FEATURES

Cutting Tools

Inventory Control Systems For The Shop

An ongoing effort towards more efficient operations drove this shop to take a closer look at indirect material usage, subsequently leading to implementation of a new system for tracking toolroom inventory.

 

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Swiss-Types

Making It Big In Small Parts

This New Hampshire manufacturer is an expert in manufacturing small, complex parts. Having a niche is one solid strategy for survival, but it takes dedication, focus and technology to pull it off.

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Member Profile: Gormac Products Inc.

Gormac Products Inc. of Racine, Wisconsin had its roots in the George Gorton Machine Company, which was founded in 1894 by George Gorton II. Initially, the company produced disc grinders and pantograph engraving machines. But over the years, the inventive Mr. Gorton built a wide variety of machine tools and
equipment that enabled his customers to be more productive.

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Numbers –The Delta Is The Difference

Numbers carry far more information than their value or size. Numbers can be thought of as having three dimensions or aspects: 1) the numeric value (arguably, the least important to the shop owner); 2) the delta (change) it represents in the quantity being measured; and 3) the vector or direction of the difference of that change from the preceding value or target (benchmark).

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Online Tool Enables Company To Refocus

Perma-Brass, Inc. (Plymouth, Michigan) has had to make strategic changes in its manufacturing in order to survive. These changes included implementing new technologies, such as MFG.com (Atlanta, Georgia), to find new customers.

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Swiss-Types

Swiss Democracy

Many builders of Swiss-type moving headstock machines have introduced models that do not require the use of a guide bushing to support the workpiece.

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Where Is Your Profitability Engineer

Go to any business and ask, "Who is responsible for generating profits?" You’ll typically get a limited number of answers. "Of course, it’s the boss" is the typical response. "The chief accountant or controller" is another common reply. While both "the boss" and the chief accountant are accountable for the company’s profit or loss, you may find that, in most companies, the profitability engineer is not the boss.

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Whirling As A Separate Operation

For those looking for a faster, more economical method of producing bone screws, whirling as a separate operation may be an option.

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