Posted by Peerless Precision on | Comments Off on When Does a Part Need 5-Axis Machining? Choosing the Best Process for Your Parts
For many years now, Peerless Precision has offered 5-axis machining for complex, challenging parts. But we don’t send every milling project to our 5-axis machine; instead, we’re always searching for the most efficient, economical choice for our customers.
Learn where 5-axis thrives and how our team evaluates each precision machining project to select the right process without increasing cost.
The Benefits of 5-Axis: Reduced Setups and Cycle Time
Compared to 4-axis machining, a 5-axis machine adds additional axes of motion, allowing the cutting tool to approach the workpiece from more angles, often with simultaneous multi-axis movement.
A part requiring two to four operations on a 4-axis machine may need only one or two on a 5-axis machine, and the fewer setups lead directly to less handling and fixturing. Depending on the component, machining time can go down by as much as 50%.
These capabilities have allowed us to use 5-axis machining for complex parts like crankcases, impellers, and countless others.
3 Signs a Part May Need 5-Axis Machining
The best method depends on the part, but when we first see a design, three factors are indications that 5-axis may be the right choice:
Tolerance requirements: Our 5-axis machine can hold tighter milling tolerances than our 4-axis equipment. A part may be simple enough for 4-axis machining based on its shape, but could still require 5-axis machining due to its tolerances.
Part complexity: Components with intricate contours, numerous features, or complex geometries are likely candidates for 5-axis machining. Reaching multiple surfaces without repositioning again and again helps us produce these features efficiently.
Part configuration: A flat pump cover or a sleeve requiring only a drilled and tapped hole may be ideal for 4-axis machining. But a complex crankcase machined from a solid block could require substantially more time and fixturing without 5-axis capability.
How a Crankcase Project Led to Our 5-Axis Investment
Before we invested in our 5-axis machine, we were able to successfully machine most parts with our 4-axis mills. But we first added our 5-axis mill as we scaled a complex crankcase project for a customer.
During prototyping, the customer needed batches of 10, which we produced using a 4-axis machine with a positional 5th-axis attachment. The first operation took approximately two and a half hours, and the second took another 45 minutes. Those cycle times were fine with prototyping quantities, but the customer soon began ordering 50-part batches.
We knew we needed a better process, and we added our Mazak 5-axis. With the new machine, the first operation was reduced to 1 hour and 15 minutes (a 50% reduction), and the second took only 15 minutes (a 66% reduction). The investment opened up new capacity, shortened production time for the customer, and allowed us to take on the larger order.
How We Select the Right Investments
Five-axis machining has opened the door to parts we could not previously produce efficiently, particularly in aerospace machining. And in the years since that first crankcase project, we have expanded our use of its full functionality, including 3D milling.
It’s been many years since our 5-axis investment, but we’re always considering where our shop will go next. Our philosophy is straightforward: technology should solve a real production need. For every investment, we ask:
Can it improve how we manufacture our current products?
Will it save our customers time and free up more capacity in our shop?
Will it allow us to help customers with more of their parts and requirements?
Let’s Find the Best Machining Process for Your Part
If you have a complex component that needs machining, request a quote from Peerless Precision! Our team will determine whether 4-axis or 5-axis machining offers the best path to accurate, efficient production.
Posted by Peerless Precision on | Comments Off on Jig Grinding Services for Tight Tolerances and Complex Geometry
Jig grinding can be an indispensable process when parts have complex geometry and require tight tolerances or precise finishing. But these days, fewer and fewer shops offer this capability as experienced jig grinders retire.
At Peerless Precision, jig grinding has been central to our work since we opened our doors in 1976. We continue to offer this specialized process, and we conduct ongoing training for our shop’s next generation of grinders so that customers can rely on this capability into the future.
When Jig Grinding Is the Right Process
CNC milling and turning are highly accurate processes, but some parts require a secondary finishing operation to achieve the most demanding tolerances, features, or surface finish requirements. Jig grinding can be the best choice if a part’s geometry makes standard ID or OD cylindrical grinding difficult or impossible.
For example, a perfectly round part that needs internal or external grinding is likely a good fit for an ID or OD grinder. But if the part has more complex geometry, or has a feature that can’t be accessed in a standard grinder, jig grinding provides a precise solution for finishing those critical areas.
