For any metal fabrication shop the engineering department is the brains of the operation. As in most industries – from construction to high tech – without technicians designing and developing your parts or products, your shop simply wouldn’t be able to produce. Flat development is not a job that just anyone can do!
The first step to building a successful fabrication shop is hiring technicians with not only the education and skills, but the adaptability to work to the specific shop’s needs (every shop is different!). But a great team can get you only part of the way. There are two main pieces of the puzzle to boost productivity in your engineering department: software and skillset. The better the software and the more highly trained your people are the more productive your shop will be.
CAD/CAM software
The most important tool you can give your sheet metal technician is CAD/CAM software. The right software can not only help you leverage all the features of your fabrication machines, it can help you leverage the skills of your technicians to increase productivity, which translates directly to your bottom line. Invest in the best and most current CAD/CAM software for your shop’s design and machine programming needs for best results.
Skills training
You already know your technicians have the basic skills they need to design sheet metal parts – they’ve put in the work by taking courses and getting the necessary certifications to make them qualified for the job. All that studying and commitment to the craft is the basic prerequisite for the job. The point of differentiation for sheet metal technicians is adaptability.
Every shop is different each with varying needs. Not only should you ensure your technicians have up-to-date software they also need specific training to hone their skill set and confidence on the shop floor. When it comes to productivity even the best software won’t make a difference if your engineer is spending more time trying to figure out the features than it’s worth.
That said, you can’t hand someone a software package and expect them to fully exploit it without training. Investment in new software, by default, means an investment in new training.
Two-for-one
All CAD/CAM software suppliers will provide training when you purchase their product. It’s a two-birds-one-stone scenario: you get the best software and suppliers will train your employees. Not only will your technicians get one-on-one training, that training will be geared specifically towards your shop’s individual requirements.
With upgraded software and technician training, everyone wins. Your team gets the tools to get the job done more efficiently, skills they can keep for life and your shop sees increased productivity to boost your business.
Comments
Add Comment