Use of CNC Equipment and the Operator's Skill: A Survey of Selected Queensland Industries

摘要

Australia has over 40% of the manufacturing industries in the small to medium enterprise category, employing less than 20 persons. This is much higher for Queensland. Small firms tend to undertake less formal training with flexible working arrangements. This leads to the use of outdated equipment and there is a reluctant to invest in computer numerically controlled equipment (CNC). A preliminary survey was undertaken in 2003 within selected Queensland manufacturing industries to determine the use of CNC equipment, operators' skill level and future investment intentions. Two hundred survey questionnaires were sent with a return of 34.5%. The main findings of the survey indicate that 57% of the companies do not own any kind of CNC equipment and that most of these companies are not intending buy one either. Companies that currently own CNC equipment are intending to buy additional CNC equipment and that the workers do not have formal CNC training and learnt it on the job. The survey indicates that there is a need for educating the organizations in the benefit in using CNC equipment. An expanded survey with interviews are planned to confirm the results of this preliminary survey.