The Algorithm – don't panic ask Elon

  1. Make your requirements less dumb

    Question all constraints and requirements, especially if they come from an intelligent source. If you cannot name the specific person who created the requirement, it is often invalid.

  2. Delete the part or process

    Ruthlessly strip away redundant steps. If you are not occasionally adding removed things back into the design, you are not deleting enough.

  3. Simplify or optimize

    Only focus on improving the remaining elements after deleting what shouldn't exist. The most common mistake of a smart engineer is optimizing a process or part that should simply not exist.

  4. Accelerate cycle time

    Move faster and push for higher throughput, but only after properly vetting the first three steps.

  5. Automate

    Automate only at the very end. Automating a flawed, unoptimized process too early is a common pitfall.