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BusinessEntrepreneurshipManagement

Lean Built: Manufacturing Freedom

Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding

Two successful entrepreneurs talk about manufacturing, lean principles, and the freedom they are pursuing in life and business.

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  • 26 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 44 min
  • English

Episodes 26

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  • #165
    Today · 31 min

    Letting Employees Make Decisions Without Losing Control | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E165

    What happens when your business grows to the point where you no longer know everything happening inside it? Jay and Andrew talk about the strange transition from doing everything yourself to building a team that can make good decisions without you. They get into delegation, giving employees room to improve processes, knowing when production needs to take priority, and why good employees eventually need to move from waiting for instructions to simply proceeding unless told otherwise. They also discuss the tradeoff between time and cash, why hiring competent people can accelerate a company, how to think about employee reviews and frequent feedback, and why business owners should deliberately hire people who know more than they do. Plus, there is plenty of shop talk along the way, including coolant changes, lessons from IMTS, and an upcoming Matsuura reinstall.

  • #164
    September 21 · 58 min

    Why We Left IMTS Optimistic About Manufacturing | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E164

    Jay and Andrew are back from IMTS 2026 with sore feet, too much espresso, and a lot to think about. They compare notes on what actually stood out at the show, from higher-density workholding and spindle-gripper automation to pallet pools, CMMs, in-process probing, and the surprising lack of AI hype on the machining floor. But the bigger question is what any of it is actually worth to a working shop. When does automation create real capacity, and when are you buying an expensive solution because it looks like what a modern shop is supposed to have? Jay wrestles with the ROI on a quarter-million-dollar pallet system, while Andrew makes the case for simpler automation that keeps machines running while people do something else. They also dig into inspection, why quality should happen as close to the process as possible, and when the machine you already own may be the best inspection tool available. Along the way, they talk IMTS survival strategies, trade show networking, bandsaw blades, the changing generation of machinists, why manufacturing knowledge is becoming less guarded, and what younger shops can learn from the last decade of other people’s expensive mistakes.

  • #163
    September 14 · 51 min

    Get More Optimized, Be Less Flexible? | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E163

    Andrew and Jay are getting ready for IMTS and talking through what they actually want to find when they get there. The conversation starts with high-density workholding and the tradeoffs between flexibility, access, and optimization, then moves into 3D printing, shop organization, prototyping, and the difference between looking organized and actually improving flow. They also talk automation and AI in manufacturing. Where should automation make decisions for you, and where should it simply give a skilled operator better information? Andrew and Jay consider what aviation safety can teach manufacturers about systems, human judgment, and failing safely, then look ahead to how AI might help machines recognize problems nobody explicitly programmed them to expect. Plus, Andrew introduces his kids to Fusion, Jay automates more of his shop shutdown process, and the guys make time for the important questions, including hot sauce, fresh salsa, and whether sushi gets progressively more dangerous the farther you travel from the Pacific Ocean.

  • #162
    September 7 · 34 min

    Don’t Automate Waste | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E162

    AI is starting to change the shop in ways that go far beyond ChatGPT. Andrew and Jay compare notes on the AI tools they are actually using, from automating invoices and administrative work to the possibility of simply describing a part and having AI build a 3D-printable model. They talk about where Autodesk Fusion’s AI tools are today, why learning CAD may look very different in a few years, and why good systems still matter when software keeps changing. Then it’s back to machines. Andrew is officially lathe-free, which leaves some valuable open floor space and raises the obvious question of what, if anything, should replace it. That leads into CMMs, five-axis machining, the ongoing Matsuura saga, and the constant tension between speed, quality, consistency, and automation. Remember, there is no point in making bad parts faster. Plus, IMTS is almost here. Andrew and Jay look back at the Instamachinist class of 2016, talk about what they are hoping to see at the show, and reveal how to get your hands on one of Andrew’s limited IMTS shirts.

  • #161
    August 31 · 43 min

    When to Cut Your Losses in Business | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E161

    Andrew recently sold an underutilized CNC lathe, which raises a bigger question: when an investment does not work out as planned, was the money wasted? How do you gauge what value you got out of it, even in learning? Andrew and Jay discuss knowing when to experiment, when to hire expertise instead of learning everything yourself, and why good business owners need to understand what they should and should not personally master. Then the conversation turns to KPIs, benchmarking, revenue per employee, and the danger of comparing your company against businesses operating under completely different constraints. They also dig into the levers a business owner can actually control, why discounts may simply pull future sales into the present, and the relative value of Pierson's traditional IMTS sale.

