Author Archives: Peerless Precision

  1. A MA Machine Shop Owner on Why Manufacturing Is a Fulfilling Career Path

    Leave a Comment

    By Kristin Carlson, Owner of Peerless Precision

    I grew up working alongside my dad in his workshop, and those are some of my fondest memories from my childhood. When I was ten, he brought home some bicycle parts, and we built a ten-speed bicycle together. I remember building furniture and so many other things with him.

    It was then that my passion for precision machining was sparked, though it would take me a long time to realize that my love for working with my hands and tinkering with pieces that made up a whole could actually translate into a career path.

    Like many people, I fell into the trap of believing that college was the “right choice” for me. I had no idea that a hands-on job like manufacturing could be a viable, fulfilling career.

    College Isn’t the Only Path to a Fulfilling Career

    I’ve always thought it absurd that we as a society pressure teenagers to decide what they want to do for the rest of their lives—especially when they don’t have all the information about the different opportunities available to them.

    Go to college, join the military, or work a minimum-wage job with no growth path. More often than not, high school students are given those options for what to do after they graduate. Many choose to go to college and, in doing so, take on a mountain of debt with no real guarantee of a return on their investment. It’s no surprise that an increasing number of Americans say a 4-year degree isn’t worth the cost.

    What I want young people to know is that there’s another option that isn’t always made clear to them: learning a skilled trade, like precision machining.

    I want them to know that getting a job in manufacturing requires only a high school diploma or equivalent and that they can earn $40,000 annually starting out. I want them to know that their manufacturing job can easily become a fulfilling career filled with growth opportunities and the potential to eventually earn a six-figure salary.

    Even better, many manufacturing companies, including my MA machine shop, reimburse manufacturing workers for the costs of professional development. Essentially, young people have the opportunity to learn, grow, advance, and make more money without taking on a dollar of debt.

    Manufacturing Touches Every Aspect of Life

    Some people may wonder, “How can a career in precision machining be so fulfilling?” I’m happy to share my perspective on the matter.

    What it comes down to, for me, is that manufacturing touches every aspect of human life and truly makes the world go ‘round. This fact has become increasingly clear to me throughout my career in the industry and my time spent networking with other US manufacturing professionals.

    Look up into the sky, and every plane or helicopter you see contains hundreds of thousands of parts made in MA machine shops like Peerless Precision. (There’s a reason they call this region of the country Aerospace Alley). It’s impossible not to take immense pride in that.

    US manufacturers make parts for the International Space Station and parts for lunar landing modules. They make parts for the cars you drive and the phone you’re probably holding in your hand right now. I even know a shop that makes an injection needle for a certain peanut butter cup that most of us wouldn’t want to live without!

    Manufacturing makes people’s lives better. It even saves lives. I have a friend who works at a company that makes needles for biopsies. She was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and when she needed a biopsy, it was done with the needle her company made. I was at an NTMA conference recently, and one of my colleagues had a knee replacement a few years ago. It turned out the guy he was sitting next to had made that knee.

    There aren’t many other career paths where you can have these kinds of experiences—where you can have such a sense of pride and accomplishment in contributing to something that makes a material difference in the world.

    From College Dropout to MA Machine Shop Owner

    career path

    I learned these lessons about manufacturing the long and hard way. I went to college, thinking that was what I was “supposed to do”—and I dropped out. I don’t regret going. I had fun. I met my husband, who also dropped out. Today, he’s one of the top finishing machinists in the country, and I own a machine shop. Both of us couldn’t be happier in our manufacturing careers.

    There’s no one right path for everyone. We all have to take our different journeys. What I want you to know—whether you’re just starting your career or considering a career change—is that manufacturing is a deeply fulfilling path for many people. It’s here for you if you want it, so don’t be afraid to pursue it.

    Contact Peerless Precision to learn how you can start a career in precision machining!

  2. How Peerless Precision Mastered the Art of Optical Machining

    Leave a Comment

    At Peerless Precision, complacency isn’t in our vocabulary. Our precision machine shop constantly seeks opportunities to expand our capabilities and tackle new manufacturing challenges. This drive has been particularly evident in our journey to becoming experts in the niche field of optical machining.

    A decade ago, manufacturing the precise components used in cameras, vision systems, microscopes, and other optical technologies seemed unattainable for our machine shop. The stringent cosmetic requirements and tolerances, often measured in millionths of an inch, represented a steep learning curve for our team. However, we were determined to master optical machining to serve our customers better.

