Pre-Assembly – Automated Ordering

Brooke: Brant, I asked about styles when we were in your component area. Why do you process them here in pre-assembly?

Brant: That’s because there are so many options in the product line, we have to process the styles the same way that the panels are ordered. Otherwise there are too many to stock.

Brooke: So you process the styles in whatever quantity the panels are ordered. Isn’t that inefficient?

Brant: Well it would be if we were using conventional equipment, but we’re using CNC here like we do in Components, so it eliminates practically all the setup time.

Brooke: Sounds good! But since you’re building to order, isn’t that a lot of computer entry for the machine operator?

Brant: Well with this application, the machines are online with an office server. In fact, they get their digital instructions really seamlessly from our customers using software out in the field.

Brooke: What do you mean by seamlessly? How does that work?

Brant: Well, our customers place the orders using our software loaded on their PC, and then those orders are electronically entered into our manufacturing software. Finally, our manufacturing servers communicate directly with the machines over our network.

Brooke: So no one has to key in anything?

Brant: Only our customers when the job is sold at retail.

Brooke: Sounds like a great solution for reducing inventory.

Brant: It is! Consumers want more options to choose from, and manufacturers have to respond, but without increasing the cost of inventory. A computer controlling the machinery and digital integration to the controls makes it possible.

Brooke: Sounds like the future of manufacturing.

Brant: We think so. We’re seeing more of the same in our future. Our strategy has always included having a limit – only producing pre-planned standardized product lines. But our range is becoming so broad now, our standard line almost looks custom.

Brooke: So after the styles are processed, they’re off to assembly?

Brant: That’s right, let’s head there now.