A lack of skilled workers is an opportunity to make better parts

The problem

Many manufacturing companies are finding that a lack of skilled workers is holding back their expansion. The most recent impact on shop-floor skills is COVID restrictions, which have changed the way employers view their human-resource requirements. A retiring workforce, lack of encouragement in schools for careers in engineering and negative news stories about the death of manufacturing in the UK, all add to the ongoing skills challenge.

However, most of the people you currently employ on your shop floor will be skilled at a task or job that can now be automated. What you're missing is the knowledge of how to do it.

You need to stop worrying about recruitment and start thinking about automation.

The solution

One example is part machining. The automation of part machining requires metrology, which is the measurement of ‘stuff’. To automate this process in your machine shop you need to use metrology-quality measurement data to locate parts, fixtures and other machine tool items - with no human intervention.

The device that generates the measurement data is a probe and if the probe isn't set up or ‘calibrated’ properly using an artefact, then the data you generate will be meaningless and detrimental to your part quality. You can learn more about probing and how to get the most out of your probe by downloading our guide.

The setup and calibration of the probe is usually a slow, manual, skilled job but now this manual step can now be fully automated using MSP’s AutoClock. AutoClock is a complete lights-out, closed-door patented wireless device that automatically calibrates the sphere position, and automatically updates the work offsets on the controller.

The probe measurements are better than even a skilled human could have achieved - so you no longer need to worry about this particular skill being in short supply. A skill shortage may be the catalyst for choosing to automate this process, but your part quality will also increase and that will drive your business even further forward.

Next steps

You need to consider your existing skills gaps to see where you will benefit from automation:

• Do you really need people on your shop floor?
• Have you previously tried to recruit staff and been unable to fill your vacancies?
• What are the main areas that cause you problems?
• Do you frequently suffer from errors in any of your manual process steps?
• Have you previously considered automation?

If you'd like help with answering any of these questions, please get in touch.