Hardware Podcasts

Dimming the Lights: How to Build a Shop Ready for Automation, Ep #17

Lights Out · 6 Jun 2025 · 44m · Episode 17

What this episode covers

Hosts Nick Golner, Caleb Mertz, and David Buick launch the 'Automation Academy' series, arguing that machine shop automation is a survival necessity driven by labor shortages and global competition. Caleb Mertz, an automation integrator, explains that shops must first stabilize processes through standardization, 0-point fixturing, and value stream mapping before investing in hardware. The hosts emphasize that automation is about upskilling workers and proving ROI through KPIs, rather than simply replacing labor with robots.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Making Chips
Products
KOBAs
Tools
ProShop ERP

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