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06 Mar20190
CNC Manufacturing

How Changing Manufacturing Perceptions Are Shaping the Industry

CNC Automation Manufacturing, Manufacturing Process, , , , , , ,

The manufacturing industry in general, including CNC manufacturing and precision manufacturing, is one that is consistently recognized as one of the most important industries that contributes to economic prosperity. However, the US manufacturing industry is facing a gap. Not only are there not enough skilled workers available, but also there isn’t an interest in pursuing long-term careers in CNC manufacturing. A lot of this has to do with the public perception of the industry.

What Is the Public View of Manufacturing?

Americans value the industry, with 83% believing that manufacturing is important to economic prosperity in the country. Seven out of 10 Americans believe that the country should invest more in the industry. Eight in 10 Americans view manufacturing as an important way to maintain the standard of living in the country. Sixty-four percent believe that the manufacturing industry in the country is high tech. Even with these positive stats, Americans still aren’t choosing careers in CNC manufacturing. One-third would not encourage their children to pursue a career in manufacturing because they believe it doesn’t pay enough, is not a strong career path, and they are worried about the stability and security of the job. While 67% believe these jobs are rewarding and interesting, only half believe that a career in this industry provides good pay when compared to other industries.

Even though Americans aren’t encouraging their children to pursue those jobs and don’t seem to want to have these jobs themselves, they are optimistic about the future of manufacturing jobs and do believe that these perceptions can change and improve. Americans believe that future jobs can have better career prospects because they will require higher levels of expertise, have safer and cleaner environments, and be more innovative and creative. In order to get more people interested in manufacturing jobs, Americans believe there should be more targeted programs, such as apprenticeships and internships, as well as CNC manufacturing degree and certification programs. When Americans become more familiar with the industry, they are twice as likely to encourage their children to pursue a manufacturing career.

Education Matters in the Industry

As Americans are becoming more educated about the industry, their perception is changing. In order to fix some of these perceptions, it’s necessary to increase the pool of qualified candidates to be able to get the right talent to staff the roles that today’s manufacturing companies need. Community colleges, as well as technical schools across the country, are working with government and non-profit agencies, as well as manufacturers, to develop curriculum that will help make sure that students have the in-demand skills that are needed for these roles. These institutions, as well as manufacturers themselves, are better understanding the role that they play in transforming the public perception. Oftentimes in the past, manufacturers would spend money to invest in technology and equipment, but didn’t invest in their existing workforce and in the human capital. Due to this, the industry has fallen behind and is lagging when it comes to adapting to new operations in more technologically advanced environments. Schools have worked with private manufacturers in order to develop programs that will help focus on specific skills employers want, which not only makes it easier for the manufacturers themselves, but also benefits the students who want to make sure they can get a job when they are done with school. An example of this is a worker training program with American Makes. This organization is a leading partner in research for 3D printing and additive manufacturing. The organization is a public-private partnership that works to accelerate and innovate additive manufacturing with the goal to help increase the manufacturing competitiveness in the United States. The curriculum that is offered is skills-based training, and the apprenticeships offer a range of jobs that are in demand with a focus on the 3D workforce.

Improving the US Manufacturing Competitiveness

In order to improve perceptions about the industry, more than three-fourths of Americans agree that there needs to be a more strategic approach to invest and develop the manufacturing base. Seven in ten Americans believe that a strong manufacturing base should be a priority for the nation and there should be tax incentives to encourage it. There needs to be lowered health care costs, reforms in the education system, and a comprehensive energy policy. These are just some of the actions that Americans believe could help bolster the competitiveness of the US manufacturing industry.

What’s Really Happening in the Industry?

The manufacturing industry provides one of the most stable and secure career paths, and the average tenure of workers in manufacturing jobs is the highest among private sector industries. Manufacturing jobs have some of the lowest turnover rates as well. Despite what some think, CNC manufacturing jobs are paying well. According to statistics from the Bureau of Labor and Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average worker earned $81,289, which included benefits and pay, compared to the average worker in other industries only earning $63,830. Health benefits can be a concern with job seekers, and manufacturers have some of the higher percentage of workers who are eligible for health benefits provided by an employer. Skilled workers are needed, especially over the next decade. About 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will be needed, which is due to a combination of the retirement of Baby Boomers and the strengthening economy. By making these statistics more well known and increasing public awareness, it can help dispel false perceptions to help get the news out that the industry is actually doing pretty well. Manufacturing is a big contributor to the US economy. The industry employs about 12 million people and the effect of it ripples throughout the entire nation. For every one dollar that is spent in manufacturing, another $1.81 is added to the economy. For every job that is added in the manufacturing industry, four other jobs are added in the broader economy.

How Trends in the Industry Affect Perceptions

Different technological advances that are entering the industry, such as IoT and robotics, are also changing perceptions that are helping to shape the industry. Despite the new technology and many people thinking that technology is going to replace jobs, there is still a huge demand for jobs that are more skilled and can work alongside the changing technology. While some jobs are lost due to robotics and new technology, these jobs are being replaced with higher skilled jobs, which pay more and offer more stability. The newer jobs for higher skilled workers are exactly the kind of jobs that are needed to counteract the negative perceptions that go along with the industry.

20 Feb20190
DIgital marketing technology concept. Internet. Online. Search Engine Optimisation. SEO. SMM. Advertising.

Best Ways to Promote Your Small Manufacturing Business Online

CNC Automation Manufacturing, Manufacturing Process, , , , , , , ,

Having a strong online presence is important for every company, including those in the Denver OEM Manufacturing industry. Promoting your manufacturing business online needs to tie into your overall marketing strategy.

It’s important to remember that OEM manufacturing marketing is about your audience and not about you. Many business owners and executives tend to think about the engineering or product side of the business and think about features and products, instead of thinking about results and outcomes. In order to have a successful online marketing strategy, and a successful marketing strategy in general, you need to figure out your “why.” Why should your customers care about your business? Why is your business the one a customer should pick over the others? It’s not what you make, but it is often tied into what the product can deliver.