Jig grinding lets us take on a wider variety of precision grinding projects, especially for parts with both tight tolerances and complex geometry. And it can simplify the process: we can complete multiple operations on a single machine rather than having to move parts between several machines.
Skilled Jig Grinders Keep the Capability Alive
Manual jig grinding is a true skill. The process depends on a well-developed feel and expert understanding of how to maintain proper feeds and speeds without a numeric control panel.
When Peerless Precision first opened, this capability was more common, and experienced jig grinders were easier to find. Today, that skill is much harder to replace if a team member retires. Many shops that once offered jig grinding are losing that capability as longtime employees near retirement.
At Peerless Precision, we understand how important it is to keep this rare capability available into the future. Our lead jig grinder has decades of experience, and we continue to train additional team members so that jig grinding remains available for our customers long term.
Staying Busy, But Finding Capacity
Because jig grinding has become less common, our team stays very busy. In fact, we can barely remember the last time the machine sat idle waiting for work.
One example of a repeat job that requires our jig grinder is crankcase housings for thermal imaging cameras. These parts have complex geometry and can’t be completed on a standard ID or OD grinder. Several bores need to be finished on the jig grinder in multiple operations to meet the part’s requirements.
We also support other shops that need help with jig grinding. Sometimes those customers come to us because their own jig grinder has retired, or because they have a part they cannot complete with their in-house equipment. We do our best to fit the work into our schedule and help them meet their requirements.
Let’s Discuss Your Tight Tolerance Parts
Like our honing and lapping services, manual jig grinding used to be a more common manufacturing capability. But the number of shops that offer it is shrinking. At Peerless Precision, we’re committed to maintaining this capability for the long run.
If your part requires tight tolerances, contact our precision machine shop, and we can determine whether jig grinding is the right solution!
Posted by Peerless Precision on | Comments Off on The Credentials and Capabilities of a Trusted Defense Machine Shop
Peerless Precision has partnered with military and defense customers for many years, and we know there is no room for error in these industries. Parts must perform reliably in extreme conditions, and manufacturers must be able to meet those difficult standards. With our credentials and capabilities, we are always ready to deliver the defense parts our customers need.
Credentials You Need for Defense
Many defense projects require suppliers to hold specific certifications or credentials. In fact, many customers tell us that some previous suppliers were simply unable to keep up with those requirements.
At Peerless Precision, we understand that these standards are necessary for doing the job right and supporting customers with our American defense manufacturing. Our credentials include:
Network of Nadcap suppliers for projects that require outside processing
These credentials give customers confidence that they’re working with a supplier that truly understands all aspects of defense manufacturing.
The Capabilities for Complex Components
Highly specialized manufacturing capabilities are often necessary for defense work, and we’re ready to offer what our customers need. We use advanced CNC machining and metal finishing equipment to produce precise metal components with tolerances as tight as 0.0001 inches. We can also meet extremely demanding requirements for roundness and wall thickness when the application requires it.
Our capabilities for defense customers include tight-tolerance CNC milling and turning, as well as honing and lapping. We also machine challenging materials such as titanium and tungsten, in addition to more common materials like aluminum and A286 stainless steel.
In some cases, our niche capabilities make us one of the few suppliers able to take on certain defense parts. We have had customers come back to us repeatedly to request that we manufacture difficult components, and we are always ready to take it on if we have capacity and the capabilities.
Experience to Understand Your Requirements
Defense customers often require traceability, materials certifications, and reliable records management. We understand those expectations because we’ve created so many defense parts in the past, from components for night vision systems to aircraft engine parts.
We maintain documentation and material certifications on our servers indefinitely. If a customer returns years later requesting a cert package, we can provide it.
Defense Requirements Drive Our Growth
Defense work has even helped determine our company’s direction. When these customers come to us with a problem, we’ll even look to new investments to help them solve it in-house.
In the past, this directly led to investments in laser welding services and 5-axis machining. In one case, our customer was performing the laser welding operation before returning the parts to us for final machining and inspection. We brought laser welding in-house to eliminate the need for our customer to perform the operation, reduce lead times, and improve efficiency. That’s the kind of partnership we aim to provide.
Let’s Discuss Your Defense Project
If you are looking for a defense machine shop with the right certifications and capabilities, contact Peerless Precision today or request a quote. We are ready to take on your next project while helping protect your proprietary information and controlled unclassified information with care.
