A&M Precision Measurement and Verisurf Software, Inc. have a compatible working relationship that has helped both businesses.
The relationship between a manufacturer and their software provider can be like a comfortable pair of jeans. Every day, you put them on, and they fit perfectly. They bend and stretch as you move around in your workspace. This comfort and familiarity are happening between A&M Precision Measurement and Verisurf Software — a metrology software company.
Tony Ellis, owner of A&M Precision Measurement of Kent, Washington, said he enjoys his business so much that coming to work on Sunday afternoon makes him comfortable. “I can come to work on a Sunday, and it’s like going golfing to me.”
The company has only six employees, which Ellis said was larger before the pandemic. But they are good at what they do and efficient due to the software they use from Verisurf. He said he started working with Verisurf as the owner, Ernie Husted, was formulating his company. Ellis said Husted conferred with him to understand how aerospace manufacturers could use the software. He leaned on insights from Ellis regarding metrology, laser trackers, and tool fabrication.
David Olson, director of sales and marketing with Verisurf Software, which Sandvik just acquired, said that Verisurf started in 1995. He commented that metrology software was an emerging technology at the time. The business, headquartered in Anaheim, California, is now one of the leading metrology software suites with coordinated measuring machine (CMM) capabilities.
While this technology was still in development in the mid-1990s, Olson said, “I was very fortunate to hit the engineering market in the late 1980s, becoming a power user in CAD and CAM, to strike out and make the transition from hands-on engineering to mechanical engineering.” Like Olson, Ellis and Husted were early adopters of software in manufacturing.
A&M makes aerospace and space tooling, fixtures, and gantries; they have found the Verisurf software a necessary asset for efficient assembling of their parts. Ellis and his team use the software all day to serve customers like Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Hexcel, Blue Origin, and Stoke Aerospace.
Regarding their long-term use of Verisurf, Ellis notes, “Verisurf runs all of our inspection software; back when I worked for Hexcel, we did a lot of beta testing for Verisurf. I became good friends with Ernie Husted. They have great customer service, and their software guys will keep up with it until they figure it out. We’ve always complimented each other very well.”
A&M builds many tools that require measurement of tight tolerances. One of the tools they make is a jig – a tool that guides another tool to perform a specific task accurately and repeatedly, acting as a template or guide for precise operations. For example, imagine a custom jig designed to guide a drill to make holes in a table to accept six legs. The jig tool/fixture can then be used to quickly build 1,000 of the same tables with accurately-drilled holes for the legs added during assembly.
A&M can produce large quantities of products for a customer with a fixture that drills 1,000 holes in an airplane wing. Or, they can make one specified tool for a customer. Ellis said one thing that’s nice about the industry is that the cost of their equipment has come down. He cited a laser tracker that he once paid $300,000 for would now cost $80,000.
Ellis said the combination of their skills and the Verisurf software is a great match for solving customer problems. “Most of our problem-solving is how we approach the jobs; our strength is to utilize the software to minimize the re-work.”
Regarding competition, Ellis also said that while he does see competition in this space, his age, experience, and the company’s competence can outperform much of it. He cited how many people with his skill set have retired, so he brings that experience to the table.
Of course, one seasoned team member at A&M is the Operations Manager, Adam Stenerson. He has been with the company for 10 years, and before that, he worked with other manufacturers, which led to a fulfilling 32-year career.
Stenerson said, “We do tooling well.” The customers send a drawing of a tool or jig showing how they want it to work. “If there will be issues, we make sure to fix them.” But otherwise, he said, they build to print.
What Stenerson enjoys most about working in a small shop with big projects is autonomy. He said, “It is a rewarding career to see parts you’ve built and where they go, and how they are used — on spacecraft or airplanes — always different parts.”
Stenerson does not do inspections, which he said are best handled by Ellis or his son. “It’s not a good idea for the shop manager to do the inspections, i.e. checking your own work. I make and check my part, but they do the final buy-off.” They use the Verisurf software for inspections.
While both Verisurf and A&M have been around for years, there are always new technologies to use. Verisurf’s Olson said recent technological changes have included computer-aided inspection and dimensional metrology. “Most intriguing is how connected everything is now.”
He added that full integration between the OEM and the supply chain will be essential for most success in the future. “Often, these are separate entities with walls between each group. CAD, CAM, and computer-aided inspection in one solution can be the biggest benefit. The connectivity that moves from one to another without barriers knocks down walls between departments.”
Olson asks manufacturers like A&M, “Tony, does your customer still give you a 3D model and drawing? What do you think about interconnected services?”
But, the aerospace industry is highly regulated for the safety of all and many agencies support different interests. Olson calls them the “alphabet soup of agencies.”
He said that the companies may have the newest electronics, phones, and other technology but in the more interconnected world of design, manufacture, and product inspection, they could also have a faster turnaround time with better integration of software and connectivity.
Verisurf has heard, from A&M customers, “They’ve told us they like the ease of use and the speed; it is very fast for them to set it up and get it running and get measurements quickly. The second thing we hear most is our support. ‘They help us right away; they help us get over the hurdle quickly.’ Third, they love our annual updates, the new features, functions, and productivity.”
Though Tony Ellis said he hasn’t spent time thinking about his legacy at A&M, his son, Tyson Ellis, also works in the business. While Tony isn’t quite ready to retire, he is thinking about the future and what that looks like.
In reflection, he said, “I was blessed to work with some old grouchy guys, from whom I learned a great deal. As I got into my early 20s with these mean old guys, they taught me a world of things. I’ve never cared about a legacy for me, but I am arrogant about my company.” He is proud of their high-quality work and training of good personnel who have gone into the industry. “Anyone who has ever left has excelled wherever they’ve gone.”
The partnership between A&M Precision Machining and Verisurf has successfully built both companies in the commercial aerospace and space industries. They are comfortable in their respective spaces, like a favorite pair of jeans, and in their collaboration. The sky is the limit as to where they go next!
Contact
A&M Precision Measuring
22727 72nd Ave S Suite H103
Kent, WA 98032
Office: 206-718-5343
www.ampmeasuring.com
Verisurf Software, Inc.
4907 E. Landon Dr.
Anaheim, CA 92807
Headquarters: 714-970-1683www.verisurf.com
A&M Precision Measuring
A&M is a leading specialist in tooling, machine shop, and inspection services. We have an extensive background in the aerospace, automotive, and defense industries. A&M offers a complete range of tooling services; from basic routines to complete packages involving engineering, fabrication, assembly, and installation.
Verisurf Software, Inc.
Verisurf is a measurement solutions company focused on accelerating measurement processes for precision inspection, product assembly, and reverse engineering. Our experts keep manufacturers ahead of rapidly changing technology through implementation of 3D measurement solutions with comprehensive installation and support services delivering maximum return on investment.
