Long Before Day One
The strongest partnerships in manufacturing aren’t built overnight.
They’re forged over years of collaboration on shop floors through the shared language of process, setup, and executional knowledge.
That’s how Lance Feeley’s story with KMM Group began.
Long before officially joining KMM’s commercial team as Director of Global Business Development, Lance had already spent years working alongside company leadership as a trusted manufacturing partner. His relationship with CEO, John Shegda, stretches back more than two decades. A professional connection that demonstrated Lance’s technical expertise and honest communication evolved into a limited commercial consulting role.
“Starting back in 2004, we worked together on several successful centerless grinding projects, and over time, built a relationship based on mutual respect and trust,” said Lance.
Watching KMM Take Shape
Lance has been a trusted partner and friend through the evolution of M&S Centerless Grinding and the founding of Meron Medical. He knew both John and KMM President Eric Wilhelm before the idea of merging their three family-owned companies had become a reality. Lance saw the organizations and knew they had tremendous potential.
“At the time, I was traveling around the country visiting many different shops, so I had a solid basis for comparison,” Lance reflected. “I sometimes joke that, conceptually, KMM was my idea, based on a conversation with John and Eric after dinner in Boston.”
He may be joking when he talks about the spark that started the merger, but he’s very serious about how far the company has come from humble beginnings.
“Today, KMM is a world-class, highly specialized platform CMO, and it’s still only at the beginning of what it will become,” said Lance.
Relationships that Last
A 20-year relationship is a solid backstory, but it’s also a reflection of how Lance approaches his entire career. Relationships first. Everything else will follow.
Lance’s consultative approach aligns naturally with how KMM supports manufacturers every day. KMM’s customers won’t be meeting someone new trying to get up to speed. They’re gaining another trusted manufacturing partner backed by the expertise and capabilities of KMM Group.
Manufacturing Came Before Sales
Lance was drawn to manufacturing through an inherent curiosity about how things work. Growing up, he was the type of kid who liked to take their toys apart as much as play with them.
“I’ve always been fascinated by how complex products are made. A project might begin with a single part or family of parts, but by the end, I could be learning how a jet engine is built or how a medical device assembly works. There is always something new to learn.”
Curiosity eventually led him to study Industrial Engineering, where he immersed himself in manufacturing processes, optimization, and production technologies. Today, every customer conversation is shaped by that combination of curiosity and technical knowledge.
Rather than leading with equipment specifications or features and benefits, Lance starts by understanding the manufacturing process itself.
Customers Choose Partners, Not Suppliers
Manufacturers rarely reach out because production is easy.
They call when capacity becomes constrained.
When scaling from prototype to production introduces new challenges.
Or simply because they can’t find another manufacturer to build what they need and the component must perform exactly as intended.
That’s where Lance believes the best partnerships are built.
“We’re naturally drawn to difficult projects and demanding requirements. The three original companies grew by building expertise through hard-earned experience and created a team that’s willing to go the extra mile to ensure success.”
Instead of focusing on transactions, he works alongside customers to understand the make-or-break objectives, identify risks, and connect them with the right manufacturing resources.
That approach aligns closely with KMM’s philosophy of engineering collaboration and continuous improvement.
Why the Hardest Part Isn't Making One
Lance believes manufacturing is entering a new era.
Parts are getting smaller. Tolerances are getting tighter. Automation is accelerating. Engineers continue pushing the limits of material science, tooling, and machining. Every new breakthrough creates another manufacturing challenge waiting to be solved.
But the biggest hurdle often comes later.
“To make one of something is very different than scaling it into stable production.”
That’s where he believes many companies underestimate the difficulty.
“There is a significant experience and expertise gap between these two areas of manufacturing. Fortunately for KMM, it’s also where we excel.”
Looking at the future of manufacturing, Lance believes the key lies in efficiency and connectivity. Not just in the hand-off between machines, but across the entire organization. To stay ahead, companies need to develop fast and accurate communication throughout the business.
“Strong feedback loops and clear deductive reasoning help us move quickly and support customers as they iterate at speed,” said Lance.
When the Work is Personal
For Lance, the work becomes personal when those solutions improve lives.
After watching his father suffer a massive stroke in 2012, MedTech took on a different meaning.
“The neurovascular therapy projects we support make me proud, knowing I play a small role in work that can help improve lives.”
KMM's Collaborative Culture
After years of working alongside KMM, joining the company felt like a natural next step.
The decision was driven by the opportunity to work alongside people who share the same values.
A commitment to technical excellence.
A collaborative culture.
And an unwavering focus on helping customers succeed.
For Lance, joining KMM means becoming part of a team committed to building lasting partnerships while continually expanding its ability to support increasingly complex manufacturing programs.
Investing in Customers Through People
As customer requirements become more complex, manufacturers need partners with both technical depth and experienced people. That’s why KMM continues investing in its team.
Adding experienced professionals like Lance strengthens the company’s ability to support customers throughout every stage of the manufacturing journey, from early engineering conversations through production scaling and ongoing program support.
For customers, that means greater access to manufacturing expertise. Rick Desrosiers, VP of Business Development, said it best:
“Lance brings decades of experience in the machine tool industry, along with extensive expertise in precision grinding and machining technologies. His deep technical knowledge, combined with years of working closely with customers throughout North America, makes him an outstanding addition to our growing organization.”
Simply put, Lance provides more collaboration, and another trusted resource dedicated to helping projects succeed.
Connect with Lance
Whether you’re evaluating a new manufacturing partner, scaling production, or tackling a particularly difficult precision component, Lance welcomes the opportunity to learn about your challenges.
His approach begins the same way every time: Listen first, understand the application, then work together to identify the right path forward.
Looking for a manufacturing partner that values collaboration as much as precision?
Connect with Lance to start a conversation about your next project, explore KMM’s precision manufacturing capabilities, or request a quote from our engineering team.
Interested in joining a team where experienced manufacturing professionals choose to build their careers?
Visit our Careers page to explore current opportunities at KMM Group.
