Superior Tool Online - 7 Elements of a Good Machine Shop

When evaluating a machine shop to work on your project you should consider these items:

1. EQUIPMENT	Are the machine tools and ancillary equipment modern, and up to date? Old machines loose their ability to hold tolerances and require greater maintenance and down time. They should also be clean and in good working condition. Is the shop organized? Productivity is achieved when tools are readily available and no time is lost searching for something.
2. DIVERSE PROCESSES	Can the machine shop handle milling , turning or grinding , a diverse number of processes or are they outsourcing every other operation or “rigging” something together , just to get by? Good parts are accomplished when the machine shop has the right tools for the job.
3. FACILITIES	Does the shop have enough space or are they “shoe horned” into a tight spaced garage area? Cramped quarters encourage people to store parts where they don’t belong , and eventually leads to parts being damaged or misplaced.
4. EXPERIENCE	Are the people you trust with your project design experienced and capable of doing the work? Depending on the degree of complexity of the parts , you should make sure that the machinists can handle the job.
5. TRAINING	The field of manufacturing , design engineering , and quality assurance are changing. Is proper attention given to improving the skills of the people , letting them see new equipment and products?
6. PROFESSIONALISM	Belonging and being active in a professional organization provides opportunities to learn and stay current on trends in the industry.
7. QUALIFIED VENDORS	When it is appropriate and required , can the machine shop outsource the parts to a qualified and reliable vendor? ( i.e. plater, painter , finisher) Being able to work with a vendor takes time, years of interaction are required to build trust and knowledge.