Issue link: https://mmstopshopsexecsummary.epubxp.com/i/38326
Executive Summary MACHINING TECHNOLOGY VMCs and horizontal turning centers top the list of equipment used by all surveyed shops. For the most part, the scope of equipment used by both the Top Shops and the other shops was similar, save two notable excep- tions. First, 40 percent of the Top Shops use HMCs versus 30 percent of the other shops. Second, 24 percent of the Top Shops use complex Swiss-type lathes compared with 11 percent of the other shops. The Top Shops also tend to have more CNC machines than the other shops, reporting a median value in 2010 of 15 units compared with 7. Plus, they seem to use more of the capacity they have available to them: 93 percent of their machines are used each week versus only 79 percent for the other shops. When asked about specific machining strategies that each surveyed shop employs, the replies were much the same across the board. Survey responses show, however, that the Top Shops are more likely to perform Which of the following machining strategies does your business employ? High speed machining Hard turning Hard milling Large-part machining Five-axis machining (positioning only) Five-axis machining (full contouring) Micromachining Cutting to zero stock (moldmaking) Minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) Low-chatter machining at resonant frequencies Other None of these 0 10 19.9% 16.3% 16.2% 16.3% 11.8% 13.5% 11.4% 11.2% 13.5% 9.6% 9.2% 10.6% 10.8% 12.0% 18.9% 10.3% 5.4% 6.7% 7.1% 19.1% 24.3% 17.7% 20 30 40 50 60 0 high speed machining and five-axis workpiece positioning as well as large-part machining. The Top Shops also perform on-machine prob- ing for tool breakage and measurement more than the other shops (43 percent versus 26 percent) as well as on-machine probing for workpiece measurement (38 percent versus 24 percent). The latter indicates that the Top Shops see value in giving up some spindle in-cut time for the chance to enable their machines to also perform inspection duties. One way to gage how effective shops are in using their CNC machine is to examine gross sales per machine. In 2010, the Top Shops reported median gross sales per CNC machine of approximately $202,000 versus $150,000 for the other shops. All shops expect this to increase in 2011 by a median value of 14 percent. However, the biggest jump will come from small shops with sales of less than $500,000 per year. Those shops expect gross sales per CNC machine to increase by a healthy 34 percent in 2011. 10 20 30 40 50 46.6% 54.1% 44.7% 32.4% 28.7% 27.0% 24.8% 27.0% 35.1% 24.8% 20.8% 24.3% All Shops Top Shops Other Shops 34.3% 34.8% 60 6 2011 TOP SHOPS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY mmsonline.com/topshops