Precision manufacturer Method Mfg aims to grow footprint, headcount south of Austin

Fast-growing co. has built parts for NASA, rocket makers

Rhys Andersen's first introduction to precision manufacturing came in 2018. His friends

who worked in the semiconductor industry described a hole in the market for large-parts

manufacturing, as most of it was done out of state by just a few companies, leading to

long lead times and production bottlenecks.

While he didn't know much about machining, he looked at prints of the parts needed

and found it doable. He went out and found a used machine from the oil fields and

brought it to Austin to rebuild. He taught himself how to use it, starting with big parts

and eventually moving into small and more precise pieces.

By last November, one of the pieces made by Buda-based Method Mfg LLC reached

outer space.

What Andersen called a "pretty big milestone" for the company is just the start of his

growth plans for Method Mfg, which operates out of a 5,000-square-foot facility at 4501

Dacy Lane. His plans include adding to its five-person workforce, more than doubling its

physical space and working with the local community to build a talent pipeline in the

coming years.

The precision manufacturer primarily makes pieces for the aerospace and

semiconductor industries. And while Andersen declined to name any of its customers,

he said the company has built parts for various rocket companies and satellite bus

providers. It also built parts for the space suits for NASA's Artemis III program.

The partnerships have led to 70% year-over-year revenue growth since the company's

inception, with Andersen crediting customers for putting their trust in Method and

allowing it to grow alongside them. Method's goal is to eventually establish the most

advanced manufacturing facility in Austin that is completely vertically integrated,

allowing it to have greater control over the life cycle of its products.

"I think Austin and the Buda environment has given us access to those companies that

are at the leading edge of technology," Andersen said.

Andersen said he's seeing a "passing of the guard" in the market between machinist

shops that have been around for decades and newer shops like his. Method is different

in that it isn't a traditional machine shop and is more technology-based and focused

on automation.

Method uses automation in everything, Andersen said, from price quotes to project

management to production, and he refers to his employees as tech workers. The

company will soon be adding a unique fully automated five-axis machine, which it aims

to have up and running by August and will allow the company to operate nonstop.

"Most people, the idea they have when they come into a machine shop is it's kind of a

dirty environment," he said. "Ours is very different: it's white walls and white floors. It's

very clean. My guys are working at computers and then the machines are all clean. Our

goal is to kind of change that idea of what manufacturing is."

The company is another high-tech manufacturer setting its sights on Buda, which is just

south of Austin and has a population of about 16,000 people.

Jennifer Storm, CEO of the Buda Economic Development Corp., said that although the

city already "is home to some really cool businesses," having one focused on space is

extra special.

"Creativity and entrepreneurial spirit thrive in Buda and the EDC stands ready to

help accelerate businesses to the next level or even the next universe," she said in

a statement.

Andersen said the decision to move to Buda came down to real estate. It wanted to be in

proximity to its Austin-area customers, he said, and Buda was affordable compared to

everything else at the time.

In 2022, the company bought an old manual machine shop, Andersen said. Method likely

will at least double the 5,000-square-foot space in 2025 to expand operations.

Andersen's previous experience included working in the oil fields, which had a

significant ebb and flow in terms of headcount, and he doesn't want that for his

company. He wants to find people who will be at the shop longterm while also keeping

the size of his workforce lower and productivity up through increased automation.

"Right now our biggest thing is making sure we are growing in a sustainable fashion. So

we're making our plans and chipping it off as we can," Andersen said. "I've done it

entirely self-funded, so I'm trying to be pretty planned out in how we do things."

The biggest challenge is finding talented people, he said. Method approaches hiring in

two ways: by finding people who don't have standard backgrounds and teaching them

how to do the work, or by investing in the future of the workforce. In terms of the latter,

Method did machining and supplied materials for a local robotics team in Buda, which

led to an internship opportunity for one of the young members.

Andersen said he grew up in a small town and didn't have access to such opportunities.

He said he hopes the program provides younger kids with access to machining, enabling

them to parlay the experience into a career in the industry or something similar, such

as engineering.

"Just sharing that and letting my machinists teach the next generation how stuff is made

I think is really rewarding but also benefits us in the long run," he said. "I certainly didn't

know about it as a kid, and it's a really desirable and needed skill right now."

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