    Embracing the Optical Machining Learning Curve

    From that point forward, our team immersed itself in perfecting the processes and procedures critical to optical machining success, including:

    • Instituting stringent part handling requirements (like the need to wear cotton gloves)
    • Investing in specialized equipment, like a dedicated glass bead blasting cabinet
    • Mastering manual machining techniques such as grinding, honing, and lapping

    From our CNC milling and turning capabilities to grinding and assembly, our precision machine shop has the in-house capabilities to manufacture even the most geometrically complex optical components from start to finish.

    Building a Trusted, Deeply Vetted Supply Chain

    In addition to our extensive in-house capabilities, Peerless Precision has cultivated a trusted supply chain partner network to handle specialized processes and services. Because optical parts require extreme precision and attention to detail, we hold these vendors to the same high standards as our own staff.

    One time, we received plated parts back from a vendor and could instantly see fingerprints underneath the coating. When we pointed out the issue, the shop tried to pass it off, claiming the parts arrived to them in that condition.

    However, our team knew that couldn’t be true, given Peerless’s stringent handling requirements for optical machining work. Even a stray fingerprint can ruin these sensitive parts, so employees must always wear protective gloves when handling them—a specification we also pass along to vendors.

    In that case, we had no choice but to refuse the defective parts outright and have them replated by a supplier we could trust to adhere to the proper procedures. To prevent these issues from happening again, we only work with vendors who share our uncompromising commitment to quality.

    Developing Rigorous Quality Standards

    Of course, the right processes, equipment, and suppliers are only part of the equation. At Peerless Precision, we’ve implemented thorough quality control procedures in adherence with our ISO 9001:2015 certification to ensure perfect parts every time, including:

    Optical Machining

    • Thorough part inspection to identify any cosmetic defects or imperfections
    • Leaving adequate material stock to account for potential heat treat distortion
    • Continuous part refinement based on customer feedback and collaboration
    • Tight process controls to hold tolerances down to 0.000005.”

    This strict focus on quality allows us to manufacture the best optical components for applications in aerospace, scientific instrumentation, and medical devices.

    The Peerless Optical Machining Advantage

    Trust Peerless Precision’s manufacturing expertise when you need flawless optical components produced with unrivaled precision. With our robust in-house capabilities, deeply vetted supply chain network, and rigorous quality standards, we’ve become a leading partner for machining complex optical parts.

    Request a quote today!

  3. 4 Reasons to Outsource Mechanical Subassemblies to Peerless Precision

    Leave a Comment

    As an AS9100D & ISO-certified machine shop, Peerless Precision has built a reputation for delivering high-quality parts with uncompromising accuracy. But you may not realize that our commitment to quality doesn’t end with the precision machining of individual parts—we also specialize in complete mechanical subassemblies.

    What Are Mechanical Subassemblies?

    Mechanical Subassemblies

    These units are made of multiple machined components that fit together into a larger assembly. Off-the-shelf components may also be involved. Examples of mechanical subassemblies we frequently make at Peerless Precision include:

    • Matched valve and sleeve sets
    • Alternator housings
    • Control mounting plates
    • Crankcase assemblies
    • Complex multi-part pistons
    • Cap assemblies for landing gear

    We primarily build mechanical subassemblies for the aerospace and defense industries, but we’ve also done some assembly work for our medical customers—including prototyping for prosthetics!

    Many customers take advantage of our ability to manage the entire manufacturing process. In addition to machining your parts in our AS9100D & ISO-certified machine shop, we work with outside suppliers to secure additional parts when needed—whether off-the-shelf components or parts ordered from a previously approved shop.

    Once we have all the necessary parts, we’ll assemble them and ship the units to your door.

    4 Benefits of Outsourcing Subassemblies to Peerless

    Here are the key benefits you can expect when you have our AS9100D & ISO-certified machine shop handle your mechanical subassemblies rather than just supplying individual machined parts:

    Supply chain consolidation

    Rather than dealing with multiple suppliers for your different components, you get everything you need from a single trusted supplier. We’ll manage the entire supply chain, securing all third-party pieces and combining them with our precision-machined parts into the final subassembly.

    Lead time reduction

    With Peerless managing the entire procurement and assembly process, you can expect to receive your completed subassemblies much faster than you would otherwise. We’ll leverage our trusted supply chain to get the needed parts and assemble, inspect, and test them in record time.

    In-house quality control

    Because all your components are sourced from and assembled in our AS9100D & ISO-certified machine shop, we can ensure all mechanical subassemblies meet our exacting quality standards before leaving our facility. Our prices include a thorough inspection and testing of each completed subassembly, so you won’t pay extra for this service.

