A simple trick with my calipers that stopped small errors from piling up

I started checking my workpiece dimensions at each stage of the cut. It adds a minute to the cycle, but I catch issues before they ruin the part. My scrap rate has dropped by a lot since I made this a routine. Now, a few others in the shop have picked it up too.

4 comments

4 Comments

rowan_wood751mo ago

But doesn't that just catch the error instead of fixing the cause?

danielowens1mo ago

Isn't this just hiding the real issues with extra steps? All those checks take time that adds up, and you could still get bad parts if the machine keeps drifting. I've seen places skip fixing things like loose holds or old tools because they rely on checks to catch errors. Wouldn't it be smarter to find the root cause and fix it for good?

dylan_ward1mo ago

Exactly. It's a band-aid, not a cure. Still lets you keep parts good while you figure out why the machine is drifting.

johnson.nora27d ago

Honestly, it can turn into a permanent crutch. You end up with a whole team just checking parts instead of one person fixing the machine for good.