As the UK continues to be challenged at every turn with rising costs and countless other challenges, businesses are seeking innovative solutions not only to survive but thrive.
JC Metalworks offers exceptional value engineering for metal fabrication processes, ensuring sustainable growth and long-term success for its clients.
Value engineering goes beyond mere cost-cutting at JC Metalworks. It involves a comprehensive analysis of the entire value chain, focusing on improving the value-to-cost ratio. By scrutinising various elements such as materials, design, production methods and logistics, value engineering helps identify opportunities for improvement, innovation and enhanced customer satisfaction.
Our Value engineering is a highly structured process that is designed to maximise the value of your project by carefully analysing various components and procedures involved in its manufacturing to identify opportunities for cost reduction, improved performance and increased customer satisfaction.
Here are our 10 Cost-Effective Strategies for value engineering
Material Selection:
Considering factors like strength, durability, and availability, we at JC Metalworks evaluate different material options to identify cost-effective alternatives without compromising quality and performance. We are here to help you make the most informed decisions for your project.
Process Optimisation:
We streamline manufacturing processes to reduce production time and labour costs while maintaining or improving product quality. We achieve this through our advanced manufacturing technologies and automation of processes
Design Improvements:
Our designer engineers will collaborate with you to optimise your product designs for easier assembly, reduced waste, and enhanced functionality. Minimising the number of parts and simplifying assembly processes saves time and effort which ultimately reduces cost.
Supplier Collaboration:
We have established strong relationships with trustworthy suppliers, resulting in cost savings and timely deliveries. Our network of suppliers is always available and provides us with better deals on raw materials and components.
Waste Reduction:
By utilising the most advanced technology available, we have been able to implement waste reduction strategies that minimise material scrap and improve resource utilisation.
Quality Control:
By Implementing robust quality control measures to identify and rectify defects early in the fabrication process, benefiting the client and ensuring customer satisfaction.
Lifecycle Cost Analysis:
Our extensive experience has taught us to be proactive and consider the full spectrum of expenses associated with a product’s lifecycle, including operational and maintenance costs. Consequently, we meticulously select materials and processes that minimise maintenance requirements and enhance the longevity of the product.
Standardisation:
We strive to standardise components and processes whenever possible to reduce complexity, lower inventory costs, and improve interchangeability.
Continuous Improvement:
We place great emphasis on our core values and strive for a culture of constant progress. We give our team members the power to recognize and execute improvements to processes where they believe there is potential for added value.
Collaboration:
Maintaining open communication among all stakeholders is crucial for effectively identifying and implementing value engineering opportunities throughout the project lifecycle. We understand the significance of this and are committed to ensuring seamless communication for the success of the project.
Example 1
This image displays the undersides of two drawer versions, illustrating the original design on the left and the optimised version on the right following a value engineering process.
The purpose of these drawers is to securely hold liquid containers, featuring a shallow drip tray to contain any spills. Initially, the drip tray was a welded piece attached beneath a cut-out. After thorough value engineering by JC Metalworks, engineers transitioned to an embossed punched form using our Amada UK Punch and an ARFT Offset Tool investment.
This design modification enhanced the aesthetic finish and streamlined production and achieved a leak-proof design, ensuring utmost functionality. The successful implementation of these improvements delighted our client, producing thousands of these units.
Example 2
The client needed a cost-effective, high-quality version of their existing design, a storage cabinet locker. The challenge lay in the design’s complexity and large size, posing welding and powder coating difficulties in certain areas. To address this, a thorough value engineering review revealed that strategic design tweaks could significantly enhance manufacturing, leading to notable cost and time savings. Key modifications included replacing a significant portion (65%) of welds with alternatives like pop rivets, nuts, bolts, and inserts, reducing the need for extensive linishing and speeding up production. Additional holes were strategically incorporated for ease of powder coating, while repositioned welds and extended tabs facilitated easier access and assembly of the cabinet. These changes resulted in a 45% reduction in linishing, contributing to substantial time savings during production.
The outcome was highly successful, resulting in a more cost-effective cabinet that boasted improved finishing due to concealed welds and minimised linishing. Most importantly, the final product was stronger and more durable, meeting the desired quality and durability standards set by the client.
JC Metalworks has effectively implemented value engineering principles to achieve significant cost savings and enhance the overall quality, ease of assembly, and customer satisfaction in our metal fabrication projects.
Let’s explore the possibilities
If you want your business to succeed, our value engineering expertise can help. Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can optimise your design and manufacturing processes. To arrange a call or meeting at your convenience, please feel free to reach out to us at 01509 233 280 or drop us a line at [email protected]
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