Efficiency Unleashed: Mastering Machine Tools in Industry 4.0 Is in Industry 4.0

This popular quote is often brought up when speaking about today’s fast-paced technological development. Industry 4.0 is paving the way for manufacturing in transformation with ground-breaking innovations, which in turn bring opportunities to develope workshops and aim for higher revenues. However, investing in new technology is not the only way to optimise a machine tool set-up. This article explains how tool shop owners can make the most out of their machines through improved equipment utilisation, quick-change tooling and modular solutions.

In light of recent technological advances, investing in forefront technologies can at first hand appear like a given strategy for conducting a successful business. However, markets are fluctuating. To continually strive for the latest, most high-tech solutions might not be the natural way to go forward in uncertain times.

Manufacturers are expected to accelerate product development cycles to meet rapidly changing market demands—yet they are also losing hundreds of production hours to equipment downtime and unnecessary tool changes. The ability to adapt production to current and future demands in a flexible way is crucial for surviving in today’s economy. Here, we take a closer look at flexible approaches to workshop machinery.

Make the most out of your machine tool set-up

Machine tool and cutting tool development is rapidly progressing. However, this can involve considerable investments, requiring time, capital and somewhat secure predictions for future demands. If the market situation and business forecasts are unsure, major investments might not be an option.

When your primary goal is to stay in cost reduction mode and to handle a temporary market downturn, a key consideration should be to investigate your current workshop, to make use of existing machines and existing capacity and, preferably, without dramatically increasing overhead costs.