MANITOWOC, WI, September 2022 – Stecker Machine Company, a family-owned CNC machine shop with 250+ employees, was recently honored as a 2022 Top Shop for “shopfloor practices & performance” by the editors of Modern Machine Shop.
Investing in youth employees provides a footing for success. Solid business is built on partnerships, and successful companies develop long-term relationships with employees, customers, and suppliers. Offering youth job experiences is key investment in developing partnership at an early stage.
Precision CNC machining is a mainstay of modern American manufacturing. Its extreme accuracy, automation, and cost-effectiveness far surpass traditional machining technology when producing complex parts.
Although completed parts are the main goal, finding the right CNC machining service supplier to meet your specific requirements involves many factors.
OEM Purchasing Managers call the shots.
Rarely are those shots based solely on price, even though the responsibilities of a Purchasing Manager surely include exploring cost savings. The services provided by suppliers — including CNC parts manufacturing — are judged by their overall value.
Think about it: A low price is quickly forgotten if part quality is poor or if the delivery is botched. And nearly instantly, confidence is shot, trust is lost, and the future is uncertain … a place no one wants to be.
Let’s explore the real value of a trusted relationship when it comes to CNC parts manufacturing, and uncover what customers really need from a CNC machine shop to be successful.
As consumers, we each have a certain product that we’re happy to pay for. For me, I’m a stickler for a lush yard and garden, and I use a local landscaper here in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
They’re not cheap, yet I know that I’m paying for high-quality work and great ideas for the areas around my home. The same thinking can be applied to CNC machine shops, although the dynamics are a bit different.
The name of the game in high-quality CNC machining is precision and repeatability. When those come together simultaneously, quality and performance can be achieved. But, at what cost? And, how do you know you’re getting what you’re paying for if you don’t have in-depth technical knowledge of CNC machining?
In production manufacturing, efficiency is king. Any opportunity to reduce production time gets immediate attention.
CNC machines are an important tool for automating the production of mechanical parts to increase throughput while maintaining consistent quality. CNC machine centers play a critical role in a machine shop’s efficiency.
This article explains five big advantages of CNC machine centers and shares some experienced insights from a leader in CNC machining.
The manufacturing world can be tricky. An experienced CNC machine shop may plan a project that seems flawless on paper, taking into account all the subtleties that streamline a process. Yet, when the plan becomes reality, and the process starts flowing, it may fall short of the projected production or profitability targets.
How can value engineering and/or value analysis solve a challenge like this?
Here’s a real-world example from Stecker Machine. A high-end part that required extreme precision — and also speciality tooling — was not hitting cycle time goals. One step in the process involved pressure testing the part after machining; so, taking the part to the assembly and pressure area (and back again after testing).
QA, PPAP, APQP, CMM, PSW, etc. Wow, the world of quality assurance is an alphabet soup of abbreviations.
High school students are bright, talented, and enthusiastic. And, many are ready to begin a fulfilling career right now!
College debt can be a burden for decades. The military isn’t for everyone. Retail jobs offer limited advancements. However, a paid, part-time youth machinist apprenticeship right here in the Manitowoc County area can kick-start a career.
A CNC (computer numerical control) machinist uses computer technology to produce highly precise machined parts. This is high-tech work in a clean environment that stresses safety.
Youth machinist apprenticeship programs:
- Pay well and train well
- Match a young person’s schedule
- Open up career advancements
20 years. That’s the average amount of time it takes for a college student who borrows money to pay off their student loan debt.1
That 20 years is likely longer than you’ve been a parent of your high schooler. Imagine your child taking that much time just to pay off student loans. It’s scary!
Now, imagine a better way for many young people. How about a paid, part-time apprenticeship that kick-starts a career without additional formal education?
Youth machinist apprenticeship programs are available now in Manitowoc County that:
- Pay well while training happens
- Introduce students to high-tech equipment and computer-driven tasks
- Fit a young person’s schedule
- Emphasize safety in the workplace
- Encourage career advancement
