Hardware Podcasts

A First-Generation Product Master Class with Milo Werner, Recorded LIVE at "Build Better 2022" (hosted by Instrumental Inc.)

Manufacturing Happy Hour · 5 Apr 2022 · 49m

What this episode covers

Milo Werner, General Partner at The Engine and former NPI leader at Tesla and Fitbit, shares lessons from launching first-generation products like the Model S powertrain and Fitbit's automated factories. She explains how Tesla reused proven components to accelerate the Model X launch, the critical importance of aligning incentives with contract manufacturers (CMs), and the need for early cross-functional collaboration to avoid late engineering changes. Werner also discusses managing team burnout, the role of data in defining quality specs, and the differing reliability expectations between automotive and consumer electronics.

Most relevant to

large enterprises

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Tesla, Fitbit, The Engine, A3
Products
Model S, Model X
Also
Good to Great, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

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