In this episode of Chips and Tips, Justin Gray (CTO of Toolpath) sits down with Uriel Eisen of Arda and Austere Manufacturing, for a deep-dive into the nitty-gritty of Kanban systems in modern machine shops.

What begins with a frantic scramble to replace broken end mills evolves into a rich discussion on lean manufacturing, real-world shop workflows, and the surprising power of a well-placed index card. Uriel shares practical strategies for getting started with Kanban—even if your shop isn’t perfectly organized—and breaks down how Arda helps teams eliminate ambiguity, save time, and stay ahead of inventory failures.

• Why Kanban is simpler than you think—and how to “start dirty”

• Laminating, folding, and “conbagging” cards for tool drawers

• The difference between being organized vs. being effective

• Ownership models: Should one person handle ordering?

• The mental toll of running out of simple items (and how to stop)

• Kanban and Toolpath: How smart inventory meets smart CAM

• Embracing exceptions without abandoning structure

• Uriel’s dream of time-sensitive Kanban cards

• How janitorial supplies and soft jaws both deserve a card

Whether you’re an R&D machinist, a lean geek, or just someone tired of forgetting where your parts come from, this episode is packed with real tips and the tools to take your shop one step leaner.