SMART MANUFACTURING BY SANDVIK COROMANT
Fixing what isn’t broke
Why manufacturers should embrace a new generation of tooling solutions The father of modern political philosophy, Machiavelli, said that, “Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.” We are surely living in unprecedented times with the ongoing effects of COVID-19 on industry. Here, Rolf Olofsson, Product Manager at Sandvik Coromant, the global leader in metal cutting tools explains why now is the time for machine shops to embrace a new generation tooling solutions to tackle steel ISO P turning challenges and make their production more efficient and productive. For manufacturers, stepping away from the established way of doing things — whether it’s a production process, method of communication, or a trusted machine or tool — invites risk. No wonder it so tempting to fall back on the old adage of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Could a new tool or digitalized process create more disruptions than it’s worth? Yet, there is more onus than ever on manufacturers to change with the times — whether they are dealing with mass or batch production scenarios. Research by Pinsent Masons, the German law firm, has identified three main drivers for change. First, its survey of 100 German manufacturers and German students found that disruptive Industry 4.0 technologies, like artificial intelligence (AI) and intelligent automation, are 12
ASIA PACIFIC METALWORKING
“sparking a fresh industrial revolution”. Second, the green agenda is driving manufacturers more quickly towards low carbon business models. Third, Pinsent Masons found “that macroeconomic pressures such as Brexit, and now COVID-19, will cause global supply chains to fragment.” How can manufacturers overcome this trio of obstacles without losing sight of the two main challenges: increasing output and reducing costs? And, how can they do so while machining one of most common and complex ISO P (steel) work piece materials? The answer lies is next generation tools — even if the last generation of tools ain’t broke. The right stuff First, let’s look at the two ultimate goals for manufacturers to achieve profitable steel turning, increasing output and reducing costs. Manufacturers should drive down the appropriate production costs for their specific situation. The situation will depend on whether they are dealing with mass or batch production, and is more unpredictable in the COVID-19 era where manufacturers are facing changeable high-or low-demand scenarios, and must adapt accordingly. Manufacturers must always strive towards maximizing their machining output that, according to Sandvik Coromant’s findings, can reduce the overall cost per component by 15%. To properly maintain a higher machine output, it’s also