Once you have figured out your “why,” you need to figure out your “who.” Ask yourself who really wants the why of the business. Is there a segment or customer type that is the most profitable for you, or a customer type that is the best to work for? Do you know what they really want? What do they search for online? At what point in the buyer journey do they reach out to the sales team? Have you taken the time to talk to your existing customers and asked these questions? Do you know why prospects didn’t buy from you? Getting the answers to these questions can help you narrow down your target audience and really focus your online marketing efforts. For online marketing, it can be especially important to figure out what the potential customers are searching for online and the buyer journey as a whole. This way, you can utilize many different online channels to not only create leads, but also help customers along the way to get them to buy from you.

Social Media

Social media is one of the best ways to engage with customers in the OEM Manufacturing industry. It can also help you get more leads and make personal connections with other fellow industry professionals. By sharing well curated content on Twitter and LinkedIn, you can help establish yourself as an industry leader. If you interact with your customers, then you could be in the position to be a go-to source for tips and information. This will help you gain followers, as well as generate leads. Not only is social media an important tool to connect with purchasing managers, but you can also utilize it on the paid side.

Paid Social Media Advertising

Paid social media advertising can also help you boost brand awareness, since ads can be targeted to specific users. You can target ads based on people’s search and browsing history. However, you don’t have to have any prior connections with people that you want to target with your ads. If their profile will match up with the messaging and target parameters you have set, then your ad can show up in the news feed or as sponsored content.

Search Engine Optimization

If you have a website, you need to be optimizing for the search engines. You need to figure out what your target audience is searching for and use that to your advantage. For example, if a customer is searching the phrase “OEM Manufacturing in Colorado,” you need to have that phrase on your website in order for them to find you. You can add these phrases to your website by including it in title tags, meta descriptions, and in the content on the website. Be careful to not overly spam your website with too many keywords, which will have the opposite effective. The questions you ask yourself about your target audience and customer are important because this helps you understand what they are searching for and what keywords are going to be the most beneficial.

Pay Per Click Advertising

Pay per click advertising, or PPC, works by charging businesses a fee each time someone clicks on their ad. This is a way for business to essentially buy site visits and it can be very effective for getting leads and traffic. Companies can choose to have their ads appear in search engines alongside organic results. A lot of research has shown that users will click on paid search ads more often than other forms of advertising. If the advertisement is directly related to what people are searching, then people don’t mind advertisements. Starting a PPC campaign can take some trial and error to see what people are searching for. If you are going to use Google Adwords, the platform makes it easy to get started and businesses can flesh out a more targeted campaign based on where and when they want to advertise, and work on selecting the right keywords. Not only can businesses focus on keywords, but they can also add in negative keywords, which tell the search engine when not to display the ad. Some keywords cost more than others, but PPC campaigns can be customizable for different budgets and, with the combination of the right keywords, can be very effective for small businesses.

Email Marketing

Email marketing works for new customers and is a way to nurture and create bonds with current customers. Lists can be segmented so customers receive the content that is most important for them. Procurement managers and design engineers can receive different emails, and it allows you to target different people when they are in different stages of the buying process. Oftentimes businesses can receive email addresses at trade shows or on a website conversion page and not do enough with these addresses. With a proper email marketing campaign, you can keep these customers engaged with industry specific content. With advanced email marketing software, you can track emails and do A/B testing, in order to determine which strategies are more effective, and continue to tweak your messaging to get the most out of it.

Business Listings

There are a number of directories and online platforms that will allow you to list your business to attract leads. Since there are many niche OEM manufacturing websites, it’s necessary to find the ones that are most relevant to your target audience and list your business on those.

Creating content for all of these channels can be a challenge. It’s important to humanize the brand and it can be used as a way to edge out the competition. Many customers have seen a lot of corporate OEM manufacturing websites that are cold and want some value and conversation. Have content that will engage with customers, such as a Meet the Team page, and have company leaders share stories about why they are passionate about manufacturing.

06 Feb20190
Made in Colorado with USA Map

What Products Are Manufactured in Colorado?

CNC Automation Manufacturing, Manufacturing Process, , , , , ,

Colorado and Denver Manufacturing account for about 7.34% of the total output in the state, and manufacturing employs 5.67% of the workforce.

The advanced manufacturing in Colorado includes a number of key segments, including petroleum, chemical, and coal products. There are also appliances and components, fabricated metal products, food and beverage, electronics and computers, furniture, machinery, rubber and plastic products, apparel and textiles, and allied and leather products. The state is at the forefront of advanced manufacturing and focuses on job creation in manufacturing.

Due to the state’s talented workforce and entrepreneurial ecosystem, it has created a premier hub for the industry. The manufacturing workforce in Colorado includes a large pool of well-educated and skilled workers. When looking at the age distribution across industries, the manufacturing industry has a larger share of employees who are between the ages of 35 and 64 years old. More than half the Denver Manufacturing related jobs in Colorado require a high school diploma or an equivalent, and 20% of these jobs require a bachelor’s degree or higher. Many of the jobs, about 67%, require on the job training. The Colorado higher education system works to help with the workforce in manufacturing, and the state offers a range of specialized, scientific, and technical degrees. With the mix of two year, four year, and private and religious accredited institutions, there are nearly 300 manufacturing related programs throughout the state to help provide for the workforce.

There are some key factors that make the Denver Manufacturing industry successful in Colorado. There is access to highly technical and scientific workers. The state ranked sixth for the area of high tech wages, and tech workers in Colorado earn 98% more than the average private sector worker. The state’s central location in the U.S. allows for convenient access for air travelers in every North American city, and the location makes it a good midpoint between Frankfurt and Tokyo to help the state serve the world markets. There is plenty of existing land available, as well as low energy costs, which makes it a great place for a lot of manufacturing to take place. With the Colorado manufacturing industry doing so well, the amount of products that can be manufactured there seem endless and there are quite a few. It can be hard to list out every product that is manufactured in the state and products range from food to toys and games to machinery, but we wanted to pick a few top products to hone in on.

