Raving Fan: Aurora Metals

	CIMCO is One of the Best Things we have Purchased...

Pictured (left t o right): Chuck Hajek and Rodney Grover agree that "Aurora Metals’ production shop communications have been improved (with CIMCO) between machines - and people!"

By Rodney G. Grover - Machine Shop, Aurora Metals

Rodney’s roots are from a family manufacturing business in Michigan. He has grown up watching his grandfather and father struggle to become successful in the machining business. His Midwestern values are evident in the way he looks at the world economy, his job, and raising a family. "Aurora Metals has felt the pressure of overseas competition like many other manufacturing facilities, however this company is determined to combat this by lowering its operating costs using high technology solutions."

Why is China so competitive?

Lower labor rates

Lack of concern for human rights

Government subsidized processes

No EPA concerns

Biased tariff laws

What must the US do to gain competitiveness?

1. Reintroduce drive and hunger to our children. Not the drive and hunger for money, but excitement to do a good job. Pay people for what the job is worth. Follow the wise saying "a days work for a days pay."

2. We must look to revitalize manufacturing in this country! The reason we won World War II is on shear mass production. We were able to convert the US manufacturing facilities into tank and weapons manufacturers. If ever in this situation again we would be at a disadvantage. But today is a global economy – everyone is dependent on one another. A worldwide conflict would be difficult to pull off. The threat today is international chaos (terror).

3. We must look toward robotics, multi-tasking CNC machines, lean manufacturing, networking, and 5-axis machining before looking at labor dollars. If we employ this technology we should be able to pass enough of the savings on to our customers. We sell ourselves short if we don’t look at the technology available! The hard costs of labor pale in comparison to the cost of updating equipment. People are still our #1 asset, but companies must have the "guts" to invest time and money in new technologies. Give employees the technology and equipment to do a good job – if you don’t, then you frustrate them and their quality of work reflects the frustration. Manufacturing is switching from labor intensive to capital intensive, and companies willing to reinvest in capital (technology) will come out on top.

At Aurora Metals…

We are focused on lean manufacturing and high technology solutions. We have automated and organized our shop floor communications with CIMCO Integration’s DNC-Max. Aurora Metals’ production shop communications have been improved between machines - and people! Although we utilized DNC before, the full CIMCO network allows remote request – even with Mazatrol. In the tool room, our CIMCO backplotter (linear view of the tool path) is quick – even with the long programs we run. Chuck Hajek, Tool Room Technical Specialist explains, "CIMCO has proven to be very reliable. With our previous DNC software did not multi-task well. My computer would lock up if I tried running the DNC with another software program. This never happens with CIMCO."

Specialist explains, "CIMCO has proven to be very reliable. With our previous DNC software did not multi-task well. My computer would lock up if I tried running the DNC with another software program. This never happens with CIMCO."

For over 10 years we have trusted Jody Romanowski (MSI Manufacturing Software Division Manager) to search for the most productive software products on the market and bring them to our shop. Jody’s recommendation (and installation) of CIMCO is one of the best things we have purchased that doesn’t cut chips! CIMCO DNC-Max has helped us organize our programs. We are now able to schedule machines in real time. Scheduling closer to customer deadlines reduced leadtime. In addition, our engineering department can locate programs and estimate new work more efficiently. We have seen timesavings of 2-3 hours per shift by remotely requesting programs from each CNC control. The elimination of the laptop PCs used to transfer and save programs has cut conversation time between employees and made them more efficient at running the machines.

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