Maintaining ROI on Your Capital Investments

3/18/2013 12:57:16 PM

Article by David Grubb

There has been an ongoing discussion on the Woodworking Group on LinkedIn about CNC machines and woodworking. The discussion asks a basic question: Is the use of a CNC part of the craft of woodworking?

The discussion has been interesting and divided into two camps: those who use CNC machines and those who don’t. I must admit I was taken by surprise by some of the comments, but I have to agree with those who maintain woodworking is not based on the method but rather the result.

The discussion reminds me of a talk I gave a number of years ago at Ligna in Hannover, Germany regarding the future of furniture making. I talked about the need to develop technicians to efficiently operate the new machines and those technicians and their machines were our future as an industry. The need for traditional cabinetmakers and craftsmen would diminish. A cabinetmaker would no longer be required to fashion every element of joinery, he would only be required to define the proper joinery which in turn would be fashioned by the technicians and their machines.

As I spoke I noticed three gentlemen in the front row struggling with my vision of the future and I knew that they were already forming their assault on my theory during the question and answer period at the end.

As it turned out, the woodworking gods were with me. I recognized these gentlemen as professors from one of Germany’s top woodworking schools, and I realized I was creating divots in their turf and couched my responses to them with an understanding of their heritage.

I think there is little serious debate among anyone who is in the woodworking business today, in any capacity other than a very limited niche market, that CNC machines are core to our future.

I do believe there is another issue relating to CNC usage and the “value” these machines bring to your operation. That issue concerns the full and optimum usage in your shop.

Too often the full potential offered by these machines is not realized simply due to poor utilization. This is particularly true in “craft” shops. In some cases a new application is not recognized or it seems easier to do it “the old way.” Seldom is the decision to do it the old way the correct decision. Keep in mind your shiny new machine costs you money running or not. You have committed your capital resources to the investment and you need to assure it provides a return. Sitting idle in your shop creates no return.

Programing takes time but with practice far less time than the alternatives. Master the skills that will create value in the investment you have made. Be imaginative in the use of your machines, with innovation you will find they can do far more (and make you more money) than you might have originally thought.

When confronted with a new application, don’t allow yourself to be defeated by restricted and negative thinking. Recently I was told that an application could not be done on a pod and rail machining center because the part required through drilling and there was no way to locate the pods clear of the holes. Had the individual who said that given some thought to how it could be done rather than why it couldn’t be done he likely would have come up with one of the many ways to do exactly what he had convinced himself was impossible; and saved significant money in the process. I cannot stress this point too strongly; to succeed you need to find solutions and not barriers. Having an excuse for failure is not the path to success, developing a solution to an obstacle is.

To the few artisans that can succeed in a niche market without employing modern techniques, all the more power to you. To those who compete in an open and competitive market, you need to maximize every opportunity to control cost and increase value. You will do that only by effectively utilizing your resources.