Posted by Peerless Precision on | Comments Off on Solving Surface Finish and Part Fit Challenges With Honing and Lapping
Honing and lapping services are effective processes for achieving ultra-smooth surface finishes and extremely tight tolerances. Yet many of our customers didn’t fully realize what these capabilities can accomplish until they worked with us and saw the results.
Honing and lapping are highly specialized finishing processes, and fewer shops are offering them in-house today. But at Peerless Precision, they remain central to who we are and how we solve your most difficult challenges.
What Honing and Lapping Accomplish
Honing and lapping are both finishing processes used to improve precision, surface finish, and part fit.
Honing is an abrasive process that removes material at a low rate. It is typically performed on the inner diameter of a cylindrical surface. It is especially valuable when a part requires a highly accurate internal size, geometry, and finish.
Lapping is a precision finishing process often used to correct minor imperfections or create extremely fine finishes on mating surfaces. Depending on the application, lapping can be used on both inner and outer diameters.
These processes, when used either alone or in combination, can achieve impressive results. With honing, we can achieve very tight dimensional tolerances of ±.00002”, along with fine surface finishes of 8 Ra. Lapping, on the other hand, is often the preferred solution when surface finish and dimensional requirements are even more demanding; depending on the application, it can achieve finishes of 2 Ra and tolerances measured in millionths of an inch.
Capabilities Tied to Our History
Today, Peerless Precision offers extensive CNC machining services, but our roots are in honing and lapping. We were founded decades ago as a honing and lapping shop, and that history still shapes our expertise today.
Manual honing and lapping, in particular, demand precise technique learned through experience. Team members have to develop a feel for the process, which can only be learned from time on the floor.
We take pride in the long tenures and expert technique of our team, which leads to the best possible results. Our experienced team members continue to pass on their knowledge to newer employees, as well. While hands-on honing and lapping expertise is less common across today’s manufacturing industry, we are committed to providing these services for the long term.
Honing and Lapping Solve Difficult Challenges
Many customers approach us with challenging problems, thinking they’ve tried every possible solution and wondering if their requirements are even possible. But we often tell them that with the right honing and lapping expertise, those requirements can absolutely be met.
An ID Surface Finish Others Couldn’t Achieve
A few years ago, a large aerospace company approached our AS9100 Rev. D machine shop about a matched sleeve and piston set. They explained that they had been unable to find suppliers that could meet the required inner-diameter surface finish of 2 Ra.
For us, that level of finish was well within reach; we can even reach 1 Ra finishes in certain circumstances. The customer was surprised and impressed by what we could deliver and began a long-term partnership with us. We now produce approximately 1,000 of those parts per year for them.
Turning an Inconsistent Fit Into a Reliable Process
In another case, an existing customer referred us to a different department within their company. That group was purchasing small matched piston-and-sleeve sets, but the parts were not arriving with a consistent fit. In fact, a VP of Operations had to spend time manually sanding components at his desk just to make them fit. It was not an ideal use of his time, but they couldn’t find a supplier who could manufacture what they needed.
We knew we could improve the process. With our lapping services, we produced a sample run in which the parts not only matched properly as sets, but were also interchangeable with each other. That solved a time-consuming problem for the customer and gave them a far more reliable result.
Bring Us Your Toughest Fit and Finish Challenges
Honing and lapping can solve difficult manufacturing challenges in surface finish and tight tolerances. Yet many customers simply don’t realize how effective the processes can be.
If you have a part that needs a precise fit, let’s discuss whether honing and lapping are the right solution. Contact us today!
Posted by Peerless Precision on | Comments Off on Expect the Unexpected: The Importance of an Adaptable Manufacturing Partner
For a precision machine shop, planning is central to consistent performance. At Peerless Precision, we schedule capacity well in advance and support material purchases that stretch months or years into the future. Without a plan, a shop can’t offer stable lead times or reliable quality.
But planning is only half the equation because, as they say, best laid plans often go awry. In manufacturing, you should always expect the unexpected. Whether it’s a vendor disruption, a shipping delay, or a global pandemic, something is always waiting around the corner to upset a perfect schedule.
Learn how the best manufacturing partners combine detailed planning with adaptability and resourcefulness.
Confronting the Unexpected to Keep Production on Track
You can’t predict every disruption, but certain strategies can help you respond effectively when issues arise. We embrace a few key principles, such as:
Principle 1: Work Ahead to Build a Buffer
One of the most effective ways to reduce risk is to build small buffers into a plan. For instance, when we run an order (especially a recurring blanket order), we aim to produce ahead when it makes sense. Those extra parts are an intentional reserve that gives us a head start for your next release. If a supplier runs late or your demand spikes, we can pull from that inventory.