    Less work for you

    When you outsource your subassemblies to Peerless, your team saves the time and effort needed to build the subassemblies yourselves. Your units will arrive ready to integrate into their higher-level assemblies, creating greater efficiency on your end.

    Work With Our AS9100D & ISO-Certified Machine Shop

    Our team has extensive experience building mechanical subassemblies for the aerospace, defense, and medical industries. Because we specialize in highly complex parts, there are few assemblies we aren’t equipped to handle. As long as they fit within our doors (and don’t require any electrical components), we have the in-house capabilities to support you!

    If you need your mechanical subassemblies produced with the highest levels of accuracy and quality control, contact Peerless Precision. We’d be happy to take this process (and the headaches that come with it) off your plate.

    Request a quote today!

  4. Grinding at Peerless Precision: Our Secret to High-Precision Parts

    Leave a Comment

    At Peerless Precision, we frequently make parts with such tight tolerances and complex geometries that our customers think we’re using a bit of “black magic.”

    And while our team loves the aura of mystery this brings to our Westfield, MA machine shop, we must admit: it’s not magic that allows us to create such impressive parts—it’s our in-house grinding capabilities.

    Almost every part we create at Peerless Precision goes through our grinding department, allowing us to achieve tolerances and part dimensions that aren’t possible with CNC machining alone.

    For example, while our 5-axis machines can achieve tolerances of +/-0.005” inches, our customers often need parts with an even higher degree of precision. Thanks to our in-house grinding capabilities, our MA machine shop can achieve tolerances as tight as +/-0.0001” -0.000005” and surface finishes down to a mirror-like 2 Ra.

    It’s no wonder our customers think there is a touch of wizardry in our production processes!

    Our In-House Grinding Capabilities

    grinding

    There are two primary types of grinding we perform at Peerless Precision.

    1. Surface grinding allows us to grind surfaces to a certain flatness or achieve a specified surface finish. When we take parts off a CNC machine, the best-case scenario is that parts will have a 32 Ra finish. At this Ra value, parts will feel gritty, and you’ll be able to see imperfections on the material’s surface. Surface grinding allows us to smooth out these imperfections and accomplish a shiny, mirror-like 2 Ra finish.
    2. Cylindrical hole grinding can entail grinding a part’s inner diameter (ID) or outer diameter (OD). We also offer jig grinding, which allows us to perform both of these operations at once! In most cases, we use cylindrical grinding to achieve greater precision–particularly when multiple parts need to fit together as part of an assembly.

    While most of our grinding machines are numerically controlled, some human interaction is required. The one notable exception is jig grinding, which is a 100% manual process. Only the most experienced operators and machinists are capable of performing the necessary manual machining to execute grinding processes flawlessly.

    A Commitment to Manual Machining

    Even as technology advances, Peerless Precision remains as committed to manual machining today as we did when our Westfield, MA, machine shop opened its doors 48 years ago. Blending CNC machining with traditional manual machining has allowed us to thrive–and is what makes it possible for us to offer in-house grinding capabilities to our customers. In fact, we’ve become the go-to shop for other area manufacturers who don’t have the internal expertise needed to grind parts themselves.

    We’re proud to have about 100 years of combined grinding experience in our tight tolerance machine shop. And although a few of our longest-tenured employees are nearing retirement, we have planned ahead by placing 60 percent of our new hires in our manual machining department, where they can learn from some of the best in the industry.

    This commitment to training ensures that when these valued long-time team members decide to move on, their decades of experience and knowledge are passed down to the next generation–and that we maintain the talent needed to continue offering these valuable services to our customers for the long haul.

    Your One-Stop Shop for Tight-Tolerance Parts

    If you’ve ordered tight tolerance parts from Peerless Precision in the past, those parts most likely made their way through our grinding department–whether you realized it or not! Grinding isn’t a service you have to ask for; rather, it’s something we do automatically to ensure we meet your complex part requirements.

    By remaining committed to providing these services in-house, we retain full control over the quality of your parts, meaning you can count on us to deliver high-quality parts that meet your requirements each and every time.

    That’s where the real magic lies.

    Request a quote to experience the Peerless Precision difference for yourself!

  5. Case Study: Going Above and Beyond to Master Crankcase Housings

    Leave a Comment

    Some shops like to stick to what they already know. But where’s the fun in that? At Peerless Precision, we’re always looking for opportunities to expand our skill set and take on new challenges—especially if it’s in service of getting our customers the parts they need.

    Here’s a good example of what we’re talking about…

    Ten years ago, we didn’t believe we could efficiently manufacture crankcase housings. Fast forward to the present day, and crankcase housings are some of our favorite (if most challenging) parts to machine.

