The Machine to Build the Machines - NeXT
MuStudioCited 5× on HN, 2016–2025
documentary · general · evergreen · 2016–2025 on HN
A NeXT, Inc. promotional video showing its highly automated factory and the manufacturing of the NeXT Cube, including automated circuit board assembly.
HN cites it as evidence of early lights-out manufacturing and of Steve Jobs's factory automation roots in threads on automation and US manufacturing.
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5 comments from Hacker News
Steve invested heavily in automation for the Mac and NeXT factories. There are videos of these factories in action: We Are Manufacturing (Apple): link The Machine to Build the Machines (NeXT): ▶ this video Infamously, he caused a ton of issues for both factories when he demanded that the machinery be painted to colours of his liking. > When Jobs took a tour, he ordered that the machines be repainted in the bright colors he wanted. Carter objected; this was precision equipment, and repainting the machines could cause problems. He turned out to be right. One of the most expensive machines, which got painted bright blue, ended up not working properly and was dubbed “Steve’s Folly.” Finally Carter quit. “It took so much energy to fight him, and it was usually over something so pointless that finally I had enough,” he recalled. [0] > Jobs demanded that all the robots in the NeXT manufacturing plant be painted in coordinated shades of gray and black. 2 of his top manufacturing engineers worked through a weekend to paint the assembly line, repeating the process 4 times until they got the finish just right. [1] Ultimately, even that significant automation investment couldn't overcome the core challenges that other commenters have pointed out. I find the culture aspect ironic. Deming was American, yet American manufacturers largely ignored him until the Japanese applied his methods and began outcompeting everyone. [0] link [1] link
At about 35 minutes in there was a video demonstrating their automated PCB assembly line, and luckily it's on YouTube: ▶ this video
Every discussion of highly-automated factories brings to mind this: ▶ this video Early lights out production. The problem became obvious a little later, for NeXT, which was that these things only make sense at very high scale for products that change infrequently.
>sounds like one of those sad stories where the engineers fell in love with the stack and forgot about the product. Sounds like Steve Jobs... in 1986. ▶ this video
I wouldn't underestimate them with their war chest and supply chain expertise, and don't forget their roots: ▶ this video