# The Throughput Mindset: How Automation and Culture Drive Success, Ep #11

- Show: [Lights Out](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out)
- Published: 2025-01-22
- Length: 48m
- Episode: 11
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-01-22-the-throughput-mindset-how-automation-and-culture-drive-success-ep-11
- Listen: https://8819970d-2c51-481c-b08a-4d2a806885b2.libsyn.com/the-throughput-mindset-how-automation-and-culture-drive-success-ep-11

## Summary

Max Rothenhausler, Vice President of 21st Century Machine Tools, joins hosts Nick Golner and Kaleb Mertz to discuss the 'throughput mindset' in machine shops. They explore how automation, such as pallet delivery systems and robots, shifts operators from manual loading to high-value programming, addressing the industry's skilled labor shortage. The conversation covers the challenges of dealer-end-user collaboration, the importance of trust-based partnerships, and the future structure of machine tool dealerships.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-01-22-the-throughput-mindset-how-automation-and-culture-drive-success-ep-11#t=0) Introduction and Max Rothenhausler's Origin Story
- [11:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-01-22-the-throughput-mindset-how-automation-and-culture-drive-success-ep-11#t=696) Collaborative Automation Projects with DN Solutions
- [14:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-01-22-the-throughput-mindset-how-automation-and-culture-drive-success-ep-11#t=891) Overcoming Old-School Mindsets and Labor Shortages
- [15:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-01-22-the-throughput-mindset-how-automation-and-culture-drive-success-ep-11#t=940) Dealer vs. End-User Collaboration Dynamics
- [28:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-01-22-the-throughput-mindset-how-automation-and-culture-drive-success-ep-11#t=1696) The Future Machine Shop and Workforce Challenges
- [33:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-01-22-the-throughput-mindset-how-automation-and-culture-drive-success-ep-11#t=2008) Structuring the Dealership of the Future
- [44:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-01-22-the-throughput-mindset-how-automation-and-culture-drive-success-ep-11#t=2674) Partnerships and Customer-Centric Success

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- 21st Century Machine Tools (company)
- DN Solutions (company)
- AME (company)
- Trinity system (product)
- DVF 5000 (product)
- Hennig (company)

## 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)
- [243: Inside Automate 2025: Robotics, Automation Trends, and Expert Insights from Automate LIVE](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-07-01-243-inside-automate-2025-robotics-automation-trends-and-expert-insights-from-aut) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [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)
- [287: The Art of Precision Manufacturing: Why Humans Still Matter on the Factory Floor | Live from The Manufacturing Exchange in Rochester, NY (Powered by Fathom)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-05-12-287-the-art-of-precision-manufacturing-why-humans-still-matter-on-the-factory-fl) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Smarter Manufacturing in an Evolving Ecosystem w/ Chris Lupfer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-02-04-smarter-manufacturing-in-an-evolving-ecosystem-w-chris-lupfer) (The Manufacturing Executive)

## 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/2025-01-22-the-throughput-mindset-how-automation-and-culture-drive-success-ep-11. 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.