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Original Date: 09/14/1998
Revision Date: 01/18/2007
Information : Creform Tooling
In 1996, Raytheon Missile Systems Company (RMSC) began using Creform Tooling to build its material handling equipment and parts presentation devices. Creform is a plastic-coated, steel-pipe material which comes in a variety of colors. The material is purchased in standard lengths; is easy to cut; and can be conductive or non-conductive depending on the desired application. Sections of creform are joined by using bolt-together fasteners or plastic glue- on fasteners.
By using Creform Tooling, RMSC can create devices that are mobile, reusable, easily reconfigured, and relatively inexpensive. These characteristics are well suited for the agile manufacturing atmosphere at RMSC. In addition, the material’s uniformity simplifies the design and assembly phases, and reduces the amount of stock and tools needed. Creform products have proven to be at least 50% directly reusable from its original design intent, and the material itself is 95% reusable.
The following shows a material cost comparison for building a typical workstation cart:
STAINLESS TUBE
Labor cost for Design phase is five hours
Labor cost for Assembly phase is 27 hours
Material cost is $1,144
Value of reusable material is $80
STEEL TUBE PAINTED
Labor cost for Design phase is five hours
Labor cost for Assembly phase is 27 hours
Material cost is $558
Value of reusable material cost is $80
CREFORM
Labor cost for Design phase is three hours
Labor cost for Assembly phase is 11 hours
Material cost is $887
Value of reusable material is $416
Assuming $65 per hour for engineering and $25 per hour for labor, the total cost for building the workstation cart is $2,144 for stainless tube; $1,558 for steel tube painted; and $1,357 for creform. Annual savings (total cost minus value of reusable material) is $2,064 for stainless tube; $1,478 for steel tube painted; and $941 for creform. Between 1996 and 1998, RMSC produced 180 devices per year, and realized a savings of $830 per device. Creform Tooling enabled the company to obtain an annual savings of $149,400 during this time period.
For more information see the
Point of Contact for this survey.
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