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21 Mar20180

Popular Products Manufactured in the U.S.

adminCNC Automation Manufacturing, Manufacturing Processamerican made products, denver cnc manufacturing, denver machining, denver manufacturing, machine shops colorado, machine shops denver, made in colorado, made in the usa, manufacturing in usa, products manufactured in the us, us manufacturers, us manufacturing, usa made products, usa manufacturing

Have you ever bought something because it read the label, “Made in the U.S.A.“? We’ve all been there. We all like American-made products and we value what’s constructed in our own country. Although the number is increasing, not a lot of products are made in the U.S. In fact, about 50% of the products we use are made in China. However, America is trying to even the playing field. With our increased knowledge of mechanical engineering and the US manufacturing schools available, more and more products involve manufacturing in the USA.

Furthermore, a new technology has advanced over the years — CNC machining and manufacturing. CNC manufacturing is a manufacturing process where a pre-programmed computer controls tools and machines. This is done through CNC automation, where computers and machines do all the work for us. This has created a mechanical engineering breakthrough leading to more excitement surrounding the United States manufacturing industry. But since China still makes over half of the products we use, what’s manufactured in the United States? See below for a list of the most popular products made on U.S. soil:

-Primary Metal
-Machinery
-Transportation Equipment
-Weber Grills
-Tesla Roadsters
-Harley Davidson Motorcycles
-Whirlpool Appliances
-KitchenAid Mixers
-GE Hot Water Heaters
-Stihl Gas-Powered Equipment

From machinery to kitchen mixers, the United States still makes some of the more important products that we use in our everyday lives. And with CNC manufacturing leading the way in mechanical engineering, machines are working smarter and more effectively. In addition, education for the mechanical industry is getting better year after year. Mechanical engineering schools are popping up everywhere and more people are realizing the importance of these skills.

Increased Productivity and Lower Costs Lead to US Manufacturing

With more and more products being manufactured in the United States, there has to be a reason why our production efforts have increased. One of them is our productivity. American workers have been proven to be more productive in the workplace. They are paid higher than employees are in other countries and the work environments are more enjoyable. With child-labor issues happening in China and other countries, more people choose American-made products for that reason alone. Another cause for increased U.S. manufacturing is shipping costs. Every day, it is getting more expensive to export materials from one country to the next. In order to save on costs and produce high-quality, dependable products, many manufacturing companies are choosing the United States are their hub.

The U.S. Prefers American-Made Products

The average American will choose an American-made products over one that’s produced in another country. Although China leads the pack for most of the products we use, that number is starting to decrease. One reason for the change is CNC manufacturing. As our technology gets more advanced, CNC automation and machining is growing in popularity. From production benefits to saving on costs, CNC manufacturing is here to stay.

If you’re looking for a professional, modern manufacturing company you can depend on, Tag Team Manufacturing is the company for you. We’ve been in business since 1987 and we specialize in machining CNC precision components for OEM’s in a wide range of different industries. We work with engineers to design effective materials that work properly and that last for many years to come. If you would like to learn more about Tag Team Manufacturing, don’t hesitate to give us a call today!

14 Mar20180

What is ISO and What are the Steps to Becoming ISO Certified?

adminCNC Automation Manufacturing, Manufacturing Processaudit, cnc machining, cnc precision, future of manufacturing, international organization of standardization, iso, iso audit, iso certification, iso compliant, machine shop, machine shops denver, manufacturing, manufacturing iso, precision machining, tight tolerances, us manufacturing

ISO 9001 originated from the conglomeration of two different organizations namely United Nations Standard Coordinating Committee (UNSCC) and International Federation of the National Standardizing Associations (IFNSA) in 1946 when over 25 nations convened at the Institute of Civil Engineers in central London.

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) creates all the essential documents that provide specific guidelines, requirements, specifications, or characteristics that are used to ensure that materials, processes, products, and services are highly fit for their purpose. The body has published over 22025 International standards which can be purchased from the ISO store. The standards cover all sectors including manufacturing in USA, mechanical engineering schools, and even CNC automation.

The ISO 9001 standards bring real and more measurable benefits in various sectors since the standards underpin the technology most industries rely on and ensures quality is adhered to in every stage of CNC machining and CNC manufacturing. Some of the benefits of being ISO 9001 certified include improved efficiency and cost savings, widened market potential, higher level of client service which leads to higher customer satisfaction, and compliance with procurement tenders.

What Are the Steps to Becoming ISO 9001 Certified?

