How One Company Doubled Output and Improved Employee Satisfaction through Automation
CNC Machine Products automated hazardous part handling with Acieta and FANUC, doubling output, improving quality, and boosting safety and morale.
Challenges
- Ergonomically challenging job
- Required unsafe worker proximity to machines
- Low efficiency process for manual workers
Results
Double the output in same time
Improvement to 100% quality
Increase in employee safety
Robots now handle 80% of product
Story
For more than three decades, CNC Machine Products, Inc. has built a reputation for precision machining—transforming bearing-grade steel, stainless steel, and bronze into high-quality components for industries like agriculture, oil and aerospace. But behind the scenes in Joplin, Missouri, the company’s skilled workforce was facing a growing challenge: physically demanding tasks that strained employees and slowed production.
Operators were manually loading and unloading heavy parts into CNC machines, often requiring awkward bending and reaching deep into equipment. These repetitive motions weren’t just uncomfortable—they posed serious safety risks and limited throughput. As demand grew, so did the urgency to modernize.
Recognizing the need for change, CNC Machine Products partnered with FANUC Authorized System Integrator Acieta to bring automation to the shop floor. The transformation was immediate and profound. Automation now handles 80% of the product movement, eliminating hazardous manual tasks and freeing employees to focus on higher-value work.
The results speak volumes, with automation having doubled production output, improving quality to 100% and resulting in happier employees with fewer injuries.
“You have to get some type of automation going, or you will be obsolete,” said CNC Machine Products, Inc. President Jeff Scheurich.
By embracing automation, CNC Machine Products didn’t just solve a problem—they future-proofed their business, empowered their workforce, and set a new standard for operational excellence.
Robotics has to be a part of our future, or we will not be here. I firmly believe that after the past year of having the cobots—you have to automate.
Jeff Scheurich President – CNC Machine Products, Inc.FANUC Products Used
CR-35iB
The CR-35iB cobot lifts up to 50kg with a compact footprint, advanced sensors, and easy programming — ideal for tight spaces and heavy-duty tasks.
- Max Payload:
- 50 kg
- Reach:
- 1643 mm
CRX-30iA
The FANUC CRX-30iA is a heavy-lifting cobot with a 30kg payload, featuring wrist buttons for direct, simple teaching and customization.
- Max Payload:
- 30 kg
- Reach:
- 1889 mm
R-2000iC/125L
Equipped with 6 axes for ultimate flexibility, the FANUC R‑2000iC/125L robot is capable of handling heavy loads precisely within a generous work envelope
- Max Payload:
- 125 kg
- Reach:
- 3100 mm
Meet Acieta, FANUC Authorized System Integrator
Acieta serves as a long-term partner in automation integration, across a range of industries. A combination of technical knowledge and industry experience gives Acieta the insight needed to develop the right solution to address their customer’s challenges and provide complete support throughout the entire automation process.
Acieta’s FastARC automated welding cells were designed to meet the most common robotic welding needs and are a fast way to get started on your automation journey. FastARC provides a cost-effective introduction to Acieta’s premium-quality hardware and software.
About CNC Machine Products, Inc.
For over 30 years, we at CNC Machine Products have turned bearing-quality steel, stainless steel, and bronze into bearings, rollers, and other component pieces for our customers. As a leader in small- to medium-volume production, you can trust CNC Machine Products to provide the parts you need, in addition to unmatched attention to detail and dedication to communication.
