Improve Phase

Improve Phase

During the analysis phase it was highlighted the negative effect the CNC milling had on the manufacturing process. EDM wire erosion was highlighted as a process which could potentially replace a lot of the CNC milling process hours having a positive effect on the total process hours. While being a less labour intensive process the EDM wire erosion process also reduces the requirement for finishing processes such as grinding/fitting and high speed milling. Therefore an increase in usage of the wire erosion process will reduce these process hours.

As part of the Improve Phase the Design process was changed to ensure components were designed in a manner which allowed as much of the machining to be carried out using the wire erosion process where possible and practical.

It was also decided to put an extra shift in place in the EDM wire erosion division in-order to provide the capacity required to cope with the extra process hours being directed through the division. The addition of the extra shift would have a positive effect on the project lead times therefore allowing the metrology division to offer customers reduced lead times to meet there project requirements.

It was decided to plan work going through the EDM division in such a way to allow jobs with high run times to be set up during the second shift therefore allowing them to run unmanned through the night.