Food and Beverages

Beer is one of the main things manufactured in the state, since the state is home to Molson Coors and dozens of craft breweries. However, there is a lot of other food and beverages that are produced. Ardent Mills manufactures baked goods, mixes, and flours. Bobo’s Oat Bar company manufactures their oat bars in a Boulder facility and has been doing so since 2013. Boulder Organic soups are manufactured in the state and are sold in supermarkets across the Midwest. Boulder Sausage of Louisville makes fresh pork and sausage products that don’t have any preservatives or MSG.

Tea is another popular beverage manufactured in the state, as Celestial Seasonings tea company is based in Boulder. The brand serves more than 1.6 million cups of tea every year and manufactures teas with 100 different ingredients from over 35 different countries. Elevation Gourmet, based in Denver, creates organic ketchup that uses a family recipe in place for generations. Noosa Yoghurt, a popular yogurt brand that wins people over with unusual flavors and full fat products, is also manufactured in the state. Pickles from the Real Dill can be made in a Denver location. Udi’s products, a popular line of gluten free products, are manufactured in the state. Ball Corp. has a beverage packaging plant in Broomfield. Wild Zora jerky is manufactured in Fort Collins, Colorado, and this popular jerky is Whole230 approved and paleo, with grass fed beef and no hormones or antibiotics.

Clothing and Accessories

Ghost Rider Boots are handmade and custom western boots produced in the state. They may use older machines to do so, but the designs are new and custom made for you. Handcrafted hats are manufactured by Greenley Hat Works. Knotty Ties are handmade in Denver. Even shoes are made in Colorado by SOM Footwear. These shoes are manufactured entirely in the town of Montrose and are high quality barefoot inspired sneakers. The company offers factory tours for those who are in the area. Sometimes products that are manufactured in the state are also inspired by Colorado itself. The creator of English Retreads handbags got the idea for vegan and stylish handbags while floating in an inner tube down Boulder Creek.

Machinery

A number of different machines are manufactured in the state to provide for different industries. Colorado Corp helps make indirect air conditioning units that are energy efficient. Ice-O-Matic manufactures commercial ice machines and ice storage bins. Broomfield based Mainstreet Pedicabs manufactures human powered cycle taxis, cargo trikes, and vending vehicles. EarthRoamer makes luxury expedition vehicles. Ravenbrick, located in Denver, manufactures solar intuitive, smart glass windows.

Sporting Goods

Delta-13 manufactures the top billiard rack in the industry at their sister manufacturing company, Tag Team Manufacturing, located in Parker, Colorado.

Aerospace

Spacecraft devices for Ball Aerospace are built in a Boulder plant. A new A2100 satellite is being worked on in Jefferson County by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co.

Toys and Games

Liberty Puzzles manufactures deluxe wooden puzzles. Curt Mangan Strings creates handmade electric and acoustic guitar strings. Sphero is a Boulder company that makes the toy version of the BB8 droid from Star Wars.

Furniture

FW Manufacturing makes case goods for the hospitality and hotel industries, as well as cabinetry for the multifamily and builder markets. Tuff Shed is Denver based and, while they do manufacture products at multiple locations across the country, there are also some manufactured in Colorado. Little Colorado produces furniture for children with a goal to make quality wood furniture for an affordable price.

Household Products

Scott’s Liquid Gold and the range of cleaning products is manufactured in Denver and has been since 1970. Thristies makes training pants and cloth diapers that are sold across the country.

With so many products manufactured in the state, Denver Manufacturing is still the primary driver in the Colorado economy, even though it is not as important as it used to be. It makes sense given what manufacturing does. If a factory is selling the widgets it manufactures across the world, then it not only creates jobs at a factory, but also indirectly creates jobs at the retail shops and grocery stores where the products are sold. It also benefits the utility that sells electricity to the factory in the first place. In 2015, there were almost 5,000 manufacturing companies in the state that produced about $23 million worth of goods!

26 Dec20180
Industrial ecology business internet concept. Green energy eco industry manufacture technology

5 Things you need to know about Green Manufacturing

CNC Automation Manufacturing, , , , , , ,

Over the years, human activity, in particular, manufacturing has had a devastating effect on the environment due to pollution. It has also drained the available natural resources through wastage and bad manufacturing practices. In the recent past, there has been a push for green manufacturing prices along with other green practices. Here are five things that you need to know about green manufacturing and how they apply in your custom machine shop or OEM manufacturing facility.

Green manufacturing comes in two ways

Green manufacturing can be defined in two major ways. First, the production of green products. These are products that do not degrade the environment. They may be fully functional equipment or parts thereof which ensure a clean and green environment. Second, it involves the use of renewable energy and manufacturing practices that do not pollute the environment.

Green products can be achieved in many ways. First, the selection of the materials used in the manufacture is critical to ensure that they are materials that do not contribute to environmental degradation. You can use recyclable or recycled materials in support to the recycling initiative. The plastic menace around the world and lead poisoning are some common manufacturing challenges that can be dealt by either of these two approaches.

The use of renewable energy sources helps avoid over-dependence on fossil fuels which are rapidly declining over the years. Renewable energy also brings down the cost of powering up the manufacturing facilities. Renewable energy sources include wind energy and solar power.

Reducing resource use

Different natural resources are dwindling as the years go by. Metal ores, oil, and water are some of the rapidly dwindling resources of importance to the manufacturing community. With the green manufacturing effort, there is an emphasis on the reduction of waste as a way to stem the draining of the resources. Wastage reduction involves streamlining manufacturing process to create efficiency so that every resource that gets into the production cycle is put into use.These resources include raw materials and energy

The second approach involves recycling the used and left-over materials for use in production. In the process of manufacturing, cut metal pieces can be remelted and made into parts. The manufacturing facility can also work with recycling institution to get quality metal for the production. You can have pure and high metal quality for your machine shop from the recycled parts.

Besides, there are lots of resources such as water that can be reused at the manufacturing facility to reduce water consumption. With water purification systems, grey water can serve many other areas of the facility. The water should be treated as it leaves the facility to get rid of heavy metals such as iron and lead before joining the public sewerage systems.