Principle 2: Create Redundancy in the Supply Chain and Shop Floor
Redundancy is critical to stability in our Massachusetts machine shop. We’ve expanded our approved supplier list in recent years to ensure we have backups if one stops operations or goes out of business.
And redundancy matters just as much inside our shop, too. We train team members to be ready to step up and fill in during any unplanned absences. If someone needs time off or priorities shift, we can still handle a project without creating a bottleneck.
Principle 3: Act Fast and Communicate Clearly
Ultimately, the most important tool for handling uncertainty may be an action-oriented mindset. One of our suppliers recently had a fire at their facility, and several hundred of our parts were unfortunately lost. Before we’d even received confirmation that the parts were destroyed, we had already ordered material and were ready to move fast on replacements.
We were transparent with our customer about what happened and how we planned to recover. Then we prioritized that project, pushing hard to make up lost time. We recovered well and showed the customer that we were dedicated to building trust in the face of this challenge.
A Partner for Changing Plans
We take planning seriously, but we also plan for the reality of manufacturing. We remain adaptable in how we manage all jobs and long-term relationships, and we prioritize transparency and trust. If something unexpected happens, you’ll know what’s going on, and you can trust our plan to take action.
Posted by Peerless Precision on | Comments Off on Building Successful Long-Term Partnerships as a Precision Parts Manufacturer
Over our decades as a precision parts manufacturer, our goal with new customers has remained the same: turn every first-time order into a long-term partnership built on trust and quality. Learn how we start new relationships strong at Peerless Precision, how we grow a deeper relationship with customers over repeated collaboration, and what helps both sides get the most out of a lasting partnership.
Starting Strong: Establishing Understanding in Early Discussions
There are a few common ways that new customer relationships start: a referral from an existing customer, a conversation at an in-person event like a trade show, or an online search that leads someone to our RFQ portal. Depending on what they already know about us, we want to establish a shared understanding and make sure the customer knows everything they need to know about our Massachusetts machine shop.
Our first aim is to confirm that we will be a fit. We’re transparent: we always tell customers what they need to know, and not just what we think they want to hear. We’ll talk through capabilities that matter for their job, including 5-axis machining, honing, and lapping services; typical size ranges; and materials we can work with, including tough materials like Invar. We’ll also cover practical considerations like outside services and our supply chain management, among many other details.
From there, we try to understand what success looks like for you. A key conversation is about any key aspect of your parts’ history. We love taking on challenging work, and we take pride in our problem solving. But we can move faster when we know problems upfront rather than discovering them midstream. We’ll often ask about:
If they’re new parts: Have you had trouble getting them quoted elsewhere? Are there known challenges in the design, tolerances, or inspection requirements?
If they’re legacy parts: What went wrong with the last supplier? Was it quality, lead time, communication, or something else?
From there, we align on the remaining process details, including contact information, documentation expectations, NDA needs, timeline priorities, and more.
Why We Can’t Answer the “Standard Lead Time” Question
One question we’re asked frequently is “What’s your standard lead time?” At a shop like ours, there isn’t a single fixed answer. Lead time depends on current capacity, part complexity, material availability, required secondary processing, and any number of other factors.
Instead, we can give clear feedback on realistic possibilities. If you have a short timeline, we can tell you whether it’s possible for our shop. If it isn’t, we can discuss options to help cut down your lead time.
Growing a Partnership Over the Long-Term
To establish ourselves as a trusted partner for the long term, we know our first responsibility is delivering quality. On-time, on-spec performance again and again is why we have so many decades-long customers at Peerless Precision.
And when customers know they can trust us, it reduces logistics on their side. For instance, we have customers with approved control plans where, as long as the control plan is followed, parts we deliver can move straight into assembly without repeated incoming inspection. That level of confidence only comes from consistent, reliable results.
Of course, when a partnership lasts for decades, issues will inevitably arise on some project. If we ever see schedule risks or supply issues, our focus is to communicate proactively. When we alert you early, we can collaborate on possible solutions. Too often, shops wait to tell customers of potential issues, hoping they’ll resolve themselves, but instead forcing you into last-minute fire drills.
