The Factory Caught Fire—Here’s What Saved the Business (w/ Brian Meyers) | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E142

What happens when your factory catches fire without warning? In this episode, Brian Meyers (president of Fat American Mfg and host of Lean by Doing podcast) sits down with Jay and Andrew to share the story of a fire that broke out in his brand-new facility, and what it revealed about leadership, preparation, and the power of lean manufacturing.

In short: what could have been a total loss wasn't at all. Because of the systems already in place due to a culture shaped by lean thinking, his team didn’t panic. They acted. And their decisions prevented far greater damage.

But the story doesn’t end with the fire. Brian walks through the long aftermath: the disruption, the emotional weight on the team, the insurance process, and the slow return to normal operations. Along the way, he reflects on what he would and wouldn’t change, and how the experience reshaped his thinking on safety, culture, and resilience.

Learn more from Brian:

Lean by Doing Podcast

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