Dealing with emissions

Emissions have been the greatest threat to a clean and sustainable environment. The use of fossil fuels over the years have deeply damaged the ozone layer, led to global warming and lowered the quality of breathable air around the industrial quarters. There has been a drive to reduce the use of fossil fuels which in turn helps reduce the carbon footprint from manufacturing companies.

The reduction in emission is achieved in a number of ways. The first common way is the use of renewable energy sources. Sometimes it takes the redesign of the common systems to use the renewable sources of energy. The second methods involve the restructuring the production methods to cut out some process that increases the production of greenhouse gases. The rapid development of technologies such as CAD, prototype modeling technologies, and precision manufacturing has simplified most technical processes thereby lowering the amount of emissions that leave the manufacturing facility.

Work with communities to improve the livelihoods and environment

The corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a crucial component of green manufacturing. The manufacturing facilities operate among communities. These communities provide the facility with the workforce, energy, and materials for the manufacturing procedures. The manufacturing organizations are bound to give back to the communities around them in a number of ways as explained below.

They can take initiatives to conserve resources such as water by helping in the planting of trees and building of dams.They can assist members of the community to improve their lives by instituting community-based projects such as research and design facilities, taking part in the production of renewable energy or supporting the needy students to get education.

Taking responsibility for any environmental degradation that may have happened in the past, such as pollution of land and rivers and taking the first step in cleaning up the mess.CSR ensures that the facility is part of the community, and its presence in the community becomes an asset to thousands living near it. It is vital that businesses join forces with bodies working towards improving the lives of the residents and the environment around them.

Business process improvement

Also called cradle-to-cradle manufacturing, the ecological business process improvement involves design, production, and manufacturing with an eye on reducing wastage, pollution and enhancing effective resource use. The manufacturing process consists of a lot of components as explained below. The processes cannot be said to be truly green if each of the components is not green. Work with the CNC machinist to redesign the components of the manufacturing process with a view of making them green. The components include:

1. Sustainable manufacturing

This involves manufacturing that does not exceed the environment’s ability to transform the waste into resources and nutrients. This manufacturing philosophy aims to ensure that the manufacturing does not lay the environment around is desolate due to draining and waste dumping.

2. Green operations

Green operations seek to strike a balance between pollution reduction and financial performance of the organization. It looks at such initiatives such as eco-design, re-use of old and worn-out components, refurbishment and eco-packaging of products. These products reduce environmental pollution while still ensuring that the business stays afloat.

3. Green supply chain management

The whole supply chain should adopt green practices in the production, packaging and supplying of parts and finished products. Consider purchasing raw materials and your CNC machine components from an original equipment manufacturer and Denver manufacturing company that is eco-sustainable. In the same breath, the company can recover the products that have reached their end of life for recycling.

Green manufacturing has long-term benefits on your CNC manufacturing process and the community surrounding the facility. Select a green machine shop Denver for your part supplies in support for the green manufacturing initiative.

28 Nov20180
Cutting of metal. Sparks fly from laser

How Laser Technology has made Manufacturing Easier

CNC Automation Manufacturing, , , , , , ,

Highly precise and immense power in welding, laser technology has changed the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing over the years has demanded innovation, increased quality, and efficiency. As such, laser technology came in and revolutionized the manufacturing process. Precision manufacturing has become possible due to this technology. Its ability to transform and manipulate materials has made it ideal for computer, automobile and clothing industries. Laser technology has changed and made manufacturing easier. It is actually hard to see a consumer product that has not incorporated laser technology in its production. The continuous innovation and effort by scientists over the years has seen laser technology developed and perfected. From the development stage to the application in the field, laser technology has led to some social and economic benefits. Laser technology has led to the growth of the social economy with its development of natural science and technology.

Here are fields of manufacturing that laser technology is being used.

Laser Cutting

The traditional cutting techniques have not mastered the art of precision. The cost of cutting and the ensuing processing cost are high. Laser cutting is precise to the millimeter level and less costly. With the right incision by the CNC machinist, the cutting is smooth and precise. This eliminates the need for further processing. Laser cutting has many advantages over the traditional methods;

– It uses CNC programming hence the accuracy.
– There is no shear burr.
– The incision will have no mechanical stress.
– It has a very high utilization rate.
– Its repeatability is good.

Laser cutting has different categories;

Laser vaporization– it cuts through very thin metals and non-metal materials.

Laser melting cutting– used for non-oxidizable materials such as titanium

Laser oxygen cutting– used for easily oxidizable materials.

Laser and welding

Laser welding is a different and more efficient type of welding. The laser radiation energy diffuses through the material to melt it and form a special molt. Laser technology has been ideal in achieving spot welding, butt welding and seal welding in thin walls. Laser welding has many advantages that have changed the manufacturing industry for the better;

– Regulation of the heat means that damage caused by heat conduction is minimal.
– No damage and contamination since no electrodes are required.
– High-speed performance
– Depth weld ration can get to 10:1, especially for perforated welding.

Laser welding is used widely in industries like civil vehicle manufacturing. The use of laser welding and CNC manufacturing in the vehicle industry has not only increased efficiency, but also production.

Laser Engraving

Under a very high energy density controlled by a CNC machinist, the laser beams irradiate the surface of the material making it melt instantly. This leaves a marking on the surface with the intended logo or text. Its efficiency and the fast pace has made laser marking the most popular in advanced engraving globally. Laser engraving has high repeatability precision, no pollution, beautiful in design, and firm. With laser marking, it is easier to achieve the synchronized flight print in a production line.

Laser Heat Treatment

This is a surface heating technology. As such, a laser is used to heat the meat on the surface to make the heat treatment. This has led to the improvement of the metal’s oxidation resistance, wear and corrosion resistance, and prolonged service time.

Laser and packaging

Laser technology is used in the weakening of packs to give an easy to open opportunity, puncturing holes in vegetable packages for ‘breathing,’ and scribing. This shows how laser technology has made packaging industry work more effectively and efficiently.

