Machine shop precision is the desired end product from a customer’s perspective.
That is to say, the end product that is going to be seen when the tools are run by the workers at the machine shop on a regular basis is going to be accurate. It should be obvious that in order to achieve this end result there needs to be a large source of machine shop tools used on a consistent basis. Where do these tools come from? When you hire the people who will build your machine shop and make it into a high quality production facility what are you going to get from them? A large number of tools.
The tools that are used and the frequency with which they are used ultimately control the level of quality assurance that is done in a machine
shop. If you have poor tools then you are likely to get poor work done. If you have very consistent tools you are also likely to have very consistent results. Consistency is the key element that can make or break an operation in a machine shop.
In order to have a machine shop that consistently produces high quality parts, it is imperative that all employees in the machine shop are knowledgeable about the exact nature of the work that is to be done. They need to know exactly what is required of them and how to do it correctly every single time. This requires education, certification and ongoing training. The more highly educated the employee the better because this person is responsible for ensuring that the entire team is as close as possible to achieving the highest level of precision. The machine shop becomes a highly efficient machine shop when all of its personnel understand the value of precision in the final product.
In order to have a machine shop that consistently produces precision equipment you must train all of your employees to operate the machinery. All employees need to understand that precision is part of the overall value of their job. There are many instances in which a small error in machining can cause a huge problem because of the inability to get a machine to work according to specifications. It is extremely important for a machine shop to provide its customers with the highest quality of service possible.
Every single employee in the shop must know how to operate the machine in question. The ability to determine the correct amount of lubrication and make sure that all moving parts remain aligned is critical. Machine shops that are not closely monitored can create serious problems. A machine shop that is not properly maintained will produce end results that are inconsistent from machine to machine and from customer to customer.
Machine shops should regularly measure the current performance of all of their machining equipment. These measurements are used to set benchmarks for the end result. If the machine shop’s measurements are consistently out of whack, then it is time for some major attention. This does not mean that the entire machine shop will need to be shut down but it is a good sign that the machine shop may need to perform some self-scoping as well as inspection of its processes.
Many machine shops utilize computers to help them monitor their processes. These machines have the ability to create accurate and efficient reports. Computer numerical control (CNC) is something that every machine shop should be proficient in if they want to provide high-quality and consistent results. Machines do not have emotions and there is nothing that a machine shop can do to calm them down. If the machine shop wants to keep customers happy they must perform all of their CNC tasks in an orderly fashion.
There are many things that go into providing a high level of precision. The machines used are highly technical pieces of machinery. They can be completely unresponsive if they are not running in a precise manner. All of these things can result in inaccurate and inconsistent end results. When a machine shop fails to maintain the accuracy of their CNC controlled machines they often face difficulties maintaining customer satisfaction and this deters people from using their machine shop.