Lean Manufacturing is a key component for driving efficiencies in production environments. Processes such as Nesting are important for manufacturing operations to continue lean practices.
What is Nesting?
In the manufacturing industry, Nesting refers to the process of laying out cutting patterns to minimize the raw material waste. Examples include manufacturing parts from flat raw material such as sheet metal.
To minimize the amount of scrap raw material produced during cutting, companies use proprietary nesting software. The software analyses the parts (shapes) to be produced at a particular time. Using algorithms, it then determines how to lay these parts out in such a way as to produce the required quantities of parts, while minimizing the amount of raw material wasted.
Source: Wikipedia
What are the benefits of Nesting?
1. Better Inventory Control
By optimising material usage and scrap reduction, the process can identify material available and what material sheet size is required for a particular job.
2. Improved Waste Management
Integrating nesting software with the ERP system can significantly improve usage of leftover material by creating optimal nests from offcut material
3. Accurate Estimating
When quoting for laser cut operations, the nesting software can create run times and reduce material wastage further allowing accurate pricing.
4. Time Efficiency and Material Optimisation
Another advantage of nesting software is the ability to group parts from different jobs onto the same piece of material.
Integrating this with the ERP clearly details the number of work orders currently in the queue that can fit on the current piece of material from inventory. This information saves time and money by enabling shopfloor employees to clock in to a single cut list instead of multiple work orders.
5. Reduced Costs and Errors
With an efficient nest of multiple items, the margin of error is reduced for the operator as the nest has done all the hard work for them. This results in shorter setup times and increased productivity.
If you are looking at reducing costs or an alternative efficient option, speak to our team on the best solution sales@grenville-engineering.co.uk
