#11 Daen Simmat | Closed-loop Manufacturing and Addressing the Supply Chain Interruption

The COVID-19 pandemic has had widespread economic impacts, one of the largest of which is the interruption of the supply chain. Talking to us today about Australia’s manufacturing capabilities and why interruption of the supply chain is such a big deal here, is Black Lab Design CEO, Daen Simmat.  

Join us as we unpack how speed and customer-focused agility are the key levers for growing success with onshore design and manufacturing capabilities. We dive into the Australian “underdog” psyche, and how this affects attitudes towards capital and manufacturing. Hear why Daen is so focused on creating a good working culture at Black Lab Design, and why he never refuses leave requests or queries sick days. 

We discuss how to get a client on your side by having their best interests at heart, and why providing helpful advice and guidance when you can’t meet the client’s needs is beneficial to your brand. We also look at the future of manufacturing in Australia, and where Daen thinks Black Lab Designs will be. When looking at the future, it's impossible not to address the impact of climate change, and we hear Daen's thoughts on using closed-loop design-manufacturing chains and how these should have a positive impact on both the environment and local communities. 

Black Lab Design has stayed steady throughout the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Daen tells us why: from competing in speed rather than price to addressing his employees needs first. We also learn about the three scenarios when convincing a client to move towards being more environmentally friendly (win-win, win-neutral, and win-lose), and what you can do to convince them of the necessity of change in each scenario.  Tune in to hear all this, and more, in today's exciting episode!

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Daen entered the world of manufacturing. 
• The problem with the Australian attitude: why the underdog culture is not a good one. 
• Why Daen moved Black Lab Design out of sheet metal, and into other materials.
• The importance of culture within the organisation, taking care of the employees and understanding why we work. 
• How to get your client to trust you by having their best interests at heart.
• Why it’s difficult to grow a capital-intensive business in Australia. 
• How COVID affected Black Lab Design: using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to help customers throughout the pandemic and how they adjusted their business model. 
• Competing on time instead of competing on price and how this set up Black Lab Design for success throughout the pandemic.
• Australia's shortcomings in the manufacturing world, and why we need to start manufacturing locally. 
• How Black Lab Design thinks about the closed-loop and the environmental impact of not using the closed-loop.  
• Motivating organisations to be environmentally responsible in win-win, win-neutral, and win-lose situations. 
• How Black Lab Design can serve as a blueprint for other companies, and what Daen feels is the most important part of his company (the people). 
• Why you should choose Black Lab Design: rising to the challenge.  

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Daen Simmat on LinkedIn

Black Lab Design on LinkedIn

Black Lab Design

Circulist

Host Nick Gonios
Producer Jim Lounsbury