3 Steps to Production Success: Define – Design – Deliver

On paper, the definition of manufacturing success is simple: make as much quality product as you can in the shortest possible amount of time. Easy to summarize but difficult to achieve. There are many external factors that limit maximum capacity; determining the correct manufacturing process and designing a machine to do it is the key to success. So, how do you approach the definition, design and implementation of a new integrated laser system (welding, marking, cutting, or micromachining)? Three words: Define – Design – Deliver.

Define

Before you can “design” the right system, you must define what it is to do and the success criteria. Process success, e.g., welding success, is driven by a variety of factors: material selection, equipment capability and process conditions. These elements are the bedrock to ensure quality, but ultimately for manufacturing success, must be combined with an understanding of the production facility.

First, define each step of the process such that it is repeatable, efficient, and capable of producing a high yield. Ask and answer a lot of questions:

• What is the current process? Where is it succeeding and failing?
• What are the target success rates?
• What are the production goals? Does this match the production rate of other steps in the production line?
• Are there any budget limitations?
• Where will the manufacturing take place?
• Who will be performing the manufacturing process?
• What is the project timeline?

Once you have a thorough understanding of the project at hand, apply that knowledge to your production needs and priorities in order to determine the best solution.

Design

After the goals for the project are defined it’s time to focus on designing a solution. Start by considering the role that the materials, equipment and process have on production efficiency. More often than not, multiple technologies could be used to address one process. Choosing the right technology for your process can be challenging. Some questions to consider are: What is the ROI for each of the technology options? How the machine will be operated, i.e. will it be a manual load/unload cell run by a single operator? Or will it be part of a conveyorized production line? Does the machine need to address one specific part or will a high mix of parts need to be considered?  Lastly, how will the equipment be serviced and supported? Is the site where it is located remote or have restricted access where service and support may be limited?

All of these questions should be discussed with the machine builder before starting the project.

Deliver

The final key in production success is delivering an integrated laser system that works. Having equipment designed for a specific process on a specific part is invaluable to ensure success at outset – particularly if manufacturing just that part.

By defining the manufacturing challenge, designing a solution, and delivering a product and process the client is satisfied with, AMADA WELD TECH has remained an industry leader in custom laser welding solutions. When working with their expert engineers, clients are ensured a robust understanding of the manufacturing process and benefit from the knowledge gained from previous challenges.