2019-04-22

Notes, 2019-04-22.
I'm reading Robert Caro's new book, Working, and should *again* take the opportunity to recommend that you read everything of Caro's.

The most clicked link in last week's issue (~17% of opens) was a survey of manufacturing methods behind Jeff Koons' artwork.

A good piece on BMW's transition to electric drivetrains, whose low complexity mean big changes to automakers' workforces.
A good explainer on Hong Kong Metro's 'rail plus property' business model: Build rail on property you own, which makes your property more valuable, and then make your investment (plus profit!) back by operating that property.

Reporting by the NY Times shows that Boeing's 787 line has a serious issue with leaving tools, trash, and cuttings all around the insides of the plane. Reading the article, I recall the shockingly high rate at which surgical instruments - mostly sponges, but also things like forceps - are left inside a patient's body after surgery (I believe I first learned of this in Atul Gawande's excellent The Checklist Manifesto; this article contains a good overview of the problem). But surgeries involve a relatively small number of tools, and are undertaken by relatively small teams; if the Times' account is accurate, it would seem that a big cultural shift will be required at Boeing. Related, a good Vox explainer video on the 737 Max issues.
A comprehensive overview of the ways in which the cannabis industry is being industrialized as growers and processors are freed up to make large investments in automation equipment.

A good restoration video of an old "cutawl" jigsaw, which uses a reciprocating non-serrated blade and is steered with two handles like a router. A pretty interesting old tool - it's worth looking at the last few minutes of video just to see how it works.
A thought-provoking list of anti-lean practices that are nevertheless a big part of airlines' operating cultures.

A good twitter thread of all the ridiculous things in The Boring Company's absurd proposal for a DC-Baltimore loop. See also Aaron Gordon's take: "Honestly, it gets exhausting illustrating all the reasons this project is so silly, over and over again, every time some new report or outlandish Musk tweet makes news. There isn’t a single redeeming benefit that isn’t eclipsed several times over by other, existing, proven transit modes."
JD.com makes 90% of its deliveries within 24 hours, and 57% within 12 hours.
IP over Avian Carriers was a 1990 April Fools' proposal to carry internet protocol by homing pigeon.

Terry Gou, Foxconn founder, will run for president of Taiwan.
"Zugzwang is a situation found in chess and other games wherein one player is put at a disadvantage because they must make a move when they would prefer to pass and not move."
NYC Transit CEO Andy Byford is, somewhat unsurprisingly, not super happy with his relationship with NY Governor Andrew Cuomo.

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Love, Spencer.

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