Q3 2024

Hardcore manufacturing

Elon often uses the term "hardcore manufacturing" quite often to describe the colossal effort required to build exceptional products that people love, at scale. While my experiences in both soft and hard goods development differ, they both require an undaunted level of stamina.

I spent two months locked away in a development/meeting room just steps away from our production line. The mental acuity and focus is ever-present. Every decision, from the reinforcement of a stress point, to the communication along the line, carries profound weight. It’s a process where fatigue is inevitable, but precision cannot waver.

The difference between a good product and an exceptional one is often found in these grueling hours, where the pursuit of perfection clashes with the constraints of manufacturing reality. The result, a marvelous product.

Process and function above all else

Prior to production, the recipe to success is often found in the sample room. Where ideas, inspiration, and the limitations of the physical realm all come clashing together. It’s a space where theory meets reality, where a concept that seemed perfect on paper can fall apart in practice. Materials behave differently under stress, seams take on unexpected tension, and the smallest overlooked detail can compromise an entire design.

This stage is brutal in its honesty. There’s no hiding behind CAD models or theoretical specs. Every prototype is a lesson, every iteration a battle between ambition and feasibility. It’s here, in the controlled chaos of the sample room, that true innovation is forged.

I cannot thank my sample room team enough for the meticulous attention to detail and leadership through ambiguity. The truest of warriors.

24 hours on a plane

I'll tell you, it does strange things to the body (and the mind). Our manufacturing partners come from far and wide; a requirement if you want to remain competitive in countless industries these days (I'll post my thoughts on this next quarter). As a result, it has taken me to many fascinating places on Earth. This time up was Indonesia. A remarkable country, albeit a sinking capital in Jakarta, but an unwavering sense of community permeates throughout. Anyways, I digress.

The flight journey itself is generally pleasant, and if I'm lucky enough to secure a ride on the Airbus A380 I am always reminded of just how remarkable modern engineering is. We are so blessed to live in a world where such a luxury is becoming far more abundant.