Tag : tag team manufacturing

machining classes

Why community colleges are now adding machining classes to their curriculum

There are plenty of reasons why students would choose attending a community college rather than choosing the traditional four year college experience. One of the top reasons why many people prefer community college is the fact that it is more affordable than university education. Academic flexibility is the other major reason why people would choose attending a community college.

Manufacturing industry has been evolving quite rapidly the past few years. This can be attributed to the fact that technology is ever changing. The traditional lessons at the community college where students are taught how to handle tools, no longer cut it in the industry. It is for this reason that many community colleges have added machining classes to their curriculum.

CNC skills are in demand
One of the main reasons for adding machining classes is the high demand of CNC skills in the market. By using CNC, a machine is operated by an accredited operator and this increases productivity and reduces human error and the demand in CNC skills. To give their students a chance to get a good job after graduating from community colleges they must instill the relevant skills required in the industry. With a CNC programming course where the students divide their time between lectures and working in the labs they get to learn how to program as well as use different CNC machines.

Seize opportunities in manufacturing industries
CNC is the basis on manufacturing and there are plenty of jobs available in different industries such as machinery, aerospace and nuclear among others. With CNC automation training, students increase their chances of landing a job. Not only do they increase their chances of landing a job but they also receive a higher salary. It is imperative for the colleges to offer CNC courses to students so they can seize the many opportunities.

CNC machine training equips students with the right skills to start off their career on the right foot. Giving them the skills to take up ready employment and set for great work. A career in CNC machining is not only satisfying but also challenging. Entry level wages for a certified CNC programmer are higher than other entry level jobs in other industries.

With the proper programing and operating machine courses, students are equipped with skills to work in different positions. In most community colleges, their curriculum now covers the basic course and also advanced courses in CNC machine shops. In the basic classes, students learn how to handle routine maintenance, translating specifications for quality manufacturing of products as well as installation of devices. In the advanced classes they handle more sophisticated tasks such as turning grooving, facing among others. The advanced courses ensure that the operator is proficient and can handle any machine.

As the manufacturing continues to be shaped by new technologies, there is a high demand for well-trained machinist in the industry. To fill this gap, community colleges have introduced machining classes equipping students with the skills they need to get started in their different fields.

quality manufacturing

How can manufacturing employers find qualified machinists?

It is a common problem: there are jobs available for skilled workers in the manufacturing field, but there aren’t enough skilled workers to fill the jobs. When you hear reports about unemployment and jobs that are available in different fields, there is often a large discrepancy between the experience of those who are seeking employment, and the experience of employers who are seeking skilled employees.  If there are so many people who are looking for work, then it ought to be easy to find someone who can fill your vacancy, right? Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.

In fact, in a survey of U.S manufacturing executives across a variety of different fields, including automotive, consumer goods, industrial parts, high-tech industries and electronics, it was found that finding qualified and skilled workers ranks as the number one or two issue facing manufacturing corporations today.

Why Skilled Labor Matters

The bottom line is that quality manufacturing can only happen when you have qualified workers. Unfortunately, the most difficult jobs for manufacturers to fill are the ones that are most necessary. CNC machine shops, CNC production, and CNC automation are all dependent on skilled labor. As a manufacturing employer, if you don’t know where to recruit skilled labor, then you may be faced with an issue of not being able to fully staff your manufacturing operation.

Old-fashioned methods of spreading news about a job vacancy doesn’t work anymore. You can’t rely on word of mouth or a newspaper post to bring you the candidates that you want. If you want the best people for the job, then you need to advertise the job where the best people are already looking. This means taking advantage of the internet, but more specifically than that, this means developing an online hiring strategy for your quality manufacturing facility.

Here are a few tips to help you find the right candidates for your position:

  • Advertise on employment websites. Pushing your vacancy to the top of the list via a sponsored advertisement can dramatically increase your applicant pool.
  • Be specific about the requirements. Don’t be vague when posting your job requirements. Let the applicants know what you are looking for, this way your applicant pool is full of qualified candidates who you may want to consider.
  • Utilize a social network. Over 80% of adults use social media, so it makes sense to reach out to your potential applicants where they already are. You don’t want to directly poach employees from a competitor, but by letting more people know about your vacancy you may encourage someone to apply who hadn’t thought about leaving their current job.
  • Work with local schools. By partnering with a local school, you can ensure that students are gaining the skills that you are looking for, and then you can create a candidate pool of fresh graduates who are already trained in your areas of need. Schools are often interested in working with potential employers, as it encourages students to enroll if they know there are job opportunities at the other end.

