Page 36 - MetalForming July 2009

George Keremedjiev has been writing this column for more than 20 years. He regularly consults with metalforming companies worldwide and provides metal- formers with training on the appli- cation and implementation of sen- sors for die protection. For more information on his seminars and consultancies, contact:
Tecknow Education Services, Inc. P.O. Box 6448
Bozeman, MT 59771
phone: 406/587-4751
fax: 406/587-9620 www.mfgadvice.com
E-mail: gk@mfgadvice.com
Profound Neglect
“Phenomenal ignorance”...that is what I think of when I listen to the various news outlets cover-
ing the current state of manufacturing. Little if anything is said about the bleed- ing away of our nation’s automation, sensor, controls and lean manufacturing specialists while much is said about the need to “streamline.” It is as if the only thing that matters about manufacturing is that it no longer should matter. “Let’s just get it over with and minimize this sector of the economy,” which in 1981 employed 20 percent of the nation’s labor and has dwindled to 9 percent (so far) this year. Just what does this mean to our metalforming community and its cadres of
PLC and PC controls, have been let go. This is tragic because many of these individuals were the sources for state-of- the-art information and guidance with each sales call they made to members of the metalforming community.
This is a national calamity. The lead- ing edge of efficient manufacturing thinking is being diminished one shop, one vendor at a time. The nation is loosing its best and brightest specialists in competitive, lean, mistake-proof and ultimately efficient manufacturing tech- niques. I do not blame the manufac- turing companies or the vendors for taking these drastic steps. Their sales are phenomenally down and consequently
34 METALFORMING / SPECIAL ONLINE-ONLY ISSUE 2009
www.metalformingmagazine.com
METALFORMING ELECTRONICS GEORGE KEREMEDJIEV
sensor and automation experts?
Why is there no national emergency program to sustain leading-edge research, development and implementation of modern manufacturing technologies and their experts?
draconian measures must be taken to help the companies survive. Having said that, I find it unbearable to watch the cov- erage of manu- facturing in the national news
I am aware of
a handful of sen-
sor programs
that have for the
most part been
eliminated from
their respective
companies. The individuals at the core of these programs have been let go. New or ongoing automation projects have been put on hold and the compa- nies have reverted to minimal sensor and controller maintenance. No new exciting and challenging projects are on the horizon for them. The same has happened with lean initiatives. I also am aware of companies that have halted the implementation of lean projects, and have let their lean experts go.
media reduced simply to body counts— 100 let go here, 3000 there... I have yet to read, watch or hear about the losses of experts in manufacturing automation and lean culture implementation. Like- wise the losses in tool-and-die making skills, maintenance, robot program- mers, machine setup specialists and other highly skilled individuals.
Why is there no national emergency program to sustain leading-edge research, development and implemen- tation of modern manufacturing tech- nologies and their experts? Where are the monies for the small-to-midsize metalforming companies to keep their manufacturing modernization efforts
This CD-ROM presents dozens of George’s columns as well as papers and exclusive new presentations covering all aspects of die protection and part-quality inspection, starting and maintaining sensor programs, the role of controls in in-die sensing, and the benefits of a sound sensor program. Order it online at www.metalformingmagazine.com.
The sensors and controls vendors are not immune. Several of the vendors’ leading sales and technical individuals, with scores of years of experience in proximity, photoelectric, laser, vision,