Obtaining an ISO certification for US manufacturing schools or any other industry player requires a significant investment of time, effort, and money. This is a process that will take some time to complete. Below are the essential steps to be followed while seeking ISO certification.

Select a Credible Certification Body

The journey towards being ISO certified starts with identifying a qualified certification body to help you in the process. Since most of the ISO 9001 standards for mechanical engineering are based on a three-year cycle, most of the certification parties will expect the company to sign up a minimum three-year agreement to be considered. Some of the certification bodies will insist on visiting your company several times a year to assess the progress, but a single visit is usually enough to establish the milestones achieved towards the certification.

Develop a Management System

Developing a Management System is an essential part of achieving ISO certification standards. There is the Quality Management System for ISO 9001 standard and the Environmental Management System for the ISO 14001 standard. The core components of the quality management system include analysis and improvement, provision of resources, processes of management activities, and product realization. Once you’ve developed your management system, you’ll be required to fully implement the system, verify if it’s effective, and register it.

Stage 1 Audit

Once you have the quality management system in place, a thorough audit of company activities is what follows. An auditor evaluates your existing systems and provides a well-analysed report identifying suitable actions that need to be undertaken to meet the specific standard. Stage 1 audit is mainly used as a roadmap to the next phase of auditing, so there is no need to worry if you feel like the company is underprepared.

Stage 2 Audit

Stage 2 audit involves fixing all the problems that were identified in stage 1 audit. Once you’ve implemented in the recommendations put forward in the report of stage one audit, an auditor will come in again to complete stage two audit. The purpose of stage two audit is to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of your management system and to establish whether it meets all the requirement of the ISO 9001 standards that you want. If the system is good and it meets all the requirements, then the company will be recommended for ISO certification.

21 Feb20180

How do US Manufacturers Compare to Overseas Manufacturers?

adminCNC Automation Manufacturing, Manufacturing Processamerican made, american manufacturers, american manufacturing, automation manufacturing, cnc, denver cnc manufacturing, denver machining, denver manufacturing, machine shops colorado, machine shops denver, made in the usa, manufacturing in usa, overseas, overseas manufacturers, us manufacturers, us manufacturing, us manufacturing trends, usa made

Labor and production costs stop many American manufacturers from producing products for American consumption. Outsourcing component production or even whole products to overseas manufacturers has saved a lot of money for American manufacturers. But has it? A few strong points show that American Manufacturing compares better to overseas manufacturers.

The Problem

The original reason CNC manufacturing, for example, was outsourced overseas was that wages were lower. So many people needing jobs meant that if someone quit, there were twenty more who could fill the job. Since the foreign workers work for pennies per hour or per day, U.S. manufacturing more or less dried up.

For instance, let’s say mechanical engineering expert Joe Brown has designed a better home automation thermostat. Imagine a Singapore factory has been upgraded for CNC machining to produce the components of the thermostat. Since Singapore workers only make pennies per hour or per day, do they have the necessary incentive to ship quality merchandise?

What Was The Result?

American manufacturers have, for the most part, wanted to save money from the beginning. Over the years, however, some hard truths have come back to bite American manufacturers. A pennies wage isn’t the only criteria by which American manufacturing versus overseas manufacturing is judged.

What Are The Factors?

American schools are the best, bar none. This means that people all over the world trust graduates of mechanical engineering schools and U. S. manufacturing schools. Just ask anyone who uses Apple products, drives a Chevy and orders anything from Amazon on an American-made computer.

There are other factors highlighting the negatives of overseas manufacturing, such as:

-Shipping and handling charges have risen

-When ships remain in foreign ports, for reasons only the foreign country understands

-When merchandise sits at American Customs for weeks awaiting clearance

-It takes weeks and months for a ship to get from the foreign country to America. Meanwhile, the
manufacturer has no product to sell

-Smaller production runs are possible overseas, but shipping costs would be prohibitive

The Plus Side

Manufacturing in the USA has its advantages. The light has been shed on these advantages, giving American manufacturers the option of re-shoring or bringing manufacturing back home. Some of those advantages are:

-America jealously guards her intellectual rights. Manufacturers won’t worry about their designs being
stolen

-Safety standards, labor standards, and a healthy work environment ensure workers have incentive to
produce a quality

-A big rig transporting Mr. Brown’s product in days hands down beats a ship taking weeks or months to
arrive

-Manufacturing disasters like the one in Bangladesh many years ago don’t happen in America. American
manufacturers won’t have to explain to the buying public why its factory collapsed and killed thousands
of people

-American manufacturers have the flexibility to meet new production runs for increased sales

The Realization

One of those hard truths concerns having no inventory while product is in transport. The need for close proximity sourcing has become evident to American manufacturers. As a result, some companies are bringing manufacturing jobs home. While they’re on their way, the manufacturers are using nearby sources to keep product coming.

