Knowing when the time is right to add machining capacity is one of the toughest challenges shop owners face. Even one new machine is a considerable investment for all but the largest manufacturers, which means most shops won’t even consider a new machine until they have more work than they can handle with…
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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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As an increasingly global industry, manufacturing continues to become more competitive year after year, which means shops have to continuously improve just to keep up. In many cases, this has included a move to high-mix/low-volume (HMLV) production strategies, which give manufacturers the agility they need to quickly respond to customer needs. To achieve…
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In an ideal world, manufacturing would never stop, and fully secure processes, well-integrated automation and smart business practices would keep shops operating 24/7, 365 days a year. Unfortunately, this is not the case. In reality, shops often face interruptions in production and downturns due to circumstances beyond their control, including unusual events such…
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