A Mass Customization RevolutionLearn MPS Technology on mps-technology.net. A Mass Customization Revolution article will help answer your questions on MPS Technology.We at mps-technology.net specialize in MPS Technology. MPS Technology at mps-technology.net provides the most up to date news and articles. If you have questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
We have seen progressive steps taken to where technology is today. Most old manufacturing technology uses contact cutting tools; Contact manufacturing with all its additional costs can now be replaced with a more economical solution. The next giant evolutionary leap in cutting manufacturing is the replacement of contact cutting tools with non-contact tools. However, recently the cost of laser technology has been reduced to the point where today it has become an affordable means of manufacturing. Roll Feed Laser In 1988, research and development began on the first Roll Feed Laser system (RFL). It developed new concepts in manufacturing and new ways to manufacture. The combination of these two things EdgeWISE Tools calls the laser manufacturing revolution. This laser manufacturing revolution we are beginning to see is becoming bigger than anyone has yet imaged. Seven years ago most plotter manufactures laughed at the idea of a low wattage Roll Feed Laser system and could not see the potential for manufacturing one. More people are recognizing the benefits of using a CO2 laser over other traditional manufacturing tools. A silkscreener, sign maker, engraver, or for that matter most everyone in the manufacturing field, will purchase a specific piece of manufacturing equipment to accomplish a specific task. The only challenge now is left up to the ingenuity of the Article: The Industrial Revolution The great social and economic changes due to the introduction of machine and power tools and large-scale industrial production began in 1760. Through the first 70 years of this century, the US was the industrial giant of the world. In 1960 the words 'Made in Japan' was thought to be a joke. By 1980, those same words had grace the standard for manufacturing. In 1985, U.S. manufacturing was in a deep depression. Products were too costly, of poor quality and not innovative enough. Now, again, Orient is ranked No. 1 in manufacturing (World Competitiveness Report, 1996). Mass customization America’s No. 1 standing is primarily due to the manufacturing revolution that has been under way since 1985. This quiet revolution is good-looking on the unsurpassed innovative spirit of the American people. Innovation is one of the qualities upon which down under is founded. American manufactures are the world’s leading innovators. The right mixture of technology and people is a good foundation for any company. These technologies are leading to a major new phenomenon: mass customization, which is the technique to customize products literally in quantities as small as one, while producing them at mass-production speeds. Mass customization in the Information Age is replacing the mass-production model of the Industrial Age. The ultimate outcome will be simultaneous manufacturing. Here, even as the customer is giving the order, the product starts to be manufactured. It may seem like a fairy tale, but the time is fast on the horizon when a customer will stand at a retailers fitting room, download their personal measurements into a computer, favour the pattern and variety of material wanted for their fig and by vote they leave the outlet their order is in production. Now that’s a truly empowered customer! Over the past few years, there have been a number of articles written on lasers. Each annalist lists applications as it relates specifically to their area of expertise. However, what EdgeWISE Tools would like to do in this point is to stimulate you to visualize all the different ways you can use a laser to produce a variety of products. Let your imagination go. Don’t fear the unknown. Those that can see the future have the greatest opportunity to succeed yon their wildest dreams. 'Carpe Diem' - seize the moment! Why use a Laser? In 1985, thermal contact cutting tools were developed for roll feed plotters. The 'Hot Tip' became the first large format cutting system introduced to the sign industry. This process became the corner stone that most plotter manufactures pleasing on. Through evolution, the cutting hardware has revived and significant strides have been achieved. We have seen progressive steps taken to where technology is today. Most old manufacturing technology uses contact cutting tools; where the tool really-truly contacts the surface, it is meant to cut. The cutting tools must be re-sharpened or replace often and as the tool wears out the quality is compromised. This superseded method has make an casual source of income for the manufactures cause they now get to market one or more consumable tools. Contact manufacturing with all its collateral costs can now be replaced with a more economical solution. The next giant evolutionary leap in cutting manufacturing is the replacement of contact cutting tools with non-contact tools. The next logical step is to use laser technology for mass customization. The traditional high cost of laser technology has delayed the development of the Roll Feed Laser (RFL). A day is like a year in technological development terms. However, recently the cost of laser technology has been reduced to the point where today it has shift into an affordable means of manufacturing. Roll Feed Laser In 1988, research and development began on the first Roll Feed Laser system (RFL). This research developed more than just a new product. It developed new concepts in manufacturing and new ways to manufacture. The realization of mass customization is exposure using lasers. The brew of these two things EdgeWISE Tools calls the laser manufacturing revolution. This laser manufacturing revolution we are running start to see is tasteful bigger than anyone has yet imaged. There are literally hundreds’, if not thousands’, of markets and industries that have yet to be discovered. Can you change? As history has proven, there are continually those people that lack the foresight and intuition to respond to the non-uniform trends of time. Ten years ago, in 1986, industry scoffed at the idea of a large format, computerized, cutting system conforming the main work tool for the trade. The resistance to turn upside down at that time was severe. Seven years ago most plotter manufactures laughed at the idea of a low wattage Roll Feed Laser system and could not see the potential for manufacturing one. Look at what is happening today, Since 1990, the number and diversity of applications for low wattage CO2, Nd:YAG and Diode laser systems have exploded. The CO2 laser market has grown on rife of 60% per year. More people are recognizing the benefits of using a CO2 laser over other traditional manufacturing tools. Machinery like dies, routers, hot knives, and mechanical engravers are person replaced