# You Don't Have a Capacity Problem — You Have a Visibility Problem, Ep #44 - Show: [Lights Out](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out) - Published: 2026-07-03 - Length: 59m - Episode: 44 - Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-03-you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44 - Listen: https://8819970d-2c51-481c-b08a-4d2a806885b2.libsyn.com/you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44 ## Summary Brian Anderson, Solutions Architect at ProShop ERP, explains that machine shops often mistake visibility problems for capacity issues, leading to misguided investments in staff or equipment. He details how ProShop ERP provides end-to-end visibility through features like contract review and digital work instructions, allowing shops to identify root causes like shipping errors or poor tool life management. Anderson advocates for using data to optimize utilization—such as splitting jobs for unattended roughing—rather than simply adding headcount, emphasizing that small, continuous improvements compound to solve systemic bottlenecks. ## Chapters - [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-03-you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44#t=0) Introduction: The five-minute shipping mistake - [2:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-03-you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44#t=141) Meet Brian Anderson and ProShop's Solutions Architect role - [4:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-03-you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44#t=266) How ProShop ERP works inside of and transforms your business - [11:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-03-you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44#t=660) Brian's path from high-school machinist to employee number - [18:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-03-you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44#t=1089) The problem shops think they have vs. the one they actually have - [20:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-03-you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44#t=1235) Telling an owner their process is broken without losing the room - [24:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-03-you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44#t=1466) Capacity problem or utilization problem? Define it right first - [28:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-03-you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44#t=1687) Whole-shop throughput and why a machine-specific ERP wins - [29:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-03-you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44#t=1754) Planning the whole job: tooling, purchasing, and cash flow - [29:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-03-you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44#t=1754) Post-it notes get lost, digital work instructions don't - [29:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-03-you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44#t=1754) Split a job to rough parts overnight and reclaim uptime - [34:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-03-you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44#t=2099) Visibility, lean, and the theory of constraints on a real floor - [39:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-03-you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44#t=2350) The Goellner Way, one percent better, and 'I've always done it this way' - [41:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-03-you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44#t=2513) IMTS Job Shops Workshop: practical ideas for shop pros - [42:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-03-you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44#t=2564) A five-minute shipping check that quietly eats hours off your week ## Topics - [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield) - [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production) - [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing) - [Factory operations & automation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/factory-operations) - [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning) - [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain) ## Most relevant to early-stage companies ## Mentioned - ProShop ERP (product) - Pro CNC (company) - International Medical Device Manufacturer (company) - Hennig workflow automation system (product) - Claude (tool) - Co-Work (tool) - IMTS (other) ## Related episodes from other shows - [Focusing on the Constraint to Drive Meaningful Results](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-05-03-focusing-on-the-constraint-to-drive-meaningful-results) (The Manufacturing Executive) - [250: How to Uncover Your "Hidden Factory" and Extract More Value from the Plant Floor featuring Tri Tech Automation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-08-26-250-how-to-uncover-your-hidden-factory-and-extract-more-value-from-the-plant-flo) (Manufacturing Happy Hour) - [Using Business Process as a Differentiator with Paul Van Metre](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2020-12-29-using-business-process-as-a-differentiator-with-paul-van-metre) (Manufacturing Happy Hour) - [BONUS: From Spreadsheets to MRP: How SMB Manufacturers Are Improving Visibility to Inventory and Costs with MRPeasy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-04-24-bonus-from-spreadsheets-to-mrp-how-smb-manufacturers-are-improving-visibility-to) (Manufacturing Happy Hour) - [How to Fix a Factory: Influencing the Direction of Your Company w/ Rob Tracy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2020-07-28-how-to-fix-a-factory-influencing-the-direction-of-your-company-w-rob-tracy) (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/2026-07-03-you-dont-have-a-capacity-problem-you-have-a-visibility-problem-ep-44. 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.