Solving for Scale: A Collaboration to Drive Manufacturing Innovation

At LineLab, our experience shows that solving complex manufacturing challenges can make or break companies. This experience lies at the heart of the Solving for Scale Summit, an initiative we proudly co-founded in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the non-profit NextGen Industry Group. Together, we set out to tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time: scaling advanced manufacturing operations.

Why “Solving for Scale” Matters

The industrial landscape in the United States is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Driven by record levels of public and private investment, manufacturing is experiencing a renaissance, fueled by policies like the Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS Act. These initiatives aim to reshore critical industries, enhance economic resilience, and create a robust foundation for innovation.

At the heart of this resurgence is the push to industrialize complex technologies in emerging sectors like green tech, climate tech, and advanced mobility. Scaling these innovations—whether it’s next-generation batteries, eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicles, AI hardware, or new biopharmaceuticals—introduces unprecedented technical and operational challenges. From untested production systems to the development of entirely new supply chains, companies are navigating uncharted territory to bring these technologies to market.

Why Now?

A combination of economic, technological, and geopolitical factors makes this the perfect moment to address scaling:

• Massive Capital Investments: Billions in funding are flowing into factory construction and expansion, but these investments must translate into sustainable, scalable operations.
• Technological Complexity: Scaling revolutionary technologies like advanced batteries, modular reactors, individualized biopharmaceuticals, hardware for AI, systems introduces risks that demand innovative solutions.
• Reshoring and Resilience: Global supply chain disruptions are driving a shift toward domestic production, creating an urgent need for advanced operational strategies.

Addressing the Scaling Challenge

Despite this unprecedented momentum, scaling manufacturing remains a daunting challenge. Scaling is not simply about building more factories—it’s about building better factories. Companies need to:

1. De-risk Production Systems: Develop systems that can manage the complexity of scaling novel technologies without jeopardizing quality or timelines.
2. Optimize Investments: Use data and advanced modeling to ensure capital is allocated effectively, balancing performance and cost at every step of the supply chain.
3. Adapt to Evolving Demands: Implement agile strategies that account for changing regulations, resource constraints, and emerging market pressures.

The Solving for Scale Summit exists to address these challenges, bringing together manufacturers, experts, and investors to identify actionable solutions for scaling manufacturing systems. By tackling these issues now, we can lay the foundation for sustained industrial growth and innovation.

The Origin Story: A Shared Vision for Scaling Manufacturing

The idea for the Solving for Scale Summit originated around a series of lectures delivered by Scott Nill, LineLab’s Chief Technology Officer and co-founder, as part of MIT’s Advanced Manufacturing and Design program. These sessions highlighted the operational and financial hurdles companies face when transitioning from small-scale production to full-scale manufacturing. Students and faculty deeply valued his insights, planting the seeds for what would become a larger conversation.

Meanwhile, the NextGen Industry Group, a collective dedicated to supporting growth-stage manufacturers and investors, recognized that the concept behind “Solving for Scale” would provide immense value to their members. By creating a platform to share insights and strategies for scaling, the summit could serve as a critical resource for the ecosystem. 

This vision and partnership between MIT, LineLab, and the NextGen Industry Group became the foundation of the Solving for Scale Summit, a premier event focused on developing actionable solutions to drive scalable, sustainable industrial growth.

A Unique Collaboration

The Solving for Scale Summit is the result of a unique partnership between MIT’s Advanced Manufacturing and Design Program, LineLab, and the NextGen Industry Group alliance. This event series is bringing together industry leaders to create a platform for addressing manufacturing’s most critical scaling challenges.

Together, the collaboration focuses on:

• Frameworks to approach industrialization and anticipate operational bottlenecks.
• Exploring new financial instruments to overcome the “missing middle” funding gap.
• Equipping leadership teams with the tools and strategies needed to navigate growth effectively and successfully scale the leadership circle.

What to Expect at the Solving for Scale Summit

Scaling manufacturing requires tackling challenges that span operations, financing, and technological innovation. At the Solving for Scale Summit, industry leaders, academic experts, and investors will come together to explore these dimensions and share actionable insights. Key topics include:

1. Operations Strategy: Building new factories and ramping first of a kind production
2. Financial Innovation: Bridging the funding gap—commonly referred to as the "missing middle"—to support companies transitioning from pilot production to full-scale operations.
3. Impact of Technology: How new innovations not only enable new products but new production and strategy as well.

The summit provides a platform for industry pioneers and visionary leaders to share success stories, identify common pitfalls, and build frameworks that can transform the ecosystem. The event features a lineup of renowned speakers who bring deep expertise and visionary thinking to the challenges of scaling manufacturing including:

• Kevin Kassekert, CEO of VulcanForms: A leader in advanced manufacturing, Kevin will share insights on how his team is scaling cutting-edge production technologies to support the next wave of industrial innovation.
• John Hanselman, Founder and Chair of Vanguard Renewables: With extensive experience in green energy and sustainability, John will discuss lessons learned from scaling industrial operations in the renewable energy sector.
• Prof. Andrew Lo, MIT Sloan School of Management: A trailblazer in financial engineering, Prof. Lo will present strategies for bridging the "missing middle" funding gap and ensuring long-term sustainability in manufacturing investments.
• Scott Nill, CTO of LineLab: A pioneer in advanced modeling and risk quantification in aerospace and green tech, Scott will discuss strategies for envisioning scale-up and tackling first-of-a-kind manufacturing challenges.
• Charly Mwangi, General Partner at Eclipse and former COO of Rivian: A seasoned leader in manufacturing scale-up and innovation, Charly will share his experiences from Rivian and other ventures, highlighting the operational strategies and leadership approaches that drive successful production ramp-ups in advanced industries.

These speakers, alongside other industry leaders, academics, and innovators, will provide a comprehensive exploration of the key issues and opportunities shaping the future of manufacturing.

The summit will host a diverse group of companies at the forefront of manufacturing innovation, including: REGENT, Twelve, Bosch, General Catalyst, Re:Build Manufacturing, Embraer, DARPA, and many more.

How LineLab Empowers Scaling

LineLab’s software is purpose-built to help manufacturers solve for scale using advanced mathematics developed from MIT research. It allows companies to:

• Model production systems to understand how they will scale under different scenarios in a single solve.
• Analyze costs and sensitivities, from product design to supply chain operations.
• Optimize operational strategies by identifying the best configurations of capacity, inventory, and slack to balance high performance with cost efficiency.

By providing quantitative tools and insights, LineLab empowers manufacturers to make informed, data-driven decisions that guide their operational strategies for scaling.

Join Us in Shaping the Future

The Solving for Scale Summit is more than just an event; it’s a movement to redefine what’s possible in manufacturing. Together with MIT and the NextGen Industry Group network, LineLab is proud to lead the charge in building the frameworks and solutions that will define the next generation of industrial success.

To learn more about the initiative and explore how you can be part of the solution, visit: www.solvingforscale.com