In the world of manufacturing, precision is much more than just the latest buzzword that everyone is talking about, but which really isn’t necessary for you to get involved in. No, actually, it is pretty vital to the current and ongoing success of your company. It is the thing that will help you to produce quality goods that the customers actually want to buy, at a price they can afford, while also cutting your overheads and reducing your margins of error. Sounds good, right? Well, here’s how to increase precision in your manufacturing company right now:

Start With a Culture of Precision

Before you even need to think about investing in fancy technology and new tools, the best thing you can do to increase precision is to build a culture of precision. Yes, it sounds a bit simpler than it really is, but basically, all you need to do is change the mindsets of the people working with you so that they value quality control and attention to detail above all else. You can foster this change by praising and rewarding precision at every turn because when everyone’s on board, you’ll spend less time fixing preventable mistakes and more time perfecting your product.

Keep Your Equipment Calibrated

Your equipment is probably the biggest part of your manufacturing business, and as such, it needs to be on point at all times. The thing is, manufacturing equipment like CNC machines, can drift over time and not be quite as precise as you want or need them to be. Luckily, it’s easy to fix this by simply making sure that you devise a strict calibration schedule and follow it. Regular checks against certified standards will keep everything nice and precise for you.

Automate Where It Matters

Automation isn’t about replacing people; it’s about reducing the potential for human error. Automated systems can consistently deliver precise results, especially in repetitive tasks. From robotic arms to automated inspection systems, these tools can improve both precision and productivity. Just make sure you’re investing in congruent kind of automation for your specific process, rather than buying tech for tech’s sake.

Upgrade Your Machining Techniques

Sometimes, the tools you’re using aren’t just outdated; they’re holding you back. One method worth considering is gundrilling, a deep-hole drilling process that provides exceptional accuracy and straightness in holes, particularly in applications that demand tight tolerances. Gundrilling is commonly used in industries like aerospace, automotive, and medical manufacturing. If your products require precise internal features, it might be time to give this method a closer look.

Implement Real-Time Monitoring

No matter what you do to increase precision, it is important to remember that you cannot fix any problems that you can’t measure, and that means, if you are not carefully monitoring every single process that your business undertakes, you could end up with more problems, not fewer. This is where real-time monitoring comes in and enables you to identify issues before it gets to the point where they can cause defects.  

Focus on Process Control

Once you have got all of that in hand, it is a good idea to look at your processes and what you can do to tighten them up. Techniques like Six Sigma, lean manufacturing and statistical process control (SPC) are great because they can help you to analyze your workflows and get rid of any variability in your systems. Consistency is key to precision, and stable, repeatable processes are the cornerstone of all that.

Conclusion

As you can see, you really don’t need to overhaul the entirety of your manufacturing business to improve precision, you just need to make targeted changes that will enhance what you already have, so what’s stopping you?