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capacityAuthor: fulcrum
Capacity is where small, vitally important manufacturers finally tell their stories. Hear how small business owners, entrepreneurs, and operations leaders overcome challenges to build amazing manufacturing businesses. Hosted by Fulcrum CEO Sunny Han. Learn more at fulcrumpro.com. Language: en Genres: Technology Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Rhys Andersen of Method MFG
Tuesday, 9 December, 2025
Wildland firefighter turned aerospace shop owner.In this episode of Capacity, Sunny Han sits down with Rhys Anderson, Founder & CEO at Method MFG in Austin, Texas, to unpack how he’s built a high-mix, high-requirement aerospace machine shop around systems, communication, and careful technology bets.Rhys shares:How a childhood in a Montana sewer and fab business led to a love for making thingsWhat thousands of hours on wild land fires taught him about checklists and communicationThe story of buying and rebuilding an enormous used CNC machine with no prior experienceLessons from early business partnerships and planning the “exit” on day oneMethod MFG’s path into aerospace and operating as if they were AS9100 from the startWhy front-end quoting and reading quality clauses deeply is so criticalHow he avoids single points of failure by cross-training machinists on everything—even the nicest five-axis machinesUsing data on machine performance, floor space, and automation cells to decide what stays and what goesConstantly trialing CAM, ERP, and automation tools while refusing to be trapped by sunk costsHis view on robotics and AI as a way to let machinists do more interesting, higher-level workIf you lead a machine shop or sheet metal fabrication business and you’re thinking about quality, scalability, and modern workflows, Rhys’s story offers a grounded look at what it takes to evolve without losing control.Connect with Rhys & Method MFGMethod MFG: https://www.methodmfg.com/Rhys on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhys-andersen-austintx/Learn more about Fulcrum at https://fulcrumpro.comFollow Capacity for more conversations with manufacturers who are pushing toward more dynamic, agile shops.
