Introduction
Welcome to the latest offering from Talking Design and Engineering by Makelab, where we delve into the insights and advice from industry leaders. This episode features a hearty and insightful conversation with Rich Mokuolu, co-founder of Partsimony. Rich takes us through his journey from mechanical engineering to founding a company that leverages AI to bridge the often contentious gap between design and manufacturing.
The Value of Taking Time to Think
One of the key learnings Rich underscores is the importance of taking time off to think. He recalls his early days in the startup journey, where he felt guilty about taking time off, feeling like he was slacking. However, as he matured in his career, he started appreciating the value of downtime. "The more time you have to think, you actually tend to connect a lot of the dots," Rich says. This reflection time allows for creative and constructive retrospection, essential for insightful decision-making.
Meeting Christina Parla of Makelab
In this episode, Christina Parla, co-founder and CEO of Makelab, introduces herself and reminisces about her unique friendship with Rich. Their journey started in 2017, around the time both their companies were in their nascent stages. Christina reflects on how her and Rich’s initial meeting at Tech Day and subsequent run-ins—culminating in reconnecting on Clubhouse—cemented their professional relationship and personal friendship.
Rich's Background and Journey
Rich’s journey to founding Partsimony is anything but conventional. He first grew up in Nigeria before moving to the U.S. After initially wanting to be an inventor inspired by the movie Flubber, Rich chose mechanical engineering on the advice of his father. Attend Georgia Tech solidified his path in engineering, leading him to work at General Electric (GE).
At GE, Rich rotated through various roles, including as a production engineer and supply chain manager, where he became Six Sigma certified. This diverse experience equipped him with insights into both design and manufacturing, shaping the vision behind Partsimony.
Understanding Partsimony
Partsimony helps companies transform design concepts into manufacturable products with minimal time, cost, and frustration. Leveraging AI, Partsimony offers design for manufacturability improvements and facilitates finding the right manufacturers for each component. Their service extends to scaling businesses such as MakeLab by analyzing design details and optimizing relationships with suppliers.
The Role of AI and Learning from Design Constraints
Rich explains how Partsimony is working to reduce the lengthy feedback loops between design and manufacturing by using AI technologies. This innovative approach helped Partsimony and their partners create ventilators in just two and a half months during the height of the pandemic. Their framework offers alternative manufacturing solutions, reducing the reliance on traditional approaches like injection molding or CNC machining.
Key Entrepreneurial Learnings
Rich emphasizes the importance of approaching problems with childlike curiosity and allowing oneself the freedom to explore without preconceived notions. Managing time effectively and maintaining a focus on what's relevant to business goals are other critical tips he shares. Moreover, fostering a supportive work environment is essential for employee growth, which in turn benefits the company. He notes the need for founders to make hard decisions, even when they are uncomfortable.
Thinking Beyond with the Parts of Money Journey
Rich shares his practical experience in overcoming the challenges of launching a product and maintaining it in the market. He points out that partnerships and leveraging suppliers' inputs during the design phase can significantly simplify the manufacturing process.
Conclusion
Christina and Rich’s conversation illustrates that successful entrepreneurship in the design and engineering fields is a blend of passionate curiosity, effective time management, and fostering relationships both within and outside the company. As they move forward, Partsimony’s goal is to reduce the workload for experts and manufacturers, creating a more intelligent and efficient fabrication landscape.
To keep up with more insights from industry leaders and to stay updated on 3D printing services, subscribe to Talking Design and Engineering on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube, or follow Makelab on social media.
Thank you for joining us in this enlightening episode. We look forward to welcoming you next time as we continue to share stories and insights from the cutting-edge world of design and engineering.
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