    Sure, we faced many obstacles along the way, from figuring out how to machine blind holes to dealing with parts warped from heat treatment. However, we never gave up. We saw this challenge as an excellent opportunity for our MA machine shop to demonstrate our tenacity in the face of complex manufacturing problems.

    “A lot of companies would throw in the towel after the problems we faced,” says Peerless Precision CEO Kristin Carlson. “But I’m stubborn, and I have a lot of faith in our team. I knew that once we worked out the kinks, we would move forward confidently.”

    The Journey to Mastering Crankcase Housings

    crankcase housings

    Crankcase housings are complex two-part assemblies that play a critical role in thermal imaging, night vision, and infrared cameras. The housings are matched with a compression piston as part of a cryogenic system.

    Most crankcase housings are mission-critical and require extreme precision. However, features like complex shapes and blind holes make these assemblies extremely difficult to manufacture.

    A customer request we couldn’t turn down

    When a customer came to us in 2013 and asked for crankcase housings, we initially said no. Our MA machine shop hadn’t made the leap to 5-axis machining, and the complex parts seemed impossible to complete with our current equipment.

    However, the customer had confidence in our team. After some back-and-forth, we resolved to manufacture the crankcase housings with the equipment we had. We quoted the customer for 10 prototypes.

    Finding success with workarounds

    We machined the initial prototypes out of aluminum on a 4-axis machine with a positional fifth axis. The run time was extremely long due to the part’s complexity, but because the volume of parts was so low, we could deliver them within a reasonable time frame.

    Shortly after we delivered the crankcase housings to our customer, they submitted an order for 100 parts. For this higher-volume production run, the long run times would no longer do. That’s when we realized we needed to step up our game and invest in our first 5-axis machine.

    Since that initial order, we’ve machined six different iterations of these crankcase housings. As our abilities evolved, so did the parts, and the crankcase housings went from basic blocks of material to highly sophisticated assemblies.

    Our next precision machining challenge

    Last year, our customer brought us a new challenge: machining those same crankcase housings out of tool steel. This project brought new obstacles for our team to overcome.

    Because tool steel is significantly stronger than aluminum, the machining process is more intensive, and the tools wear down faster. The customer wanted the material heat treated, which added another layer of difficulty.

    Though our MA machine shop was ready to take on this new challenge, we faced problems almost immediately.

    We knew heat treating the parts prior to machining would harden the material even more, causing such significant tool wear that costs and lead times would skyrocket. So, we elected to heat treat the parts post-machining.

    Unfortunately, when we received the first round of parts back from our heat treating vendor, the parts were completely distorted.

    Collaborating to find a solution

    Our foreman met with the customer’s quality team to find a solution to the distortion. We had heat treated steel before, but this was the first time we had seen such extreme distortion. Neither our team nor our customer understood what had happened.

    Together, we took a different approach. We examined the distorted parts to determine which tolerances could be loosened, and our machinists adjusted the parts to minimize the effects of the distortion.

    Once we knew to anticipate distortion from heat treatment, we left extra material on the crankcase housings during precision machining. When the parts returned from heat treatment, we further machined them to adhere to the parts’ tight tolerances.

    Our MA Machine Shop Will Find a Way

    Although we faced challenges left and right when machining these crankcase housings, we were proud to provide our customer with high-quality parts.

    The takeaway here is simple: if you need a part, Peerless Precision will find a way to machine it.

    “Being in the manufacturing industry is a constant learning process,” Kristin reflects. “We always work through problems together because we want to help our customers in every way we can.”

    Request a quote to work with our team of problem-solvers!

  6. 5 Reasons Our AS9100 Machine Shop is an Ideal Aerospace Partner

    Leave a Comment

    aerospace

    The heart of aerospace manufacturing is known as Aerospace Alley–an area of the United States that encompasses the southwest Massachusetts and northeast Connecticut region. From this hub, our AS9100 machine shop proudly machines complex parts that help put planes in the sky.

    Peerless Precision has been a trusted aerospace machine shop in Aerospace Alley for four decades, and aerospace machining comprises over 50% of our work. Our Westfield, MA company plays a pivotal role in the larger supply chain, crafting vital components to join with larger assemblies from other shops in the area.

    The Critical Role Peerless Precision Plays in Aerospace Alley

    Nearly every plane or helicopter soaring through the clouds carries a piece that was manufactured in this region, with each aircraft boasting at least $200,000 worth of parts crafted in Aerospace Alley—including parts from our precision machine shop.

