In this bonus episode, Tom Hughes visits FAT American Manufacturing in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to talk with Brian Meyers, one of the most prolific GembaDocs users in the world.
In just over a year, Brian’s team have created more than 2,000 SOPs - and actually uses them every day.
This episode dives into how FAT American turned standard work from a chore into a cornerstone of culture. Expect real talk about ownership, respect, and how documenting the little things unlocks big results.
"You're buying back your time by having a standard because you can just say go, here's the SOP, go check it out and follow through with it." - Brian MeyersKey Topics:
1. Making SOPs a Priority
Why SOPs need to be part of daily conversations and celebrations
How FAT American turned documentation into a shared responsibility
2. Building Culture Through Standards
How morning meetings feature new SOPs
Using standards to respect people and set them up for success
3. Buying Back Time
The real cost of repeating instructions
How visual SOPs cut onboarding time and boost clarity
4. Common Challenges
Managing thousands of SOPs and avoiding duplication
The importance of clear deployment and naming systems
5. Lessons for Every Manufacturer
Make standards visual, not verbal
Think like a new hire
Don’t just create SOPs - live them
Links and Resources:
Explore GembaDocs (https://gembadocs.com) for your SOP, skills training and lean needs.
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör
GembaDocs. Innehållet i podden är skapat av GembaDocs och inte av,
eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.
