Two successful entrepreneurs talk about manufacturing, lean principles, and the freedom they are pursuing in life and business.
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The Power of Staying In Your Lane | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E56
1:04:20
1:04:20
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1:04:20
Join Jay and Andrew as they dive deep into the challenges of using Fusion, the nuances of fair use in copyright law, and the art of dressing to impress in the business world (it's actually a thing!). We're picking up where we left off from our future discussion on Andrew's journey in scaling up his business and investing in new equipment. As we do,…
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Crossroads & Clarity: Navigating Big Decisions in Business | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E55
56:42
56:42
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56:42
Andrew is at a crossroads, weighing the decision to expand or relocate his shop, along with the potential purchase of a 5-axis machine. In this episode, Jay helps Andrew navigate the complexities of these big decisions. They delve into how a firm "no" on one major issue brought Andrew much-needed clarity. They explore the emotional investment requi…
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Don't Be Blind To The Future | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E54
47:31
47:31
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47:31
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.By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Creating A Company You Can Sell One Day | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E53
44:00
44:00
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44:00
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 n…
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When Saving Money Costs Too Much | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E52
1:04:18
1:04:18
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1:04:18
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 stra…
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How Companies Die | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E51
42:27
42:27
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42:27
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 learne…
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Just Try It | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E50
38:49
38:49
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38:49
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 innovati…
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The Art of Customer Disappointment | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E49
1:00:30
1:00:30
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1:00:30
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…
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Eat, Sleep, Succeed | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E48
30:24
30:24
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30:24
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.By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Document or Die | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E47
51:33
51:33
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51:33
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 ex…
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Days Off That Are Days On | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E46
52:35
52:35
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52:35
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-Pr…
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Layout Or Location? | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E45
36:14
36:14
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36:14
Jay and Andrew talk building for growth, shop layout, removing unnecessary items, morning meetings, and more.By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Morning Meetings That Actually Work | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E44
52:41
52:41
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52:41
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 …
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Terrible Design That MAKES You Mess Up | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E43
44:30
44:30
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44:30
"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 t…
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Don't Hire Too Quickly | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E42
47:36
47:36
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47:36
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,…
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Prioritize Finishing Before Starting | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E41
29:47
29:47
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29:47
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.By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Buy Machines the Smart Way | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E40
41:00
41:00
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41:00
Jay and Andrew talk the eclipse, the joys of 3d printing, and the thought process behind what machines they own.By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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I'm The One Who Sets Me Up To Fail | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E39
45:07
45:07
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45:07
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 imp…
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Avoiding Decision Fatigue | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E38
41:14
41:14
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41:14
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."By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Grow Fast or Grow Slow? | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E37
53:49
53:49
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53:49
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 fr…
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Machine Malfunctions to Avoid | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E36
45:37
45:37
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45:37
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 de…
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When Does Analog Beat Digital? | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E35
34:27
34:27
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34:27
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…
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The Power of Deletion | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E34
43:29
43:29
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43:29
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 …
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Using Kanban To Expose Weaknesses | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E33
40:50
40:50
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40:50
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: Tech…
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Find the Answer Where You Ask the Question | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E32
31:47
31:47
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31:47
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.By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Lessons from a Lathe | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E31
48:15
48:15
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48:15
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.By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Money Buys You an Easy Button | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E30
43:28
43:28
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43:28
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 an…
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Technology Should Never Be The Bottleneck | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E29
49:28
49:28
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49:28
Andrew and Jay talk about building in margin, feeding your interest and curiosity, doing life-giving things, why you might not want to tie up funds in overstock, why technology should never be the bottleneck, and more. Book mentioned: New Manufacturing Challenge: Techniques for Continuous Improvement by Kiyoshi Suzaki.…
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The Best Expeditor is No Expeditor | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E28
42:49
42:49
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42:49
Jay and Andrew talk leadership development, hiring when you don't need people, utility players vs bench players, where KPIs (key performance indicators) are useful and where they aren't, why the best expeditor is no expeditor, where to place a lathe, and more. Books mentioned: The New Manager's Handbook: 24 Lessons for Mastering Your New Role by Mo…
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Inflexible Lean is Bad Lean | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E27
45:07
45:07
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45:07
Andrew and Jay discuss some of the lessons from 2023. Topics include the need for lean to be flexible, how lean should align with a company's culture, the importance of intentional lean practices, setting diverse goals for different companies, establishing and executing measurable goals for employees, fostering employee ownership in their respectiv…
