A machined metal part sits on my desk.
It's called the hex part. It consists of two thin-walled hexagonal
shapes connected by a shared center wall and stabilized by a generous flange
around the bottom.
What makes the hex part noteworthy?
It represents team success. The hex part celebrates the launch of a
leading-edge Lean manufacturing training program I helped develop, and that
part was pivotal to many of the hands-on learning activities.
It’s personal. The hex part was a gift from the project team,
so I knew the designers and machinists and had seen the machining process in
action.
It’s deceptively simple. The hex
part appears humble and ordinary. In reality, it’s the end product of a comprehensive,
integrated process that evaluates and balances design, material, tooling and machining
to optimize production and reduce costs.
It reflects mastery. If you’re a
machinist or engineer, you know it’s not easy to take a block of rough and machine
a hex shape that’s also deep, strong and thin walled. Producing a smooth,
flawless double-hex within tight tolerances shows true design and machining
prowess.
Most office visitors see nothing more than an unassuming piece
barely worth a second glance. I see the part in context, as both a meaningful
memento and an example of manufacturing skill and ingenuity.
Which brings me to another point.
Each year, Manufacturing Day occurs on the first Friday in October. Whether you're a manufacturer or educator, it's the ideal opportunity to put mind, people and material in context and launch the next generation of industrial makers, doers and innovators.
Each year, Manufacturing Day occurs on the first Friday in October. Whether you're a manufacturer or educator, it's the ideal opportunity to put mind, people and material in context and launch the next generation of industrial makers, doers and innovators.
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