans, many of them from publicly traded companies and diverse backgrounds, operated these technologies with professional experience. They brought varied aptitudes and perspectives to the manufacturing company, enabling it to tackle complex manufacturing challenges with creativity and knowledge 24/7, as customers needed them.
Under Probst’s leadership, Rapid Axis has become an ISO 9001 Certified and ITAR Registered company. He also steered the company through significant initiatives, including expanding its product offerings and investing in state-of-the-art technology to enhance efficiency without compromising quality or customer service.
The Philosophy Behind the Success
While at Foothill College, Probst’s academic background in philosophy honed his critical thinking skills. It developed his understanding of ethics, skills that are essential in the complex manufacturing industry.
“Philosophy taught me to question assumptions and look beyond the surface,” Jared Probst explains. “In manufacturing, this translates to constantly seeking innovative solutions and never settling for the status quo.”
However, despite his clear vision and drive to see a change in the manufacturing industry, the founder acknowledges that the path to success is far from easy. His journey as a self-made entrepreneur mirrors his challenges in revolutionizing the sector.
Raised by a widowed mother, Jared Probst grew up beneath the poverty line, facing numerous hardships. However, he transformed these early struggles into powerful motivation, using the insecurities of his youth as fuel to overcome obstacles.
He credits his success to the support of friends and family, especially the mentorship of his late stepfather, Tom Hoobyar, former CEO of biotech manufacturing company ASEPCO. The latter believed in his potential and built his confidence.
With all these experiences, Jared Probst carried out his vision for Rapid Axis and continues to develop it as it moves forward. He sees the company’s role as a manufacturer and partner in its clients’ success. For the founder, success is measured by more than just business metrics.
“Our greatest achievement is the trust we’ve built with our clients,” Jared Probst mentions. “When they return to us project after project, I know we’re truly succeeding. And we look forward to doing more.”
Published By: Aize Perez
