# Buying a Manufacturing Company with No Experience featuring Everyday Technologies' Cody Lee

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2022-11-01
- Length: 42m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-11-01-buying-a-manufacturing-company-with-no-experience-featuring-everyday-technologie
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Cody Lee, President and Owner of Everyday Technologies, explains his journey of acquiring the 100-year-old metal fabrication company in 2021 despite having no prior manufacturing experience. He details the critical decision to implement a Plex ERP system to replace antiquated processes, aiming to solve capacity planning issues and improve financial visibility. Lee also discusses the unexpected challenges of managing working capital and cash flow, as well as his strategic focus on revitalizing the brand and building a high-accountability workforce to scale the business.

## Chapters

- [0:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-11-01-buying-a-manufacturing-company-with-no-experience-featuring-everyday-technologie#t=42) Introduction: Cody Lee and Everyday Technologies
- [4:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-11-01-buying-a-manufacturing-company-with-no-experience-featuring-everyday-technologie#t=289) Cody Lee's Background and Path to Entrepreneurship
- [8:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-11-01-buying-a-manufacturing-company-with-no-experience-featuring-everyday-technologie#t=538) Identifying and Acquiring Everyday Technologies
- [14:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-11-01-buying-a-manufacturing-company-with-no-experience-featuring-everyday-technologie#t=874) Assessing Operations: Equipment and ERP Needs
- [20:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-11-01-buying-a-manufacturing-company-with-no-experience-featuring-everyday-technologie#t=1222) Implementing Plex ERP and Digital Transformation
- [26:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-11-01-buying-a-manufacturing-company-with-no-experience-featuring-everyday-technologie#t=1594) Managing Working Capital and Cash Flow Challenges
- [31:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-11-01-buying-a-manufacturing-company-with-no-experience-featuring-everyday-technologie#t=1872) Leadership Style and Brand Revitalization
- [36:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-11-01-buying-a-manufacturing-company-with-no-experience-featuring-everyday-technologie#t=2188) Future Growth Plans and Strategic Vision

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Factory operations & automation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/factory-operations)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Everyday Technologies (company)
- Ferguson Construction (company)
- Plex (tool)
- Trump (product)
- Murphy's Pub (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [A 100-Year Manufacturing Journey: Navigating Change While Honoring Legacy w/ Matthew Feldman and Mike Feldman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-02-10-a-100-year-manufacturing-journey-navigating-change-while-honoring-legacy-w-matth) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Manufacturing's Past, Present, and Future w/ Jim Carr](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-06-15-manufacturings-past-present-and-future-w-jim-carr) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Zane Hengsperger (Founder/CEO, Nox Metals)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-03-25-zane-hengsperger-founder-ceo-nox-metals) (Just Gonna Send It)
- [From Lifestyle to Growth Business: 5 Key Transformations w/ Jason Pace](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-06-13-from-lifestyle-to-growth-business-5-key-transformations-w-jason-pace) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Future proofing the family-owned manufacturing business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-12-27-future-proofing-the-family-owned-manufacturing-business) (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/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-11-01-buying-a-manufacturing-company-with-no-experience-featuring-everyday-technologie. 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 Manufacturing Happy Hour.