For Immediate Release:
Five Ways to Reduce Capital Equipment Spend in Tough Times
San
Diego, CA, August 13, 2009 – Firms in the light assembly and
manufacturing spaces are
facing the smallest budgets for capital equipment in recent memory.
Engineers
and technicians at these firms are struggling to find ways to extend
the lives
of equipment on the shop floor, while still maintaining productivity
and quality.
Eddie Silverberg, CEO of
Flexible
Assembly Systems, a leading integrator of
torque tools and equipment, provides advice on five simple ways his
customers
have succeeded on small budgets:
#1-
Get manufacturer advice on how to extend the usage life
of your equipment.
Industrial firms can place many
thousands or millions of
dollars on the purchase of new capital equipment. In Flexible
Assembly’s case,
a high-end torque screwdriver or electric screwdriver can have a
lifespan of
less than six months if not used properly. “We find that our happiest
customers
tend to be the ones who know what they’re buying. We work hard with
every
customer to make sure to educate them on how to properly torque down a
fastener, maintain an ergonomic environment for the operator, and use
ESD tools
where appropriate,” states Eddie.
Doing your background research can add many months and years to the
life of
heavily used tools and equipment.
#2
– Calibrate and maintain your equipment onsite, at
regular intervals.
Equipment failure costs dollars in
lost productivity and
customer dissatisfaction, especially when part of an automated assembly
system.
Manufacturing firms, large and small, can face significant issues
around
throughput and product quality if equipment isn’t properly maintained.
“In the
past, our customers may have leaned towards replacing equipment that
fell out
of repair or calibration. Now, they’re leaning towards inexpensive ways
of
keeping their pneumatic screwdrivers and torque screwdrivers in shape,”
says
Eddie. Plan to check and calibrate your equipment and tools at regular
intervals, and not when problems arise. Invest in an in-house
calibration tool
like a torque
tester. Over time, you’ll save money, and you might just
improve
product quality, too.
#3-
Contract an outside agency to calibrate and maintain
your capital equipment.
There are many firms that specialize
in maintaining and
calibrating the equipment you already own. Build relationships with the
ones
you trust, and it will pay off. “Over the years, our customers know
they can
get a reliable NIST
certification from us, or bring us into the manufacturing
plant to discuss long term torque tool repair. The best capital
equipment
companies stay for the life of the tool,” Eddie states.
#4-
For the simple repairs, buy the spare part, and fix it
yourself.
When purchasing capital equipment,
find a company that sells
the equipment, knows how it’s put together, and sells the spare parts.
“A few
minutes of homework can be the difference between a three dollar clutch
spring,
and the purchase of a brand new tool,” continues Eddie. In Flexible
Assembly’s
case, they’ve launched a spare
parts section of their website, created
step-by-step YouTube repair videos, and exploded online views of their
tools
for customers to reference. By keeping things simple, the company has
been able
to help customers with some common basic repairs.
#5-
Seek out product replacement with firms focused on
ongoing repair.
Equipment and tools eventually need
to be replaced, and
dollars eventually do need to be allocated to purchase. Again, try
seeking out
firms with a long-term maintenance policy, as opposed to a focus on new
product
purchase. If you do your research online, you’ll notice these firms
because of easily
accessible technical resources and product warranties they provide. “We
were very
vigilant when we went online to let customers know we were there for
the
long-haul”, Eddie says. “We wanted our customers to know that if their
electric
screwdriver fell out of repair, we were the experts, whether or not
they bought
the tool from us.” Try
calling a
technician at the firm, and ask a few basic questions before throwing
down your
money. Some quick conversations can give you a much deeper sense of how
devoted
the company is to maintaining your budget.
About Flexible Assembly
Systems, Inc.
Flexible Assembly Systems has been working together with firms
requiring light-assembly solutions since 2003. The company’s product
list is extensive, and includes assembly tools, automotive tools,
torque products, bits and fastener systems, and material handling
systems.
For additional information, contact:
Eddie Silverberg, President
Flexible Assembly Systems
www.FlexibleAssembly.com
800.696.7614, x250
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