If you want skilled workers, you need to put your job advertisement out there where the skilled workers are going to see it. Finding the right candidates can reduce your training costs significantly, helping you to focus more on production and sales, which is what is going to help your business grow.

urban manufacturing

Urban Renewal: The Manufacturing Movement From Urban Areas To The Suburbs

Open any newspaper (or rather click into your favorite publication) these days and you’d think the manufacturing industry is dying out. Headline after headline proclaims that urban manufacturing is a dying beast. Though the face of manufacturing is evolving and changing thanks in part to computer numerical control (CNC) automation of machine tools that have traditionally been managed by hand wheels or levers and more mechanical means of operation.

Though the method has evolved somewhat manufacturing in the United States is still undergoing a renaissance. Yet as the country begins to replace the millions of industrial jobs that were lost in the recession of 2008, it’s growing in part thanks to CNC production and CNC machine shops. These sectors have been crucial in bolstering the local economies of rural and suburban areas, while also reinvigorating the former ghost towns of urban city centers.

Indeed larger, more developed metropolitan areas such as Houston, Seattle, Oklahoma, Nashville, and Salt Lake City are reaping the benefits of urban manufacturing. Their economies are all supporting higher overall job creation in the manufacturing industry. In some cases, such as Houston, the manufacturing industry is growing by leaps and bounds, exceeding the overall rate of economic growth. They also provide attractive living options and amenities that aren’t as readily available in more rural areas, which helps to drive a potential workforce into the region. There is often a domino effect to manufacturing growth as it often also stimulates positive developments in professional, business, and construction service industries.

Though the growth isn’t confined strictly to vastly populated, cosmopolitan areas. Manufacturing industry growth, aided by CNC production, is also impacting on smaller cities and towns. More mid-sized areas such as Tulsa, Anchorage, Baton Rouge, and Port Arthur and even small towns such as Odessa and Midland, Texas are all experiencing a manufacturing renaissance.

The recovery of the auto industry has played a significant role in bringing jobs and growth to these towns. Both carmakers and their suppliers, especially in the Midwestern and Mid-Southern regions, are bouncing back from the tough recession years. Cities in Michigan, known as car production corridors, are transitioning from hand or machined production methods to more automated, CNC methods which in turn has increased industrial jobs over the past few years. One of the most dominant developed urban areas benefiting from this resurgence is Detroit which has experienced an uptake in manufacturing employment and high-tech growth.

The success of large car manufacturing industries of the larger, more urban cities is trickling down to the small towns that are home to many of their suppliers. Auto suppliers in more suburban areas across the country and benefitting from increased demand for their goods and services from urban manufacturing in the metro areas.

In other areas, more diverse or specialized demands and even business abroad are driving economic growth in development in the industry. From aerospace to automobiles, to fabricated metals, more niche requirements are leading expansion that bolsters smaller cities. Generally, lower energy costs and freer regulations are attracting business to towns that once didn’t have the capacity or infrastructure to handle the demand.

The revolution still hasn’t fully spread across the country, but in examining the positive correlation between both small and large cities and a rejuvenated machining sector, the outlook appears positive to move forward.

Contact Tag Team Manufacturing today. 303-841-5697

cnc mill

What changes have manufacturers of cnc mills and lathes made in the last 5 years?

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) is the automation of machinery such as CNC lathes, screws and drills, which are commonly used in the machining. The above tools are used to cut metallic components to the desired dimension. CNC Mill machinery popularly referred to as machining center has been in existence since the early 1970`s and is currently used in the production of widgets and other tools. Most of the people in the manufacturing domain will have come across these tools since they are widely used in the sector, from small scale ventures to large scale premises. Since the inception of the milling program, there has been a considerable improvement and development on the overall structure and operation of the program.

Below we look at some of the notable changes that manufacturers of CNC mills and lathes made in the last five years.

CNC Turning

Turning is a manufacturing process in which bars of materials (metal, wood, plastic, or stone) are held in a chuck, then rotated, and the cutting screw traverses across two axes of motion to generate precise dimension. Turning can either be done on the interior or exterior side of the material, through a method known as boring. The process can also be used in the production of tubular components to various depths and diameters. Although turning used to be done manually, it`s now more common to see CNC machine shops using automated lathe which is superior to the manual process since it doesn`t need human intervention.

