Across industries and innovations, engineers are the silent problem-solvers behind the scenes. Most of the technologies and infrastructure we rely on daily – from the roads we travel on to the devices we access information on – exist because of engineers. And in precision machining, talented manufacturing engineers aren’t just helpful, they’re essential.
Yet many machine shops still operate without an engineering department. Why is that? Most often, it comes down to cost. However, some job shops simply don’t understand the return on investment of having a team of engineers. At Reata, we’ve chosen the opposite path, building out our engineering team to full capacity – and it’s made all the difference!
The Value of Engineers in a Precision Machine Shop
At Reata, we’ve made a conscious investment in engineering. With our full in-house team, we’re able to assign an engineer to nearly every new job that comes our way. That has been extremely valuable because, in our experience, every project comes with its own set of challenges.
In a dynamic contract manufacturing environment, solving problems quickly and effectively is what keeps production moving. Whether they’re leveraging advanced machinery, tackling extremely stringent requirements, improving workflows, or troubleshooting, our engineers are critical to our success.
Improving Processes
One of the biggest advantages of having a strong in-house engineering presence is having the ability to look at problems from a process-level perspective. When something isn’t working, rather than blaming the individual running it, our engineers hone in on the nuances of the process itself, seeking ways to optimize or improve it.
With the analytical skills of a manufacturing engineer, we can identify inefficiencies, propose better workflows, and help our team members succeed without burning them out. This mindset has driven countless process improvements across our shop, whether it’s part of our services or internal job flow optimization.
We’ve even seen our engineers step in to recommend changes for operators who have been doing things a certain way for years, bringing fresh eyes and insight that improve both efficiency and quality.
Supporting Advanced Technologies with Advanced Talent
Reata’s engineers don’t just understand how to operate our equipment; they’re writing scripts, programming automation systems, and tying everything together with software to build a smarter, more connected shop. Whether it’s integrating machining services with shop-floor data collection tools or creating systems that enhance complex workflows, our engineers are enabling next-generation manufacturing processes.
Bridging the Shop Floor and Front Office
One of the most underrated roles of a manufacturing engineer is acting as a liaison between departments. Engineers speak the language of machinists and operators, but they also understand how to communicate with sales, quality managers, and leadership.
At Reata, our engineers bridge the gap between the shop floor and the front office. That alignment ensures that when problems arise, they’re quickly communicated, properly scoped, and thoughtfully resolved.
Reata’s Engineers: Driving Improvement and Solving Problems
In our opinion, having manufacturing engineers on our team is a “must,” not just a “nice-to-have.” Our customers don’t just require parts; they require solutions, and delivering solutions is what our engineers do best. Reata’s engineering department helps us push boundaries, solve problems, and deliver quality work across industries.
Want to find out more about how our dynamic team supports complexity and drives improvement? Discuss your next project with us!