American manufacturing has come to the realization that in outsourcing to overseas manufacturers versus domestic manufacturing, there’s no place like home.

07 Feb20180

7 Reasons Why US Manufacturing is Important

adminCNC Automation Manufacturing, Manufacturing Processamerican manufacturing, automation manufacturing, customer in manufacturing, customers, denver cnc manufacturing, denver machining, denver manufacturing, machine shops colorado, machine shops denver, manufacturing in usa, OEM, us manufacturing, us manufacturing trends

Considering the current scolding regarding the importance of the US manufacturing industry, there have been critics who have tried to discredit the benefits associated with manufacturing in the current transformational age. However, their arguments are not right considering these seven benefits associated with US manufacturing.

Manufacturing enables Creation of Strong Middle-class Jobs.

Regardless of the claims from critics that manufacturing jobs are unpleasant, they, in fact, have not been to a modern machine shop as these offer a good work environment and a dependable source of income for many American families. Furthermore, most of them come with irresistible perks such as good health insurance, 401k plans and short term disability for its employees. Also, despite the fact that all jobs are good depending on personal preferences, some higher positions even pay up to $80,000-$100,000+ per year!

Manufacturing Creates Jobs

With a relatively high unemployment rate particularly among the youth, expansion of the US manufacturing industry has gone a long way in providing the much-needed jobs. Now, trade schools offer a 2-4 year education in Precision Machining. This is a good starting point if you are interested in manufacturing and machining. Unlike other positions that require high qualifications, entry level manufacturing jobs do not require such specialized skills and can absorb anyone willing to learn (although some schooling is a plus and will help the employee move up in the company). With schooling and on the job training, anyone with a passion in manufacturing can fit into the industry.

Manufacturing creates National Wealth

Buying and consuming imported goods will only make the country poorer since there will be no foreign income. However, by manufacturing products which can be sold locally and internationally, the nation’s economy becomes stronger since there will be foreign cash.

Factories/ Machine Shops are now Safer than before

The current American factories are very safe now and those interested in the industry should not be worried to work in this type of setting. Rarely are their incidences of safety breach or accidents with proper training and shop safety. Also, with the recent embracement of the worker safety policy countrywide, the possible safety incidences are continually being suppressed.

U.S. Industries are very clean

Compared to other countries where waste products are directed in rivers and other water bodies, American factories a very clean and are even getting cleaner. The waste produced in US manufacturing industries is treated and recycled to ensure that it does not harm the environment. As such, the world will be a healthier place if people bought more goods from the U.S. compared to other countries.

Workers with good jobs are healthy

Jobs in the US manufacturing industry are in most cases physically taxing. Whereas this may be seen as a negative, it is, in fact, good for the employee’s health as working in manufacturing also doubles up as exercise. Machinists are on their feet all day, constantly moving around. As a result, earning money and remaining healthy go hand in hand.

Manufacturing research leads to creative ideas

The US manufacturing industry contributes to approximately 75% of the private sector development and research. The mind-blowing innovations from the U.S. manufacturers keep the country competitive in the global platform hence making it an economic powerhouse.

In a nutshell, if taken alone, the manufacturing industry is the ninth largest economy in the world. As such, critics need to reevaluate their stand about the U.S. manufacturing industry.

04 Oct20170

Where is the highest concentration of manufacturing in the world?

adminCNC Automation Manufacturing, Manufacturing Processchinese manufacturing, denver cnc manufacturing, denver manufacturing, made in the usa, manufacturing in usa, manufacturing sector, us manufacturing, world manufacturing

Today, the highest concentration of manufacturing in the world is still in China. Having displaced the United States from the number one spot of world’s largest manufacturing nation back in 2010, China has continued to solidify its dominance as the world leader. As of 2013, according to data published by the United Nations, China accounted for 23.2% of the total world manufacturing sector while U.S. came in second with an 18.1% share. Japan, Germany and Korea rounded up the list of top 5 with 7.8%, 6.3% and 3.1% respectively.

China continues to be one of the most rapidly growing countries in the world. And when it comes to manufacturing, the country is definitely reigning as the supreme world supplier of electronics, automobile spare parts, commercial goods, steel products, communication equipment, and more. It currently has the largest concentration of manufacturing industries in the world, and according to statistics, 6 out of the major 10 export ports in the world are in China.

