Eagle Group Blog (13)

The ABCs of ISO: Why Certifications Matter

Posted by Deb Pipoly on 2017 Dec 27

 

Whether your businesses is considering a new certification or you're shopping for a new supplier, it's important to know exactly what certifications can offer.

Here, we focus on the quality-based ISO 9001 standards. Over 1 million companies in over 170 countries meet ISO 9001 standards, but there are millions more that don't.

Read on to learn the difference between those that are certified...and those that aren't.

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Tags: ISO Certification, Certification, Compliance

Understanding Your Supply Chain

Posted by Jeff Cook on 2017 Dec 19

 

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is becoming more and more important in the manufacturing industry. Businesses around the world are taking a more active approach to supply chain management, resulting in smoother process integration, higher profits and more transparency.

Your supply chain is much more than just where your business sources raw materials, parts or other inputs. It's a long list of interactions, starting before raw material is even removed from the ground, and ending only when the end customer has a product in hand.

If your business is ignoring the supply chain, you could be left in the dark when it comes to supply chain disruptions, leading to unexpected losses.

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Tags: Manufacturing, Supply chain, supply chain management

9 Ways to Improve Manufacturing Efficiency

Posted by Nik Seyferth on 2017 Dec 12

Efficiency is good for any business. It doesn’t matter if your company is manufacturing or service oriented. Greater process efficiency always offers a wide range of benefits over "business as usual."

On a broad level, manufacturing more efficiently can help cut costs, improve throughput and reduce environmental impact.  All of these general benefits lead to additional benefits down the road, from increased sales and quality to improved company image.

Read on for 9 ideas to improve manufacturing efficiency.

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Tags: Lean Manufacturing, Processes, Manufacturing, Efficiency

All About Al: Aluminum's Winning Properties

Posted by Jim Smith, Jr. on 2017 Dec 7

Recently in our All About Al blog series we discussed aluminum's history and origins. Now we're getting deeper into why aluminum is the perfect material for manufacturing such a wide range of products.

Aluminum owes its versatility in manufacturing to a unique set of properties. These include:

  • Low melting temperature
  • Excellent malleability
  • Light weight
  • Corrosion resistance
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Tags: Aluminum Casting, Aluminum, Materials, All About Al

Foundry in a Box: Bringing Metalcasting to the Classroom

Posted by AJ Menefee on 2017 Dec 4

 

Ask a group of 5th graders what they want to be when they grow up, and you'll get a long list of answers: firefighter, detective, athlete, musician, astronaut. These (and other top kids' dream jobs) are certainly vital to our society, but as proud and forward-thinking manufacturers, we have to ask: Wouldn't you rather be a metal caster, or a machinist, or a Six Sigma coach?

Maybe the answer is "yes," but the issue is that not many kids have been asked this question. That's where programs like Foundry in a Box come in. Dedicated professionals in the manufacturing industry visit schools and introduce students to the basics of metalcasting, and manufacturing careers, through hands-on projects. Programs like this not only expand students' horizons, but they're also vital to the future of manufacturing in the United States.

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Tags: Metalcasting, Foundry in a Box, Education

How Shell Molding Compares to Other Metalcasting Methods

Posted by Jeff Cook on 2017 Nov 27

The shell mold process is unique and exhibits many advantages over other metal casting processes, but many people don’t fully understand its benefits.

In this installment of the Introduction to Shell Molding blog series, we will compare and contrast the shell mold process with investment casting and greensand casting methods.  It is important to keep in mind that all processes have their own appropriate applications. 

Based on your part's needs in terms of tolerances, production volume and surface finish, any one of these processes could be the ideal match.

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Tags: Shell Molding, Metalcasting, Processes, Introduction to Shell Molding

How To Tell if Casting Is Right for Your Products

Posted by Deb Pipoly on 2017 Nov 20

Our recent post on fabrication to casting conversion might have gotten your wheels turning. Now you're wondering, "Could my products benefit by making the switch to casting?"

If you sell, use or otherwise produce fabricated parts, there's a good chance that you could produce them better, cheaper and faster through casting. To help you decide, we've prepared a brief Part Evaluation survey.

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Tags: Metalcasting, Processes, Fabrication to Casting, Fab-Casting

7 Essential Metrology Tools for Modern CNC Machine Shops

Posted by Nik Seyferth on 2017 Nov 16

Metrology is the science of measurement. In CNC machining, principles of metrology need to be applied throughout the production process to ensure that each part is machined to the right size and shape, in accordance with specified tolerances.

It’s simple enough to take a ruler or a measuring tape and mark out inches or millimeters. But measuring dimensions of CNC machined parts – many with tolerances tighter than +/- .001 inch – is a whole other ball game. When you’re dealing with measurements that small, you need to have sophisticated measuring tools, and the knowledge to use them.

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Tags: Machining, CNC Machining, Metrology

All About Al: Crash Course in Aluminum History

Posted by Jim Smith, Jr. on 2017 Nov 14

Aluminum is the third most common element on our planet. It’s by far the most abundant metal, and it’s also one of the most versatile.

Aluminum is light, strong, flexible and corrosion resistant. It can also be shaped relatively easily, in both a solid and molten state, and can be stamped to widths thinner than the human hair.

You’ll find aluminum in everything from buildings to cars, from Pepsi cans to laptops, and from power lines to bullet trains. But where does this one-of-a-kind metal come from, and how did it get to be so widely used?

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Tags: Metalcasting, Aluminum Casting, Aluminum, Materials, All About Al

One Part's Journey from Fabrication to Casting

Posted by AJ Menefee on 2017 Nov 8

 

It all started on a routine facility tour

While touring a client’s facility, representatives of Eagle Precision Cast Products noticed a cable clamp assembly–a relatively complex fabricated part that they believed would be an excellent candidate for fabrication to casting conversion.

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Tags: Metalcasting, Processes, Fabrication to Casting, Fabrication, Fab-Casting, Investment Casting, Case Study

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