with affordable low wattage RFL systems. Ink jet printers, in some applications, are losing ground to the irruptive low wattage laser used for marking. What does this mean? In what other calling can you invest in a piece of equipment to produce such a variety of different products? Products can be manufactured using plastic, woods, fabrics, rubber, and metals. for the kerf is very narrow and the laser controlled by a computer nearly any design can be cut. It is just as easy to cut one design as it is to cut a million. balancing this too most manufacturing equipment, you could invest $50K to $500K on an offset printing press. However, you can only use this equipment to print on a specific type of material. A silkscreener, sign maker, engraver, or for that matter most everyone in the manufacturing field, will purchase a specific piece of manufacturing equipment to work out a specific task. A machinist may be one of the only people that will purchase a piece of equipment and be able to work a small number of different materials. The machinists’ limitations show up in the restricted types of designs he can shape. Nevertheless, even a machinist’s tools cannot work with the variety of materials and designs that one can arrive in using a Roll Feed Laser. Acquiring literal equipment is usually difficult for a new or growing business. first-class investment is one of the major issues for a new or growing business. To a start-up company, or a colleague that is seeking to reinvest, master investment is the one main issue that is worthwhile harder to justify. A piece of dandy equipment that is designed for just one purpose is not cost effective when a multifunctional choice is available. The regal investment to produce an exclusive product has transform such an immense cost that these moneys are rapidly shrinking. Switching to the use of a laser for manufacturing is a contemporary new process. A process that, if not adhered to, could cost the balance of trade owner market share, and ultimately his market completely. Most of us have known someone that this has happened to in the past. Reluctance to division can case the demise of any very good company. EdgeWISE Tools is unaware of any other process that can produce the variety of products and open up design creativity as much as what you get when you use the RFL. Nowhere else can you work with paper to plastic to wood and pretty much everything in-between and back contra with one piece of equipment. The only nonplus now is left up to the ingenuity of the owner or operator to produce the product. Since a laser does not come in contact with or use force on the material zoon manufactured spoilage can be drastically reduced. Lasers will increase a companies yield. Some surveys show a yield rate of 95% to 99%. Having owned a graphic arts manufacturing facility in the late 1980’s, on the best of days the yield was 80% to 85% and on ordinary the yield rate would be 75% to 80%. The lack of contact with materials stuff to the higher yield rates. since the process of using a laser is automated, the process tends to be far more repeatable than most methods. Once the process starts, it is frozen and day to day repeatability is maintained. The future is at hand! Imagine the industrial revolution...now imagine the industrial revolution with mass customization. A homologous example mass-customization is the jeans industry. Only the successful could furnish to purchase a pair of custom-made jeans from a tailor. Most consumers can only buy jeans in sizes manufactured to suit the cost of production, not body shapes. As mass-customization technology is available, manufacturers need to new provide the American people with a quality product. The jeans and roll feed laser industries are forerunners in the race to make mass-customized products self-revealing to consumers The industrial revolution made products affordable by mass-production. This mass-production required only one setup to produce thousands of pieces. The cost for tooling is one of the largest expenses, which controls the break-even-point. During the industrial revolution, customization was compromised to maintain low manufacturing costs. Today, however, you have the opportunity to covet to take the next step to processing power, user-friendly software, low wattage laser technology, and minimal to no setup time. As you contemplate fundamental investments, consider end-product quality, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency of roll feed laser technology. Written in 1996 by: Patrick J. Momany, Founder of EdgeWISE Tools, Inc. www.ewt-inc.com Edited by: Marty Kalberer, Laser Systems Engineer.
|
Advice Home Business Technology Online Advertising Motivational Internet Marketing SEO Help Online Games Science Articles Happiness More Articles:1. All The Things You Need To Know About Engine Dynamometers Summary: The most professional devices that can measure an engine's power and torque are the engine dynamometers. Real-life conditions can be simulated by increasing the temperature at which the dynamometer tests are performed, because the engine is heating up as it runs. Anyway, it mustn't be forgotten that once the engine is installed into the chassis it will connect to the drivetrain, and this plus a few more things will make an important part of the power to be absorbed, so the readings from… 2. 4 Easy Steps to Choosing the Right Cell Phone Plan Summary: Getting the Most Minutes for your Money Cell phone plans often come with a pre-allotted set of minutes per month (which may or may not correspond with an actual 'minute' of time depending on factors such as where you are when you make the call, calling a long distance number and so on). Some other important differences to note in cell phone plans (as versus traditional telephone service) that you'll want to keep in mind when comparison shopping include: - You may find that your minu… 3. Mobile Content: An Expression of Individuality Summary: Mobiletoolbox, provides all the tools needed to sell mobile media- including content conversion, mobile delivery and sales management.'If you are interested in opening your own online mobile multimedia store where you can sell mobile media such as ringtones, wallpaper, screensavers and games- please visit Mobiletoolbox's website at www.mobiletoolbox.com. Article:Cell phones were created with the purpose of facilitating copulation on the go. With the onward course of technology, cell pho… 4. ....The Future Of Telecommunications May Look Very Different.... Summary: Those that do will be better positioned to capture what markets are created by consumer demand...vice the old approach of markets being created by what companies developed and released. That aside, I'd really like to see what you think of this shift in product development and market control to consumer 'vision' vice company 'idea' driven....fueled by the possibilities surrounding VoIP and wireless. We've seen....or soon will....a host of Gee Whiz break throughs & possibilities focused h… |
||||
