Window sashes have traditionally been made by hand. It is only in the last one hundred years or so that any kind of mass production has been used. Modern manufacturing processes for wooden sash windows are now cutting edge in every way.
The number of hours required to hand make a window in the late 18 Th century depended on how experienced each individual craftsman was. And while a master craftsman could train more than one apprentice at a time, how quickly those people became competent could vary greatly.
Now a few key strokes can transform an entire factory with a new set of sash specifications. The production of mass quantities of perfectly uniform wooden sashes is a matter of programming rather than individual skill. The need to train employees becomes a matter of program familiarization instead of individual skill enhancement.
Mass production is nothing new to sash manufacturing. As early as 1900 the idea of mass producing sash parts in a factory was well established. From there the mechanization of mass production increased rapidly until robots handle the majority of actions in some plants.
While the need for individually produced wooden windows has decreased, it has not disappeared. Historical reproductions are in high demand. The National Registry of Historic Homes frowns on the use of modern materials and often requires the skills of an artisan.
Window sash styles come in a huge number of profiles. It used to require hours of physical labor to change the cutting knives of factory equipment when one job was complete and another was to begin. The more modern factories can now instruct movable jigs to slide into the proper profile design in record time. The days of closing down while retooling are nearly gone.
The facilities for construction have evolved over time as well. Vast automated factories can cover acres of ground. The efficiency of these behemoths is greater as well, lessening the need for waste handling. With robotics and other modern processes, as-needed shipping is becoming the norm. Gone are the guild halls when it comes to quality control.
It is clear that modern manufacturing processes for wooden sash windows have indeed come a very long way. From single blades handled by one master craftsman, the manufacturing process has evolved and changed. The flexibility and efficiency have transformed the availability and cost of the modern day product to something quite different.
The number of hours required to hand make a window in the late 18 Th century depended on how experienced each individual craftsman was. And while a master craftsman could train more than one apprentice at a time, how quickly those people became competent could vary greatly.
Now a few key strokes can transform an entire factory with a new set of sash specifications. The production of mass quantities of perfectly uniform wooden sashes is a matter of programming rather than individual skill. The need to train employees becomes a matter of program familiarization instead of individual skill enhancement.
Mass production is nothing new to sash manufacturing. As early as 1900 the idea of mass producing sash parts in a factory was well established. From there the mechanization of mass production increased rapidly until robots handle the majority of actions in some plants.
While the need for individually produced wooden windows has decreased, it has not disappeared. Historical reproductions are in high demand. The National Registry of Historic Homes frowns on the use of modern materials and often requires the skills of an artisan.
Window sash styles come in a huge number of profiles. It used to require hours of physical labor to change the cutting knives of factory equipment when one job was complete and another was to begin. The more modern factories can now instruct movable jigs to slide into the proper profile design in record time. The days of closing down while retooling are nearly gone.
The facilities for construction have evolved over time as well. Vast automated factories can cover acres of ground. The efficiency of these behemoths is greater as well, lessening the need for waste handling. With robotics and other modern processes, as-needed shipping is becoming the norm. Gone are the guild halls when it comes to quality control.
It is clear that modern manufacturing processes for wooden sash windows have indeed come a very long way. From single blades handled by one master craftsman, the manufacturing process has evolved and changed. The flexibility and efficiency have transformed the availability and cost of the modern day product to something quite different.
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