CNC Milling

This new development involves using of commands or G-codes. The alphanumeric codes are then automated into the milling machine with every code carrying a specific role to be executed by the machine. The machine then drills and turn along the axes to model the material depending on the specifics automated on it.

A CNC mill can either be controlled using computerized programs or physical overrides positioned on the face of the mill. Even though the computerized program control is the ideal method of the mill control, using the manual override allows the mill operator to speed up or slow down the milling process when necessary.

CNC Machining

In comparison to the manual machining, CNC Machining has allowed manufacturers to have improved productivity, accuracy, efficiency, and reduced the number of accidents, thanks to the limited/reduced interactions of humans with the machinery. Additionally, the technological advancement has now made it possible for the CNC mill to run unmanned for extended periods. But what is probably exciting about the CNC Machining is that in case the machine develops a problem, the CNC software robotically halts its operations and calls an off-site officer.

With the world consuming millions of products, which are in turn manufactured using billions of components, it`s imperative for the manufacturers to utilize CNC automation.  The CNC mills have taken over where human beings could not match the accuracy, and speed of the automation process. Keep in mind that the process of evolution of the CNC mills is still on as each manufacturer tries to outdo the other.

OEM

What OEM expectations from vendors have changed in the past 5 years?

As competition increases in machining across the world, it is essential to pay a great deal of attention to OEM standards – both minimum regulations and market standards. Over the past five years, OEM expectations from vendors have changed quite dramatically. Here are just a few of the modifications that you should keep in mind when you are assessing your quality control variables.

Quality Assurance

Led by the luxury automobile industry, the proliferation of precision automation manufacturing has created a higher standard for quality in OEM parts in many industries. Deliverables are now expected to maintain an extremely high rate of integration with factory parts, and OEM manufacturers are always competing to lower the error rate in batch deliveries.

Most quality assurance errors occur in high-volume production lines; however, as automation takes over for other forms of machining and general manufacturing, you can expect the QA standard to move up for bulk orders as well. In heavily regulated industries such as medicine and the automotive industry, vendors are becoming hardline about remaining in compliance with their various industry standards. Before choosing an OEM company within these industries, it is recommended to fit that company for an understanding of regulatory policy.

Continuous Improvement

Chief among new expectations from vendors is a dedication to continuous improvement. Fully accessible big data is now the norm for even the smallest startups in all major industries. It is a simple thing to quickly survey vendors on their opinions and quantifiable problems with a delivery. OEM companies now also have the luxury of surveying vendors ahead of time to take the temperature of market conditions and new product iterations.

Savvy OEM partners are gearing up for production runs on new product iterations years in advance, sometimes concurrently with the original manufacturer. When two sets of eyes are sharply focused on the market under the banner of continuous improvement, the result is usually much better for the end client.

High Volume Production

Being able to handle high volume production while maintaining a time to market and QA standard that is competitive in an industry is a feat not to be underestimated. When volume ramps up, small problems quickly become big problems. Close interdepartmental cooperation is necessary to ensure that a product does not veer off course before production takes its course.

Design Capabilities

More than ever, OEM partners need to have fit-for-purpose design development capabilities. The tenants of precise QA and continuous improvement can be quite a shock to a traditional production system. It is not enough to locate problems more quickly; the production capabilities of a company must be robust and flexible enough to handle any changes that need to be made on the fly.

The total capabilities of an OEM company become even more prevalent during high volume seasonal orders that require a high degree of precision. Vendors are being held to a just-in-time standard more often than ever, and they must demand it of their partner companies as well.

American manufacturing

Why Manufacture Your Products in the USA vs. Overseas?

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.

raw material

What factors impact the cost of raw material pricing?

Raw material, whether wood, minerals, crude oil or even meat, all often have varying price points rising and dropping like the stock exchange. There are many variables at play causing this to happen. Each variable affects the price point of raw materials, causing it to increase or decrease for manufacturers, distributors and consumers. Here are several contributing factors to the shifting price of such materials.

Sourcing the Material

One of the most expensive aspects of obtaining and distributing raw materials is sourcing it. If a mine runs low on the source material, if a harsh winter kills crops or if a forest fire takes down acres of lumber, readily available material is reduced, which in turn causes the price of raw material to go up. The demand remains, but as the supply is reduced, prices increase.

