# How to Prioritize Flexibility when You Invest in Automation, Ep #4

- Show: [Lights Out](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out)
- Published: 2024-11-20
- Length: 36m
- Episode: 4
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2024-11-20-how-to-prioritize-flexibility-when-you-invest-in-automation-ep-4
- Listen: https://8819970d-2c51-481c-b08a-4d2a806885b2.libsyn.com/how-to-prioritize-flexibility-when-you-invest-in-automation-ep-4

## Summary

Tom Schroeder, Executive Vice President at PBC Linear, explains how the company replaced an aging Hitachi Seiki flexible manufacturing system (FMS) with a new MCM system to prioritize flexibility and solve high-mix, low-volume production challenges. He details the transition from rigid, machine-specific tooling to a centralized shuttle system with RFID-tracked tools, which reduced cycle times by 40% and eliminated the need for duplicate tooling. Schroeder emphasizes a 'failing forward' approach to automation, citing lessons learned from chip evacuation and drilling issues, and argues that automation creates jobs by automating non-value-added tasks rather than reducing headcount.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2024-11-20-how-to-prioritize-flexibility-when-you-invest-in-automation-ep-4#t=0) Introduction: Tom Schroeder and PBC Linear
- [4:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2024-11-20-how-to-prioritize-flexibility-when-you-invest-in-automation-ep-4#t=296) The Chip on Your Shoulder: Deburring and Entrepreneurial Culture
- [11:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2024-11-20-how-to-prioritize-flexibility-when-you-invest-in-automation-ep-4#t=694) Replacing the Hitachi Seiki FMS with MCM
- [16:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2024-11-20-how-to-prioritize-flexibility-when-you-invest-in-automation-ep-4#t=1011) MCM System Features: Centralized Tooling and RFID
- [23:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2024-11-20-how-to-prioritize-flexibility-when-you-invest-in-automation-ep-4#t=1418) Steps to Automate: Fixturing and Process Validation
- [26:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2024-11-20-how-to-prioritize-flexibility-when-you-invest-in-automation-ep-4#t=1573) The Necessity of Automation: Demographics and Labor Shortages
- [29:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2024-11-20-how-to-prioritize-flexibility-when-you-invest-in-automation-ep-4#t=1794) Innovation: Digital Automation and Configurator
- [32:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2024-11-20-how-to-prioritize-flexibility-when-you-invest-in-automation-ep-4#t=1948) Automation Creates Jobs, Not Redundancy

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- PBC Linear (company)
- MCM (company)
- Hitachi Seiki (company)
- NetSuite (tool)
- RFID (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Robot-Lean: Synthesizing Automation and Lean Manufacturing w/ Alex Webster](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-06-03-robot-lean-synthesizing-automation-and-lean-manufacturing-w-alex-webster) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [The New ROI of Automation w/ Scot Lindemann](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-08-the-new-roi-of-automation-w-scot-lindemann) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Bonus - That SCOOP Show Productronica Preview - Rob Raine and Alexander Hagenfeldt from ASM Assembly Solutions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2021-10-28-bonus-that-scoop-show-productronica-preview-rob-raine-and-alexander-hagenfeldt-f) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Amplifiers of the workforce: The future of robots in manufacturing w/ Ryan Lillibridge](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-04-06-amplifiers-of-the-workforce-the-future-of-robots-in-manufacturing-w-ryan-lillibr) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [208: Why High-Mix Manufacturing Is a Sweet Spot for Flexible Automation and AI with Rajat Bhageria, Founder & CEO of Chef Robotics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-10-22-208-why-high-mix-manufacturing-is-a-sweet-spot-for-flexible-automation-and-ai-wi) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2024-11-20-how-to-prioritize-flexibility-when-you-invest-in-automation-ep-4. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Lights Out.