# 304: How to Build a Manufacturing Company from First Principles with Supersede CEO Sean Petterson

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2026-09-29
- Length: 47m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-09-29-304-how-to-build-a-manufacturing-company-from-first-principles-with-supersede-ce
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Sean Petterson, CEO of Supersede, explains how his company turns recycled plastic into structural building materials like Marine Board and OSB alternatives, starting with boats and expanding to RVs. He details a capital-efficient manufacturing model using small, distributed plants in Phoenix and Bristol, Indiana, to serve local markets and reduce logistics costs. Petterson highlights the use of AI for tool design, machine vision for quality control, and a custom-built ERP system developed without software developers to streamline operations. The company aims to build 10 plants in five years, leveraging first principles and domestic manufacturing trends to compete with traditional lumber products.

## Chapters

- [0:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-09-29-304-how-to-build-a-manufacturing-company-from-first-principles-with-supersede-ce#t=49) Introduction: Supersede and Sean Petterson
- [3:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-09-29-304-how-to-build-a-manufacturing-company-from-first-principles-with-supersede-ce#t=210) Co-founder History and Material Science Focus
- [7:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-09-29-304-how-to-build-a-manufacturing-company-from-first-principles-with-supersede-ce#t=470) Capital Efficient Plant Strategy and Locations
- [14:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-09-29-304-how-to-build-a-manufacturing-company-from-first-principles-with-supersede-ce#t=852) First Principles and Capital Efficiency Advice
- [22:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-09-29-304-how-to-build-a-manufacturing-company-from-first-principles-with-supersede-ce#t=1328) Product Applications: Marine, RV, and Construction
- [28:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-09-29-304-how-to-build-a-manufacturing-company-from-first-principles-with-supersede-ce#t=1725) AI in Tool Design, ERP, and Automation
- [36:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-09-29-304-how-to-build-a-manufacturing-company-from-first-principles-with-supersede-ce#t=2176) Scaling Strategy and Plant Justification
- [43:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-09-29-304-how-to-build-a-manufacturing-company-from-first-principles-with-supersede-ce#t=2585) Reshoring and Domestic Manufacturing Tailwinds

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Supersede (company)
- Marine Board (product)
- OSB (product)
- PTC (company)

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- [Back to the Future: The Manufacturing Edition](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-06-14-back-to-the-future-the-manufacturing-edition) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [005: Miniature Construction Materials](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-04-05-005-miniature-construction-materials) (Product Startup)
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## 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/2026-09-29-304-how-to-build-a-manufacturing-company-from-first-principles-with-supersede-ce. 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.