Design for Manufacturing

A Great Wall Organization Product Invention Created Out of Necessity

Ever heard the phrase, necessity is the mother of invention?  OmniWallUSA was born out of that saying.

Over the years I have watched my brother, Greg Parker, and also his father, start awesome projects only to stop because they couldn’t find the tool(s) needed for the project.  They knew the hammer, wrench, socket set or screwdriver was “around somewhere”.   Normal procedure was to stop the project and run off to the local home improvement store for new tools.   By the time they got back home, something else needed their attention and the “great project” is pushed to the corner of the garage or shop.

Two years ago, Greg bought a fantastic home in need of a few home improvements.  While Greg’s day job is managing the metal fabrication company our father started, he has a great eye for home remodel.  The new home would give him opportunities to put his weekend DIY skills in action.

A year of projects and multiple trips to the local home improvement store for a new drill, additional charger or yet another screwdriver or wrench because he couldn’t find one that should have been in the garage was enough.  Greg decided to buy a wall organization system that “appeared” to be a system better than restrictive slatwall or track systems.  It looked like a customizable wall system.  He ordered a large wall organization system only to be disappointed that shelves were actually made of three or four pieces that needed assembly and hooks that were very similar to the frustrating peg hooks that go with pegboard.   This system was a great start for the wall but the accessories were not sturdy and he knew he would never be completely satisfied and would end up not using it.

Instead of returning the product, Greg walked into the engineering department and announced that an internal project would begin.  A team of people met weekly, designing and testing shelves, screwdriver holders, wrench holders, power drill holders and 40 other tool organization attachments.  The team worked hard to develop the most versatile and more importantly solid wall organization system.  This OmniWall organizational system has been selling great!  Automotive and racing professionals comment that this may possibly be the best innovation for people who use hand tools.

All of us at Noble Industries who own an OmniWall System and those who work daily to make the 18 gauge galvannealed OmniWall panels, 16 and 18 gauge one piece solid construction wall organization accessories, thank Greg for believing in the necessity of OmniWallUSA, the new invention for wall organization.

Noble Industries Expands Indiana Facility

Noble Industries Expands Indiana Facility

Noble Industries is a superior metal fabricator with headquarters in Noblesville, Indiana.  The current sheet metal fabrication facility in Noblesville is 70,000 square feet.  The expansion will add 60,000 square feet of metal fabrication operation space and 14,000 square feet of new corporate office space.  With the expansion, Noble Industries management group met to discuss equipment layout and the flow of metal parts through the new and existing facility.

Incorporated in 1970, Noble Industries is a full service metal fabrication company.   Sheet metal fabrication equipment includes CNC laser cutting, Panel bending, punch presses, brake presses, welding which includes MIG, TIG, Resistance welding and robotic welding.  Secondary equipment includes deburr and finishing services PEM Sert machines, corner forming, powder coating and much more.   The company employs 65 full-time employees and 20 temporary staff.  WIth the expansion, Noble Industries is expected to grow by 15% in 2017 and 20% in 2018.

 

 

Metal Fabrication Case Studies – Retail Point of Purchase Freestanding Display

Metal Fabrication Case Study

Customer:   Retail Point of Purchase

Product:  Freestanding Display

Type of Fabrication:  Laser Cutting, Welded Wire Mesh Grid, Press Brake Metal Forming, Welding, Powder Coating

Problem:  Taking a new design from the concept to production

Noble Industries solution:

Noble Industries has several customers who design all types of store fixtures for the retail industry.  Many things are considered before a prototype is scheduled.  Our customers will send conceptual drawings or models with all the factual information included such as the material they wish to use, dimensions, views from the front, back, side and top, specific hardware requirements, what powder coat color or colors they want and much more.

Our process engineers will review the design for manufacturability and give any comments or concerns to the customer.  If everyone agrees on the concept, then our customer will detail each individual part.  For this particular metal fabrication case study, we had a project to fabricate for Point of Purchase during the holiday season.

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Designing for Manufacturability (DFM) in Metal Fabrication

Successful metal fabrication job shops know that in order to maximize production time, it has to start with the design.  The best way to do that is by designing parts for the way it is going to be fabricated or by DFM.  This starts with a cooperative effort between the customer, the manufacturing engineer at the job shop and the operations team.  When they all 3 work together, the outcome should be developing the most cost-effective production design. 

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