How Precision Manufacturing is Remaking Global Supply Chains
In the new and economically disrupted world, supply chain resiliency is of utmost importance. This industry report reveals how the advanced precision parts manufacturing and large volume, scalable, CNC machining systems are not simply production techniques, but they are the major strategic advantages to minimizing risk and supply chain disruptions but then also promoting innovation in all industries.
The New World Order: Volatile Conditions Call for Precision
The last five plus years have taught the global industry a major lesson: Being efficient in the supply chains without resiliency is a delicate situation. Geopolitical tensions, forced quarantines due to Covid, and logistic nightmares told the industry that once again it is important to get serious about the tremendous weaknesses in elongated, contorted and complex supply chains. In direct response to these new paradigms, a very serious restructuring is occurring around the world, the focal point being near sourcing, redundancy and supplier reliability.
At the strategically coordinated heart of this change lies—what seems to be a humble hero—the advance manufacturing field. More particularly however, it is the companies that have developed expertise in the dual disciplines or micro size precision and macro size manufacturing systems that let them shine as the strong foundation blocks for the much improved industrial world that will result. This is no longer simply about parts making, but rather creating and sustaining a constant mold for innovation, from medical devices to sustainable energy production alternatives.
The Engineering Vanguard: More Than Just Close Tolerances
The realm of what a modern day precision machining company like Falcon CNC Swiss does has evolved much beyond keeping close tolerances. It is an engineering partnership as described by technology and process intelligence.
- The Digital Thread and the Agile Prototype
It all starts with the digital thread. An outstanding example here is the major playing custom machining supplier, Falcon CNC Swiss, who uses advanced CAD/CAM technology not only for the designing of a part, but also for the entire simulating process for its eventual manufacturing profile. This digital twin allows the engineers to examine potential trouble spots in the manufacturing, allowing them to better design tooling paths and also check the designs before they do any cutting of a part from their single units of stock. This is a critical period of time for any high volume production machining, as disasters in the prototype legally can be disastrous to later perfect runs. By working to shorten the R&D periods of time before going to production and insuring that seamless transfer from paper to production into an actual part, these partners assure that time to market for their clients is fast tracked.
- The Symphony of Scalability: One to One Million
The true genius of an engineering partner is, simply, in the scalability of its processes. The processes of production which will give rise to a perfect prototype are at times antithetical to the systems for obtaining any high volumes of screw machining. To scale precision there is needed an all engineered system of processes. This consists of:
- Advanced Metrology: The use of probing in-process and by the use of automated coordinate measuring machines (CMM’s) gives real time feedback to warrant that the accuracy of all parts produced in the millions in a run are kept in focus.
- Smart Tooling Intelligence: The smart tooling which makes use of the needed monitoring devices built into the tooling gives careful and predictive maintenance feedback, and also used analog wise so that unforeseen downtime or mistrials do not occur in high volume machining.
- Material Mastery: A great grasp of the innate factors known to occur in the usage of various alloys and polymers when under the rigorous operation of go, no-go CNC machining systems is an important factor to gain predictability and control of the final results and long run of parts being made for reliability and assured performance.
The Business Justification: False Safety and Value Proposition
From a C-suite perspective, utilizing the services of a quality, precision machining parts manufacturer is an investment in supply chain de-risking and competitive advantage.
- The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Advantage
While off-shoring may seem less expensive on a per part basis, they do not take into account the hidden costs, including delays in shipping, import tariffs, quality control problems and the exorbitant cost of a production run stoppage. The use of a domestic or strategic high volume machine shop with guaranteed quality, timeliness and communication can lower the TCO considerably. The value of a perfect part, delivered on time, every time, is hard to quantify.
- The Innovation Catalyst
When R&D and manufacturing operations are separated by continents or by companies, the flow of innovation can be slowed. The ability to quickly iterate a design on a “fail fast” model is restricted. An integrated partner that participates in both manufacturing prototypes and high volume production creates a virtuous cycle. Engineers can revise a design and have intimate knowledge of a prototype within days of concept and change, not months. The rapid response is a great catalyst for product development, enabling companies to stay ahead of the market trends and the demands of end-users.
Falcon CNC Swiss: Engineering Certainty in an Uncertain World
As businesses adapt to the new paradigm, Falcon CNC Swiss is the model of a current manufacturing partner. Their operations reflect the line density of a job shop and the precision of a mass production manufacturer.
The operational philosophy of the company is based on the principle of “design for manufacture.” The engineers of Falcon CNC Swiss collaborate professionally and assiduously with their clients to provide the optimum in possible performance in high volume CNC machining production. The engineering analysis provides the optimizations required for the parts to be innovative, yet reliable, amenable to exacting levels of quality in a cost effective manner.
For example, for a medical device client, Falcon CNC Swiss might first produce a small sampling of the exacting component parts for a high performance surgical instrument using its accurate precision CNC machining capabilities. After validation, the same component can be sent to their dedicated high volume lines, where they will are piloted through their sophisticated multi-product machines, where millions of component parts can be indistinguishable from each others in quality and reliability! The synergy of the development becomes the powerful selling proposition of the company as they are identified as a single source solution productively as well as organizationally! Simplification of supply will create undying trust!
Precision as a Strategic Imperative
The re-evaluation of supply chains around the world is one of the defining trends of this decade. In this new context the choice of manufacturing partner is a strategic lever that entails both risk, resilience and potential for innovation.
Companies that stress partnerships with leaders in advanced precision parts manufacturing, like Falcon CNC Swiss, are not simply outsourcing production: they are insourcing certainty. They are creating supply chains that are not only highly efficient, but intelligent, nimble and resilient. It is in the exact and perfect operation of a world class high volume manufacture plant that we see the steady rhythm of a more certain, more innovative industrial future.