Violin Making to 5-Axis Machining with Andrew Henry

From building custom violins to running a high-tech, 14,000 square foot 5-axis machine shop, Andrew Henry has never taken the conventional path.

On this episode of Rapid Fire Manufacturing, we visit Henry Holsters in Spencer, Indiana. Andrew breaks down how he transitioned from classical instrument crafting to manufacturing tactical gear, starting with a small desktop router in 2014 and scaling to an automated facility with nearly 30 employees.

We dive deep into:

• The Reality of Two Second Lean: Why building a 3D-printed jig to count parts is actually a failure of logic, and how a first-principles question eliminated the process entirely.

• The 500lb Deadlift Analogy: Why you cannot steal another shop's competitive advantage, and why micro-improvements are completely invisible to your competitors.

• Overcoming Friction on the Shop Floor: Shifting your culture from gritting your teeth through stupid processes to empowering your team to fix what bugs them.

• The Vulnerability of Standing Still: Why running a job the exact same way you did five years ago means you are leaving money on the table.

Connect with Andrew on Instagram @HenryHolsters or catch him co-hosting the Lean Built Podcast.