# How Design-First Thinking Supercharges Manufacturing Performance with Clarity Design Founder Tom Lupfer

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2026-03-11
- Length: 9m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-03-11-how-design-first-thinking-supercharges-manufacturing-performance-with-clarity-de

## Summary

Tom Lupfer, President and Founder of Clarity Design, explains how integrating engineering and manufacturing under one roof creates a competitive advantage for his Southern California-based EMS company. He details how data from Ko Young inspection systems (SPI and AOI) and Python-driven automation closes the loop between design intent and production reality, enabling rapid redesigns during the pandemic supply chain crisis. Lupfer also discusses the company's strategic focus on medical devices, leveraging ISO 13485 and FDA registration to serve regulated customers, while emphasizing a hiring philosophy that places engineers directly in front of clients to ensure manufacturability and speed.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-03-11-how-design-first-thinking-supercharges-manufacturing-performance-with-clarity-de#t=8) Introduction: Tom Lupfer and Clarity Design's founding story
- [1:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-03-11-how-design-first-thinking-supercharges-manufacturing-performance-with-clarity-de#t=89) Integrating design and manufacturing with Python automation
- [3:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-03-11-how-design-first-thinking-supercharges-manufacturing-performance-with-clarity-de#t=187) Pandemic resilience and sustaining engineering value-add
- [3:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-03-11-how-design-first-thinking-supercharges-manufacturing-performance-with-clarity-de#t=217) Medical device niche: ISO 13485, FDA, and ITAR compliance
- [5:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-03-11-how-design-first-thinking-supercharges-manufacturing-performance-with-clarity-de#t=345) Selecting strategic partners: Ko Young and Yamaha equipment
- [8:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-03-11-how-design-first-thinking-supercharges-manufacturing-performance-with-clarity-de#t=495) Hiring philosophy and engineering culture

## Topics

- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Clarity Design (company)
- Ko Young (company)
- Yamaha (company)
- ISO 9001 (other)
- ISO 13485 (other)
- FDA (other)
- ITAR (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#461: Why Manufacturing is Part of Product Development with Mike Dolphin](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-06-22-461-why-manufacturing-is-part-of-product-development-with-mike-dolphin) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [A Look Inside Medical Device Manufacturing with Philips’ Natalia Mendez](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-09-27-a-look-inside-medical-device-manufacturing-with-philips-natalia-mendez) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [211: Establishing Product Manufacturing Operations](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-01-28-211-establishing-product-manufacturing-operations) (Product Startup)
- [When Production Overtakes Prototyping: Materialise’s Next Phase of AM](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-10-13-when-production-overtakes-prototyping-materialises-next-phase-of-am) (Additive Snack)
- [An Interview with Chris Denney](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-10-15-an-interview-with-chris-denney) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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