Here is a breakdown of China’s manufacturing empire, spread out in 5 major metroplexes;

1. Shanghai

Shanghai is not only one of the major financial, economic, trade, manufacturing and shipping cities in China, but also the world. It has rapidly been developing industries over the past 25+ years, which has massively attributed to its overall success. It is responsible for the manufacturing of automobiles, steel products, electronics, communication equipment and devices, petrochemicals and biomedicine.

Shanghai is also connected to the nearby cities of Ningbo and Hangzou by the Hangzou Bay Bridge and an overland high-speed rail. These two brother cities also indulge in heavy manufacturing of commercial and consumer goods daily.

2. Beijing

Beijing, the capital and most populous city in China after Shanghai, is another major hub for manufacturing companies in China. It is home to 52 of the Fortune 500 companies and its industrial sector is mainly dominated by heavy industries which contribute to over 80% of its gross industrial output.

The city’s manufacturing sector is mainly involved with electronics, pharmaceuticals, telecommunication equipment, chemicals, and food & beverages. It is also one of the leaders in information technology and bio-engineering.

3. Tianjin

A sister city to Beijing, Tianjin is another giant manufacturing sector on its own. It is one of the 4 autonomous municipalities in China; the others being Shanghai, Beijing and Chongqing, that offer immense opportunities and resources to manufacturers hence attracting them here. It is a leader in the manufacture of mobile phones, automobiles, alternative energy products, and aerospace & aviation products.

4. Guangzhou

This another prominent city in China with thousands of factories spread out all over its manufacturing zones. The factories are so diverse in their production that you can get anything from toothpicks to automobile parts here. The city is also popular with traders of African descent, most of who came here in search of low-cost goods but ended up settling down and exporting these goods back home.

5. Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a world-renown electronics manufacturing city. It is the electronics manufacturing hub of China and the world at large. Home to over 12 million people, this city is just the perfect place for you to establish an electronics manufacturing business in China.

And there you have it, the country with the highest concentration of manufacturing in the world together with its major manufacturing metroplexes and their corresponding areas of specialization.

07 Jun20170

Why Manufacture Your Products in the USA vs. Overseas?

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You’ve got products to be made. But where? Should American manufacturing be done overseas, from inexpensive factory sources? Or in the United States, where your costs might be higher and your profit margins squeezed? This is usually how the choice is presented.

In fact, both time and money factors very often point to American manufacturing having the edge in efficiency.

Maintaining Local Accessibility

Doing business with a U.S. manufacturer means your product can be available quickly, by domestic shipping. You’ll be able to keep in constant contact with the manufacturing company.

You’ll have the option of working with its specialists from start to finish with considerable ease.

For example, you can have quick access to manufacturers’ samples of a product line ahead of a full order.

Indicators for Future U.S. Manufacturing Growth

There might be other factors in a decision to go with a U.S. manufacturer. Much more than a wage-per-hour figure is in play.

Supporting American manufacturing gives you the power to support the future growth of the sector, and its solid role in a strong economy. It is an investment in the future of U.S. workers and job security overall.

Under the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and other international trade agreements, the United States has suffered a job drain, and the movement of factory trade to foreign locations. At some point, truth be told, US policy changed. It gave up on promoting economic growth from within. It began to rely, and has increasingly relied, on overseas manufacturing.

The public mood may be swaying the Trump Administration to revamp key aspects of international trade. We are optimistic. In our view, there has never been a better time to invest in the future of US manufacturing. Instead of offshoring, the emphasis will be on reshoring.

To that end, President Trump has expressed a commitment to have the US Commerce Department identify trade agreement infractions, by any country, that have harmed US workers. Accordingly, all relevant agencies should use every US and international legal means to end the abuses.

Investing in Communities and Work Environments

Now, let’s return to what we as ordinary people can do to support US industry’s future growth. This involves putting our money where our mouths are—that is, actually relying on American manufacturing for the production of goods. This brings funds into the businesses that can hire local personnel and invest in communities.

Should you commit to working with US-based manufacturing, let your clients know in turn. Be sure they’re aware that part of the cost they’re paying is an investment in the sector.

Tag Team Manufacturing is a US-based company fully dedicated to the economic success of our Denver community. We believe in providing a work environment where machinists are rewarded and retained. We trust our staff to suggest and implement improvements and supply the highest quality parts for our customers.

Call Tag Team Manufacturing today to plan your next manufacturing project: 303.841.5697.

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