And as we learn more about a customer’s unique applications and expectations, we can also provide more tailored design-for-manufacturing (DFM) support. When we understand your application, we can identify cost drivers like unnecessarily tight tolerances in non-critical features and suggest potential changes. Customers are always impressed by our tight-tolerance machining capabilities as a precision parts manufacturer, but they’re even more appreciative when we protect their bottom line.
A Real-World Case Study: Understanding a New Customer
Recently, a new customer came to us with a tight-tolerance part. He told us there had been an internal debate at his organization about whether a domestic precision parts manufacturer could meet the difficult requirements. He preferred an American manufacturer, though, because he prioritized data security along with precision.
Our approach was straightforward. We discussed what we could achieve in general, how we handle security and controlled information, and where we needed to review specifics. We didn’t overpromise, but instead, we set clear expectations. He appreciated our candor right away.
Ultimately, we signed an NDA, reviewed the drawings, and confirmed the path forward. The result was a strong start built on honesty, and a relationship positioned for long-term success.
Let’s Build a Partnership
If you’re looking to build a long-term partnership with a shop that offers both advanced capabilities and honest communication, we can help. Reach out to discuss your next project or the upcoming manufacturing challenges you’re trying to solve.
Posted by Peerless Precision on | Comments Off on Expedited Machining Services: 3 Practical Ways to Help Rush Job Timelines
At Peerless Precision, we always try to go above and beyond to help you get your project done the way you need. We aim to be a true manufacturing partner in every way, from planning to problem-solving, including expedites. But in expedited machining services, there are still limits to what a dedicated partner like Peerless can realistically do.
Find out where we can be flexible, and discover tips we offer to help cut the timeline for your next rush project.
What’s Possible and What’s Not in Expedites
To be clear: At Peerless Precision, we are open to expedite work, especially when it helps a trusted partner. We take pride in being a flexible manufacturing partner: Even when our production schedule looks full, we monitor early completions, material delays, and more to identify unexpected openings or gaps. That way, we can make meaningful adjustments without affecting other projects.
But while cutting weeks off lead times is possible in some cases, drastic lead time reductions like compressing months into daysaren’t usually feasible. That kind of scheduling adjustment creates a domino effect and shifts multiple other projects, undermining our promised due dates for other customers.
3 Suggestions to Help Cut Your Timelines
While we won’t overpromise when we know we can’t meet your deadline, we also don’t like telling anyone “no” without any other suggestions. When a timeline isn’t possible, we instead focus on other options that can still improve your outcomes without compromising other commitments in our CNC machining services.
Staggered Delivery to Get Only What You Need
One of the most effective ways to solve this problem is to determine “what you need immediately” rather than “what you need in total.” If a partial quantity allows you to keep your project moving forward, then we can prioritize just that first batch.
From there, we can continue monitoring our schedule to see if further openings allow us to manufacture more CNC machined components for your project. This phased plan is often more achievable and far more helpful than waiting for the full order.
Reprioritize Your Other Work in Our Queue
We don’t give any one customer preferential treatment. But we can prioritize among your own jobs if you have other parts in progress or scheduled with us.
If we partner with you for multiple jobs, we can swap your urgent project into a spot that had already been reserved for other work. From there, we can move the lower-priority item into a later position.
Handle Secondary Processes In-House
Sometimes, machining capacity itself isn’t the only constraint, and outside processing, such as heat treating or plating, is adding significant time to a project. We have strong relationships with our suppliers, but we still need to respect their capacity and their other commitments.
Some of our customers have the ability to complete certain secondary steps in-house, and this can notably reduce your overall timeline. Alternatively, if you regularly place multiple projects with a specific vendor, you might be able to discuss swapping your more urgent projects for your less urgent ones.
Let’s Talk About Timelines
If you need expedited machining services, we’ll be honest with you about what we can do and offer guidance on how you can help get it done. We’re always ready to try to enable your success in 5-axis machining, aerospace machining, and more.
Posted by Peerless Precision on | Comments Off on The Importance of Flexibility in Your Manufacturing Partner
At Peerless Precision, we have a wide range of jobs. Production runs. Blanket purchase orders. Prototyping. Long-term agreements. Discrete POs. The list goes on. It’s a lot to juggle, and it requires precision and agility to manage. But we’ve built our reputation on being a nimble, flexible manufacturing partner, adjusting to customer needs to support our partnership.
