Will Sampson talks about automation in woodworking and whether the way automation is sold misses the mark. His guests are Kathy and Tony Everett, owners of Millwork on 31st in Charlotte, North Carolina. They went from a successful career in automotive parts manufacturing to buying an architectural millwork firm. They’ve updated the company with automation and lean manufacturing, but what really makes them stand out is their approach to employees.
This episode of the Woodworking Network podcast was sponsored by FDMC magazine. FDMC magazine is your vital source of information to improve your woodworking business. Whether it is keeping you apprised of the latest advances in manufacturing, helping you solve your wood technology problems with Gene Wengert, or inspiring you with case histories about successful businesses and best practices, FDMC magazine is there to be the sharpest business tool in your shop. Learn more and subscribe for free at woodworkingnetwork.com/fdmc.
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Intro music courtesy of Anthony Monson.
Welcome to this episode of the Woodworking Network Podcast. Join us as we explore the business of woodworking big and small and what it takes to succeed. I’m Will Sampson.
This episode is sponsored by FDMC magazine, and don’t forget to take our survey at woodworking network.com/podcast-survey.
Today, we’ll be talking to Kathy and Tony Everett, owners of Millwork on 31st in Charlotte, North Carolina. But first I want to talk about:
Automation, opportunity, and jobs
For nearly three decades I’ve been watching the march of automation in woodworking, which has been well behind the pace in other manufacturing industries, such as metalworking. Through much of that time I’ve listened to innumerable sales pitches promoting automation, and I’ve come to the conclusion that we might be approaching this all wrong.
From the first sales pitch I ever heard for industrial automation, the emphasis has been on replacing those hard-to-find skilled workers. Sellers of CNC machines and the like repeatedly have touted how simple the machines were to operate and how a button-pusher at the control panel could do everything necessary to run the machine and make precision parts without really knowing anything about woodworking.
I think that’s really a wrong-headed approach.
To begin with, while you probably could get by with just a button-pusher to load sheet goods into a CNC, start the machine, unload parts, and turn the machine off, having someone who really understands the process is essential for those inevitable times when something goes wrong. Running a CNC is not an unskilled task; it is a new skill for a new kind of woodworking.
Focusing on how little skill might be required for such machinery not only does disservice to the processes and people who run them, but it plainly overlooks some of the real values that automation brings to woodworking manufacturers. I see at least five values.
The first value is precision. Even the most highly skilled woodworking craftsman would be challenged to meet or exceed the level of repeatable precision and speed offered by computer driven tools.
Second value is time. Not only can automated equipment make parts in less time, but also the higher precision translates to speeded assembly, fewer reworks, and more time to handle non-automated processes.
Third value is opportunity. With the additional productivity and time savings of automation, you have multiple opportunities to do more and varied work. You can sell more products from your own shop, handle more complex projects easier, be an outsource supplier of CNC time to other shops, and although it sounds counter-intuitive, you have more time for fussy processes that can’t be automated but might add value to your product.
Fourth on my list of values is safety. So much of modern automation means hands and arms are separated from dangerous cutting tools. Heavy lifting becomes the job of dedicated machines, not your aching back. And good dust collection, required for efficient CNC machining, also protects the health and safety of woodworkers in the shop.
Finally, the fifth value is another kind of opportunity. With the increased productivity and profit of CNC automation, you can invest not only in more automation, but also in training, compensation, and working conditions for your staff and you. This allows you to build an elite team that will stay with you and attract the best and brightest in the industry while even keeping experienced workers working longer in the industry.
This is the future of automation we ought to promote.
Before we get to the Everetts, let’s pause for a word from our sponsor. FDMC magazine is your vital source of information to improve your woodworking business. Whether it is keeping you apprised of the latest advances in manufacturing, helping you solve your wood technology problems with Gene Wengert, or inspiring you with case histories about successful businesses and best practices, FDMC magazine is there to be the sharpest business tool in your shop. Learn more and subscribe for free at woodworkingnetwork.com/fdmc.
Today my guests are Tony and Kathy Everett from Millwork on 31st in Charlotte, North Carolina, and they have a really interesting story to tell about changing industries, automation, and lean manufacturing in the custom millwork arena. Welcome to the Woodworking Network podcast.