01
What we need from you
- The machine and the part family it runs
- Current setup time and where that time is spent
- Tooling and fixtures currently in use
- Batch sizes and how often you change over
Solution
Win back the hours your spindle spends stopped
On high-mix work, setup time can exceed cutting time. The causes are almost always mechanical — holders that need re-setting, fixtures that need indicating, tools that could have been combined.
- Setup observed or filmed first
- Time saved estimated per change
- Measured on your machine
Best for
Machines with frequent changeovers and repeat part families
You send
The machine, part family and where the setup time goes
You get back
Tooling and fixtures that remove specific setup steps
How it starts
Baseline captured before anything changes
The situation
Where the setup hour actually goes
Ask five people how long a changeover takes and you will get five answers. Watching one is more useful than all of them.
- 01Setups measured in hours on batches measured in tens
- 02Tools indicated and offset at every single changeover
- 03Fixtures dialled in by hand on every part change
- 04Tool changes that could have been combined into one holder
What you get
What working with CMTA actually delivers
Shorten setups and tool changes with pre-set tooling and quick-locating fixtures.
A step-by-step breakdown
Each step of the setup classified as avoidable, shortenable or fixed — with the tooling change that removes it and an estimate of the time saved.
Pre-set tooling
Holder families and dedicated holders per operation so tools go in at a known length instead of being re-established each time.
Fixtures that locate without indicating
Repeatable datums so the part is right when it is clamped, not after ten minutes with a dial gauge.
A measured result
The new setup time is measured on the machine against the baseline agreed at the start.
Where this stops
Setup projects need a short measurement period before changes are made. If you need something delivered this week, the urgent-recovery route is the better starting point.
02
Where the biggest gains usually are
Pre-set holder families, quick-change interfaces, combined-operation tools and fixtures that locate without indicating all reduce the time the machine is not cutting. Which combination pays depends on your batch size and change frequency — a shop changing over twice a shift needs different answers from one changing over twice a week.
How it runs
The route from enquiry to verified result
Each stage produces something you can check, and the drawing approval stage is yours to control.
- 01
Observe
A setup watched on site or reviewed from your description, photographs and video.
- 02
Classify
Each step marked avoidable, shortenable or fixed, with the change that addresses it.
- 03
Implement
Pre-set holders, quick-locating fixtures or combined tools manufactured.
- 04
Measure
New setup time recorded against the original baseline.
Before you enquire
What to send, and where to look next
The inputs that make a useful review, plus the related pages worth reading first.
Does this sound familiar?
- Setups measured in hours on small batches
- Tools indicated and offset every changeover
- Fixtures that need dial-in on every part change
- Tool changes that could be combined
If two or more apply, this is probably the right route for you.
Capabilities applied
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
The questions engineers and buyers ask before sending a drawing. If yours is not here, ask it directly — you will get an engineer's answer, not a brochure.
Still have a question?
Talk to Anita M.N, Managing Partner, or send the drawing and let the review answer it.
How does a setup-reduction project start?
With a baseline: how long a setup takes now and where the time goes. CMTA can observe a setup on site or work from your description, photographs and a short video.
Is this only worthwhile for large plants?
No — small shops with high-mix work often gain the most, because setups dominate a larger share of their machine time.
What if the change does not deliver?
Changes are trialled and measured before being standardised, so the decision rests on your machine's result rather than a supplier's estimate.
Do we need to stop production to do this?
No. Observation happens during a normal changeover, and new tooling is introduced at a changeover you were going to do anyway.
Start a project
Send us your drawing, sample or problem statement
Share what you are trying to make or fix. Our engineering team reviews every enquiry and responds with the questions that matter, a feasibility view and next steps.