Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] South Bend

Matt,
Why don't you send a copy of this to the South Bend, Indiana Chamber of
commerce and one to the City's Redevelopment director. These are GREAT
ideas.
Henry (SB 9 X 24 owner and user)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt Shaver" <mshaver@...>
To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: 02 June, 2002 9:17 PM
Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] South Bend


> You have made my point exactly! If someone came up with the $2M (which is
> cheap, just for the brand name alone!), I wouldn't just call everyone back
> and resume business as usual. I'd:
>
> 1. Keep the 10" lathe in production, don't cut the quality, and set the
price
> at a level that ensures a small profit. It's the trademark product and
> critical to maintaing the brand mystique. You could cut back to just the
> toolroom version and narrow down the choice of motors with no harm done.
>
> 2.
> a. Keep the roll grinder custimers happy by filling their orders, and
> providing service & parts.
> b. Cut production costs, if possible, and improve the roll grinder's
> software. I've worked on a few of these machines and the ones I've seen
were
> very primitive as far as the user interface goes. Roll grinding is a
service
> business and they'll always be a need for the machines (and rebuilds, and
> retrofits...) Turn SBL's roll grinder division into RollGrinders-R-Us if
the
> market is there.
>
> 3. Be nice to the hobby shop guys who call :). Many of them work in
> industry... Investigate the possibility of getting a few of the old timers
> (even the retirees) to work a few hours a week at sorting out spare parts
> requests. Get the spare parts out at a small profit, don't gouge! Webify
the
> documentation, including _How to Run a Lathe_ and make it available for
free
> download. Why upset your customers by charging them $25 for a parts list
so
> they can find out what to order!!! In short, discover real customer
service.
> Use Sherline as your model...
>
> 4. Unless there is a huge financial reason, sell off all product lines
except
> lathes (and roll grinders). Who buys a Bridgeport lathe for crying out
> loud!!! The same could be said of Southbend mills... While we're at it,
stop
> reselling import machines. We'll probably have to use some import parts,
but
> at least don't be blatant about it!
>
> 5. Buy the d#%& building (with the money from #4 above), don't rent! Get
> South Bend to forgive the taxes in exchange for keeping the jobs and
> community image (they'll do it, I'd bet on it). Negotiate with BankOne to
> restructure the debt (Hint - They'll lose big if the company folds.
Nothing
> is as worthless as a bunch of old parts in a warehouse).
>
> 6. After all this house cleaning, it's time to fix the core business (I
know
> some of you can see this coming...). Open source the CNC lathe software &
> hardware. Send out complete schematics, theory of operation, controller
> source code, etc. Explain to your new customers how much money they'll
save
> becase the machine will be maintainable indefinitely. Give out free
software
> upgrades. If necessary, get someone like Eric Raymand to help write up
> materials that communicate these benefits clearly, contrasting them with
the
> status quo. Most customers will still buy factory parts and service! But,
> they'll buy the machine in the first place because of the warm comfortable
> feeling of security they'll have from knowing they won't be held hostage
> later over spare parts...
>
> 7. I'm just dying to try this out. I'd hoped it would be with Bridgeport,
but
> that's not going to happen. Wells-Index would be another good candidate,
> maybe even Hardinge.
>
> Shutting Up Now,
> Matt
>
> On Sunday 02 June 2002 10:07 pm, you wrote:
> > I agree that it is sad, but my recent experiences(2nd quarter of last
> > year) say it was time.
> >
> > I had purchased a magnaturn 612 CNC lathe on the after market and was
> > trying to get parts for it and manuals etc.
> >
> > Call after call unanswered, un-returned and only a frustrating voice
> > mail system. WEB...E-mail ....you have to be kidding. this company was
> > still in the 1940's I think.
> >
> > The software that ran this lathe was ca '84 or so. Clunky. you couldnt
> > run the lathe from the keyboard...you had to initiate the command at the
> > keyboard then punch start key on machine.....jogging was loads of fun as
> > you can guess.
> >
> > proprietary program storage system designed to use 2 disk
> > drives.....poor error messages, etc.
> >
> >
> > After long talks with the factory....came out that the source to the
> > software had been lost when they moved....Had been offering to help them
> > make it more useable...in return for discounts, trade out on parts or
> > whatever....
> >
> > later heard they were in negotiations with a CAD/CAM software company to
> > re do it
> >
> > The machine itself(this version(5 phase stepper), not the other
> > hydraulic version) was very nice hardware and the perfect size for a
> > home shop...too bad all is now lost.
>
> Addresses:
> FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
> FILES: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO/files/
>
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>
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