  • #160
    August 24 · 40 min

    When Automation Creates More Work | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E160

    What happens when the systems meant to make your shop more efficient start creating more complexity? Can automation be dangerous? When a system works reliably, how do you keep human checks from becoming mindless? When should something live on a checklist, and when should it simply be automated? And what happens when you keep stacking new solutions on top of problems that have already been solved? Jay and Andrew cover all this plus Matsuura leveling issues, Brother’s U500 100-tool five-axis machine, pallet automation, mist filtration, shop air conditioning, and the constant challenge of improving a manufacturing operation without exhausting the people who work in it.

  • #159
    August 17 · 24 min

    Your Shop Doesn’t Have to Be Clean to Be Lean | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E159

    What does a real lean shop look like when the cameras aren’t hiding the mess? In this episode of Lean Built, Jay Pierson goes solo to break down a behind-the-scenes day at Pierson Workholding...and some of the misconceptions people have about lean manufacturing. A lean operation isn’t necessarily spotless, effortless, or perfectly optimized. Sometimes two guys wrapping a pallet is actually the right solution. Jay digs into why Pierson starts the day with 3S, how leaders should turn expectations into clear systems and procedures, and why extreme ownership means taking responsibility when your team doesn’t meet the standard. He also looks toward the future: AI, robotics, automation, and the technology that will increasingly remove tedious physical and mental labor. But the goal isn’t a world without work. There’s something deeply satisfying about making things, solving hard problems, and finishing the day knowing you produced something real.

  • #158
    August 10 · 45 min

    Going to IMTS 2026? 7 Tips for Machine Shop Owners | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E158

    If you’re heading to IMTS 2026, don’t spend three days wandering around looking at machines you could have watched on YouTube. In this episode, Andrew and Jay share their best advice for machine shop owners who want to get real value out of IMTS, from crafting a better elevator pitch and making the right connections to finding hidden capacity gains in the tooling, workholding, and processes surrounding the machines you already own. They talk about why you should guard your time at booths, meet the technical people behind the sales teams, use your phone as an external memory, network with other shop owners, and debrief every night before valuable contacts and ideas disappear. Plus: free dinners, IMTS transportation hacks, CMM shopping, and where you can find Andrew and Jay at the show.

  • #157
    August 3 · 40 min

    When a Good Employee Isn’t the Right Employee | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E157

    Change is inevitable, but how do you get through it without losing your culture? From improving systems and giving honest feedback to hiring the right people and knowing when someone is no longer the right fit, Andrew and Jay share lessons they’ve learned from change over the years. They also dive into why continual improvement matters, how to create a team that’s willing to adapt, and why great leadership often means making difficult but necessary decisions.

  • #156
    July 27 · 45 min

    Why Simplicity Beats Complexity in Business | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E156

    This week, Andrew and Jay dive into one of the most overlooked competitive advantages in business: simplicity. Inspired by Stuart Brand’s The Maintenance of Everything, they explore why every system naturally drifts toward chaos, and why leaders should must eliminate it. Along the way they discuss why simple systems outperform complicated ones over the long run, the surprising leadership lessons hidden in Waffle House’s infamous order system, how unnecessary complexity creates maintenance nightmares, hiring for curiosity instead of just qualifications, why great communication always requires a closed loop, and the difference between patient hiring and slow hiring. Here's the insane Waffle House video they discuss.

  • #155
    July 20 · 48 min

    Your Team Doesn’t See You the Way You Think They Do | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E155

    This week, Andrew and Jay are back from vacation and comparing notes on what it takes to unplug without losing momentum. They talk about the transition back into work, why deleting emails can be more productive than answering them, and the systems they rely on to keep their businesses running while they’re away. They then shift into leadership and communication through the lens of Surrounded by Idiots, a book on personality styles and self-perception. Andrew reflects on candid feedback he recently received from his team and how easily leaders can misjudge the way they’re perceived. Jay and Andrew explore healthy conflict, hiring for emotional maturity, decision fatigue, and why understanding different personality types can dramatically improve communication inside an organization. They also discuss how reducing unnecessary choices, from restaurant menus to product catalogs, can create better customer experiences, stronger businesses, and less mental friction for everyone involved.

  • #154
    July 6 · 45 min

    Don’t Let AI Do Your Thinking | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E154

    This week, Jay and Andrew treating vendors like partners, and why that pays off. They also dive into the evolution of their daily morning meetings, sharing how they’re constantly tweaking the format to make those few minutes more meaningful for their teams. Finally, they tackle AI in manufacturing. Where does it actually save time? Where does it make people worse at thinking? And how do you use it as a tool without letting it become a crutch?

