Paul Akers started FastCap in his garage with no MBA, no funding, and one simple conviction: fix what bugs you. Today FastCap ships over 2,000 products to more than 40 countries, and runs on a philosophy so simple it fits in two words — eliminate waste.

In Part 1 of this conversation, Dwayne Kerrigan sits down with Paul to unpack the Lean methodology that made it all possible, and why it has nothing to do with manufacturing.

In this episode:
● Paul breaks down the eight wastes of Lean thinking
● Why Paul calls himself a "Lean maniac", not a Lean practitioner
● The communication standard Paul holds his entire organization to: no one should ever have to ask you a question twice
● How FastCap documents every single process — from cleaning a toilet to setting up a $250,000 injection molding machine — using eight-step visual SOPs, QR codes, and unlisted YouTube videos that any employee can access instantly
● Why Paul starts every Lean implementation the same way, regardless of company size: the bathroom. And why every visitor to FastCap — including presidents of major corporations — cleans the bathroom before they're allowed a tour
● The mindset Paul refuses to argue with: if you're not ready to change, he's not interested in convincing you — and why that boundary is itself a Lean principle

Episode Highlights:
00:00 - Clear Communication No Repeats
00:20 - Podcast Intro And Mission
00:53 - Meet Paul Akers
04:12 - Paul’s Background And FastCap
09:17 - Lean As Stewardship Mindset
11:27 - What Is A Lean Maniac
13:02 - Eight Wastes Explained Simply
18:17 - Small Daily Improvements Matter
26:52 - Hansei And PDCA For Leaders
30:41 - Lean Origins: Toyota
34:10 - Just In Time And Stability
38:49 - Toyota Develops People
41:33 - Three S Daily Habit
45:25 - Morning Meeting Playbook
51:43 - Defects and Kanban Flow
55:44 - One Hour Before Work
57:54 - Ego and Leadership Shift
01:00:53 - How to Start Small
01:04:36 - Start With Bathrooms
01:07:39 - Standard Work and QR Training
01:10:51 - Change Only If Ready
01:12:58 - Wrap Up and Next Week

Resources mentioned:
● 2 Second Lean — Paul Akers
● Lean Health, Lean Travel, Lean Life, Banish Sloppiness — Paul Akers
● The Amezawa Legacy — Paul Akers
● Lean the Gospel Dressed Up in a Business Suit — Paul Akers (in progress at time of recording)
● Out of the Crisis — Dr. W. Edwards Deming
● Toyota Production System (TPS)
● Bob Taylor / Taylor Guitars — referenced as Paul's early mentor
● Training Within Industry (TWI) — referenced framework
● FastCap YouTube channel — https://www.youtube.com/user/fastcaptv

Quotes:

"I have no time whatsoever to convince you of common sense. Zero." - Paul Akers

“ I read Dick and Jane like 10 times when I had to read it in front of the class. I had to read it over and over and over again and memorize it so I didn't screw it up when I read in front of the class.” - Paul Akers

“ But there's one thing that I've kind of realized in life is that the reason why we don't have something in our life is because of the story that we're telling ourselves.” - Dwayne Kerrigan

“Everything I look at, I'm always thinking, how do I improve? How do I increase the quality and reduce the burden on me and the people around me? So I want everything to be. Easy for everyone. No struggle in flow.” - Paul Akers

“ No one should ever ask you a question twice. If you communicate to someone, your communication should be so clear that when you say it and the words come out of your mouth, they go, I understand exactly what you want.” - Paul Akers

Paul Akers is the founder and president of FastCap, a product development company specializing in woodworking tools and hardware for professional builders, started in 1997. FastCap now has thousands of distributors and launches 20–30 innovative products per year. Paul is the author of 2 Second Lean — now available in 15 languages and a Shingo Institute award winner — along with many additional books. He has won Seattle Business Magazine's Business Executive of the Year and spoken in over 34 countries.

Connect with Paul Akers: https://paulakers.net/

Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedwaynekerriganpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwaynekerriganpodcast/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwayne-kerrigan-998113281/
Website: http://www.dwaynekerrigan.com

Disclaimer The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.