# Lights Out, Level Up: Inside Imago's Next Phase of Automation and Time Freedom, Ep #38

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/lights-out-technology-and-automation-podcast-by-makingchips-7058706/lights-out-level-up-inside-imago-s-next-phase-of-automation-and-time-freedom-ep-38
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/lights-out-technology-and-automation-podcast-by-makingchips-7058706/lights-out-level-up-inside-imago-s-next-phase-of-automation-and-time-freedom-ep-38.md
Podcast: [Lights Out: Technology and Automation Podcast by MakingChips](https://stenobird.com/podcast/lights-out-technology-and-automation-podcast-by-makingchips-7058706)
Published: 2026-04-10T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://8819970d-2c51-481c-b08a-4d2a806885b2.libsyn.com/lights-out-level-up-inside-imagos-next-phase-of-automation-and-time-freedom-ep-38
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/8819970d-2c51-481c-b08a-4d2a806885b2/LO_038.mp3?dest-id=4707502
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/lights-out-technology-and-automation-podcast-by-makingchips-7058706/episodes/lights-out-level-up-inside-imago-s-next-phase-of-automation-and-time-freedom-ep-38
Duration seconds: 2862

## Resource

What happens when a shop that's already running lights-out decides to push even further? The Lights Out team returns to Imago Manufacturing nearly a year after their first visit to see how Ryan's lights-out vision has evolved. What they find is a shop that looks similar on the surface, same team, same footprint, but dramatically more capable thanks to thoughtful automation, improved workflows, and a relentless focus on unlocking unused capacity. It's a real-world look at what continuous improvement actually looks like in a small, highly automated shop. Ryan shares how Imago is pushing toward an ambitious goal: grow revenue by 50 percent over three years without adding people, spindles, or floor space. That challenge forces a different mindset, one centered on maximizing throughput, eliminating wasted motion, and using automation not just at night, but throughout the workday. The conversation explores how new robot loading, automated inspection, and smarter quoting strategies are helping the team move closer to that target. Beyond the technical strategies, the episode dives into the philosophy behind lights-out machining. Ryan explains how automation improves quality of life, removes repetitive work, and allows machinists to focus on higher-value problem solving. The group also introduces the concept of "lights in" manufacturing, automating processes during the day to create more freedom, focus, and productivity while the team is in the building. This return visit to Imago blends practical automation insights with a bigger message: lights-out isn't just about running machines unattended. It's about building a shop that respects people's time, increases capability without increasing headcount, and creates the kind of flexibility that makes both the business and the peopl…

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## Transcript

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