Simple Solutions That Work! Issue 18

21 HOW TO ISSUE STAN FOREH AND Field Technical Services Manager HA-International LLC ARTICLE TAKEAWAYS: • Understanding how Supplier Field Technical Service Teams assist with reducing defects • Improve process optimization, quality standards, lab analysis, modeling and training • Reduce waste and increase results Bringing Value to the Entire Foundry —by Partnering with Supplier Field Technical Service Teams I n a time when foundries are rebounding from the past few years, it is vital to have strong relationships with your suppliers. The past several years have found us all with a loss of talent, headcount, knowledge, experience, and productivity. Managing those changes is at the forefront of everyone’s daily activities. Foundry Managers constantly say, “We just can’t find people,” and “We are losing so much knowledge out of our industry.” This is where Field Technical Service, as an extension of knowledgeable experts, is here to partner to complement the skill sets of our customers to help fill some of those gaps. From a green field operation to a 100-year-old foundry, this is how can an expert team of Field Technical Service professionals can help to bring value in the following areas: Continued on next page • In-Plant Optimization • In-Plant Process Trouble Shooting • In-Plant Product Training • Sand Lab/Chemical Analysis • Simulation Modeling • Casting Evaluation • Defect Analysis • In-Plant Seminars In-Plant Assistance will bring value to your foundry by increasing productivity, resolving issues, improving morale, lower scrap, better products, and better control. These are just a few ways because it can cover so many topics. The high-quality castings we all strive to produce start in the mold and core areas, yet sometimes we find that area gets the least attention. Let’s look at a few ways a strong Field Technical Service Team can help provide the knowledge and experience needed to produce quality results. There are many parts to a core and mold operation, with similarities and differences depending on the chemically bonded system you use. Sand Transport and control is one of those operations. Sand is typically 98-99% of the core or mold. How to control, monitor, and manage that system is critical to the mold/core results. How should I handle and transport my sand? What tests should I run? Where should I sample from? What % reclaim can I run? These and many more questions arise. Field Technical Service personnel can help guide you in all these scenarios. They can also work with your Quality and Production Teams to develop good practices and techniques. For example, recent assistance was provided with a foundry to analyze and benchmark their sand system. The material moved from reclaimer to mixer through a series of silos, transporters, and heaters/