# Lights Out Lenses: Inside an Automation Journey from the Operations & Production Frontlines, Ep #40

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/lights-out-technology-and-automation-podcast-by-makingchips-7058706/lights-out-lenses-inside-an-automation-journey-from-the-operations-production-frontlines-ep-40
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/lights-out-technology-and-automation-podcast-by-makingchips-7058706/lights-out-lenses-inside-an-automation-journey-from-the-operations-production-frontlines-ep-40.md
Podcast: [Lights Out: Technology and Automation Podcast by MakingChips](https://stenobird.com/podcast/lights-out-technology-and-automation-podcast-by-makingchips-7058706)
Published: 2026-05-08T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://8819970d-2c51-481c-b08a-4d2a806885b2.libsyn.com/lights-out-lenses-inside-an-automation-journey-from-the-operations-production-frontlines-ep-40
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/8819970d-2c51-481c-b08a-4d2a806885b2/LO40_.mp3?dest-id=4707502
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Duration seconds: 2804

## Resource

What does automation actually look like when you're in the middle of it—not from a vendor demo or a conference stage, but inside a real shop, with real constraints, real people, and real stakes? This episode of Lights Out kicks off a new series format— Lights Out Lenses —where the story of automation is told through multiple perspectives inside the same company. And not just any company, but ADVANCED MACHINING & FABRICATING Dba ADVANCED PMC, a shop that's deep in the trenches of high-mix, low-volume manufacturing. Instead of a single narrative, you'll hear how automation is experienced differently depending on where you sit. From the Director of Operations thinking about material flow and process alignment, to the Director of Production obsessing over utilization and throughput, this episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to make automation work—not just in theory, but in practice. Randel Hamilton shares how automation didn't simplify the business—it expanded it. More output meant more coordination, more downstream pressure, and more need for structure. The machine might run lights out, but everything around it has to keep up. Meanwhile, PK brings a numbers-driven lens, breaking down the hidden opportunity in unused machine hours and why automation is less about technology and more about stability, repeatability, and smart part selection. Together, their perspectives reveal a powerful truth: automation doesn't eliminate complexity—it redistributes it. And for shops willing to embrace that shift, the payoff isn't just more parts—it's a fundamentally different way of thinking about the business. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (0:00) Lights Out Lenses: exploring automation through multiple perspectives (2:21) Randel Hamilton…

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## Transcript

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