Lean Built: Manufacturing Freedom

Andrew and Jay talk about automation (Jay's buying another robot!), solving unexpected space problems, how to not be myopic about the future, and more.

Andrew and Jay talk about the necessity of vacation, why math SHOULD be (somewhat) emotional, known cost versus unknown upside, upscaling so you can do a job versus getting a job and then upscaling, bringing remote workers in, and things you can be doing right now to create a company with real value, the kind of value you can sell (even if you're not planning to do so for years or ever).

Join Jay and Andrew as they delve into their deep-seated skepticism towards multipurpose products, discuss why some cost-cutting measures can be counterproductive, and explore the concept of (imagining) scaling their business tenfold to uncover hidden bottlenecks. They also examine the importance of hiring individuals who elevate the team, the strategic use of loss leaders, the fine line between e...

What is the lifespan of a company? What should be the lifespan of a company? How long should you want your company to last? Are you trying to build the next Samsung/Apple/whatever or something that lasts a single lifetime? Jay visited the Haas facility recently, and Andrew toured some shops as well. In this episode, they talk about what they learned.

Andrew and Jay discuss the art of identifying true anomalies in your business ... when is something worth pivoting for and when is it not? They also talk about tradeoffs and how to keep your eye on long-term goals, some hands-on tips for working Fusion, and the  "just try it" mindset, encouraging a spirit of experimentation that can lead to innovative breakthroughs.

Jay and Andrew dive into the secrets of maintaining productivity amidst workplace interruptions, mastering remote collaboration, and leveraging tools like Slack and Signal for seamless communication. They also talk about the surprising benefits of groupthink, and the art of knowing when it's actually beneficial to disappoint customers—and when it's critical not to.

You may or may not like it, but it turns out food and sleep are both an important part of your strategy for succeeding at any type of business. In this episode, Andrew and Jay give their thoughts.

Join Andrew and Jay as they talk companies that couldn't make the cut and uncover why sometimes taking the passenger seat can be the smartest move. Andrew shares his concept of digital office hours—a game changer for remote workers. Plus, learn why meticulous documentation is not just a growth catalyst but also your golden ticket to a successful exit strategy.

Jay begins by talking about taking multiple weeks off...as a highly recommended strategic way to help his business. Then  Andrew and Jay talk about fusion file management, team meetings, onboarding remote workers, and why you can't "delegate your gut." Books mentioned: Poka-Yoke: Improving Product Quality by Preventing Defects . Poka-Yoke: Mistake-Proofing for Zero Defects by Hiroyuki Hirano. 

Jay and Andrew talk building for growth, shop layout, removing unnecessary items, morning meetings, and more.

Jay and Andrew talk about the Remarkable tablet and effective idea dumping. Then they both describe their morning meetings and talk about how you inspire people with your company culture ... without reducing it to a bunch of corporate gobbledegook. Books discussed: Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. The Design of Everyday Things  by Don Norman.

"When I lay in bed at night as a young, hungry, naive entrepreneur, I could barely contain my joy at the thought of filing sales tax forms with a dozen states every month."—Andrew on the joy of state taxes, one of a few subjects he and Jay cover in this week's episode. Mostly, they talk about design. Good, intuitive design that takes into account the way real people think and work. And bad, terrib...

Andrew and Jay talk about whether they would ever purchase housing for out-of-town workers or clients, why most problems are math problems, how to inculcate company culture in remote workers, why you shouldn't hire too quickly, slips vs mistakes, design that you shouldn't notice, "Swiss cheese problems", and thoughtless outsourcing. In other words, there's plenty to chew on in this episode of Lean...

Andrew and Jay continue to explore the challenges they're facing, including website woes, and brainstorming solutions for keeping customers in the loop about new projects and product releases.

Jay and Andrew talk the eclipse, the joys of 3d printing, and the thought process behind what machines they own.

This episode starts on a somber note as Jay and Andrew both had deaths of people they loved. This leads to a discussion of legacy and what they want to leave behind as shop owners and men. They also discuss Andrew's new idea of dedicated "improvement time", hiring and onboarding remote workers, and Jay's idea for a Gordon Ramsey like show about improving shops (it would be awesome).

How do you avoid decision fatigue? How many good decisions can you make in one day? How can you make your decisions ahead of time? How can you brainstorm effectively? These are a few of the important issues Jay and Andrew tackle in this episode of "Lean Built."

From discussing the merits of expanding quickly versus gradually to exploring the pivotal role of the shop floor in fostering career development, Andrew and Jay have a lot to talk about in this episode.  They tackle the idea that anything repetitive should be automatable and ponder what it takes to build a company where employees aspire to retire from. They also examine the importance of assemblin...

In this episode of Lean Built,  Andrew and Jay dive into the world of machining mishaps and shop space dreams. Andrew recounts the story of a wild thing that happened during vacuum workholding, which leads to some tips for safe vacuum hold-down machining—plus a discussion of other downright scary machine malfunctions. Plus Jay and Andrew begin to delve into the topic of planning for future shop ex...

First up, Jay and Andrew dive into the art  of effectively documenting workflows. How do you avoid the pitfall of keeping everything in your head? Next, they explore the world of AI and how it can be used to address frequently asked customer queries. Then Jay shares a story of transitioning a process from digital to analog, prompting a discussion on the pros and cons of both digital and analog met...

Jay and Andrew talk about the power of deletion and the joy of 3D printing. They discuss the importance of embracing the development process, even when it includes ideas that don't work out. They offer insights on how to effectively engage with influencer marketing (there's a way to do it and a way not to do it). Plus Andrew reveals his trade show strategies. 

Andrew and Jay talk about keeping the right amount of inventory without causing a bottleneck, the awesomeness of vertical lift modules (and just generally turning square feet into cubic feet), avoiding monuments in the shop, and how kanban is not just cards ... it's a system for exposing weaknesses. Book discussed: New Manufacturing Challenge: Techniques for Continuous Improvement  by Kiyoshi Suza...

Andrew and Jay delve into the depths of lean maturity (or the absence of it), discussing how small companies can avoid reinventing the wheel, skillfully use redundancy, adhere to fundamental lean principles, and deliver answers right where the questions are most likely to be asked.

Andrew's just got a new lathe and we talk about it in this episode. There are plenty of challenges, including moving the shop layout. We also talk about how new employees help you find problems, and Rock Fuel University.

Jay and Andrew talk about rigging, how money eases the way, making our environment serve us, relationships vs profit, establishing value through the right comparison, and much more. Books mentioned: Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don't Make Sense  by Rory Sutherland. The Brand Gap: How to Bridge the Distance Between Business Strategy and Design  by Marty Neumeier. New Manufacturing Ch...