Hiring' Technology Part Two

Whether you are considering the purchase of design and production software or your first CNC machine, you must do your homework first or run the risk of being sold something that is not the best, or even the right, choice. This means doing a careful evaluation, taking into account several elements.

First, think about what work you are doing now. Is it: kitchens, Euro-style cabinets, face-frame cabinets, residential millwork, entertainment centers, home theaters, home offices, furniture, commercial cabinets, tenant improvement, commercial millwork, closets or other?

The type of work you specialize in is an important determining factor in the software and equipment you should choose. You also can ask yourself what additional kinds of work you would do if you had the capacity or if you could produce "trick" parts in plastics or in aluminum as well as wood? You also should think about which kinds of jobs have the most potential profit for you.

Selecting Software
If you are choosing software, there is a great difference in what each one does well. You must be absolutely sure that the software you choose will do what you want it to do in a way that makes sense to you.

If you choose the wrong software, it will become what is called "shelfware." That is because you will put it on the shelf and won't use it. It will have been very expensive, and you will likely not be anxious to try another one, even though the right package could exist, ready to move you toward your goals. Ask the vendor of any software you consider to show you exactly what his product will do and how easily it will do it.

In evaluating what you need software to do for you, think about the following questions:
* What are your construction methods? How are you building your cabinets (or other products) now?
* Will these methods still make sense when you have a CNC router on board? Is there a better method that will produce your products quicker and more profitably?
* Do you need presentation drawings to show your customers? Do your customers want to see rendered drawings? Are simple line drawings OK?
* Do you need shop drawings? Does a contractor or architect need to sign off on them? Does your shop foreman need them? Do you send them to the field with the installers?
* Do you need assembly drawings? Some programs provide parts lists and an assembly diagram for each cabinet.
* Do you need the software to send files to a CNC router? Do you need to send files to more than one machine?

Selecting Machinery
In deciding which machine to buy, it all begins with doing your homework to make sure that what you buy suits your company. One thing to note in making a decision is that today's major manufacturers have stayed in business for a long time because they have done a fairly good job of meeting the needs of their customers. The distinguishing factor between companies is almost always their service organization.

Let's say that you have done your homework and determined what jobs you need done by your "hired" technology. The next most important factor in deciding what to buy is not to look for the cheapest option. You are investing in your future, so you need to be sure that you are investing in quality. You need to "hire" a machine that will do what you need it to do for at least the next five to 10 years. It is sad to find a shop owner who bought a CNC machining center that was the cheapest product he could find or "got a deal on a used machine" that is running obsolete software and who finds it difficult to use.

If a shop owner does not do his homework, he runs the risk of being "sold" something that may end up being nothing more than "a very expensive hand tool." There are no "deals" in technology. Buying a used CNC router is not the same as buying a used table saw that, with a little work, will do the same thing it did when it was new. Last year's personal computer is already history.

The old adage, "You get what you pay for" does not apply here. The fact is, you don't always get what you pay for, but you do always pay for what you get. In this case, paying for the most current technology (which moves forward at a blazing pace) is a sound business decision, because it gives you assurance that you are getting the easiest-to-use and most productive solution available to move your business forward. It is absolutely worth the money. Technology has much greater value when it is fresh.

Selecting a Vendor
It all starts, once again, with your homework. The first question is, "Does this company have the machine you need?" (Here is where the homework is so important - if you don't know what you need, you can be assured your vendor will sell you what they have and you may end up with a machine that is simply not the right solution for you.)

As with any purchase, you need to be sure you can trust the person and the company you are dealing with. What do you know about them? What is their stake in being sure you are satisfied and successful? Do they demonstrate an understanding of your needs and your business, or do they just ramble on about the "bells and whistles" on their machine?

Ask the salesperson to provide you with names of existing customers you can talk to, and then ask the customers whether the salesperson or company provided them with the right solution. Were there "surprises" because the vendor "left out" or "forgot" to fully explain an important point or two? Find out if the vendor has been there when problems or situations occurred (there will be some) and whether he solved those problems in a timely manner or "disappeared" during these times. Did the service organization "jump on the problem" or did it take forever to get resolution? (Once you integrate this "new hire" into your manufacturing process, you don't want it to be down for any length of time.)

When you are confident that you know what you need, in terms of the machine itself, you need to focus on service and support. How will the vendor take care of you? Training? Support? Service? What do current customers say?

Require the vendor to give you a demonstration of how easily the machine will produce the parts you need using your current software. Evaluate the quality of the parts produced and the ease and speed of producing machine code and of producing the parts. When you are satisfied that the machine will do everything you need, you can move forward with confidence.

In summary, this article provides guidelines for purchasing software or equipment that will work best for your shop, stressing the importance of doing your homework. Because the homework is so critical, next month's "Digital Shop" will feature a detailed list of questions to help you cover all the bases in determining your needs and evaluating potential vendors.

Edd Parks has served as a consultant and in various management roles for more than 30 years, the last 10 in the woodworking industry. His experience includes the management of a commercial cabinet shop and serving as marketing manager and machinery manager for Louis and Co. Parks says that beyond all else, he is dedicated to the success of small business in the woodworking industry.