5 Ways Reata’s Kanban Approach to Assembly Benefits Customers
At the heart of Reata Engineering’s assembly strategy is the kanban system. Kanban is an inventory system developed by Taiichi Ohno, the father of the Toyota production system. Successful application of kanban involves maintaining a stock of required parts for customers instead of waiting for an order to come through each time. At Reata, we […]
Use DFM Principles for Superior Prototype Machining Services
When beginning the prototyping process, many customers underestimate the importance of choosing an experienced contract manufacturing partner. However, by actively collaborating with a knowledgeable shop from the start, customers can expedite product development, optimize costs, and ensure a smoother transition into production. And don’t worry—It’s not too good to be true. It simply involves leveraging […]
DFM 101: 3 Reasons Reata Is a Superior DFM Partner
We believe in staying ahead of the curve because when we’re ahead, so are our customers. As a new generation of engineers enters the contract manufacturing industry in a period of rapid inflation, engineers and customers alike are seeking ways to decrease costs and simplify parts. Instead of sticking to tradition, we spent years perfecting […]
DFM 101: Getting Started with Design For Manufacturability
In precision machining, there is often a gap between design and manufacturing. What looks good on paper doesn’t always translate easily to the shop floor. In these cases, customers often spend valuable time and money on revisions and extensive back-and-forth communication with their manufacturing partner. DFM, or Design for Manufacturability, bridges the gap between what’s […]
The Importance of a Complete PO in Precision Machining
Filling out a PO, or purchase order, is a standard task when working with a precision machine shop. Once you’ve submitted plenty of them, it’s easy to make a habit of rushing through them. After all, a PO is just for record-keeping, right? Wrong. A PO is more than a commitment to purchase. The document […]
How Reata’s Software Investments Benefit Contract Manufacturing Customers
At the risk of sounding like a broken record: Reata puts customers first. Even our behind-the-scenes decisions about software are made with customers in mind. We’ve invested significantly in our software these past few months, including upgrading our scheduling system to Fulcrum Pro and investing in Tableau, an analytics platform dedicated to empowering customers. In […]
How to Use Datums to Get the Part You Want
In precision machining, datums make everyone’s lives easier. Datums are lines, planes, or points that serve as a reference for consistently measuring and locating part features. These perpendicular reference points are often marked on a schematic with a boxed letter and an arrow. When used correctly, they ensure a part functions as intended. Precision machining […]
Celebrating Our 30th Anniversary with a Look Back at How We Got Here
Here at Reata Engineering, we’re celebrating our 30th anniversary as a trusted contract manufacturing company. Since our founding in 1993, we’ve grown to employ a team of 45 and invested in 15 CNC production machines. And we’re still going strong. Now, our services accommodate customers through the entire manufacturing process, from design to fulfillment. Our […]
How We’re Using AI to Improve Our Manufacturing Processes
Reata is a future-focused precision machine shop. We believe manufacturing is at an inflection point and that opting into AI is critical to staying competitive on the world’s stage. We’re proud to say that we’re leading the way in embracing AI and have integrated some of the latest and greatest solutions into our company’s processes. […]
Why Low-Volume, High-Mix Shops Make Great Manufacturing Partners
If you have a small order and are on a tight deadline, reach out to Reata Engineering. We have built a reputation for being a low-volume, high-mix precision machine shop you can trust to fulfill your orders quickly and cost-effectively. Low-Volume, High-Mix Manufacturing Is Our Specialty So, what does “low volume” mean for a manufacturing […]