The 20-Hour Machine: Automation, Throughput & Smarter Capacity Planning, Ep #42
Mike Padilla, founder of Hill Manufacturing, and Nick Golner of Making Chips discuss how Hill is using automation and strategic capital expenditure planning to scale capacity without simply adding headcount. They detail the concept of the '20-hour machine,' explaining that realistic unattended runtime targets must account for tooling and setups, and how integrating machine monitoring with tool life optimization prevents costly crashes during lights-out operations. The conversation highlights how automation frees skilled machinists from 'doorman' tasks to focus on higher-value work, while also emphasizing the critical importance of vendor service support and calculating the true cost of downtime when making equipment investments.
