I’ve been to Baum Cycles before, a few years back, but in that time, both Darren and I made a few big moves. While Baum is still expanding, it’s fun to see what the future holds for the Geelong-based frame builder.

Geelong has long been a manufacturing center in Australia and even though the major factories have since left, Baum is alive and pulsating with energy.

The biggest change at Baum is the new physical queue. Every customer, from the second they get a fitting and make a deposit, has a cubicle that rolls on a rack. If the customer holds up the queue, their spot gets bumped back, and when their cubicle is at the end of the rack, it’s time to get built.

This gives Darren and his employees a physical reference for work and allows them to keep their customers’ parts and papers in order. Darren then took it further and established a color-coordinated production chart. These colors indicate what needs to happen and when. I’ll leave the specifics a secret because, you know, Darren worked hard on it!

Unlike its color-coordinated system, Baum has always been very open about its final product. Its new factory space, albeit a work-in-progress, will open its inner workings to potential and current customers.

I visit a lot of frame builders and Baum always impresses. Check out the Gallery for more insights into how Baum is keeping industry alive in Geelong, Victoria.