    In our 40 years serving the aerospace industry, we’ve grown and evolved to meet the industry’s demands and continually exceed quality expectations.

    Here are five ways we stand out among aerospace machine shops:

    1. One-stop shop services

    Peerless Precision is a one-stop shop for all your aerospace machining needs. From CNC milling and turning to lapping and honing, we perform all operations in-house, ensuring a seamless and controlled manufacturing process.

    Thanks to our range of capabilities, we can control costs and consolidate vendors to provide the best service to our aerospace customers.

    2. Rigorous certifications

    Our AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certifications reflect our dedication to meeting the highest aerospace industry standards. We maintain these certifications via yearly surveillance audits and external audits every three years.

    But that’s not all. Peerless Precision is also ITAR registered for our military and defense customers. Additionally, our compliance with Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) ensures the safeguarding of proprietary information, offering our aerospace partners peace of mind in an increasingly digital landscape.

    3. Finishing services

    Our attention to detail sets us apart, and you’ll see this attention to detail reflected in our finishing services.

    Finishing services are just as important as machining, as these services can enhance surface properties such as adhesiveness, electrical conductivity, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and frictional resistance.

    We can perform grinding, honing, lapping, and more. These capabilities enable us to achieve tolerances that are unachievable with CNC machines, from +/- .0001” down into the millionths of an inch.

    4. Low-volume specialization

    Our specialization lies in low-volume, critical components. We found our niche early on and focused our resources on developing our low-volume and custom capabilities.

    Compared to larger aerospace shops that can “do it all,” we work on more customized, niche parts with a level of precision you can’t find anywhere else in Aerospace Alley. Customers come to us not only because of what we do but what others can’t do.

    The Peerless Difference: Why Aerospace Comes to Us

    Peerless Precision is a proud member of Aerospace Alley. Our focus on low-volume, custom work and our one-stop-shop capabilities empower us to take on projects that our competitors can’t.

    As we continue to grow, we will keep elevating our aerospace machining capabilities, contributing to the innovation that propels the aerospace industry into the future.

    Request a quote to work with our peerless aerospace machine shop.

  7. How Our Collaborative Approach to Precision Machining Benefits You

    Leave a Comment

    In our industry, there is a common disconnect between design and manufacturing. As a result, we often receive part designs with over-engineered or impractical features—for example, unreasonably tight tolerances or unnecessarily strict plating specifications that will increase costs and lead times without any significant benefit to the part’s function.

    As a build-to-print precision machine shop, we are dedicated to manufacturing the. That said, we are also always on the lookout for opportunities to save you time and money, and often that means speaking up to offer our expert opinion and collaborate with you to achieve optimal results.

    Collaborating with Customers to Achieve Optimal Results

    Working with our MA machine shop isn’t just an exchange of goods and services–it’s a partnership based on mutual success. As your precision machining partner, we’re determined to communicate with you to deliver the best parts possible.

    Our experienced team of machinists understands the principles of Design for Manufacturability (we even wrote an eBook on it) and can suggest design modifications that result in cost savings and faster, more efficient manufacturing.

    We’ll combine our precision machining expertise with your engineering knowledge to optimize your part. Our naturally inquisitive team asks questions like, “Why did you design these tolerances so tight?” and “Is there another way we can achieve this result?” We value knowing the “why” behind your design so we can make time and cost-saving recommendations.

    In short, we view communication and collaboration as critical aspects of the manufacturing process and hope you do, too.

    From prototype to production

    Our collaborative approach proves most valuable when we work with you from prototype to production.

    When we receive a prototype design, we build it to the initial specifications and determine whether the form, fit, and function fulfill our customer’s requirements. If not, we identify areas for improvement. This iterative process continues until our customer is satisfied and we deliver the best part possible.

    Once the part reaches production, it’s a seamless transition because our team knows the part, our machines are already programmed, and we’ve done the upfront work to optimize the design for manufacturability.

    Case Study: Our Collaborative Precision Machining Approach in Action

    collaborative

    Recently, one of our defense customers wanted a new version of a part we’ve been making for them for 10 years. We manufactured the old version from aluminum, but the customer wanted us to make the new ones from tool steel.

    However, the part is heat treated, and the combination of heat treatment and roughing out the part on the mill distorted the tool steel. So, our foreman reviewed the design with the customer to find a solution.

    In the conversation, we learned that several dimensions and tolerances weren’t necessary for the part’s function. By knowing what tolerance and dimensions had a little wiggle room, we could manage the distortion to not affect the fit and function of the part.

