Besides sophisticated processes, strategies targeting niche markets and geographies also are leading to moldmaker growth. When asked to rate the impact 13 different factors will have on the future success of their business, moldmakers rated “adding niche capabilities” as the second most important factor, closely behind quality molds and quick delivery, which were tied for [...]
Designing a product for high production tooling involves considerations that must be closely evaluated: gating location, part ejection, wall thickness, material flow characteristics, cycle time, hot runner feasibility and assembly at high rates. One overlooked area during product design is multi-cavity tooling requirements. […]
A purchase order has been promised by the customer for weeks, and finally the green light has been given to the mold design team. No sooner has the design started and the shop foreman is asking when steel can be ordered, as the shop needs work. […]
As we all know, the global economy has been going through one of the worst recessionary periods in the history of the free market. As a result, companies across a broad spectrum of the plastics manufacturing industry are facing unprecedented challenges. […]
Selecting the right source for components can save your mold design and building team significant time, labor and expense in almost every facet of the process—from design and development to manufacture and assembly. Finding the right working partner can ease the burden by shortening the design phase, streamlining workflow efficiency, ramping up productivity and speeding [...]
In many instances, configurable components may be available with optional alterations that can be specified when ordering. In other cases—where you might need to have standard items machined for a single or multiple cavity production tools—the supplier may be able to offer this service at a small additional charge. […]
Choosing an online course, so employees can take it at their own pace can be vital to retaining the knowledge long-term. They will need to build on their knowledge; otherwise it is limiting their potential. An online course should make every single machinist an expert in their trade. Every machinist should have a basic knowledge [...]
Needs analysis can be assessed in two ways: knowledge needs and skill needs. A knowledge needs assessment can be done informally by simply asking questions of your machinists that consist of what you consider to be the requisite knowledge they should have to do their job. […]
Lean manufacturing is operating your facilities with the least amount of waste at the highest state of efficiency with the least amount of investment and the lowest number of employees, the highest state of quality, the shortest timeline from order to delivery of the finished products, that you neither over nor under produce, and that [...]
This component refers to the programmers and their available options. Clearly, the software (CAD/CAM) available to the user dictates many of the programming variables from which they can choose. While an excellent software package will create various avenues to machining a part, poor software can limit machining options drastically and prevent the programmers from getting [...]