MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
Outsourcing heat treatment is a no-brainer
Debbie Mellor, MD of HT services specialist Keighley Laboratories
Outsourcing is now firmly entrenched in virtually every modern business, as a management tool for cutting costs, increasing efficiency and gaining access to specialist skills.
handling high volumes of limited product types, but otherwise outsourcing this function is a ‘no-brainer’ and here are the reasons why:
A
• Cuts processing costs – Economies of scale make outsourced services more cost-effective than in-house facilities.
• Reduces in-house overheads –Including staffing costs, regulatory compliance, capital investment and on-going upgrades.
• Achieves greater flexibility – Changes in material or new product lines demand new knowledge and techniques.
• Accesses new technology – Outsourcing gives access to a broader range of treatments and updated methodology.
• Improves carbon footprint – Energy consumption is the biggest associated cost, so plant-wide carbon reduction is enabled.
• Enhances product quality – Contract heat treaters can advise on alternative methods that improve product performance.
• Eliminates compliance issues – Furnaces are potentially hazardous, so management rids itself of complex safety issues.
• Reduces capital investment – Upgrading and enhancements demand ongoing capital, that could be released for investment.
• Improves cost control – Outsourcing represents a known, fixed cost, controlled by the contract agreement.
10,000,000 gallons achievement award celebration
The Magni Group Inc. recently celebrated producing its 10 millionth gallon of coating product by inviting more than 400 global leaders and engineers to its coating manufacturing facility in Detroit, Michigan.
being sealed during the ceremony on stage. In addition to its automotive customers, Magni serves the
G 90
agricultural, construction, heavy truck, marine, military and off-highway markets worldwide with an excess of 100 different coating systems. The company’s engineered coatings are custom-designed to meet the performance criteria of customers’ fasteners, fuel and brake specifications and a range of other
Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 69 May 2011
overnment officials, Detroit City councilwoman Jenkins, Oakland county deputy executive Bertolini and Michigan congressman Hansen Clarke, presented awards to the Berry family on-stage, with the 10,000,000th
paint can
metal products by resisting the corrosive effects of heat, humidity, etc. In support of the company’s global customers and more
than 100 applicators, Magni has 20 company-owned operations in North America, Japan, China, India, Europe and Brazil. To further support the Japanese and Indian markets, Magni will open new Technology Centres in both countries by 2012. “It took Magni 37 years to achieve 10,000,000 gallons, and
now, with our rapid growth, we are on course to produce one million gallons every year.”
t Keighley Labs we contend that heat treatment has all the right hallmarks for outsourcing. It is a non-core manufacturing process that carries massive overheads in equipment, manpower and energy consumption. Those with in-house facilities might benefit when
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148