PM Blog

Having a degree in social work doesn’t usually lead to a career in precision machining, but according to Justin Neumaier’s nominator, his social work skills have helped Justin relate and understand people at all levels and has led him to successfully manage E.J. Basler Co.’s first expansion.

If you want to learn what major events will impact the automotive industry in 2020, then listen to a free webinar on Dec. 17 by Production Machining columnist Michael Guckes. The presentation takes a look at what next year may hold in store for automakers and manufacturers.

Metrology, the science of measurement, is how manufacturers ensure confident comparisons of global measurement results. For example, metrology helps ensure that vehicles and their parts are accurately and precisely manufactured, measured and assembled despite the different languages, manufacturing processes and measurement systems (such as metric and US) used by the manufacturers who produce the components. Metrology also encompasses techniques and precision measuring tools such as coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) and precision measurement sensors.

Beyond the near-term pain of a looming economic slowdown that may restrain the automotive credit markets, manufacturers have reasons to be positive about the industry in the long run. The demographic profile of the country will see the millennial generation create vast opportunities for the country in the coming years. Data from 2019 shows that millennials between 22 and 37 years old out-earned all prior generations in the last 50 years on an age and inflation-adjusted basis, according to the Pew Research Center. The data claim this is largely a result of more dual-income families and of women being paid more competitively than in past generations. Furthermore, Pew has estimated that the population of millennials surpassed that of the baby boomers sometime during 2019.

The implications of these factors indicate two important points that should be considered by the automotive industry, which ranks second in consuming the largest amount of an American individual’s lifetime earnings (behind only lifetime expenditures on housing). The first is that with a more reliance on dual incomes to support a family’s basic needs, families will continue to support the long-enduring, multiple-car ownership trend, especially outside of metropolitan areas where transportation alternatives are limited. Despite the growth of new transportation options including Uber, Lyft and their competitors since at least 2010, the number of registered vehicles per household continues to climb. 

In November, Mazak presented its Discover 2019 event, an education and technology showcase that drew thousands to its North American manufacturing headquarters in Florence, Kentucky. Coinciding with this event, the company's regional facilities hosted Discover More with Mazak events.

Discover 2019 demonstrated new technologies designed to increase efficiency and productivity to keep manufacturers competitive in today's automated and digital manufacturing world. The lineup included hybrid multitasking machines with additive manufacturing, friction stir welding, hot wire deposition and auto gear package; digital manufacturing solutions including mixed reality remote service support and a new machine spindle health monitoring system; and several new functions and features including artificial intelligence within Mazak's Smooth Technology manufacturing platform.