Capital projects are the ultimate expression of high-risk and high-reward investment for manufacturing.
A new machine on the shop floor can accelerate production, add revenue, and open new markets. Plan poorly and that capital project can leave you with a bloated budget, cost overruns, and reduced production capacity throughout endless schedule delays.
Custom assembly services from OTC and the Industrial Supplies Group reduce risk and set your capital expenditures and manufacturing investments up for success. We’ll cover five reasons why it’s critical to consider custom assembly services for any purchase from a supplier, up to and including a capital investment.
Custom components can turn an off-the-shelf machine or some parts into a component designed exclusively for your production needs. Rather than adjusting current processes, “making something work,” or rebuilding your machine setup, modifying a part or custom fabricating a new part to specifications can provide instant benefits, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.
For example, adding a custom hopper that’s designed to support your processes to an industrial grinder will enhance efficiency, reducing the time to set up, load, and use the grinder. A custom adaptation to an assembly line can enhance efficiency and enable automation options.
When available, custom assembly services from OTC provide benefits such as:
Sometimes, even a small modification to a component or part can drastically improve efficiency for manufacturing. For example, mounting hardware for an engine will be sized for a specific engine. If a new engine size is required by a customer, a custom assembly service can fabricate a new sleeve or clamp for the engine before delivery. This can save time and effort in assembly, prevent delays in production, and improve safety and usability for the end user.
Especially for capital purchases, modifications before installation can prevent production problems. Consider shop floor workspace, and how a new machine will impact production processes. Modifying the machine may save time on every operation. Moving an access panel may also speed maintenance or improve machine setup. Even a small custom assembly service can bring a quick return in productivity and efficiency by eliminating potential problems and supporting productivity.
If you need machine or part modification, there are plenty of resources on the market that can get the job done. The problem is when you start stacking resources — a fabricator to build the part, an engineer to design it, and a field team to install it. Suddenly, a simple modification becomes a complex headache. With OTC’s custom assembly services, you have a turnkey solution. Even testing and diagnostic work of the modified design can be handled by the team. Work with OTC to identify your requirements, then let them manage the rest. From engineering, to fabrication, to installation and training, OTC can handle it.
For many manufacturers, the reluctance to increase costs prevents them from exploring potential modifications to parts and machines. There’s a false perception that letting an internal team or labor force handle modification will reduce costs, when it’s the hidden costs like reduced efficiency and production delays that ultimately hurt the bottom line. The truth is custom assembly services from OTC are a discrete and manageable cost that can quickly be accounted for in the overall profitability. In the end, the manufacturer sees the benefit of the modification with an expense that can be calculated and an ROI that can be rapidly achieved.
When working with multiple suppliers and contractors on a project, problems occur when transitioning work between suppliers. Does the field team have all the components necessary for the modification? Who handles a problem with the modification? If a repair is necessary, do you have a supplier you can turn to? You can clear up the confusion with a single source supplier like OTC who can handle both the machine sale and the modification. Any additional work and services after the sale can also be handled by OTC. Rather than juggling contracts and confusion, you’re focused on maximizing new opportunities offered by the investment.
As a manufacturer, you’re an expert in your field. You understand how to design and build the products you sell. That same expertise may not apply to the machines you use or products you purchase. That’s where custom assembly and fabrication services can help.
The team at OTC includes engineers and designers with extensive hands-on experience with modifications. They’ve been trained in manufacturing processes and can understand your needs to present a viable solution, often in less time and cost than you may have imagined. In addition, with the resources of the OTC partner companies, they can deliver one-stop, integrated solutions without the risk and confusion that come from doing the work in-house or hiring another contractor.
Contact OTC to ask about our custom assembly services and additional after-sale services. Make sure you’re optimizing efficiency and increasing your return on every manufacturing investment.