FLEXWEST on FlexWest

New web site

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This is my new/interim flexwest.com web site, created using WordPress. I am not a web developer, so I am learning how to use WordPress. My prior website was hand coded with html/css and was not “responsive” so it did not display well on cellphones.

Long term, I may use some other set of tools or web framework/architecture. This would be to enable development of sophisticated applications for the employee-owned company, many of which I want to have a web based user interface. I would prefer something that allows almost any programming language to be used on the backend (currently I use Python and C/C++), runs on a Linux server, has the ability to use WYSIWYG layout, and where the tools are completely offline and installed on the Linux machine.

Linux: SCALE 21X

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I attended the Southern California Linux Expo in Pasadena, CA March 14-21 2024. This is the largest Linux event held each year in North America. It features many presentations and an Expo Hall with Linux related vendors and organizations. It simultaneously hosts other topics such as AI, databases, DevOps and embedded systems. It is a great place to meet people involved with Linux and these other areas.

You can view to the recorded presentations at https://www.youtube.com/@socallinuxexpo/videos

A new direction for me

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I have been working as an embedded engineer for years, and I am now at “retirement age”. I finished my last embedded contract in January this year, and I am no longer seeking new work.

I am now turning my focus to a project I have been working on in the background for years: Own Your Job! An employee-owned company focused on automation.

This is something I am doing to benefit society. I am not trying to make a lot of money for myself. I just don’t want to lose money…

About

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

I am creating a 100% employee owned company, focused on automating the employee’s jobs. Employees will thus own the automation that took away their job. “Own You Job!”.

My mission

I am concerned with the impact of automation on society, particularly employment. I believe we are in a period of unprecedented change, caused by the convergence of various technoIogy advancements and breakthroughs. This has resulted in the capability to automate almost all jobs in theory, and most jobs in practice. This is much different than past advancements, where there were enough new types of jobs created that everyone who wanted a job had a chance to work. While there will still be the need for some human labor, most of the processes to produce what is needed for our basic needs will be automated. Any claims that new types of jobs will provide employment are flawed, because any potential new type of work will also be automated. This is likely to result in a painful transition caused by the fact that the means of production will be owned by a small segment of the population, while the majority of the population will be unable to obtain employment that permits a reasonable standard of living.

Automation and our changing society

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

I have a seminar I have presented at the Osher Life Long Learning Institute (OLLI) and for technical hobby clubs. This seminar provides an introduction to how some essential technologies work (VLSI chip design and production, design and production of printed circuit boards, software engineering, servo systems, CNC machining, industrial automation and robotics and artificial intelligence). The seminar is focused on the convergence of these technologies is impacting society, especially with respect to employment and the increasing wealth gap.

Contact

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

FLEXWEST, LLC Dennis Mangrobang dennis@flexwest.com (520) 399-6550

You can send me a message using the form below.

FAQ

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Q: When do you expect this employee-owned company to be operating?

A: 2025 or 2026. It is hard to predict, because I am not sure how long it will take me to get the first mobile pizza trailer operational and producing revenue.

Q: What types of job opportunities will there be?

A: The company will need all of the usual types of jobs to be performed, especially at first. The primary attributes for all employees are that they are hard working, want to work long term, are smart, are curious and adaptable, and who believe in the company mission. The initial emphasis will be on hiring engineers to develop automation (software, mechanical, electrical), technicians and production workers to make trailers/equipment, and subject matter experts (initially people who are really good at making pizza). The general formula is to pair automation engineers with subject matter experts. I think the first hires may be engineering students or recent graduates, who are willing to operate a pizza trailer part time, in addition to working on engineering and manufacturing. Retired people and people who are passionate about open source also may be good candidates.

Learn More

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

This page provides an introductory level of detail of the main concepts for the employee owned company.

100% employee ownership

The company will be entirely owned by the owner-employees. No passive investment is allowed. If you do not work at the company you cannot own any part of it. This is for several reasons:

“Own your job”: Employees own any automation that takes their job, instead of some investor.
Spread wealth and grow the middle class: Combat the growing wealth concentration.
Governance (corporate policy and behavior) is controlled by the employees.

Focused on automation

Regardless of what type of business the company is in, a prime focus will be to automate as much of the business as is practical. This applies to physical processes as well as knowledge work. This will typically pair automation experts with subject matter experts in whatever process is being automated. Automation will utilize software systems, AI, robotics, industrial automation equipment, etc.

More resources

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction to PCB design and KiCAD

This is a PDF presentation I gave in 2019. It discusses why you might want to make your own printed circuit boards, the basic process of using KiCAD to design a PCB, basic design guidelines, and tips on where to get the boards manufactured. It is a bit dated in 2024, especially with respect to popular PCB manufacturers; JLCPCB is mentioned and now seems to be the most popular choice for hobby electronics enthusiasts.

Prescott SciTechFest

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

FLEXWEST had a table at the Prescott SciTechFest at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University on March 2, 2024. This page contains links to more information for the demos we presented at our table.

If you attended this event, thank you. Whether you attended or not, I hope this information will help you explore various STEM topics more fully; – Dennis Mangrobang

MICROCONTROLLERS, GETTING STARTED WITH PYTHON PROGRAMMING:

At our table, I showed a demonstration of a Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller controlling a 16×16 array of smart LEDs. This was to show an example of a way to use software running on a microcontroller to interact with the physical world. One good way for someone who is 10 years old or older (including adults) to get started in physical programming is write programs in the Python programming language running on a microcontroller connected to physical hardware devices.