The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review profiles PDS Industries, a fast-growing machine shop that makes precision parts for military helicopters, submarines and other high-tech machinery.
PDS is not a "high-volume" shop making tens of thousands of parts, but may make 100 units, said President Robert Perkins. At any given time, PDS might be manufacturing about 250 different items, said Perkins, a 37-year employee of PDS and a predecessor company, Genuine Tool Co.
To meet demanding specifications, and keep up with competition, PDS has invested more than $4 million into 13 new machines during the past eight years. No longer are the machines manually operated, but are programmed by the operator to make the precision cuts.
When parts are not made exactly to specifications, even if just a "hair off," they can end up in the discard pile, resulting in a loss of time in making the part and money to buy it and machine it. Making a mistake in a flight-critical part is not only costly in terms of money, but it could cost the life of a soldier, sailor or airman.
Original source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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