    This back-and-forth exchange is just one example of our collaborative approach at Peerless Precision. We strive to produce parts as close to perfect as possible, and we always include the customer in that conversation. It’s your part, after all!

    Partner with Peerless Precision for Headache-Free Parts

    We strongly believe that customers deserve a precision machining partner who relieves headaches—not one who causes them. We strive to be that shop for you by keeping an open line of communication and sharing recommendations for optimizing your part whenever possible.

    When you partner with Peerless Precision, you work with a machine shop that has your best interests at heart. We’re not just going to deliver what you ask for but what you deserve—the very best.Ready to get started? Request a quote today.

  8. Why Manufacturing Leaders Must Invest in Workforce Development

    Leave a Comment

    The manufacturing industry is facing a workforce development crisis.

    A study conducted by the Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte estimates that by 2030, 2.1 million manufacturing jobs could go unfilled if more people aren’t inspired to pursue modern manufacturing careers.

    The shortage could cost manufacturers $1 trillion in 2030 alone.

    That’s why Peerless Precision’s president, Kristin Carlson, is investing her time and money to create opportunities for Western Massachusetts youth to discover a different, exciting side to manufacturing.

    Her story uniquely positions her to be a force for change as she works to change the narrative around technical schools and careers in the manufacturing industry.

    After all, Kristin wasn’t always the president of a multi-million dollar MA machine shop and the Western MA NTMA chapter.

    She had to take the long way to get there.

    The Long and Winding Road to Precision Machining

    Kristin didn’t plan on pursuing a manufacturing career.

    Sure, manufacturing was the family business. Her father, Larry Maier, bought Peerless Precision when she was a sophomore in high school. All the tell-tale signs of a future machinist were there: she loved shop class, home economics, art—anything that let her work with her hands.

    Plain and simple: Kristin loved making stuff.

    But when it came time to cement her plans after high school, Kristin’s father was adamant that his kids go to college—not technical school. It’s ironic, considering he was the owner of a machine shop.

    Kristin enrolled in a business administration program, but lectures, textbooks, and passive listening didn’t work for her. She learned by doing—she wanted to get her hands on something and figure it out.

    “I went to college because everyone told me I was supposed to,” said Kristin, “not because I wanted to.”

    So she dropped out.

    Rewriting the precision machining narrative

    As Kristin moved into the working world, she held several roles and even worked as a buyer for a fire alarm contractor. However, the pressure of other people’s expectations and the stigma around technical vocations like manufacturing followed her.

    When her journey brought her back to Peerless Precision, Kristin found herself in a position to start changing the narrative around manufacturing jobs. She joined the leadership board of her local NTMA chapter and began searching for ways to invest in the local workforce in her community.

    “My goal is getting the next generation of students interested in what we do,” Kristin said. “We need to change the negative perception of the manufacturing industry and show students how awesome it is to make stuff for a living.”

    Industry Leaders Must Invest in Workforce Development

    Kristin often uses a fishing metaphor to describe the future of the manufacturing industry’s workforce:

    “We’ve got this small pond with a limited number of fish that we’re all fishing from,” Kristin explained. “If we don’t start putting fish back in there, what will happen? We have to find a way to boost that population.”

    In recent years, the emphasis on standardized test scores and increasing college enrollment came at the expense of hands-on classes like shop, home economics, and art. Meanwhile, the message from many teachers, parents, and guidance counselors remains: vocational jobs are the ‘lesser’ choice.

    Many kids have lost the chance to discover the joy of making things with their own hands—and the realization that, yes, you can make a living doing just that.

    Investing in manufacturing workforce development is pretty simple for most shops: all you have to do is find a way to empower and enable young people to create. Whether that’s donating to a local innovation center, hosting a field trip at your machine shop, or offering apprenticeships to high school students.

    It’s time for manufacturers to take matters into their own hands and repopulate the pond.

    How Workforce Development Helps Shops

    When shops invest in workforce development, they benefit just as much as the people they’re inspiring. For example, these investments are a great way to combat employee shortages and pull ahead of the competition.

    Thanks to Kristin’s investments in her community and demonstrated commitment to the future of manufacturing in Western MA, she never has to look too far when hiring a new Peerless employee.

    “When I’m part of the change, I am the first one schools reach out to,” Kristin said. “When they have students looking for co-ops or internships, or if there’s a training program in our region for unemployed and underemployed adults, they reach out to me and ask, ‘Who do you want to take?'”

    But for Kristin, workforce development is about more than just bringing new people into manufacturing. She’s ready to shape them into the best machinists—and people—that they can be.

