The $5 Automation Project Hiding in Your Shop | Ep. 50

Lights Out · 25 Sept 2026 · 52m · Episode 50

What this episode covers

Uriel Eisen, founder of Arda and Austere Manufacturing, explains how he doubled throughput in his 325-square-foot shop by implementing Kanban and lean principles rather than buying robots. He details the transition from index cards to his software platform, Arda, to solve inventory stockouts that were derailing production. Eisen discusses the hidden costs of micro-interruptions, the importance of reliability over cycle time, and how reducing friction in processes like tooling and ordering yields faster ROI than expensive automation.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies: Austere Manufacturing, SMW Autoblok, DN Solutions, Factur
Products: Arda, Tormach, Speedio
Also: Paul Akers

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The $5 Automation Project Hiding in Your Shop | Ep. 50

What this episode covers

Most relevant to

Topics

Mentioned

Related episodes from other shows

Robot-Lean: Synthesizing Automation and Lean Manufacturing w/ Alex Webster

Bringing Lean Manufacturing to Life Through Visual Workspaces w/ Steve Riley

The New ROI of Automation w/ Scot Lindemann

S7E30 Steve Riley | Small Improvements, Big ROI: Lessons from the Factory Floor

#068 - Challenges of small manufacturers to organise their production and inventory, with Kristjan Vilosius of Katana, Estonia