  • #153
    June 29 · 18 min

    Why Every Machine Shop Should Take More Shop Tours | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E153

    What if one of the fastest ways to improve your machine shop is walking through someone else’s? In this solo episode, Andrew shares lessons from recent shop tours, including visits to manufacturers in Japan and Toyota Material Handling in Columbus, Indiana. He explains why every shop owner and manufacturing leader should regularly visit other facilities, shamelessly borrow great ideas, and expose their teams to new ways of thinking. Andrew explores how shop tours create better benchmarks, reveal simple solutions to stubborn problems, strengthen industry relationships, and help leaders see both their company’s strengths and blind spots. He also reflects on why taking your team along is often even more valuable than going alone, and why the best leaders spend more time listening than talking.

  • #152
    June 22 · 59 min

    Your Memory Is Not a Management System | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E152

    Andrew shares how a simple magnetic tag meant to prevent a security mistake failed, not because the idea was bad, but because the process wasn’t complete. From there, Andrew and Jay explore Kanban systems, physical signals, mistake-proofing, and why the best systems don’t rely on memory. Along the way, Andrew and Jay trade stories about forgotten garage doors, rusting cast iron, Toyota-inspired fixtures, tool wear, AI, and the difference between hard work and the right work. They reflect on the value of training shoulder-to-shoulder with employees, and why the most effective improvements are often the simplest ones: a tag on a keyring, a fixture that prevents mistakes, or a process that makes the wrong action impossible. Here is the BMW video Jay referenced. And here's the podcast Andrew referenced, Stories are Soul Food.

  • #151
    June 15 · 47 min

    The More You Optimize, The More Things Break | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E151

    A single drop of coolant shut down an overnight production run that should have been making parts for hours. Nothing crashed or was broken, yet the machine stopped, production stopped, and the schedule slipped. That small failure leads to a bigger discussion about one of the hardest lessons in manufacturing and business: the more optimization you pursue, the more opportunities you create for failure. Andrew and Jay explore the tradeoff between speed and certainty, why complex systems often become fragile systems, and how owners can avoid creating unnecessary chaos in pursuit of efficiency. They discuss lights-out machining, process documentation, SOPs, simplification, customer urgency, and the role leaders play in bringing calm when everyone else is stressed.

  • #149
    June 1 · 56 min

    Why Great Companies Can’t Be Copied | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E149

    What happens when an iconic brand starts fighting its own fans? This week, Andrew and Jay discuss Fender’s controversial cease-and-desist campaign against Strat-style guitar builders and discuss the difference between protecting intellectual property and damaging brand loyalty. What can businesses learn from the backlash? The conversation then shifts to Andrew’s recent trip to Japan, where he spent six days immersed in lean manufacturing, visiting world-class companies, schools, and cultural landmarks. He shares early observations on Japanese efficiency, intentional design, continuous improvement, and why blindly copying another company’s systems is often a mistake. Along the way, the hosts unpack lessons from Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act, discussing creativity, constraints, improvisation, and why some of our biggest limitations are self-imposed. They wrestle with the relationship between process and innovation, lean thinking versus rigid systems, and how business leaders can create environments where people and ideas can flourish.

  • #148
    May 25 · 45 min

    Six Types of Working Genius (w/ John Grimsmo) | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E148

    Jay welcomes John Grimsmo of Grimsmo Knives for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, manufacturing culture, lean systems, and the Six Types of Working Genius assessment. Fresh off implementing the framework with his family and team, John shares how understanding “working genius” helped relieve pressure, clarify leadership frustrations, and reshape the way he thinks about people, meetings, and workflow inside his company. The conversation includes: why some people thrive in tenacity while others burn out, the surprising emotional impact of understanding your frustrations, how working genius creates a shared language across teams, the danger of over-optimization, and more.

  • #147
    May 18 · 1 hr

    Is A Good Leader A Dictator? | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E147

    Is a good leader a dictator? In this episode, Jay and Andrew wrestle with the tension between decisive leadership and collaborative growth. What starts as a customer support question turns into a deep conversation about lean manufacturing, parenting, company culture, value stream mapping, and the hidden danger of “at some point” processes. They unpack why servant leadership is often misunderstood, how leaders can avoid micromanagement without abandoning standards, why some mistakes are worth letting happen for the sake of growth, binary decision-making, lean waste, product simplification, and more. Andrew also shares why he finally committed to a once-in-a-lifetime lean trip to Japan with Paul Akers, and the mindset shift that convinced him to go.

  • #146
    May 11 · 41 min

    The Dangerous Line Between Confidence and Delusion in Business | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E146

    Andrew and Jay explore the tension between confidence and delusion in entrepreneurship, the challenge of scaling a company without losing yourself, and the reality that what got you here might not get you there. They also dig into Vistage vs. hands-on consulting, the value of networking in real life, productive failure, family business dynamics, and why some people seem to operate in an entirely different league.

Showing 1–20 of 26 episodes