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6 Replies Last post: Nov 4, 2008 3:16 PM by no1toolmkr  
Click to view info's profile Supervisor
info
32 posts since
Mar 8, 2007

Oct 9, 2008 10:10 PM

BAD NEWS?

At this point , per the media, we are all supposed to be stockpiling dried beans, bottled water and ammo.....but it seems that most of us are still getting up at the crack of dawn and turning chips! Just a general shout-out to everyone: how are you faring in this wacko economic climate? Any survival tips to share with the community? Personally I'm becoming more aggressive than ever with marketing and sales. We are not cutting our prices (nor are we being asked to)......some of our customers have slowed down but others have picked up their pace...we're really pushing our onshore/close-to-home position and are actively pursuing customers who are coming back home after leaving for offshore facilities. How's it going for everybody else...?

.....has anything changed significantly for other shops out there? If so, how are you adjusting?

Click to view no1toolmkr's profile Expert
no1toolmkr
78 posts since
Mar 9, 2007
1. Oct 10, 2008 8:21 AM in response to: info
Re: BAD NEWS?

I'm very optimistic.

I'm taking the opportunity to re tool my shop and become so agressively efficient, no one will be able to touch me on turn aroun on short order stuff. I've got the machines, tooling, and software and I'm ready to take on the new challenge of re powering america. No matter what happens war or peace, Obama or myfavorite Mc Cain The banter has become a fever pitch with the public. We are re powering America starting with the next administration and thats starts early next year, And if its War with the Iranians also, I'm betting that would be a boost to our local economies as well. I completely expect the next year to be a boom for the machine tool industry but only for the shops willing to re tool and become absolutely mean with their pricing. If your using high priced labor or equipment requiring skilled manpower The question begging to be asked will be how are you still in business. Super efficient manufacturing processes will eliminate a serious portion of the work force over the next decade. As I sit here now I have 3 machines running and no LABOR running them. I have one man on the floor helping me with set ups and thats it. I think the for see able future of manufacturing to be as dramatic and historic of a change as there was when they figured out how to use dimensional tolerances to mass manufacture the flint lock rifle.

Tomorrow one man will be able to operate an entire complex of manufacturing equipment with 100's of Robotic machinery and equipment at their disposal. Replacing hundreds of formerly good paying jobs.

Advances in Manufacturing will revolutionize the way we live once again.

And I don't think thats bad news

www.ericstoolroom.com
Click to view peter's profile Supervisor
peter
42 posts since
Apr 11, 2007
2. Oct 10, 2008 4:35 PM in response to: info
Re: BAD NEWS?
Lots of optimism here too. We're moving ahead, steady as she goes - and that's in Detroit! We are looking at all of our spending very carefully, more than ever I'd say, but still moving on.
Click to view no1toolmkr's profile Expert
no1toolmkr
78 posts since
Mar 9, 2007
3. Oct 11, 2008 10:41 AM in response to: peter
Re: BAD NEWS?

I'm betting we are not the only ones looking forward.

I would love to show you guys what I can do for your CNC tooling costs. I'm betting I can save you up to 30% every time you tool a machine or a job. If you buy dedeicaterd tooling for jobs such as drill, end mill and tapping heads I can put a serious dent in your tooling costs no matter what collet system you favor in your shop.

Please just try some of my CNC tooling I have available. you won't find a better price on new CNC tooling.

Click to view info's profile Supervisor
info
32 posts since
Mar 8, 2007
4. Oct 11, 2008 8:29 PM in response to: peter
Re: BAD NEWS?

I think that's the general concensus, at least among forward-thinking shop owners. Beyond our long-term goals one of the things we're doing is taking a hard look at who is going to be buying our services in the next 30-90 days (we do a lot of small-run, custom/manual work) and figuring out how we can make ourselves more valuable to those customers. Most times, it isn't a cheap quote, oddly enough. Frequently it's just providing a value-added service that costs us nothing but our expertise but creates a "partnership" relationship with our customers, rather than a vendor relationship. Call me optimistic but I am finding that in these freakish times everybody is looking for trustworthy partnerships. This is NOT the time where savvy customers are willing to risk the whole project to save 2%. We're definitely watching our spending as well and holding our prices steady but continuing to add innovation to keep us at the forefront of the supplier lists.

Peter, kudos to you for keeping a steady shopflow in a down market! Eric,you are always rockin'!!

Anita


Click to view TylerPyne's profile Journeyman
TylerPyne
3 posts since
Nov 4, 2008
5. Nov 4, 2008 2:08 PM in response to: info
Re: BAD NEWS?
I am going to have to say I am finding a lot of my potential and existing clients cutting back on their budgets. Putting new machinery out of reach, it would be nice to see more and more companies take the time to invest properly into automated equipment. With current slow downs and need for layoffs the time to invest in efficient and productive machinery is actualy now. However I may be a bit impartial considering I want to sell more machines.
Click to view no1toolmkr's profile Expert
no1toolmkr
78 posts since
Mar 9, 2007
6. Nov 4, 2008 3:16 PM in response to: TylerPyne
Re: BAD NEWS?

I think your dead on.

Now is the time to automate to the maximus. lets build them automated systems and get them up and running. As soon as things get moving again we will deal a devastating blow to the competition in pricing, delivery workmanship. and the best way to do that is eliminate unnecesary manpower and automate automate, then automate some more.

anyone who doesn't take that to heart will be completely left behind in the next few months. I expect your sales will soar no matter what here directly just hold on.

BTW I'm making tooling for the average CNC shop to help them automate otherwise laborous processes and getting the tooling to them at about 60% cost otherwise.

www.ericstoolroom.com

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