Laser and quality control

Measuring the laser light dispersion reflected back from ball bearings can figure their roundness. This technology has proved to come in handy in managing quality in manufacturing of various items.

Laser and Semiconductors

Semiconductor manufacturing needs clean cutting of materials rapidly. Nothing fits this demand like laser technology. The ability to cut shapes to high precision while minimizing roughness on the surface makes them cut out for this work.

Laser Rapid Prototyping Technology

With the increase in integration of the global market process, competition has intensified. The speed at which consumer products are produced has become the principal contradiction of the competition. With the users’ demand changing time over time, manufacturing firms have to be flexible. Producing in single or smaller batches without having an increase in the cost of production has become necessary. Rapid prototyping is like a computer 3D illustration and works by accumulating layer after layer in its designing. It provides a better concept than the one on a computer screen. At the product development stage, it serves to shorten the process of development, reduce cost, improve the quality and helps mitigate risks.

Laser technology is expanding at an incredible speed in various fields. In the manufacturing sector, laser technology has proved itself as a more efficient and less costly method of production. Known as the era of ‘light,’ industries have embraced this modern way of production. This has made the manufacturing process better, and consumer products have improved immensely. Manufacturing automation has increased labor productivity and lowered cost while prioritizing customers’ growing needs. Incorporation of the technology of automation has made consumer products more consistent and helped in processes that couldn’t be achieved manually.

At Tag Team Manufacturing, we combine this cutting-edge technology with highly qualified CNC machinists. Our manufacturing is efficient and precise. We boast as one of the leading machine shops in the state. Our dedication and investment in technology means that we are at par with the ever-changing demands of Original Equipment Manufacturers. Over the years we have improved our skills and capabilities in the progression of prototypes. Our team is a dedicated and versatile that understands the ever-changing demands in the manufacturing industry. Our operations are aimed at meeting the customer’s need for competitive pricing, on time delivery and high quality parts. Looking for machine shop in Denver? Tag Team Manufacturing is the right partner to turn to. With tailor-made services for CNC manufacturing, we have changed and revolutionized Denver manufacturing. Visit our website for more information on the services and solutions that we offer.

31 Oct20180
Denver Manufacturing

10 Ways To Take Your Machine Shop To The Next Level

CNC Automation Manufacturing, , , , , , , , ,

All business people desire to expand and grow their entities. They would like to see these businesses increase performance production, strategies, and numerous other practices. While some these people may have the right idea, some are implementing ineffective approaches. Taking your machine shop to the next level will not just happen through your usual business practices. You have to introduce advanced methods that will elevate your success. Here are some of the top proven techniques that our Denver Manufacturing facility has implemented.

Automation

The mention of this term brings the idea of introducing robotic science to your shop. Automation entails other different and simpler ways besides robots. However, robots are the most effective and versatile tools of automation, but you have to be realistic. If you cannot afford it, opt for other alternatives while you plan about it. Automation makes work efficient and faster. For instance, automation is a fundamental requirement in precision manufacturing to achieve high accuracy. Evaluate your business and determine where to begin as you gradually increase your automation.

Additive Manufacturing

Elevating your business could mean introducing a new function such as original equipment manufacturer. Additive manufacturing has the capability of transforming your machine shop. Adding a new function will undoubtedly require a substantive investment. If your shop is not ready for this new level, keep in mind and consider it for the future. It has a lot of potential in part designs, supply chain and lead times. Additive manufacturing may demand a heavy capital outlay but later give big returns. It is also a major step in your business and requires keenness. Think about it and deliberate with other stakeholders to evaluate feasibility.

Lean Production

Your custom machine shop will never realize success until you avoid wastage and have a consistency of lean production. That means you will always have to conduct evaluations that identify non-value added practices and eliminate them. Most of the wasteful efforts and steps are invisible and cannot be identified without an examination. Walking through your shop and noting these processes is the most effective way of making this change. Lean management is not just about cutting waste. It also entails fully utilizing resources and the available tools to increase production.

Training

The manufacturing industry is evolving rapidly, and something new is emerging on a daily basis. You cannot make progress in your shop if you do not adopt new business practices. This entails purchasing new work tools and integrating emerging models. Any further changes ought to be accompanied by training and educating employees. Training is not just to orient and teach them about new things. It is also to enhance workplace health and safety. Workplace hazards characterize CNC manufacturing, and hence, employees should be protected. Training forms a culture of learning in your business. Your team will always be enthusiastic to get more information and knowledge.

Routine Maintenance

A CNC machinist understands that maintenance is necessary. You do not have to conduct this exercise because some areas require an expert. For instance, a machine shop Denver will hire an engineer to do this work. Maintenance also includes updating software and upgrading tools. They are the lifeblood of your machine shop because these tools significantly determine your performance. Modern machines are programmed to diagnose themselves. In case an emergency situation happens, a device or machine will shut down automatically and minimize possible damage. Conducting routine maintenance should not cost you much.

Organization and Collaboration

Business does not flourish and prospers because on one individual’s effort. Your custom machine shop certainly has several employees and other stakeholders. Advancing your shop will require improved organization and collaboration of both people and activities. As the leader or CNC machinist in that workplace, you must provide guidance. Establish cohesion through properly organizing tools and equipment in the shop. An orderly workplace increases workflow pace. Teach people how to work together and cooperate in their activities. Each employee contribution major counts in the progress of the business.

Realistic Goals

Endeavors of improving business at your shop will take time before they give substantial returns. It is like a journey that entails one step at a time. Set goals and have a plan after you decide to expand or elevate your business. Ensure these goals are manageable and practical. Some business people want to aim too high and hope to achieve it within a short time. Unrealistic goals will discourage you or even push you to unwise decisions. Small milestones are advisable because after you accomplish each, it motivates you to the next level.