Transportation

The transportation of goods is another major expense to moving raw materials to different regions both within a country and around the world. This is especially true when importing or exporting the goods. As new levies and taxes are placed on goods brought in from other countries, the price for the raw material goes up. Additionally, if transporting lumber by truck or train, an increase in the cost of fuel will increase the cost to transport the goods, which causes the cost of raw material to shift.

Labor

Between transportation, sourcing the material, carrying for the material before it is ready to harvest or any other labor position along the way, if there is a shift in the work force there can be a shift in raw material pricing. If a union goes on strike, it affects raw material pricing as less of it can be transported or sourced from the earth. Other times, if the labor union reaches a deal and this includes an increase in pay, benefits or other aspects of their work, it in turn increases the price of raw material. Just about any shift in labor will have an impact on the cost of raw material.

Acts of God

Most other aspects involved in the shifting cost of raw material can, to some extent, be forecast. Acts of God typically cannot. This is a sudden and often devastating event that affects not just part of raw material sourcing and distribution, but an entire region, city or nation. The exact definition for an act of God may shift, depending on insurance purposes. But, typically, tornadoes, flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes, violent winds, volcanic eruption, tidal wave or near any other natural phenomenon that happens with little warning can shut down production and transportation instantly and for an extended period of time.

Forecasting the shift of raw material pricing is not an exact science. Like identifying a potential chance in a stock’s value, different variables are always at play. By understanding what factors impact the cost of raw material pricing, a manufacturer or user of the material can determine the best point of time in which to buy added material or when to hold off before buying additional supplies.

skillscncmachinist

What are the Skills and Qualities Required to be Successful Machinists?

People tend to misunderstand what a CNC Machinist is and the skills they possess. Given that it takes at least seven (or more) years of technical tool and advanced manufacturing to become a certified machinist, summing up the qualities and skills required for the occupation can be difficult to explain in a simple sentence. So to give context brief to the occupation, a machinist is a person who performs techniques and operations without assistance in all facets of advanced machining techniques and operations. Much of their knowledge is gained through apprenticeship, which requires 576 hours of educational training and 8,000 hours of work learning all aspects of manual machining.

A Machinist’s Skill & Quality Set

Many individuals view machinists as people who operate by hardware and produce/cut materials into what is intended. However, this isn’t always the case as many industries utilizing Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machines. Some of the skill sets required for effective machinists are:

  • They must have the tolerance to gather and produce engineering parts that have been created from a wide range of materials. In addition to this, they should be able to work within size distinctions that are oftentimes only a hundredth of a single millimeter.
  • They must be proficient when handling the latest and current tools at their disposal, whether it be machine tools or measuring and hand paraphernalia. Machinists must also have experience and knowledge about laser cutting, screw machining, stamping, machine maintenance, machine building, machining, metalforming, and other techinical skills required for production.

When it comes to CNC machines, they are milling machines that are automated digitally. The main reason for CNC machine popularity is due to the fact that they reduce manpower, reduce time , and increase the quality of the product being produced. However, these machines do require machinist oversight in the event of failure. For example:

  • A CNC Machinist should be able to identify and interpret the 2D engineering blueprints/illustrations of the engineering machines or components. In addition to this, the CNC machinist must economically complete and plan the manufacturing of all components when utilizing the available equipment and time.

Aside from the technical aspects of the machine, the machinist must also know how to formulate procedures, set priorities, set schedules, and create a 3D image of the product mentally before it is created. This is a common quality found in expert machinists. Other important qualities include:

  • Paying careful attention to errors found in current manufactured equipment or components. If faults or errors are found, the machinist must correct them so the equipment or components can be used properly.
  • Maintaining a high level of craftsmanship. This is the most important quality a CNC Machinist can possess. They should have no problem finding safe, effective, and economical ways to improve productivity within a company or production.

Contact tagteammfg.com today by visiting the contact page or calling 303.841.5697.

robotic automation

The Top Industries that are Hot Right Now

With time, the demand for certain goods and services has been changing. This mainly depends on the level of technology and the fashion taste of the population. Back in the 1940s, being a doctor would have been the hottest thing one would be. Back then people were still discovering cures for different diseases like tuberculosis.

In today’s world however, the traditional professions like teaching and being a physician are not entirely marketable or on high demand on their own. With technological advancement, a good doctor is the one who uses technology to his advantage. Thus the most sought after businesses to start or work in are the manufacturing and automation industries.

They include;

Manufacturing of Drones

The use of drones has rapidly increased with countries from all over the world granting private individuals and companies the right to use the drones privately. Amazon is one of the biggest firms that is looking to take its business operations to another level using drones. The demand for drones is only going to increase.