    “In every job I had before I started running Peerless, my employers always saw things in me that I didn’t see in myself,” Kristin said. “They gave me opportunities to become more than the college dropout that I was. And now, I’m paying it forward.”

    Workforce Development Investments in Action

    Here’s how Kristin and the Peerless team have recently invested in their community:

    Funding the local Junior Achievement center

    In October 2023, Kristin used her late father’s memorial education fund to sponsor the building of a Career, Innovation, and Leadership Center at their local Junior Achievement Center.

    The new center promises exciting opportunities for students outside of a traditional school curriculum. One of the center’s standout features is the manufacturing room, a tribute to the robust manufacturing heritage in Western Massachusetts.

    The fund sponsored a Cricut machine and the Cricut starter bundle to empower kids to start making things for themselves. In the future, Kristin hopes also to sponsor a 3D printer and a mini-mill machine to bring tangible machining tools to the center.

    “I’m always happy to support initiatives like the JA center,” said Kristin. “It warms my heart to see my father’s fund help make this innovation center possible.”

    Speaking on a panel at MA Tech Collaborative

    Workforce development

    Investments don’t always have to be financial—manufacturing leaders can offer their time, too.

    Kristin recently spoke on a panel at the MassMakes Innovation Challenge, whichcombined hands-on manufacturing, engineering projects, and Q&A sessions with industry leaders. Over 300 students from across Western Massachusetts attended and heard Kristin speak about her non-traditional journey to precision machining.

    “After the panel, students asked us for advice that we wish we’d gotten when we were students,” Kristin said. “I said, ‘Look, have fun. You have to be able to laugh at yourself and realize that nothing is a straight path.

    “It’s okay to take the long and winding road to find out where you’re supposed to be.”

    Workforce Development Is Our Responsibility—Let’s Act Like It

    In manufacturing, change often starts at the top. It’s up to the presidents, CEOs, and VPs to do the legwork and usher in the next generation of manufacturers and machinists.

    “As industry leaders, investing in workforce development is our collective responsibility,” Kristin said. “You can either sit back and wait for someone else to do it, or you can be part of the change.”

    To learn more about meaningfully investing in workforce development, contact David Cruise, chair of the local NTMA’s Workforce Development Committee.

  9. How Our Inspection Process Promises Quality Precision Machining

    Leave a Comment

    Inspection

    In the precision machining world, there’s little room for error. Whether manufacturing a lens housing for an optics customer or a plastic piston ring, we’re committed to delivering quality at all times.

    Peerless Precision’s rigorous inspection process—run by an experienced team using top-tier equipment—ensures customers always get what they ask for.

    To achieve truly peerless results, our inspection starts when we receive a purchase order and ends when parts leave our shop. As an AS9100 machine shop, we maintain AS9100 quality standards, whether or not parts require it.

    Because to us, quality isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a promise.

    Our 6 Stages of Inspection for Precision Machining

    We implement six inspection checkpoints to guarantee part quality. It’s not enough for parts to meet the minimum requirements—we’re determined to exceed customer expectations.

    Here are the six stages of our inspection process:

    1. Purchase order review

    We thoroughly inspect each PO to ensure all customer needs will be met and parts are designed for efficient manufacturing. Our engineering, quality, and production department leads sign off on POs before production begins.

    2. Material certifications

    Our inspection department reviews raw material certifications to ensure the grade, composition, and relevant specifications match the customer’s request. We call the material supplier to request a replacement if we receive raw material that doesn’t meet all the criteria.

    3. First part approval

    We check the first part we’re precision machining after each operation to ensure measurements align with the design specifications. If the measurements match, the operator continues manufacturing parts. If not, we repeat the process until we get the measurements correct. Machines are calibrated yearly on a rotating basis to ensure tools remain accurate.

    4. In-progress checks

    As parts run through machines, operators measure the most recent machined parts to ensure correct measurements. Machines can quickly go out of tolerance, and by checking consistently throughout the order, we can catch errors before a whole order is compromised.

    5. Specialized treatment evaluation

    Our inspection team measures parts before and after sending them to a third-party vendor for a specialized process like heat treating or plating. We also check treatment certifications to verify the processed parts meet customer specifications.

    6. First article inspection report

    We inspect 100% of the parts made for first-time part orders to provide a first article report. Customers receive an in-depth report containing the dimensions of every part in the order, which they check against the received parts. When customers repeat part orders, we only inspect a sample of the final parts. The customer dictates the sample amount.

    The Inspection Tools of an AS9100 Machine Shop

    One of our shop specialties is achieving minuscule tolerances ranging from 0.0001” to 0.000005.” But with such small measurements, there’s hardly any room for error. A variance of even 0.005” can cause parts with tight tolerances to fail.

