Adoption of new technology to move towards “Mass Customization” draws BWA member from far and wide! Read on!
Mass customization sounds like an oxymoron, and to traditional manufacturing thinking, it is! Today, however, the trend to reduce costs and overheads, while giving the customer exactly what they want when they want it, is the way of the future.
BWA member Dave Nichol of DJ’s Furniture hosted a Plant Tour Focus Group to share their latest investment in technology that customizes single customer orders and links it directly to the shop floor. The Weinig programs called EnVision and MillVision are used at the “front end”. Once at the shop floor, ordered components are bar coded, followed by optimizing saws, and and 5 axis CNC centres where product is tracked exactly where it is in the process. This is also linked it to equipment uptime and operation costs.
DJ’s staff demonstrated the customer experience of where they choose the product they want and it is customized with their software. Species, size, finish, configuration, and all custom to what the customer is ordering. There is no mass production of single product in the process. The program identifies common components across orders that can be placed in sequence without impacting individual order lead times.
BWA members enjoyed the demonstration and explanation of this technology, followed by Q&A that continued throughout and well after the tour.
Packaging is an area of opportunity for DJ’s where members gathered around to hear the challenge and brainstorm possible solutions while comparing mutual challenges. Corrugated cardboard continues to rise in price, and continues to be a necessary evil when delivering finished goods.
BWA Plant Tour Focus Groups provide value to the host and to the members who learn from best practices and best challenges.
Book February 24, 2016, for the next BWA Plant Tour Focus Group hosted by Formatop in Kitchener! If you want more information on the BWA and these events, contact BWA Executive Director Mike Baker at: manager@bluewaterwoodalliance.com
BWA members enjoy a demo of Envision and Millvision in DJ’s showroom.
BWA members during shop tour and DJ’s 5 axis CNC in operation.
BWA members debrief in DJ’s packaging and finishing area.
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