Gas mode change

Typically a mode change is defined as transitioning from one gas source to another because of higher on-site capacity, less handling, and lower product costs.

When making a gas mode change, the user should also evaluate new technologies, for example, plasma, water jet, or laser cutting in place of traditional oxygen-acetylene cutting.

Considering the current economic climate, and the limited availability of capital, the return-on-investment may be diminished if a minimal investment is made toward understanding the ways that new technologies affect productivity.

Unfortunately, analysis can be cumbersome, but it is time well spent.

Helping shops to select gas equipment

For distributors, when a customer welcomes you into a facility and asks that you help him to get his shop running ‘lean, mean, and safe,’ a safety and performance audit (SPA) can be an effective analysis tool. Here are the critical aspects of the SPA.

1. Understanding how the job shop currently does things by looking around and taking notes;

2. Looking for safety issues that could cause injury and addressing them immediately;

3. Evaluating processes currently used and looking for opportunities to upgrade to a more efficient process/supply mode.

The safety and performance audit should include an evaluation of current equipment assets, gases and processes and includes key economic variables include cylinder inventory, rental charges, and compliance and delivery fees.

The safety and performance audit also should identify potential safety deficiencies and recommend upgrades to insure the application complies with state and federal requirements.

Using the safety and performance audit as an outline, the shop owner can set up periodic equipment maintenance schedules, a safety checklist, step-by-step procedures and instructions for operations and functions.

Now is the time to refine your manufacturing practices so that your shop will be positioned to weather troubled times and yield higher margins when the economy comes back.

John Karpus is Applications Specialist for CONCOA, Virginia Beach, VA, 800-225-0473, jkarpus@concoa.com, www.concoa.com.