# Don't Automate Chaos: Running Lights Out with Sarah Wierman of Fastems, Ep #45

- Show: [Lights Out](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out)
- Published: 2026-07-17
- Length: 59m
- Episode: 45
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-17-dont-automate-chaos-running-lights-out-with-sarah-wierman-of-fastems-ep-45
- Listen: https://8819970d-2c51-481c-b08a-4d2a806885b2.libsyn.com/dont-automate-chaos-running-lights-out-with-sarah-wierman-of-fastems-ep-45

## Summary

Sarah Wierman of Fastems explains why automation is driven by labor shortages and retirements rather than just replacing people, and why shops must standardize processes before automating. She describes Fastems as a production orchestration company whose core product is the MMS software, which plans, runs, and monitors production, including predictive tool life alerts up to 96 hours in advance. Wierman emphasizes that repeatable workholding is the foundation of any automation strategy and advises shop owners to document practices and track downtime to avoid automating chaos.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-17-dont-automate-chaos-running-lights-out-with-sarah-wierman-of-fastems-ep-45#t=0) Introduction and Guest Background
- [10:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-17-dont-automate-chaos-running-lights-out-with-sarah-wierman-of-fastems-ep-45#t=623) The Necessity of Automation: Labor and Flexibility
- [15:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-17-dont-automate-chaos-running-lights-out-with-sarah-wierman-of-fastems-ep-45#t=942) Fastems as Production Orchestration and MMS Software
- [25:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-17-dont-automate-chaos-running-lights-out-with-sarah-wierman-of-fastems-ep-45#t=1525) Discovery Process and High-Mix Automation
- [32:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-17-dont-automate-chaos-running-lights-out-with-sarah-wierman-of-fastems-ep-45#t=1924) Predictive Tooling and GTS/CTS Systems
- [37:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-17-dont-automate-chaos-running-lights-out-with-sarah-wierman-of-fastems-ep-45#t=2231) Workholding Foundation and Tribal Knowledge
- [47:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-17-dont-automate-chaos-running-lights-out-with-sarah-wierman-of-fastems-ep-45#t=2863) Career Journey and Sales Philosophy
- [53:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-17-dont-automate-chaos-running-lights-out-with-sarah-wierman-of-fastems-ep-45#t=3211) Three Tactics for Automation Readiness

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Fastems (company)
- MMS (product)
- SMW Autoblok (company)
- DN Solutions (company)
- Henning Automation (company)
- Raptor Work Holding (company)
- GTS (product)
- CTS (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [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)
- [341 - 2 Kings talk about "people-ing", data, and Compton High](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-02-20-341-2-kings-talk-about-people-ing-data-and-compton-high) (People of Packaging)
- [BONUS - What's the SCOOP - 2022 Trends with Cogiscan's Michael Ho](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2021-12-14-bonus-whats-the-scoop-2022-trends-with-cogiscans-michael-ho) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Bonus Episode - The EMS (Eric Miscoll Show) - Talent: Attracting, Training, and Retaining it and Mitigating Scarcity](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-24-bonus-episode-the-ems-eric-miscoll-show-talent-attracting-training-and-retaining) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

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