Lights Out Lenses: Engineering, Quality & the Leadership Behind Automation (Part 2), Ep #41

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Part 2 of Lights Out Lenses moves deeper into the automation journey at Advanced Machine & Fabricating—this time through the eyes of engineering, programming, quality, and ownership. If Part 1 was about feeding the beast, Part 2 is about building the systems, standards, and culture that keep it alive.

Director of Engineering & Programming Forrest Vaught shares how automation forced his team to rethink everything from tooling strategies to fixture design and program standardization. In a high-mix, low-volume environment, success doesn’t come from simply buying automation. It comes from building repeatable systems that can survive unattended machining, changing priorities, and constant production pressure. Standardization becomes the language that ties everything together.

The episode then shifts into a powerful conversation with owner Scott Shortess, who opens up about the emotional and financial realities behind automation. From struggling with low utilization and chaos to benchmarking shops overseas and realizing how much further the industry could go, Scott explains how automation exposed weaknesses in leadership, processes, and culture—and ultimately forced growth in all three.

But beneath the technology discussion is something even more important: people. This episode becomes a conversation about trust, humility, patience, and creating a company where automation doesn’t just improve throughput—it improves lives. Four-day workweeks, empowered teams, stronger culture, and leaders who genuinely care about the people around them all become part of the equation.

At its core, this isn’t just an automation story. It’s a story about what happens when a manufacturing company aligns technology, systems, and culture around a shared vision.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in…

(0:00) Dave recaps Part 1 and introduces the engineering and quality side of the automation journey
(1:17) Forrest shares his background and path into CNC machining and engineering leadership
(3:30) Combining CNC programming, quality planning, estimating, and CMM programming into one collaborative team
(5:19) How strong teams and trust reduce micromanagement and improve execution
(6:42) Designing automation around tooling, fixturing, material, and program stability
(8:43) Why standardization is critical for successful automation in high-mix manufacturing
(9:46) How automation changed the company’s approach to tooling, fixtures, and part families
(11:17) Check out the Hennig WorkFlow Automated Pallet Delivery solution
(12:08) Inside the FASTEMS system and how “Pistol Pete” optimizes pallets, tooling, and scheduling decisions
(15:02) The reality of automation bottlenecks and the challenge of feeding the system
(16:06) Forrest discusses fixture design, programming demands, and balancing technical complexity
(17:29) How continuous learning and evolving technology have shaped Forrest professionally
(19:07) Forrest reflects on stress, growth, and how automation changes over time
(20:22) Investing in ProShop ERP is an investment in your business
(22:01) Scott Short joins the conversation to discuss leadership, culture, and the owner’s perspective
(25:38) The origins of Advanced Machine & Fabricating and building a culture-driven company
(26:25) How automation exposes weak leadership, broken systems, and cultural issues
(29:35) The challenges of implementing automation while managing chaos and organizational change
(32:21) Lessons learned from benchmarking highly automated European manufacturers
(35:08) Why automation is about amplifying people—not replacing them
(37:03) Real-world examples of instability, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement on the shop floor
(38:13) Get a free report of sales opportunities in your area at FacturMFG.com/chips
(39:21) The financial risks, ROI considerations, and personal guarantees behind automation investments
(41:13) Measuring machine utilization and the early steps that started the company’s automation journey
(43:47) How automation forced Scott to develop patience, trust his team, and think differently as a leader
(47:25) The power of culture, unity, and aligning teams around shared goals
(50:13) Scott reflects on creating a company where automation improves both business performance and quality of life