Working Hard

The cornerstone of Denver manufacturing is working hard. All these tips and strategies of making you shop better will require a lot of effort. While most successful people emphasize on working smart, the hard work is part of it. No success will come from mediocrity and doing thing ordinarily. The manufacturing business is competitive, and only those who differentiate themselves will thrive. While pursuing prosperity and new levels in your business, failure and mistakes are part of this journey. Do not be derailed because humans are bound to err at any particular point. Note the mistakes, learn from them and move forward.

Team Work

Your team of employees and work associates hold part of the key to your success. Team building activities would help in teaching employees how to cooperate. Teams need to learn effective communication, which is the foundation of their cohesion. Take these teams through drill work and assist them in optimizing their functions and efforts. Teams also require problem-solving knowledge. They do not have to wait for senior management to make decisions for them. These ‘red tapes’ are sometimes redundant. When low-level employees are allowed to make decisions, it saves time and resources.

Routine Appraisals

Implementing new practices and upgrades is not enough to maintain the expected standards of your shop. Due to the rapid changing of the manufacturing industry, regular appraisals are essential. Auditing your work processes and strategies uncovers waste, areas of weaknesses that require attention, challenges, strengths, and any other significant information. The information is an asset that guides you on areas to adjust, revise or do an overhaul. It also points out the strengths and opportunities that you would capitalize to maximize positive results.

Denver manufacturing has significant potential with many opportunities. Maximize on these openings and take your business to a higher level. These tips and approaches are practical and viable for any machine shop seeking to advance its level. Apply one at a time and enjoy operating on an improved realm. Remember that effort is mandatory in accomplishing the new level and maintaining it. Your clients will always be watching you.

27 Jun20180
cnc machine in action

Machine Shop 101: Top 7 Secrets To Choose Right

CNC Automation Manufacturing, Manufacturing Process, , , , , , , , , , ,

Selecting a CNC Machine Shop can be a daunting task with many options available. Innovative strategies are imperative to guarantee selection of a competent shop providing cutting edge technology. Usually, an Original Equipment Manufacturer has experienced evaluators that determine whether a supplier has the minimum requirements.

The team features Quality, Sourcing, and Machining personnel. Each team member represents particular facets of the business. Some Precision Manufacturing set rigorous requirements when conducting supplier evaluation.

Why choose the best machine shop Denver suppliers? 

Choosing a machine shop supplier determines the success of your company in so many ways. Some of the benefits of choosing the ideal one include:

•    Lower costs
•    Reduced scrap levels
•    Great agility
•    Smoother workflow
•    Improved forecasting
•    Reduced setting times
•    Shortened manufacturing lead times

What is the secret?

1.    Samples of Previous Work

Any shop or manufacturer can claim to make the best equipment for every industry. However, custom machine shops that are proud of their products go a notch higher and allows you to inspect their prototypes. Also, they let customers and business owners see all parts and equipment manufactured in their shop.

When customers see examples of previous work, they get a visual representation of their attention to details and craftsmanship delivered to every piece. They get to verify the quality of the end product even when the supplier is working with huge runs of 2-dimensional parts under pressure of tight deadlines.

The ideal CNC machine shop should offer samples on demand and have a command in discussions about their industries of specialization. A knowledgeable and experienced machine shop gives customers great confidence in the quality of their machines. Previous samples confirm that a supplier has honed their skills working with a plethora of materials commonly used in a particular industry.

Don’t you think high end machine shops should be able to deliver precise cuts needed to fit into customer’s specifications?

2.    Enables Project Flexibility

As you choose a custom machine shop that is conversant with crafting ideal parts for your industry, also focus on how flexible they are with particular jobs. The search for a perfect choice should not make you jump from one shop to another. Sometimes, in-house limitations relating to the types of equipment their CNC machinist can work with on their availability and your project.

The best Denver Manufacturing machine shop has in-house skilled machinists, equipment, and necessary experience to get most projects completed as quickly as possible without undermining quality. Ideal manufacturers should also be flexible in offering different size runs ranging from small prototype machining to big scale productions using assortment of materials.

3.    Incessant Improvement

Leading Custom Machine Shops always pay great attention to continuous improvement. Progressive improvements of materials, parts, and equipment produced increases value offered to customers. Some strategies used to measure improvement process include Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other techniques. Evidence of such quality improvement measuring processes ought to be readily available to customers with proven results.

4.    Offers Excellent Communication Methods

Communicating specifications for prototypes, materials, and parts in any precision machine shop should always be continuous. Alterations can arise at any time. Whenever communication between machine shops and manufactures goes limbo, doubts kick in. Dissatisfaction extends to potential clients through reviews and recommendations.

A quality machine shop focuses on these four customer communication aspects:

•    Allows customers to use their preferred communication channel that suits their operation.
•    Takes time to explain technical capabilities of various machine parts to clients.
•    Offers a contact person who is readily available to answer questions and implement alterations quickly to minimize material waste and time loss.
•    Asks relevant questions concerning customer’s project and how to enhance their job to get value for money and improve their experience.

5.    Implements Quality Control Measures

Quality is paramount for every customer irrespective of parts or equipment ordered. Therefore, every Precision Manufacturing company should create control measures that eliminate production errors in all steps of a manufacturing process. If a shop lacks documented quality control measures, it’s advisable to seek services elsewhere.

A professional Denver Manufacturing shop will be ready to talk about quality certifications such as IS0 9001 and AS9100 standards. They have extensive documentation about the equipment used to determine specification accuracy, for example, coordinate measuring machines. They elaborate what control standards are set for every part, machine, and equipment whenever rejection rate starts to rise.

The best Custom Machine Shop informs their customers about their failure rates and measures taken to reduce this rate to manageable levels.

6.    Equipment and Technology Advances Investment

A CNC shop is just as good as their machinists, staff and equipment produced. It is advisable to research on the types of software and equipment currently used to make the required prototypes and parts. Moreover, ask the shop management about other materials and equipment available in their shop.

Research on all equipment used in the production run phase, for instance, CNC Machining, Wire EDM, and Manual Machining. That information is essential since some stages in the manufacturing process may require hands-on approach for tooling prototypes. The shop should be well equipped with various software capabilities and can modify model designs upon request.

