Mark Albert Editor Emeritus

Lean Manufacturing 15 Jun 2004

Picture-Perfect Manufacturing

The vision of a production process with little or no waste is the inspiration behind lean manufacturing. Value stream mapping is a graphical tool that this contract manufacturer uses to create that vision.

Workholding 29 May 2004

Diaphragm Chucks Break A Bottleneck

Finding a better way to hold the part meant more parts per shift, better tool life and improve surface finish.

Automation 5 May 2004

Just Enough Automation

Automated gantry loaders helped this shop make the transition from job shop to product line manufacturer.

1 May 2004

A Change Worth Watching

I have been to a number of smaller metal-working companies lately. None of them are hiring.

1 May 2004

Déjà Vu?

Before the industry's 3- (some say 4-) year nosedive, many in the industry were bemoaning the shortage of qualified workers. As manufacturing hunkered down to weather the recession, this issue moved to the back burner.

2 Apr 2004

Keeping Score

Earlier this year, the Bush administration released its “Manufacturing In America” study about what the government should do to protect and enhance the competitiveness of U. S.

Lean Manufacturing 2 Apr 2004

Setup Reduction Is Central to Lean Manufacturing

This shop cut average setup time nearly in half. Now small batches can move quickly through the production process, making the company more responsive to customer needs than ever before.

Vertical Machining Centers 27 Mar 2004

Single-Spindle Productivity

High speed, five-axis machining on single-spindle machine tools helps this aerospace shop meet the demand for rapid, single-piece work flow.

24 Mar 2004

Center Of Gravity Is Key To Reduced Vibration

The metalworking industry's keen interest in high speed, high accuracy machining during the last decade has focused attention on one topic in particular - vibration.

24 Mar 2004

What’s Next For Nexus?

New models in the Mazak family expand the concept.

9 Mar 2004

A/B Rotary Head Turns Heads

The A/B rotary head module on Cincinnati Lamb's new HyperMach rail-type plate mill might not be the first thing to catch the attention of aerospace shops. Perhaps it will be.

2 Mar 2004

Lean Through And Through

A few weeks ago, I attended a seminar on the Principles of Lean Manufacturing. The daylong event included a number of sessions that simulated operations on the factory floor, with role-playing assignments for each attendee.