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 Meyers
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Key Topics
Making SOPs a Priority
- Why SOPs need to be part of daily conversations and celebrations
- How FAT American turned documentation into a shared responsibility
Building Culture Through Standards
- How morning meetings feature new SOPs
- Using standards to respect people and set them up for success
Buying Back Time
- The real cost of repeating instructions
- How visual SOPs cut onboarding time and boost clarity
Common Challenges
- Managing thousands of SOPs and avoiding duplication
- The importance of clear deployment and naming systems
Lessons for Every Manufacturer
- Make standards visual, not verbal
- Think like a new hire
- Don’t just create SOPs – live them
Links and Resources
- Find out more Fat American Manufacturing
- Brian Meyer’s LinkedIn
- Lean by Doing on YouTube