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QUICK-CHANGE EXCHANGEABLE MILLING HEAD SYSTEMS WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW THEY BOOST HMLV PRODUCTION Mass production traditionally involves machining long runs of similar parts - also known as high volume, low mix (HVLM) scenarios. More recently, global competition and trends toward product customization are prompting manufacturers to create different versions of their products, manufactured in smaller batches, to match the needs of smaller subsets of users. Data-driven manufacturing management enables rapid changes in part designs and machining programs. This management also expedites the tracking of product variations and inventory. The result is a shift to higher mix, lower volume (HMLV) production tactics aimed at smaller production runs. 2
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HOW HAS THIS SHIFT AFFECTED MACHINISTS? An order for ten parts may be followed by ten, five or even single-item lots of different parts; workpiece materials may change from steel to aluminum to titanium; part geometries can vary from simple to complex. The resulting increase in setup and tool change time between different parts, however, can have a significant effect on productivity and profitability. Additionally, purchasing a variety of different cutting tools to produce the different parts adds to production costs. 3