That flexibility can pay off for customers in ways they might not expect. Even when our schedule is full, our team’s efficiency and communication can allow us to find small windows of opportunity and deliver projects well ahead of schedule.
How We Work to Accommodate You
Last month, a customer asked us about a precision machining job they needed done quickly. At the time, we were booked solid, so we could only quote a four-week lead time as our best option. They trusted our judgment and placed the order.
Two weeks later, their parts were delivered.
This isn’t a rare or exceptional case. Our production team monitors our schedule constantly, so we can quickly identify gaps and act on them. In this case, a prior job wrapped slightly early. While the next order was awaiting material, we jumped on that opening to help our partner and turned the project around far faster than expected. That’s how a flexible manufacturing partner can pay off for your project and help you solve your problems.
Why Flexibility Has Been Built Into Our Process
That sort of flexibility and agility has always been central to our operations at Peerless Precision. We combine ERP scheduling tools with visual tracking on the shop floor and frequent production meetings to keep close track of every job in progress.
When an opportunity arises to expedite a project, we always take it. We treat our customers’ requests with the urgency and respect they deserve. If we can’t expedite it when we’re quoting lead times, we’ll still look for an opportunity to deliver it quickly.
Accurate Lead Times Create Trust
Some shops quote aggressive lead times to win work, but then struggle to meet them. We prefer to take a more realistic approach. Our quoted lead times aim for accuracy and account for the many different unexpected variables that can arise in manufacturing. From machine maintenance to material delays and beyond, we know that it’s dangerous to expect the best-case scenario every single time.
By setting those honest expectations, we give ourselves more flexibility and the chance to deliver early rather than late. Customers know that when we provide a delivery date, we’re not overpromising. Instead, that’s what we intend to meet or exceed. That reliability is what defines a manufacturing partner who values trust more than simply winning business.
Try Our Dependable Machine Shop
From 5-axis machining to lapping services, Peerless Precision is ready to help you with your next project. We not only aim for the highest quality results, we work hard to be a flexible manufacturing partner who works hard to help you when you have urgent project needs.
Request a quote today to collaborate with our dependable, adaptable Massachusetts machine shop!
Posted by Peerless Precision on | Comments Off on Vendor Management: Helping You Navigate Supplier Disruptions and Certification Lapses
At Peerless Precision, we’re proud of our network of qualified suppliers. We’ve worked hard to build partnerships with vendors that we know we can rely on to keep your project on time and on budget. We take vendor management very seriously because their work can be a reflection on us.
But we realize that many of our customers have strict lists of approved vendors, and even the most reliable suppliers can face challenges. In recent years, we’ve seen several of our customers’ approved suppliers face certification lapses, whether that’s due to tighter budgets or audit cycles. Learn how our team helps customers navigate these disruptions and keep production moving forward.
When Supplier Certifications Lapse
As an AS9100 Rev. D machine shop that’s CMMC compliant, we understand how vital certifications and credentials are. They’re especially critical in aerospace machining, where nearly every outside process we manage (from heat treating to welding and plating) requires Nadcap certification.
During one recent project, a plating vendor informed us that their Nadcap certification had lapsed. We needed to act quickly, so our team immediately went to their facility to retrieve the parts and discuss a path forward with our customer.
Finding a Practical Solution
When challenges like these arise, our determination drives us to collaborate with our customers and help find the best possible resolution in vendor management. Depending on the project, there are several options available:
Use Backup Suppliers
If a customer already has additional approved suppliers, we can often redirect the work immediately. Depending on the new supplier’s location and open capacity, this could lead to increases in lead time or cost. But it’s still typically the simplest path to a solution.
Review and Approve With a Temporary Authorization
In another recent case, a plating vendor let their Nadcap lapse, but our customer needed to keep the project moving forward. They got in touch with their quality department, reviewed their process, and approved them to continue temporarily, allowing production to proceed while the supplier sought to be re-certified.
Leverage Customer In-House Capabilities
Sometimes, our customers have relevant in-house capabilities themselves, and they can simply complete the remaining steps internally. That can stabilize their lead time and cost, and we’re happy to deliver the parts more quickly.
Adjust Qualification Criteria
In highly regulated industries like aerospace, for instance, exceptions are rarely possible. However, some of our customers may be able to adjust criteria to more quickly find new suppliers or allow the current supplier to continue.
Add New Suppliers
We can help identify and qualify new vendors. It’s important to understand that this process can take significant time, but we’re always committed to helping you find a solution to maintain production stability.
