A new approach to assembly and service parts storage and retrieval has helped Multi-Shifter Inc. (Charlotte, NC) add a new spark to its manufacturing operations.
Switching from hand marking its flat and rotary mounted equipment tags to an automated marking and identification system has allowed Hy-Tech Machine Co. (Cranberry Township, PA) to increase its productivity by 15 percent.
The Panoz AIV Roadster is 70 percent aluminum and has a curb weight of 2,600 pounds. It is hand-built by the Panoz Auto Development Co. (Hoschton, GA) and is the first aluminum-intensive vehicle manu-factured in the United States. Only 200 are built each year.
The survival and continuing prosperity of manufacturing companies is fundamentally essential to maintaining the way of life in the United States, Japan and virtually every developed nation. The survival of manufacturing companies depends, in turn, on the manufacturing workforce.
Benchmarking usually leads to mediocrity, but there are Arial when comparing one firm to another can be very revealing. This example illustrates a very common syndrome.
High-volume assembly systems can produce scrap at an awesome rate, and low-volume systems that add a lot of value in each step can destroy profits in a single cycle, if any flaw in the process goes undetected. End-of-line inspection can't correct this situation. The answer lies in test systems integrated into the assembly process, with real-time feedback to keep the process under control.
Life tests are a necessary evil in qualifying new technology in demanding applications. Here's how to optimize your testing plan so you get the most confidence, and most credible report for your testing dollar.