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Buying Ahead can be a Big Mistake | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E26
48:15
48:15
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48:15
Jay and Andrew discusses Andrew's new company truck (which he bought in the least lean environment possible), how buying ahead to appease short-term tax write-offs can be a long-term bad investment, avoiding long term accounts receivable, cash flow vs cash position, trusting employees with their own credit cards, same day shipping and package track…
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Lulled in by Robots | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E25
1:11:04
1:11:04
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Jay and Andrew talk about Andrew’s forklift and how he’s applying “digital training wheels,” how robots and automation can lead you astray, seeing how pain and expense add up, using AI to make expertise scalable to a wider audience, and much more.By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Handling a Backlog with Lean | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E24
36:39
36:39
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How do you handle a backlog with lean? Andrew gives a little masterclass on that, since he just had to do it, thanks to the holidays and employee sickness. Then Jay talks about why he's thinking about getting a space pod (office pod or silence booth). Plus, they talk about why adding Credit Key was good for Jay, making quality of life improvements …
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"Use it or lose it" is a losing philosophy | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E23
50:02
50:02
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50:02
Jay and Andrew talk about Andrew's new forklift, the pros and cons of handling inventory for other shops, tax incentive buys at the end of the year, as-needed budgets, systems vs goals, "use it or lose it" mentality in bigger companies, delaying gratification for wants (but not needs!), and how to avoid being at the mercy of the supply chain.…
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Free, New and NOBODY Wanted It! | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E22
51:49
51:49
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51:49
Andrew and Jay continue to talk about what kind of lathe would Andrew like, as well as false ways of achieving economy, the drawbacks of big sales, seeing where you only partially think of things, the value of high-priced CEO meetings, and more. Books mentioned: How to Sell at Margins Higher Than Your Competitor by Lawrence Steinmetz. Alchemy: The …
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The data is never fully pristine | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E21
43:35
43:35
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43:35
Jay and Andrew discuss the benefits and dangers of allowing people to buy on a payment plan, nurturing good relationships with vendors, reevaluating the company after the loss of a key employee, job prioritization, custom software, and calculating true cost. Additionally, they pose an important question: Does your ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)…
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'Monkey Like Shiny' Syndrome | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E20
57:11
57:11
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57:11
Should Andrew buy a lathe? This is the question of the hour, leading to all sorts of useful discussions, such as ... do you spend money on a crummy machine just to learn? Or buy your good one first? If you have a machine, will the work come? What happens if getting use out of a machine relies on one rockstar employee? How do you play the odds in a …
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Would you start over with what you know now? | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E19
1:16:18
1:16:18
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Jay and Andrew talk 3D printers, color matching vs color coding, after-market mods, and ponder what it would take to sell their companies and start from scratch with what they know now.By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Where are the problems happening? | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E18
44:20
44:20
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44:20
Andrew is putting off buying a lathe, which leads to a discussion of what to prioritize in buying machines, returns and exchanges, how Amazon makes it easier for people to rip you off, and more.By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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I Paid $3,000 for THEIR Mistake! | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E17
48:31
48:31
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48:31
Andrew and Jay talk about teamwork, pushing a machine until you break it (to learn how far you can push it), onboarding new vendors (plus vendor management in general), over-communicating as a violation of lean principles, organizational clarity, and more. Books mentioned: The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive: A leadership Fable by Pat…
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Don't Burn Up Goodwill | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E16
1:18:32
1:18:32
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1:18:32
Jay and Andrew talk about Jay's new Zeiss CMM, how to not burn up somebody's goodwill, documenting processes, face to face versus shoulder to shoulder versus face to screen, the high cost of small errors, and the dangers of automation. Plus Jay pushes back on whether Andrew should get a lathe ... side quests are dangerous!…
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Construction, Shop Layout and Unknowns | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E15
52:06
52:06
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52:06
Jay and Andrew talk about lean drift in other shops, waiting on other contractors, construction crews doing wrong things, shop layout improvements, inventory systems, known knowns vs. known unknowns vs. unknown unknowns, when routine becomes inhibiting, customers wanting to modify equipment, and more.…
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Company Culture IS a Magnet! | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E14
57:41
57:41
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57:41
Andrew and Jay talk a lot about the philosophy of buying machines ... do you buy a piece of junk first just to learn? Or sink money into something great when you don't know what you're doing? They also talk about hiring, finding good candidates, company culture, how the manufacturing industry is and isn't like the software industry, and much more.…
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Relying on memory is a process without guardrails | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E13
56:59
56:59
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56:59
Jay has some riggers coming which leads to a discussion of memory and checklists, dealing with dishonest sales reps, give-aways and order returns, plus Andrew's new 3D printer!By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Optimizing processes that shouldn't exist | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E12
1:17:34
1:17:34
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1:17:34
Andrew and Jay talk updating workflow, picking battles, the "three-legged stool", optimizing processes, top line vs bottom line, the importance of trust, helping people in an efficient way, and much more.By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Fixing problems, not symptoms | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E11
53:57
53:57
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53:57
Andrew and Jay talk about fixing problems (not symptoms), teaching employees without making assumptions about what's intuitive, Fusion 360 vs Solidworks, stress and control in decision making, half measures, the 95% rule, and a lot more!By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Communicate, Communicate then Over-Communicate | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E10
1:03:12
1:03:12
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Andrew and Jay talk about communicating lead times, managing customer expectations, the mystery of memory, malice vs. incompetence, and much more.By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Real Value vs Perceived Value | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E9
53:32
53:32
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53:32
Jay talks about why he walked away from a big purchase because of a feeling, Andrew talks about the perils of moving shop, they both talk about perceived value versus psychological value, and a whole more.By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Our Lego Test for Hiring | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E8
50:20
50:20
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50:20
Jay and Andrew talk about customer service software, systemization, and problems with shipping, plus Jay talks about how he smokes everyone on building a lego set ... and the business application of said skill.By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Do you have a Competitive Advantage? | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E7
1:11:15
1:11:15
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Andrew and Jay talk about buying used equipment, navigating vacations, interoffice communication, the "Lego test", competitive advantage, and more.By Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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