The Proactive Option: Expand Your Supplier List Ahead of Time
At Peerless Precision, we maintain contingency plans across our operations to ensure business stability and continuity in our precision machining. But for companies with strict approved supplier lists, there isn’t always a quick solution. That’s why proactive vendor management is critical for companies with approved supplier lists.
We recommend periodically expanding your supplier list to prepare for unexpected disruptions. Whether it’s a certification lapse, a natural disaster, or a labor shortage, issues can always arise at any supplier. Backup vendors help to balance workloads and ensure flexibility in the face of these events.
Your Partner in Manufacturing
At Peerless Precision, we manage projects on your behalf because we view ourselves as a part of your team. When you need a precision parts manufacturer, we’re always ready to go the extra mile to help you find a solution.
Posted by Peerless Precision on | Comments Off on Today’s Manufacturing Careers: Youth Awareness, Career Transitions, and My Belief in Outreach
By Kristin Carlson, Owner of Peerless Precision
As the owner of Peerless Precision, I believe strongly in the viability and importance of American manufacturing careers. This industry has powered innovation and created opportunity for generations, and it continues to do that today. But too many people still have an outdated image of manufacturing careers, thinking of dirty shop floors in movies or news headlines about unstable jobs.
I’ll be honest: That misconception really frustrates me. Because it keeps people from discovering careers that could be exactly what they’re looking for.
Modern manufacturing careers are high-tech and offer significant opportunities for growth. That’s why I spend a lot of time speaking to high schools and adult career change programs to share my own story and explain why this path is the right one for so many people.
Youth Outreach in Action
I’m not the sort of person to sit around and wait for change, so I do a lot of outreach to correct these wrong ideas about manufacturing. And when you’re outspoken like I am, you tend to get plenty of invitations.
At local high schools, my talks take different forms. Sometimes it’s an employer panel, other days it’s a career fair. We helped in building a maker space at Junior Achievement of Western Mass, so I often speak there about the industry. But no matter what else is on my calendar, these visits are the most important thing I do that day. Because I want to open people’s eyes to what American manufacturing looks like in 2025.
The Benefits of Manufacturing Careers
A lot of kids and their parents have heard a lot of nonsense about how manufacturing is dead. To help them understand why that’s wrong, I focus on a few points:
Real opportunities right now. There are far more opportunities for growth than people realize; over time, machinists can make six figures without a college degree. At Peerless Precision, we even offer a profit-sharing program for every employee based on our KPIs.
Immediate entry and continuous training. College requires massive debt for most people; in precision machining, you earn money immediately. You can come in right away and contribute because we’re ready to help train anyone with the right attitude.
Tangible results. Not everyone wants to sit in a classroom or an office. Manufacturing means producing a tangible product, something that you can hold in your hands and take pride in.
Consequential work. The products we make matter. Every plane these kids see in the sky has $200,000 of parts that were made in Westfield, MA. The CNC-machined components we produce played a role in the technology used to help catch the Boston Marathon bomber.
Supporting Adult Career Changers
Too many people today are told that once they enter a career in their 20s, they’re locked in for life. It simply isn’t true, and I’m a perfect example of that. I dropped out of college and worked in other industries before finding my perfect fit in manufacturing many years later.
That’s why I don’t just perform youth outreach, I work with adult programs, as well. I recently spoke at the final ceremony for a 12-week CNC training course at Springfield Technical Community College, and only weeks later, one of the graduates had joined our team. He dove in headfirst, and he’s already learned an incredible amount about our CNC machining services. With the right attitude, he’ll quickly climb the ladder.
Request a Quote
Workforce conversations in our industry often focus on a “labor shortage” or fears of a coming retirement wave. It’s true that we’re fortunate to have many excellent older employees, but our shop is filled with talented people of every generation. We’re committed to outreach and training so that the pipeline never runs dry.
After all, if manufacturing were dead, shops like ours wouldn’t be here. But next year is our 50th anniversary, and we’re not going anywhere.
Whether you need tight tolerance machining, lapping services, or any of our other capabilities, we’re ready to help your next project. Request a quote today from our AS9100 machine shop!
Today, Peerless Precision offers extensive 
Let’s Build a Partnership
To be clear: At Peerless Precision, we are open to expedite work, especially when it helps a trusted partner. We take pride in being a 
