# Foundation First: Products, Systems, Process & People w/ Bill Kaewert

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2023-07-25
- Length: 37m
- Episode: 163
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-07-25-foundation-first-products-systems-process-people-w-bill-kaewert
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-7f455339-bfea-43c7-8d28-8d2fb6a06a20

## Summary

Bill Kaewert, CEO and CTO of Stored Energy Systems (Sens), explains why sales and marketing fail without a strong foundation of product, systems, processes, and people. He details the company's transition to lean production to reduce inventory and improve cash flow, and the implementation of worst-case analysis engineering to eliminate field failures in critical DC power systems. Kaewert also discusses managing organizational change, citing Metcalfe's Law, and the importance of onboarding new staff to preserve culture while integrating new ideas.

## Chapters

- [0:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-07-25-foundation-first-products-systems-process-people-w-bill-kaewert#t=37) Introduction: Bill Kaewert and the Foundation First Principle
- [3:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-07-25-foundation-first-products-systems-process-people-w-bill-kaewert#t=191) Customer Selection and the Gravitational Pull of Product-Market Fit
- [5:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-07-25-foundation-first-products-systems-process-people-w-bill-kaewert#t=345) Lean Production Transformation and Inventory Velocity
- [12:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-07-25-foundation-first-products-systems-process-people-w-bill-kaewert#t=731) Worst-Case Analysis Engineering and Reliability
- [23:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-07-25-foundation-first-products-systems-process-people-w-bill-kaewert#t=1394) Onboarding New Staff and Preserving Culture
- [28:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-07-25-foundation-first-products-systems-process-people-w-bill-kaewert#t=1697) Metcalfe's Law and Managing Organizational Change

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Stored Energy Systems (company)
- Sens (product)
- Gorilla 76 (company)
- Toyota Production System (other)
- Lockheed Martin (company)
- EGSA (company)
- Infragard (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [A First-Generation Product Master Class with Milo Werner, Recorded LIVE at "Build Better 2022" (hosted by Instrumental Inc.)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-04-05-a-first-generation-product-master-class-with-milo-werner-recorded-live-at-build) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Wait, why is Jeff glowing?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-30-wait-why-is-jeff-glowing) (The Amp Hour)
- [S7E19 Ryan Schoonmaker | How to Take A Structured Approach to Solving Engineering Problems](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-01-s7e19-ryan-schoonmaker-how-to-take-a-structured-approach-to-solving-engineering) (Being an Engineer)
- [DeepDive 1-on-1 Series: THE METAPHOR - Guest Rob Carl, Founder & CEO of Global NPI Solvers (14m32s)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/npi-sherpa/2026-02-03-deepdive-1-on-1-series-the-metaphor-guest-rob-carl-founder-ceo-of-global-npi-sol) (NPI Sherpa)
- [S7E23 Jordan Kapitanoff | Screw Manufacturing, LEAN Processes, and Investing for Engineers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-29-s7e23-jordan-kapitanoff-screw-manufacturing-lean-processes-and-investing-for-eng) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

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