It is easy to start a company manufacturing drones since the human skill needed is not very complicated. Employees with good IT and programming skills will be useful. The market for the drones is also wide and vast including their use in the military, commercial industries, recreational purposes, and most recently for transport in Dubai.

Robotic Automation in Manufacturing 

China emerged one of the best in manufacturing robots. The artificially intelligent machines are used by most industries to lower the cost of operations and hiring human labor. They also increase the efficiency of a factory and increases productivity. A Chinese company in Dongguan emerged the world’s first fully automated factory.

Better use of robotic automation has also been realized and using robots to supplement human labor is now the in-thing. Commonly known as “cobotics”, this industry is taking robot manufacturing to an all new level. People will now accept and appreciate even more the need for robots in a firm.

Biometric Scanning Software Production

With increased security threats and high fraud rates in the world, security measures have been updated greatly. To access a given institution, one needs an authentic form of verification and identification. Most government departments are already using fingerprints, eye, and facial recognition software to identify people and grant or deny access to certain areas.

The technology is now being adopted by most private sectors including the hospital for patient data records. To come up with this software, a team of well skilled and experienced programmers will be needed.

Artificial Intelligence Sector 

This is a wide sector that designs and Implements systems that are self-reliable. With no or minimum human supervision, the machines operate effectively. An example of such is the autonomous cars that Google, Uber and other companies are looking to fully use on the roads in the near future. With the increased campaign in favor of the artificially intelligent devices, the future is very bright for the sector.

These are just but a few of the top industries taking over the market right now. As technological advancements continue to penetrate almost all industries, more top industries can be expected to emerge.

manufacturing technology

New Manufacturing Technology Means Greater Value for Customers

The Factory of the Future, as it has come to be called, is all about lean manufacturing. One of the most important components of lean manufacturing is incorporating the latest and best manufacturing technology, including machining tools and robotic manufacturing.

At the moment, probably in part because they’re leery of another economic downturn, U.S. manufacturers have been slow to embrace many of the improvements now available. This is a mistake because these advances—and many more that are just down the road—make for faster, more durable, more precise and far more productive tools. At Tag Team Manufacturing, we believe these factors together translate into greater customer satisfaction.

Taking Advantage of Today’s New Tools

Incorporating faster, longer-lasting tools doesn’t have to be prohibitively expensive. So the cost of doing business doesn’t have to go up. In fact, the new technology can increase both productivity and quality, giving customers more for their money.

How does this work? The new technology can be implemented easily and inexpensively. Programming manufacturing machinery is simplified, resulting in:

• Reduced production times and greater production accuracy

• Reduced cross-training of operators and programmers

• Greater flexibility in operations, so one piece of equipment can perform a variety of functions

All these advantages reduce our costs and, consequently, costs to our customers without in any way compromising quality. This combination of lower cost and higher quality results in greater value.

The technological advances affect just about every aspect of the manufacturing process. They improve every step, from product design through production and even packaging. Each component of the process, including human and machine, is able to communicate more quickly and more accurately, creating an integration that greatly increases coordination and efficiency.

We at Tag Team Manufacturing look every day for ways to improve our lean manufacturing processes and so move closer to the Factory of the Future. We can see ahead to innovations that are on the horizon. What does the future look like?

The Tools of Tomorrow

What’s ahead in manufacturing technology tools looks great for both manufacturers like us and our customers. Our challenge is to meet the demand for value from our customers. This challenge will be met with:

• Machining that delivers ever more precisely and efficiently made products
• Software capable of increasingly sophisticated operations
• Shorter production time

So we’re looking at software and hardware on the road to greater and greater value. The progression includes further development of things like:

Source ( characters / words)

NTN Technical Review No. 74 (2006) http://advancedmanufacturing.org/advances-cnc-technology http://www.manufacturing.net/article/2012/02/10-trends-manufacturing-technologies http://www.industryweek.com/manufacturing-day/fast-forward-factory-future?page=1

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• Multifunctional machining tools that increase accuracy and reduce machining time while, at the same time, being able to produce products with more complicated shapes

• Control hardware and software that costs less but offers “intelligent” functions that turn information into more efficient and precise production

Not all advances in manufacturing technology apply to the work Tag Team Manufacturing does. But we’re keeping our eye on every improvement to make sure we deliver the best value to our customers.