Additionally, CNC Machinists should be well qualified to handle onsite equipment and software efficiently. Their extensive knowledge of all equipment necessary for the production process and how well they use quality measuring equipment should be certified at proficient levels. Therefore, technicians should never hamper any of your bottom lines.

7.    Interact with Previous Customers

After reviewing an Original Equipment Manufacturer capabilities, communicate with previous customers. It is advisable to check reviews given by previous customers online about the shop. Questions that you may ask previous customers include:

•    What customer service got provided?
•    Did the machine shop meet expectations and how did they enhance customer experiences?
•    How long did the customers work with the machine shop?
•    Were there any defects or problems with deadlines and how did the machine shop resolved these issues?
•    Did the machine shop offer extensive information about their capabilities?
•    How were communication and modification requests handled in cases where changes were necessary?

Speaking to previous customers enables you to learn about all the procedures that the Manufacturing Shop implements to satisfy customers. Why choose blindly when you got so much time and reviews online?

The future of machining is brighter now than ever. There are many things to produce. Pressure is mounted on machine shops to play their part in increasing machine and machinist’s abilities and management to maximize flexibility and speed. Are you looking for such machine shop? Get in touch with Tag Team in Denver.  

13 Jun20180
OEM concept cell blurred background 3d illustration

4 Things OEM’s Look for When Hiring a Custom Machine Shop

CNC Automation Manufacturing, , , , , , ,

If you’re an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), then you understand that the manufacturing process is a necessary evil. There’s no doubt you have to get the products assembled and tested, but your real talent lies in the product design and conceptualizing the ideas.

For the OEMs, the manufacturing process is more of a means to an end, and you might find it better hiring a custom machine shop to perform the various CNC machining tasks that include fabrication.

Outsourcing these tasks to custom machine shops comes with advantages to the OEMs. They give you the time to focus product innovation & development, and save money on machine costs, hiring & training full-time machinists. OEMs also stand to benefit from the increased purchasing power, the broad range of expertise & value addition.

Hiring a CNC machine shop isn’t a straightforward affair. As an OEM, discussed below are the four key things to look for when outsourcing to a custom machine shop;

Custom Shop CNC Machining Capabilities

Evaluating the CNC machining capabilities of a machine shop is an ordeal by itself. In the US alone, there are hundreds or even thousands of machine shops, each claiming to offer the best in precision manufacturing and CNC machining.

The best approach is for the OEM to assign some evaluators comprising of the sourcing, quality and engineering personnel. The role of these individuals is to determine if indeed a particular machine shop meets your specific needs.

When it comes to the machine capabilities, you have to establish if the machine shop possesses the skills & expertise in the required operations. And are the processes implemented there required by your components?

Usually, different setups, volume, cycles, and flow can significantly impact on the price, the quality and the lead time of an order. When choosing your custom machine shop, be sure to evaluate their ability to optimize the entire process.

Innovative Technology & Continuous Improvement

We’ve realized remarkable progress in all industries and machine shops should also not lag behind. Any good machine shop in Denver will be equally as good as the technology used there and the machinists’ ability to use it.

Prior to hiring a machine shop, it’s important that you understand the current technology for manufacturing your product. After that, seek to know what CNC machining tools and equipment the machine shop uses and how they run them during the various processes.

What’s more, the machine shop you choose should also have certified CNC machinists or technicians with skills to run the software used in the various processes and to make changes if and when required.

OEMs should confirm that the shop they choose has the latest technology and they keep learning new processes to keep tabs with the new technology. It should be possible to tell that a machine shop is committed to continuous improvement by looking at solid results. The shops should prove that they devise and adopt strategies that add value to their OEM customers.

Work Quality & Quality Systems

Certain industries are so sensitive and will require consistency in the quality of work. These include the aerospace, defense, and medical industries. If your project requires high levels of consistency, then you must be careful when hiring a CNC machine shop. But how can you tell that the shop you approach has a keen eye for consistency?

Before you approach any shop, read their online reviews and testimonials on review sites. Ask for references and physical samples of their work. Reputable machine shops maintain a record of their projects in bright photos alongside the names of their clients and shouldn’t hesitate to share their past projects with you. Machine shops with something to hide regarding their performance will be uncomfortable revealing past projects.

And if there are any ongoing projects, pay close attention to their work for consistency so you can stand a better chance evaluating the capabilities of the machine shop. Check to see if they meet the specified tolerances, surface roughness, and the exact component materials? In any case, you want whatever product specifications to be met without fail lest your business loses customers.

Regarding quality systems, you need to confirm that your machine shop has the necessary certifications and that they meet all the required standards. Make sure that your machine shop is ISO Certified and has the certifications required in the specific industries in which they operate. You might also want to engage a survey team in checking keenly to ensure the daily discipline and documentations are followed to the letter. Tag Team Manufacturing will be ISO certified in August 2018.

Business Reliability & Flexibility

Professional custom machine shops have standard practices that they use in their production. But then, they’re open to any changes the OEM customer might suggest in the course of the project.

Any good CNC custom machine company will keep you the loop right from the initial step and will be ready to modify accordingly if something doesn’t feature in your specifications. Once the product prototype is complete and you approve of it, then they can use those specifications to replicate similar units.

On business reliability, any OEM customers who want quality precision manufacturing services should be ready to ask tough questions. It’s risky to place all your faith in a machine shop that has had endless problems with the supply chain. Establish how long they’ve been in CNC machining, their long-term goals, and history with customers’ orders.

Any good machine shop in Denver will have a reliable and effective supply chain management team. They should display experience in managing the incoming parts and the outgoing products and be able to handle secondary outsourcing operations. Once you’re confident the company is reliable, and the supply chain is on point, then you can go ahead with the partnership.

