Job Shop Job Talk: Decoding the Inside Baseball of Engineering and Fabrication Facilities

Welcome to “Job Shop Job Talk,” your guide to the fascinating world of engineering and fabrication facilities. If you’ve ever walked through a bustling shop floor, you know it’s a place where expertise meets creativity. It’s also a place where the language can feel like a secret code. Let’s dive into the inside baseball of job shop talk, breaking down some of the most common jargon and phrases you’ll hear.

### 1. **Blueprint Blues**

**Blueprints**: The lifeblood of any fabrication job. These detailed drawings are the ultimate reference for every project, containing dimensions, tolerances, and material specifications. In shop talk, you might hear, “Check the prints,” which means verifying the design details before starting work.

**GD&T**: Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing. This is a system for defining engineering tolerances. You might hear, “Make sure you’re within GD&T specs,” meaning the part must adhere to very specific dimensions and tolerances.

### 2. **Machine Lingo**

**CNC**: Computer Numerical Control. This refers to automated control of machining tools by means of a computer. A common phrase is, “Run it on the CNC,” indicating that a part should be machined using this technology.

**G-code**: The language that CNC machines understand. You might hear, “I need the G-code for this part,” meaning the programmer needs to provide the specific instructions for the machine.

**Feed Rate**: The speed at which the cutting tool moves through the material. “Adjust the feed rate” means changing this speed to optimize the machining process.

**Spindle Speed**: The rotational speed of the cutting tool. A typical phrase could be, “What’s the spindle speed?” when setting up a machine.

### 3. **Fabrication Fundamentals**

**Fab**: Short for fabrication. You might hear, “Send it to fab,” indicating a part needs to be fabricated rather than machined.

**Weldment**: An assembly of parts welded together. “It’s a weldment job” means the final product will be created by welding multiple components.

**Burn Table**: A machine used for cutting large sheets of metal using a flame or plasma. “Put it on the burn table” means cutting a piece from a larger sheet using this equipment.

**Fit-Up**: The process of aligning and assembling parts before welding. “Check the fit-up” ensures that parts are properly aligned before the final weld.

### 4. **Quality and Inspection**

**QA/QC**: Quality Assurance/Quality Control. This is a crucial part of the job shop process. “Send it to QA” means a part needs to be inspected for quality before it can proceed.

**CMM**: Coordinate Measuring Machine. Used for precise measurement of components. “Run it through the CMM” means using this machine to verify dimensions.

**Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)**: Methods used to test materials without causing damage. Phrases like, “It’s up for NDT,” mean the part will undergo inspection techniques like ultrasonic or radiographic testing.

### 5. **Shop Floor Staples**

**Job Ticket**: The document that travels with a part throughout the shop, detailing all operations required. “Check the job ticket” is a reminder to verify the work instructions.

**Kanban**: A scheduling system for lean manufacturing and just-in-time production. “Is this on the Kanban board?” asks if a task is part of the production schedule.

**Lean Manufacturing**: An approach focused on minimizing waste. “We need to go lean on this process” means optimizing the workflow to reduce waste and improve efficiency.

### Conclusion

In the dynamic environment of engineering and fabrication facilities, understanding the lingo is essential for seamless operations and effective communication. From blueprints to the burn table, every term and phrase reflects the precision and expertise required in this field. By decoding this inside baseball talk, we not only gain a better understanding of the processes but also appreciate the skill and knowledge that go into every project. Stay tuned for more insights from the shop floor in our next edition of “Job Shop Job Talk”!