What’s the real difference between producing more and earning better?
This is just one of the tough questions that Danilo Maver, Marketing Manager at Porta Solutions, asked Maurizio Porta, the company’s CEO and the author of the Scientific Method for choosing a machining center.
In this interview — direct, unfiltered, and straight to the point — we uncover what truly lies behind the success of the PORTACENTER and why today, talking about cost per part, flexible production, and objective data has become essential for every businessman in the manufacturing industry.
Maurizio shares the evolution of Porta Solutions — from a machine builder to a strategic partner in production — and offers a perspective that challenges long-standing beliefs in the industry:
Real innovation isn’t about making more parts. It’s about making only what’s needed — without waste, and with a method.
If you’re looking for practical inspiration to tackle your next production challenges with clarity, this is a must-read.
Danilo M. : Good morning, Maurizio. Today’s not going to be your typical “business” chat.
I’ve decided to hack into your thinking — like a real hacker would: digging into your reasoning, getting inside your view of business, and uncovering the access keys that allowed you to transform Porta Solutions.
So, fair warning: some of these questions might get a little uncomfortable.
Maurizio P. : Just right, Danilo! That’s exactly how it should be.
If we want to change things, we’ve got to be willing to ask the uncomfortable questions too.
I’m ready.
Question 1
Danilo M. : The first question is simple but direct: why should a businessman listen to you? What have you seen — more clearly or differently — that others are struggling to see?
Maurizio P. : Ever since I was a guy, I have observed my father’s customers.
They had incredibly productive machines — transfer lines that could pump out thousands of parts per hour.
And yet, the complaint was always the same: “We produce a lot, but we struggle to make margins.”
That contradiction really stuck with me: why is there so much production, but so little profit?
That’s when I realized the real issue isn’t about quantity — it’s about how you manage the process and the cost per part.
What I do today is help companies generate less waste and more margin, using a method — not just nice-sounding words.
Question 2
Danilo M. : Alright, let’s talk about cost per part.
Why do you consider it the most underrated — yet most important—metric?
Maurizio P. : Because it’s uncomfortable.
Cost per part forces you to face the naked truth: how much does your production really cost you?
Many people prefer to focus on revenue or number of parts produced—because those numbers “look good on paper”.
But margin — the real margin — can only be measured through cost per part.
To me, it’s not just a formula; it’s the key to running a business in a healthy and profitable way.
Question 3
Danilo M. : Everyone in our industry talks about “flexible production.”
But I get the feeling that very few people really understand what it means.
What does it mean to you?
Maurizio P. : Flexible production doesn’t mean doing everything for everyone.
It means being able to produce exactly what’s needed, at the right time, and at the right cost.
It’s a concept that starts with the process, not the machine.
The PORTACENTER was created to solve exactly that — to enhance flexibility without sacrificing cost competitiveness.
It’s a matter of Method and mindset, even before it’s a matter of technology.
Question 4
Danilo M. : Let’s take another step. Porta Solutions started as Porta Transfer.
When did you realize you needed to move beyond the “product” and change direction?
Maurizio P. : It happened when I realized customers were no longer coming just to buy “a machine.”
They came with a problem to solve: not-increased margins, too long delivery times, low responsiveness.
At that point, the question was clear: do we want to be just a machine supplier or a strategic partner offering real solutions?
And that’s how we became Porta Solutions.
The machine is just a tool. The real solution is the method you use.
Question 5
Danilo M. : This next question will be even more “hacker.”
Let’s talk about resistance to change: how do you unlock a stuck company mindset?
Maurizio P. : With numbers.
Resistance to change can only be overcome with objective data.
When you show a businessman how much it costs them every day not to change, perception becomes reality.
That’s why, in our method, we always put concrete numbers on the table: cycle time, setup, cost per part.
These aren’t opinions — they’re facts. And facts convince and win.
Question 6
Danilo M. : Last question, the most straightforward one: what legacy do you want to leave in the manufacturing industry?
Maurizio P. : I want to leave behind a different way of thinking.
A business approach that doesn’t chase empty production numbers for the sake of production itself, but focuses on earning more by producing smartly.
Real innovation isn’t about making more parts. It’s about making only what’s needed — without waste and with a Method.
Machines are tools. The difference is made by the business model and the data-driven culture.
That’s the legacy I want to leave.
Interview conclusion
Danilo M. : Maurizio, today we did some serious mental hacking.
I believe that after this conversation, many people will see our industry with new eyes.
Thank you!
Would you like to dive deeper into the Porta Production Method and find out if it can truly make a difference in your production?
Get in touch with one of our technical tutors and take the opportunity to analyze your production process.
Fill out the form at porta-solutions.com to be contacted by one of our Technical Tutors.
Or write to tutor@portaproduction.com.
Start with data, not impressions.
Make an informed choice to reduce your cost per part and increase your company’s profit margin.