At Arbiser Machine, the strict procedures our precision machine shop has in place for process documentation are key to our success. We know the value of creating institutional knowledge via thorough documentation—after all, it’s one of the practices we look for in our own vendors.

Our rigorous approach to process doesn’t just help us internally—it also directly benefits our customers. Let’s take a closer look.

The Traveler: Our Foolproof Documentation Tool

One of the most common questions we get from potential customers is: “If we hire you to make this part, will you be able to make it again in a year?” 

The answer is. . . yes! 

Our practice of using travelers to document each job we complete enables us to make the same part again in one year, five years, 20 years—whatever you need. 

A traveler—also known as a router—is a bar-coded log that defines each operation for a part and records important details for every stage of the machining process. Linked to our scheduling board and the packing list for a part, a traveler moves with a part during machining, keeping all relevant information—materials, revisions, drawings, and more—in one place.

Here are the main reasons we use travelers for documentation in our precision machine shop:

Efficiency

By maintaining thorough documentation for every job we complete, we know exactly where to look when a customer orders a duplicate part or a part similar to one we recently made for another customer.

As a result, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel with every order, and we can often save time by referring to revisions and troubleshooting methods we employed for previous jobs.

Recently, we machined a part with a particular diameter critical to functionality. We tested the part, and it failed, so we remade it with an adjusted diameter. Now, the next time we make this part, we’ll have a record of the correct diameter and get it right the first time. As we like to say, we never stub our toe twice!

Consistency

While some precision machine shops rely on memory to recreate previous parts, we insist on written documentation. Attempting to remake a part that was last machined 10 years ago from memory is a recipe for disaster—it’s nearly impossible to recall every detail from every past order. 

By documenting all details in the traveler, we avoid placing undue stress on our team members and ensure that our customers receive consistent parts.

Accuracy

A drawing doesn’t always tell the whole story. When a customer’s design needs to be revised, they often convey their desired changes verbally rather than providing an updated drawing. 

If we don’t document these revision requests, we won’t have a failsafe record of the work the customer requested—for the current job or for repeat orders. Documenting such requests in the traveler ensures we have the original drawing and any revision instructions available at our fingertips. 

Our Rigorous Procedures Ensure Excellence

Whether you hire us for CNC machining services, wire EDM services, waterjet cutting, laser engraving, or anything else, you can rest assured that we’ll keep meticulous records of our work from start to finish. Should you require a repeat job, you’ll never have to worry about the status of your past documentation—we’ll be able to pull it up within seconds.

With 20 years of audits under our belt, we know the value of procedures and have them in place across our business: from part documentation to calibration of tools and gauges to quality assurance. Ultimately, it’s the customer who suffers when a shop doesn’t implement such measures, and we’re committed to meeting or exceeding your expectations every time.

Want to see for yourself how Arbiser Machine became Georgia’s best precision machine shop? Request a quote to work with us!