Released on: September 17, 2008, 5:08 am

Press Release Author: Thomas R. Cutler

Industry: Software

Press Release Summary: Optimation Nesting Leader Profiled in Quality Digest

Press Release Body: In the current issue of Quality Digest’s Quality Insider,
manufacturing journalist TR Cutler addressed, “Lean Nesting. One of the most
demanding problems lean manufacturing faces in discrete manufacturing is control of
first operations, where raw material may be cut into multiple parts. First
operations such as laser or CNC Punch Press processes dictate what parts are
available to subsequent operations, thereby controlling much of the downstream
process flow.

Building an optimal nest of parts is a complex problem. Nesting isn’t axiomatic. The
ability to read an active-order file for the current demand of parts, extract the
appropriate ready-to-nest parts, drawing upon parameters established to create the
optimal nesting pattern, is far from axiomatic. A host of factors must be
considered, from material efficiency, part priorities (today’s orders, hot parts,
filler parts), setup costs, order completion, labor, and machine throughput to name
a few. Ironically, Michael D. Lundy, process engineer and CEO of Optimation, named
the company’s nesting software Axiom. “Ultimately, lean nesting solutions must
enable manufacturers to get the parts needed, when they are needed, in their exact
quantities needed, at the lowest cost. To achieve true lean efficiency, lean nesting
software solutions must automatically complete a number of other tasks before it is
ready to create a nest, orders have been checked, cleared and prioritized, and
placed in the active order file. Part designs must have been translated from CAD to
network computer programming and stored, along with key attributes, in the part
library; the opportunity to establish critical manufacturing parameters is stored in
the software’s knowledge base,” Lundy notes.


Cost-driven nesting proves most lean Few nesting systems automatically respond to
manufacturing priorities (due date, order status, urgent need) that change rapidly.
The effect of continuous process improvement can be quantified if the nest solution
has the capacity to weigh a number of factors in determining the best nest,
including labor, setup, schedule adherence, order cohesion, machine utilization,
inventory, and tooling requirements. Each part within each order must be nested
based on schedule, ensuring that the most critical parts arrive at downstream
operations on time. Rapid, real time response ensures that a hot part will be in the
very next nest.

For 30 years Optimation® has been the world leader in Part Nesting for Optimized
Material and Labor utilization. Consistently providing product advancement
leadership to industry, the company’s new Nesting Technology, AxiomVE make previous
nesting methods obsolete. The new technology, Vision Emulation™, allows the system
to “see” the shape of parts, just as human eyes would view them. When a person
looks at a part, they see the whole shape and any special features on the part.
This information is then used to determine if the part will fit in an area of the
nest. Vision Emulation eliminates excessive trial and error as well as excessive
rotation.
Optimation (www.optimation.com) offers benchmarking against any other method of part
nesting; recent benchmarks have show improvements up to 15% in material efficiency
alone. As lean efficiencies are essential, the most advanced nesting technology
guarantees the most important parts are always nested in the next available machine,
providing advanced information to integrated costing, labor reporting, and material
inventory systems. Because Optimation is strong financially and has the most
advanced technology; the company offers direct financing from its own capital
resources.

Optimation
www.optimation.com
Michael D Lundy P.E.
Opti1@optinest.com
877-827-2100



Web Site: http://www.optimation.com

Contact Details: Optimation
704 NW Mock Street
Blue Springs, MO 64015
816-228-2100