Long-Term Savings vs. Short-Term Costs
Welding tends to be an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” type of industry. Maybe that is because many companies feel they have wasted valuable time and resources trying to “improve” their operations to no avail.
However, there are technologies and products that can offer real and immediate improvements to an operation’s productivity, but which require an initial investment. Pulsed MIG is an example of one of these technologies.
Over the long term, pulsed MIG welding, especially in the case of aluminum, can dramatically improve productivity and increase a company’s overall profitability. Yet, some companies possibly fear it will become another one of those experiences that they wish they had left well enough alone.
Does your company consider the long-term cost savings of technology upgrades, or do you instead opt for possibly outdated technologies that are less expensive up front, but may provide lower overall operational improvements? Would you like to change the process for evaluating potential improvements to your company’s manufacturing process?
Please share your thoughts on this subject by posting a comment below. To read more about pulsed MIG and the benefits it can offer for aluminum welding, please read the story of Greenheck Fan Corporation or Alum-Line, Inc.
Average (Not Rated)
October 21st, 2007 at 7:01 am
“Better safe than sorry” is not an appropriate axiom when it comes to new and emerging technologies. When we get out of the familiar and explore what’s new, we often find ourselves out of our comfort zone. Leadership requires us to keep our hands on the pulse of things, take the time to bluntly evaluate the possibilities and steer our collective resources and energies in the direction of long term success. Short-sightedness and the refusal to seriously consider the results of good research and development will put us at a serious disadvantage. Instead of “better safe than sorry”, we better recognize the value of change and stop thinking “ignorance is bliss” or we will get left behind.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:50 am
how true cas there are two directions in the trade forward and reverse
October 25th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
The first time I saw a pulser I immediately realized it would save me thousands of dollars annually just by not having to change wire size to smaller diameter ( More expensive ) for thinner welding. I saved production time and wire cost. The side benefits were operator appeal and weld cosmetics. .
October 26th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
One of the main problems in welding is the advancement of technology, back when stick welders were real welders we seemed to have better wages and job security, Now with the advancements in welding technology the company can hire almost any yahoo off the street train him for a few weeks at most then turn him loose. Everybody and their brother “used”to weld. I’m not saying technology is a bad thing but the easier it is ti weld the lower the wages will be. Then there is the old saying “it ain’t pretty but it will hold”. Try to explain to a supe or project manager that if it ain’t pretty then there’s something wrong with the weld, sure it might hold for a long time but eventually………………..
May 6th, 2008 at 11:29 am
i agree with the statement that was made about trying to improve equipment when its fine to use. its just a waste of money and time.