With so many different production processes in the manufacturing industry, potential problems can pop up everywhere. Take metal cutting, for example; there is seemingly no end to the tools available. This raises some questions: Are all those tools really needed? Are they used at the peak of their possible performance? In metal cutting…
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To see the real story of a shop’s manufacturing quality, check its Quality Control (QC) area for levels of rejected parts and rework. Maximum profitability requires diligent attention to eliminate QC flaws, especially with today’s emphasis on high-mix, low-volume (HMLV) production. One of the primary keys to overall efficiency, quality and cost containment…
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Machine shops seek to produce a certain number of parts of a certain quality, in a certain amount of time, at a certain cost. Consistently achieving those goals involves controlling a myriad of factors including cutting parameters, tool cost and changeover times, machine tool utilization, workpiece handling expense and material and labor costs….
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Manufacturers continually seek ways to maximize productivity and efficiency. Today, those efforts frequently involve high-level programs that employ buzzwords that include cloud computing, data-driven manufacturing, cyber-physical systems and Industry4.0. These advanced initiatives are excellent concepts and can produce impressive results. However, manufacturing realities often interfere with the implementation of such ambitious plans, and…
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