Little's Law: The Transaction Costs of (Re)Drawing Lines

Little's Law: The Transaction Costs of (Re)Drawing Lines

October 14, 2025 · 56 min

About this episode

The episode discusses how transaction costs influence production processes and the importance of flexibility in manufacturing.

Send us Fan Mail A conversation with Andrew Wagner, production and manufacturing engineer, now in aerospace, but with experience also in the auto industry. We trace how transaction costs shape production, from Adam Smith’s pin factory to Toyota’s SMED, and why empowering workers and redesigning tools can raise quality while cutting cost. An aerospace manufacturing engineer joins us to unpack Little’s Law, line reconfiguration, and the culture that makes flexibility real. • division of labor ...

People in this episode

Host: Michael Munger

Guest: Andrew Wagner

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Toyota

Books & works: Adam Smith’s pin factory, SMED

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