24/7 is not just a catchphrase or a motto for some companies— it is a business strategy for competitive survival and success. And achieving it often requires extreme flexibility in quality manufacturing processes and solutions.
Time is a huge factor in running an in-house tooling operation for a major plastic injection operation. Tim Andreas, tooling manager at AMA Plastics in Corona, California, says that time pressures have led the company to undertake a revolutionary streamlining of design and tooling operations.
To stay competitive, today's manufacturers must balance significant investments in current technology with the overall return on those investments.
Contour Metrological & Manufacturing, Inc. (CMM) is a shop unlike most others. Specializing in very high-end optics, tools for optics and ultra-precision tooling primarily for military and aerospace customers, optimum finishes and accuracies are not only desired but required as well.
With market competition increasing, it is important to stay up to date with industry trends. Innovative Mold of Washington, Mich., stays ahead by cutting and shooting molds in their shop, allowing them to understand the entire molding process.