Optimising Factory Flow for Automated Saw Stops | Kangastop

Setting up a new automated measuring system is a big step for any workshop but the machine itself is only half of the story if you want to get the most out of your investment.

I've spent years looking at how different factories operate, and the biggest bottleneck is almost always how the material moves before and after it hits the saw blade.

If your operator is still lifting heavy aluminium extrusions over benches or walking ten steps to find a rack then you are losing the time you just saved with the automation and the workflow becomes disjointed.

To get your workshop efficiency to where it needs to be you have to look at the floor plan as a whole.

An automated stop allows for much faster cutting and you need to make sure the rest of your factory layout can keep up with that pace and handle the labour output.

When we install a Kangastop in a new facility we usually look for three main things in the industrial engineering of the space:

• Infeed Table Height: Your infeed tables should be perfectly level with the saw bed and they need to have enough rollers so the material slides without the operator having to strain their manual labour efforts.

• Material Rack Proximity: We recommend placing your most common timber or metal stock within close proximity of the infeed side and this keeps the operator in the "green zone" where they are most productive.

• Outfeed Clearing Zone: Once the cut is made the piece needs a dedicated place to go and having a suitable outfeed table that prevents parts from piling up around the saw and creating a trip hazard.

When you reduce the amount of physical handling required the workplace safety improves and your team finishes the shift with more energy.

It 's about creating a linear production line where the automated stop acts as the heart of the operation and every movement is optimised to support that rhythm.

Most Australian manufacturers forget that the lean manufacturing process starts with the physical layout and not just the software and the motor.

If you are thinking about how to rearrange your cutting station to fit one of our systems then we're happy to help.

You are always welcome to come down to our factory in Riverstone to see how we have our own floor set up or we can jump on a Zoom demonstration to look at your specific floor plan. Alternatively just give us a direct phone call and we can chat through what bespoke layout might work best for your setup.