    That’s why we rigorously inspect part tolerances using our wide range of tools, from standard gauge blocks to cylindricity measuring machines. We regularly invest in the newest technology to better serve our customers.

    Here are some of our state-of-the-art inspection tools:

    • Air gauging equipment for inspecting inner diameters
    • Laser micrometers for performing precise measurements up to six decimal places
    • Keyence instant measurement systems to speed up the inspection of priority parts by generating 99 measurement points in 3.5 seconds
    • Cylindricity measurement machines to verify precise part roundness

    Regular equipment calibration

    At Peerless Precision, we calibrate our tools every year to maintain their accuracy. We schedule calibrations on a rotating basis to ensure we can still complete orders in a timely manner.

    Quality People Are the Key to Success in Precision Machining

    Behind our advanced, finely calibrated machines is a team of experts. We hired dedicated, seasoned inspectors to ensure we live up to the name “Peerless Precision.”

    Our quality manager has over four decades of experience in quality assurance for manufacturing, and our lead inspector brings 30 years of experience. The rest of our team benefits from the guidance of these two industry experts.

    Delivering quality parts to quality people

    Our in-depth inspection process goes above and beyond to provide exceptional parts to customers. Combined with our dedicated team and state-of-the-art equipment, we do more than manufacture—we perfect.

    Requesta quote today.

  10. Why Machine Shops Should Build a Network with Each Other

    Leave a Comment

    No machine shop wants to turn away customers. However, if the work is beyond a shop’s capabilities, it’s not good business practice to take the job and deliver subpar results.

    Fortunately, there’s a third option—one we frequently turn to at Peerless Precision: collaboration between shops. When shops collaborate, we can build partnerships that work off each other’s strengths and manufacture high-quality parts—no matter the requirements. Everyone wins.

    Keep reading to find out how we support other shops—and when we know it’s time to reach out and call on other shops for their support.

    How Peerless Precision Supports Other Machine Shops

    Shops often call on Peerless Precision for our expertise in manual machining methods and finishing processes, tight tolerance parts, prototypes, and low-volume orders.

    Manual machining methodsMachine Shop Network

    The machinists at Peerless Precision are experts in manual machining—a skill that’s becoming more difficult to find. While budding machinists are taught manual methods initially, they soon move on to CNC machining. This transition leaves little time to develop the feel of manual machining, which can take years. We continuously train our machinists on manual methods so we can perform this type of work for our customers.

    Manual machining has many advantages, including short turnaround times. The process involves fewer steps than CNC methods and requires no programming. Manual machining is also ideal for smaller projects, a major focus area for our shop.

    Tight tolerances for defense and aerospace machining

    A part is considered to have a tight tolerance when its permitted variance is plus or minus 0.002-0.001”. Even a slight variance of 0.005” can lead to part failure and potentially result in severe damage. With our expertise, our team can achieve tolerances from 0.0001” to 0.000005”—a range often required for medical, aeronautics, and aerospace machining.

    Prototypes and low-volume orders

    Some job shops turn down orders for five, 10, or 25 parts because they prefer high-volume work involving thousands of parts. However, our machinists have decades of experience focused on prototypes and low-volume production. Our problem-solving and critical-thinking skills allow us to build partnerships with our customers to meet their small order needs with quality, efficiency, flexibility, and speed.

    Manual finishing processes

    Our shop specializes in cylindrical grinding, lapping, and honing. We work with two different honing technologies, including our Sunnen ML-4000 machine. We also have two types of lapping capabilities: match lapping and roll lapping. These manual finishing processes are ideal for high-precision parts common in medical, optical, defense, and aerospace machining.

    When We Seek Outside Support from Other Shops

    We reach out to our network of precision machining partners for several reasons. Sometimes, a piece of material may be too big for our machines, so we contact another shop that can handle it. Other times, capacity becomes an issue. We may subcontract mill and lathe work to another shop when we see a bottleneck brewing.

    With this flexibility, we can ensure our customers get the parts they need when they need them. Working with other shops also improves our ability to control costs—though that’s been challenging in the past few years because of supply chain issues and cost increases across the board in areas like utilities, labor, and materials.

    While we enjoy working with other businesses, not every precision machining shop is willing to join forces. They worry another company will steal their customers. But we believe churn won’t be an issue if you provide excellent service. It’s all about trust. We work with shops we know and have good relationships with to fill each other gaps and keep customers in the region.

    Learn more about working with our team by requesting a quote today.