# How to Prepare for a Manufacturing Facility Expansion w/ Alex Garland and Christopher Yows

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2024-09-10
- Length: 34m
- Episode: 222
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-09-10-how-to-prepare-for-a-manufacturing-facility-expansion-w-alex-garland-and-christo
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-482970b1-86e8-415c-91c2-565d927dcbc5

## Summary

Alex Garland and Christopher Yows from Burns & McDonnell discuss the strategic complexities of manufacturing facility expansions, emphasizing early master planning and stakeholder alignment. They cover site selection factors like labor availability and incentives, the importance of designing facilities around specific manufacturing processes to maximize efficiency, and the critical role of automation in addressing labor shortages. The conversation also highlights risk mitigation strategies to maintain business continuity during construction, such as building containment zones for seamless tie-ins.

## Chapters

- [0:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-09-10-how-to-prepare-for-a-manufacturing-facility-expansion-w-alex-garland-and-christo#t=37) Introduction and Initial Options for Capacity Growth
- [4:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-09-10-how-to-prepare-for-a-manufacturing-facility-expansion-w-alex-garland-and-christo#t=285) Master Planning and Stakeholder Alignment
- [11:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-09-10-how-to-prepare-for-a-manufacturing-facility-expansion-w-alex-garland-and-christo#t=671) Site Selection and Financial Incentives
- [17:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-09-10-how-to-prepare-for-a-manufacturing-facility-expansion-w-alex-garland-and-christo#t=1053) Process-Driven Facility Design and Space Utilization
- [21:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-09-10-how-to-prepare-for-a-manufacturing-facility-expansion-w-alex-garland-and-christo#t=1306) Labor Dynamics and Automation Strategy
- [28:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-09-10-how-to-prepare-for-a-manufacturing-facility-expansion-w-alex-garland-and-christo#t=1732) Risk Mitigation and Business Continuity

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Burns & McDonnell (company)
- Gorilla 76 (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [BONUS: Gaps in the Manufacturing Industry (and what to do about them), LIVE from Fathom's Manufacturing Exchange in Hartland, WI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-11-07-bonus-gaps-in-the-manufacturing-industry-and-what-to-do-about-them-live-from-fat) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Ep. 20 - Leasing a Space](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-05-16-ep-20-leasing-a-space) (Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast)
- [S2 E4: Scaling up Manufacturing with Scott Miller](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2024-01-09-s2-e4-scaling-up-manufacturing-with-scott-miller) (The Builder Circle)
- [Scaling Additive Manufacturing — Special IMTS Edition](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2023-01-10-scaling-additive-manufacturing-special-imts-edition) (Additive Snack)
- [276: 2026 Automation Industry Outlook, Live from the A3 Business Forum](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-24-276-2026-automation-industry-outlook-live-from-the-a3-business-forum) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-09-10-how-to-prepare-for-a-manufacturing-facility-expansion-w-alex-garland-and-christo. 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 The Manufacturing Executive.