High-Mix, Low-Volume? Cut Your Changeover Times by 80%
For custom UK fabricators handling aluminium extrusions and uPVC profiles, frequent changeovers are a silent profitability killer. When production batches change constantly, machine down-time accumulates, dragging down entire shifts and reducing overall capacity. A custom fabrication shop we worked with faced a severe 25-minute delay every time they switched unique parts, causing massive bottlenecks across their workflow.
By implementing Position Automation’s SMED-engineered system, we completely transformed their changeover protocols. The real data from this factory floor implementation tells a powerful story of recovered efficiency for custom fabrication:
- 80% Setup Reduction: Tooling and machine alignment changeover times plummeted from 25 minutes down to under 5 minutes.
- Digital Recipe Loading: Operators now utilise pre-loaded digital recipes and quick-change tooling to switch profiles instantly.
- One-Piece Flow: Moving to a waste-free one-piece flow allowed them to significantly compress lead times.
- Unattended Production: The streamlined changeover process unlocked the capability for unattended overnight manufacturing runs.
High mix doesn’t have to mean high waste on your production floor. By replacing slow mechanical adjustments with rapid digital profiling, you can protect your margins, eliminate tool-setting guesswork, and maintain a highly competitive edge in the modern UK marketplace.
Position Automation UK
Designs and delivers bespoke automation solutions that transform how manufacturers produce. We specialise in consolidating multiple manual processes into single, efficient automated systems, driving measurable gains in efficiency, precision, and production capacity.
WHO WE SERVE
We partner with forward-thinking manufacturers across: Metal & Sheet Fabrication, HVAC & Building Systems, Window Manufacturing, Automotive Components, Aluminium Extrusion, Food & Pharma Processing