Undoubtedly the Best Denver CNC Custom Machine Shop

Founded in 1987, Tag Team Manufacturing has been and is still the leading Colorado machine shop. We’re a modern company working hard to continuously improve and develop our processes & capabilities and use the latest software systems in the world. We’ve hired a strong team of industry expert machinists with a combined experience of over 140 years. Our clients agree that Tag Team Manufacturing owns one of the cleanest and most organized CNC machining plants in Colorado. Call us at 303-841-5697 to request a quote or learn more about our Denver manufacturing and machining capabilities.

16 May20180
Metal Wheel Concept

Improving CNC Machine Shop Efficiency and Productivity

CNC Automation Manufacturing, Manufacturing Process, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

As manufacturing continues to evolve, CNC machinists find themselves in stressful situations since the skills gap is diminishing with time. It has become very difficult to find experienced CNC manufacturing machinists in this industry. The level of competition is up which requires high CNC automation of machine tools to provide stiff competition to other CNC machine providers.

The high demand for quality parts means that mechanical engineering and milling processes must put more emphasis on increased productivity and manufacturing. Today, modern valuable CNC machining tools have made it possible for most shops to modernize their operations. To remain competitive, CNC machinists must find viable ways of increasing their output and maintain reliable, quality and exceptional customer care services.

Time is an important aspect in CNC manufacturing and each machine shop owner wish to make their shops more productive and efficient. Here are three main tips for improving your CNC machine shop efficiency and productivity.

Prolonging the Life of the Tool

Consider having a high-pressure coolant system or increase the concentration of the existing one. It is advisable to examine your tool holder and the inserts from time to time to enhance its lifespan. This simple process helps you to prevent any disastrous failures. You should also record the number of materials that are being removed. Mechanical engineering schools put a lot of emphasis on avoiding extreme contact time with the new materials.

During this process, it’s advisable to go for harder insert grades of your choice which will service you for long. To maintain your tool holder for a long time, some specific coatings like aluminum oxide will help you to reduce the cycle while increasing the lifespan of your tool, feed rates and cutting speeds. Alternatively, you may consider investing in a cryogenic machine.

Improve the Organization

Lack of proper organization may lead to loss of money and significant manpower. There is need to maintain a properly arranged workplace for your business especially if it’s a machine tool. You have to organize things and put them in place when you are done with your work.

You should make sure you invest in quality shadow boards, and tool draws such as those used at US manufacturing schools. You should also improve the labeling system of your arrangements to prevent confusions. Cleanliness of your equipment and shop floor should be maintained since it’s beneficial to your health and business.

Equipment Management System

It is profitable to keep your tool cost as low as possible and invest in US manufacturing tool management system while setting your time down. A good and reliable tool management system will help you to manage and track your inventory. This will enable you to reduce the cost of overstocking or understocking of the tool supply.

The manufacturing in USA enables you to find useful software that will help you control performance, tool usage and procurement in your CNC machine shop. The software also provides crucial purchase notifications to help you avoid costly downtimes. You need to understand that your production quantity isn’t the only factor that drives business growth. You need to thoroughly evaluate the kind of services you are providing to your clients and streamline your overall business processes.

02 May20180
Lean Manufacturing Waste

7 Wastes of Lean Manufacturing

CNC Automation Manufacturing, Manufacturing Process, , , , , , , , ,

One of the effective ways of increasing the profitability of any enterprise is through waste elimination. Processes can either add more value or massive wastes to the production of goods and services. The seven wastes of lean manufacturing came from Japan where there were referred to as “Muda.” The first step towards eliminating waste is understanding what waste is and the specific places where it exists in your processes. The wastes found in various manufacturing environments tend to be similar. Here are the seven wastes in lean manufacturing.

1. Overproduction

Overproduction refers to the process of manufacturing specific items before they are needed in the market. Overproduction is expensive since it hinders the uninterrupted flow of material and degrades the quality of products produced. Overproduction in industrial manufacturing is usually referred to as “Just-In-Case” manufacturing. This type of manufacturing will lead to significant storage costs, excessive lead times, and make it almost impossible to notice defects. The solution to this waste is stopping the production tap. You should only manufacture what can be shipped or sold immediately.

2. Transportation

The waste of transportation usually refers to the movement of items between different processes. This will involve the use of a forklift truck or similar equipment to move products around the factory. Transportation is a waste occurring as a result of overproduction. Excessive movement of products around the factory will cause harm and can also lead to deterioration in the quality of the products. The equipment used to move the products around the factory lead to another production cost that adds no customer value.

3. Over Processing

Over processing is extra work that adds no significant value to the consumer or business. Over processing is a waste that takes the form of adding unnecessary features to a product that the customer doesn’t use but raises the cost of production. A good example of over processing would be maintaining paint finish more tightly than required or building a product that will last for five years when you know that the customer will replace it after two or three years.

4. Excess Motion

The waste of excess motion is related to wasted movement and is evident in all cases of walking, stretching, lifting, bending, and reaching. Some of these issues are also related to safety and health which is becoming a major concern in today’s world. Technically, jobs that require excessive movement need to be analyzed and re-engineered for significant improvement with the participation of the industrial workers.

5. Excessive Inventory

Excess inventory is a waste representing cash that is tied up in the form of material which is technically difficult to turn into liquid cash quickly. Inventory eats up much storage at the manufacturing plant since it has to be managed and stored. It can also become obsolete leading to more waste. The quality of any inventory can undergo deterioration over time especially perishable goods such as rubber seals or food.

6. Waiting

The manufacturing waste of waiting hours occur whenever products aren’t moving or being processed. Waiting is perhaps the most common lean manufacturing waste of the seven. It is lost time due to poor flow of production process. Equipment breakdowns, part shortages, and bottlenecks can also lead to waiting wastes. Waiting can also frustrate the workers leading to reduced morale. The Goldratt’s theory of constraints states that every hour lost in a typical bottleneck is like an hour lost to the entire factory output which is impossible to recover.

7. Defects

Defects have a direct and substantial impact on the quality of products manufactured. Defects will lead to rescheduling, re-inspecting, and loss of capacity. The overall cost of defects is always a substantial percentage of the entire manufacturing cost. This waste can be reduced through continuous process improvement and employee involvement in the production process.

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