Our Sites

Hypertherm director earns DFMA supporter award

Dr. Mike Shipulski, director of engineering at Hypertherm Inc., Hanover, N.H., has been given the Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) award as distinguished supporter of 2006.

DFMA is a program of methods and software developed by Boothroyd Dewherst Inc. that has helped reduce cost, improve quality, and enhance the competitiveness of many U.S. manufacturers.

Shipulski led a team of design engineers who utilized DFMA to produce the new HyPerformance HPR130, a streamlined version of the company's mechanized plasma cutting system.

Starting on the factory floor, the engineering team was able to identify hundreds of unnecessary parts. They were then able to revamp the product with fewer fasteners and connectors. The parts count was reduced from 1,000 components to fewer than 500. Assembly time was cut 75 percent.