Movement Inc. Official Home Page
I have an insane amount of respect for companies that can make millions of one product.
Every year, when Apple or Hyundai launch a product, the entire world critiques them for making the same thing as last year.
But do we stop and understand or respect how much effort it takes to create the processes and systems to make the same thing over and over again with tolerances measured in microns?
On a recent build, I was off by 1.5 millimeters. And I had to run back to my beloved lathe to create a slightly bigger slot. I don’t know if you know how little 1.5 mm is. That’s roughly 20 strands of hair stacked together.
Whereas there are companies like Rogue Fitness or REP Fitness whose racks can be expanded or legs swapped out. Or new parts added along the way.
And then there’s Apple or Samsung that can see a battery or screen swapped out precisely.
And there’s guys like Leica and Toyota making parts for cameras and cars that are decades old.
These margins and capacity to produce parts that fit products from years ago are insane.
It speaks to planning, meticulousness and a capacity to translate design into actual parts and products with precision and predictability.
Why does this interest me? The trickle down effect is real. I don’t think it is a coincidence that the tools and machines that can make incredibly precise and durable components have become much more readily available. I have directly benefitted from this wave. Capacities that did not exist 20 years ago are now available as shared resources. And that allows us to do far more interesting things than ever before. Ideas can translate into real working products far more easily than any point in human history. And for that I feel lucky.