# S5E45 Andy Wells | Touching Lives Through Engineering (Rerun)

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2024-11-08
- Length: 1h 00m
- Episode: 45
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-08-s5e45-andy-wells-touching-lives-through-engineering-rerun

## Summary

Andy Wells, founder and CEO of Wells Technology, shares his journey from a poverty-stricken upbringing to building a successful manufacturing business in Minnesota. He discusses the early challenges of starting Wells Tech with only $1,300, the pivot to pneumatic tools, and the critical importance of design for manufacturability (DFM) and tolerance management in CNC machining. Wells also details his social engineering initiative, which trains individuals with felonies or from disadvantaged backgrounds, transforming them into skilled technicians and loyal employees.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-08-s5e45-andy-wells-touching-lives-through-engineering-rerun#t=1) Introduction: Andy Wells and Wells Technology
- [1:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-08-s5e45-andy-wells-touching-lives-through-engineering-rerun#t=98) Early Life and Creativity on the Farm
- [6:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-08-s5e45-andy-wells-touching-lives-through-engineering-rerun#t=402) Polaris Industries and the Decision to Go to School
- [15:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-08-s5e45-andy-wells-touching-lives-through-engineering-rerun#t=938) Founding Wells Technology and Early Struggles
- [24:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-08-s5e45-andy-wells-touching-lives-through-engineering-rerun#t=1442) Building Customer Relationships and Integrity
- [36:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-08-s5e45-andy-wells-touching-lives-through-engineering-rerun#t=2195) Design for Manufacturability and Tolerances
- [46:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-08-s5e45-andy-wells-touching-lives-through-engineering-rerun#t=2784) Social Engineering and Hiring Second-Chance Workers
- [56:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-08-s5e45-andy-wells-touching-lives-through-engineering-rerun#t=3398) Engineering as a Way of Life and Final Thoughts

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Wells Technology (company)
- Polaris Industries (company)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)
- CNC machine (tool)
- pneumatic shears (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep. 8 - Ryan from V1 Engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-11-09-ep-8-ryan-from-v1-engineering) (Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast)
- [Why We’re Proud to Be Manufacturers & Engineers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-08-03-why-were-proud-to-be-manufacturers-engineers) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 14 - FiftyThree (12/17)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2014-01-06-afterschool-podcast-episode-14-fiftythree-12-17) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Em Moshouris (Founder, WORC)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-02-11-em-moshouris-founder-worc) (Just Gonna Send It)
- [STL 70: Lie-Nielsen Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2014-10-17-stl-70-lie-nielsen-live) (Shop Talk Live)

## Citing this page

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