From Shop Floor to CEO: How Lean Manufacturing Transformed a Business and Its People

The Journey

When Adam started Prestige Woodworks 11 years ago, he was a first-generation everything - first-generation college student, first-generation business owner, first-generation entrepreneur. Today, his custom cabinet manufacturing company in St. George, Utah handles luxury homes ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 square feet. But the real story isn't about cabinets - it's about transformation.

The Breakthrough Moment

Two books changed everything for Adam's approach to business:

1. "Two Second Lean" by Paul Akers

   • Translated Toyota's manufacturing principles into practical, blue-collar terms

   • Focused on making small, continuous improvements

   • Created a framework for daily progress

2. "The Goal" by Eliyahu Goldratt

   • Introduced the Theory of Constraints

   • Helped identify and eliminate bottlenecks

   • Transformed their production process

The impact was so profound that Adam spent a week without sleep, creating systems and spreadsheets to implement these principles - perhaps too enthusiastically, as he admits with a laugh that his wife had to intervene to ensure he got some rest.

The Revolutionary System

Every morning at Prestige Woodworks starts with:

1. Team Learning Sessions

   • Personal development training

   • Goal setting and review

   • Skill-building opportunities

2. 30-Minute Improvement Time

   • Process refinement

   • Cross-training

   • Problem-solving

   • Innovation development

3. Leadership Development

   • Mentoring opportunities

   • Skill sharing

   • Growth planning

The Crisis That Changed Everything

During COVID, the business faced severe challenges:

• Loss of a business partner due to personal circumstances

• Near bankruptcy despite high sales

• Required staff reductions

• Material shortages despite prepayments

• Cash flow challenges

But these obstacles led to:

• Stronger financial controls

• Enhanced systems

• Better delegation

• Improved leadership structure

• More resilient business model

Key Leadership Insights

1. "Let Go to Grow"

   • Trust your team's capabilities

   • Enable others to excel

   • Focus on strategic leadership

   • Build systems for scalability

2. The Power of Daily Habits

   • Morning routines matter

   • Consistent improvement beats sporadic change

   • Small actions compound over time

   • Build sustainable practices

3. Continuous Learning

   • Regular mentorship calls

   • Industry leadership connections

   • Book implementation

   • Team development

4. Higher Purpose Connection

   • Beyond profit motivation

   • Spiritual alignment

   • Team development focus

   • Community impact

Implementation Framework

Morning Meeting Structure:

1. Personal Development (15 minutes)

   • Skill building

   • Mindset development

   • Goal review

2. Business Development (15 minutes)

   • Process improvement

   • Problem-solving

   • Innovation sharing

3. Improvement Time (30 minutes)

   • Hands-on implementation

   • Cross-training

   • System optimization

Results That Matter

• Transformed from 2-3 month project timelines to efficient production

• Built a self-running business system

• Created a culture of continuous improvement

• Developed future leaders

• Established sustainable growth patterns

Moving Forward

Adam's journey from hands-on craftsman to strategic leader shows that with the right systems, mentality, and support, transformation is possible. His focus on lean principles, combined with personal development, creates a blueprint for sustainable business growth.

Connect

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