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

- Show: [Lights Out](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out)
- Published: 2025-06-06
- Length: 44m
- Episode: 17
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-06-06-dimming-the-lights-how-to-build-a-shop-ready-for-automation-ep-17
- Listen: https://8819970d-2c51-481c-b08a-4d2a806885b2.libsyn.com/dimming-the-lights-how-to-build-a-shop-ready-for-automation-ep-17

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [2:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-06-06-dimming-the-lights-how-to-build-a-shop-ready-for-automation-ep-17#t=170) Introduction: Launching the Automation Academy
- [5:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-06-06-dimming-the-lights-how-to-build-a-shop-ready-for-automation-ep-17#t=357) The Labor Gap and Global Competition
- [17:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-06-06-dimming-the-lights-how-to-build-a-shop-ready-for-automation-ep-17#t=1076) Mapping Processes and Standardization
- [30:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-06-06-dimming-the-lights-how-to-build-a-shop-ready-for-automation-ep-17#t=1850) Pre-Automation Readiness and Infrastructure
- [37:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-06-06-dimming-the-lights-how-to-build-a-shop-ready-for-automation-ep-17#t=2244) Cobots, KOBAs, and Future KPIs

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Test & measurement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/test-and-measurement)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- ProShop ERP (tool)
- Making Chips (company)
- KOBAs (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [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)
- [276: 2026 Automation Industry Outlook, Live from the A3 Business Forum](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-24-276-2026-automation-industry-outlook-live-from-the-a3-business-forum) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [How to Solve the Technology Hesitancy Issue in Manufacturing w/ Erik Nieves](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-09-07-how-to-solve-the-technology-hesitancy-issue-in-manufacturing-w-erik-nieves) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [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)

## 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/2025-06-06-dimming-the-lights-how-to-build-a-shop-ready-for-automation-ep-17. 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.