Limitations and changes in the production process

Abstract

The profitability of mechanical engineering depends to a very large extent on whether, during manufacture, a design can follow the normal path through the production departments. Anything that is out of the ordinary, for any reason, entails extra costs; in fact it starts to do this as soon as it requires special attention from those running the business. One should, therefore, try to design in such a way that ordinary materials (such as cast iron, sheet steel and steel sections) can be used, and be dealt with by ordinary machine-tools (such as milling and grinding machines, lathes, drills and the like). The designer must know what machinery his firm possesses, and what its limitations are, and he will be well advised to call on the advice of the appropriate manager where matters of workshop production are involved.