Within a manufacturing company, machines are an integral part of people’s daily lives. The following overview can help guide you through a much more complex universe than you can imagine.
The machines:
Many successful products are recognized by a distinguishing feature. Functionality and strength being equal, design and finish play an important role in many industries.
Aesthetic qualities are important factors in product design. Consider the furniture, automotive, and motorcycle industries: the products are not only functional, but aesthetically pleasing. Customers appreciate the attention to detail and the quality of the finished product.
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Example of a lamp made for an Italian design brand
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| Example of a lamp made for an Italian design brand | |
Details allow brands to stand out from the competition. Above all, it is the selection of the right processing technology for the raw material these details into fruition.
In practice, the design concept often fails because it cannot be produced due to limited production capabilities. As a result, it can create conflict between product designers and production staff. Transforming ideas into actual products can require an extensive amount of effort for a variety of reasons:
Under these conditions, the design is often simplified, so the part can be produced utilizing the equipment available.
This not only impacts the business’ productivity and growth potential but can also cause severe pitfalls between design engineering and manufacturing. When people in these two critical departments aren’t on the same page, the result is always a total manufacturing cost that is higher than it should be. At best, workers in each area do not completely respect those in the other department. This leads to ill feelings all around and can easily escalate into something much worse.
As a business leader, it would be easy to make an isolated equipment purchase to satisfy the needs of both departments. However, we all know that it’s not that straightforward. It’s important to complete the due diligence. There are many factors which you need to consider before making a practical and reasonable purchase.
Let's look at the biggest challenges employees face when new machinery is introduced.
How to respond to production needs by creating business opportunities
When you decide to buy a new metal cutting system, the primary focus is on production and growth:
Satisfying production does not mean abandoning the business perspective. The needs of the production manager and those of the business leader are generally the same.
| Example of a designer photo frame made entirely of metal | |
The production manager’s focus is meeting or exceeding customer needs and staying ahead of the competition. A perspective that coincides with that of the business leader, for whom technological innovation and processes represent a fundamental lever for maintaining or gaining competitiveness in the market, achieving business objectives and guaranteeing the future of the company.
New production systems = New company dynamics
The introduction of a new production system always fuels exciting change within a company, generating a more engaging and challenging work experience that benefits the employees and compan:
It sets in motion a chain of company dynamics that are not all predictable, sometimes unknown to the owner or production manager.
In order to successfully roll-out the new machine purchase, it’s important to involve all stakeholders in the process as early as possible. Their work is often significantly influenced by the introduction of the new system.
The goal: Be transparent in every aspect of the process to generate acceptance and excitement for employees to be part of an innovative company that invests in technology and development.
It is important to involve the different company roles in the decision-making process
In the metal-cutting sector, purchasing a new machine is an event that normally has a significant impact on many departments.
Certainly there is a person (or team) that manages the machine-buying process and makes the final recommendation to management for approval.
However, before making a final decision, it’s important to receive input from the various departments impacted. You gain valuable insight on what requirements are important and any concerns prior to the machine selection.
The goals of the team are typically to:
| Examples of 3D laser cuts |
There are many ways to cut bent tubes, stamped parts, deep-drawn, hydroformed parts and any three-dimensional profile in general but it is good idea to pay particular attention to several details when determining the most suitable cutting technology for your objectives:
An example
You are very good at watrer-jet cutting stamped sheets, but what happens if your customers ask you to cut bent tubes?
An example
You are very good at cutting stamped steel sections with a C=2 laser, but what happens if your customers ask you to make parts of stainless steel, copper alloy or aluminium?
An example
You are using 3D plasma cutting to make three-dimensional parts. What would happen if customers were to ask you to increase productivity and ensure a cutting edge with no thermal alterations and a vertical section? Or what if they need thinners cut to make more parts from the same hydroformed part?