The slightest mistake during a precision engineering project can delay the delivery date severely. If certain processes are not followed, the whole system collapses.
Waiting for a delivery of components that has passed the agreed delivery date can feel like being on an organ donation list, being booked in for a surgery and then being told you need to wait another week, month or longer! Frustrating!
Bad suppliers who don’t respect your lead time might brush a late delivery off as a minor inconvenience… but we know that consistently late deliveries can mean the difference between life and death for smaller businesses.
So, to put the importance of delivery on time into perspective, let’s compare each stage of our precision engineering process to an organ donation!
1.) Process Control
This is the foundation of the project. A plan is revised to ensure quality. Specific materials are chosen and assigned with select tools. At the end of this stage, the product is ready for production.
A flaw in the plan will destroy the entire operation, cause severe delays and an abundance of wasted materials, money and time!
This can be compared to the initial planning of the organ donation and transplant surgery.
The surgeon and his team need to be available, the organ delivered to the operating theatre, equipment ready, surgery planned and patient anesthetised. Without a process in place, followed to the letter, things will go wrong.
2.) Design and Programming
Specialist software is programmed to machine the part precisely to the spec provided. The component must match the drawing exactly… tolerances must be met!
If design problems aren’t picked up or programming is sloppy you’re in trouble. Conceivably, an entire batch of parts could end up useless if a mistake slips thorugh. This will cause delays further down the line.
This is the prep before the organ donation surgery – making sure everything is good to go!
Imagine putting your trust into a heart-surgeon for a life saving surgery and then finding out that your new heart wasn’t properly looked after at the hospital. And now it’s not fit for purpose!
3.) Machining Operation
In this stage, the billet is fixed and your parts are machined. Any errors at this stage cannot be stopped once operations begin.
If a mistake was made, it’ll mean the finished part will need reworking or scrapping!
The machining operation is equivalent to the transplant surgery itself.
Once the patient is on the table and under the knife, there’s no going back. The patient is totally dependent on all of the previous processes to ensure s/he come out of the surgery with a healthy new organ.
4.) Quality Inspection
Quality inspections happen during each stage of the process and are essential in ensuring the quality and precision of the product. Any errors that slipped through the net will now be highlighted!
A quality inspection in a precision engineering factory is like a check up from your doctor after the organ donation surgery. This step checks that the patient’s recovery is going to plan!
5.) Delivery on Time
All of the processes we covered before this step contribute to the parts being delivered to the company on time:
- in perfect condition
- fit for purpose, no re-working in house required
- without frustration!
The organ is successfully transplanted, the patient’s life is saved and lives happily ever after. Hurray!
Our Processes Save You Time & Money
At Axis, we have the experience and track record to give you what you want. That is, precision parts engineering to the quality you need and delivered on time.
But, more than that there are at least 7 ways a realistic rather than cheap quote will improve your margin! Download the eBook to find out how!