Bypass Casting by Machining from Solid

One year. For one of the recurring part numbers that R&D Manco machines, a part that begins as a casting, obtaining the part from the foundry requires a lead time of one year. While this is an extreme example, the company has realized many successes in converting jobs to being machined out of solid instead. It can save its customers both cost and lead time, for example. However, in converting these jobs, the shop must step up to a more significant role. Essentially consolidating its customers’ supply chains, the shop must accept any pressure for future cost and lead-time reductions.

Also in this issue of Modern Machine Shop:

• A retired vice president of manufacturing for an oil and gas drilling equipment OEM describes the traits he looked for in potential new machining vendors as he worked to bolster the company’s supply chain.
• A flexible robotic part-loading and unloading system enables a small Indiana shop to boost production without a large investment.
• Laser cutting and welding capability can make Swiss-type lathes an ideal complement to equipment that hasn’t traditionally shared space with production machinery.

Read or download the digital edition of Modern Machine Shop’s December issue.