Small Improvements to Forging Tooling: Reduced Effort, Increased Efficiency

In forging operations, the ergonomics of tooling directly impact work efficiency and operator fatigue. Recently, the welding and forging teams at Qingliang Mould collaborated to implement several low-cost, practical improvements to frequently used forging tooling, significantly enhancing operator comfort and production efficiency.

Previously, the steel billet clamp in use had a short handle, requiring operators to bend deeply when clamping heavy loads of tens of kilograms, leading to waist strain with prolonged use. The iron work stand for placing forgings was also too tall, making workpiece handling labor-intensive and physically demanding. Addressing these pain points, the team developed targeted solutions: welding technicians extended the clamp handle by 30 cm using thick steel pipes and added non-slip rubber grips; they also shortened the legs of the work stand by 20 cm, adjusting it to an ergonomically comfortable height.

These two small modifications yielded significant results: operators no longer need to bend over to use the clamp, greatly reducing fatigue in the waist and shoulders. The smoother workflow also improved efficiency, allowing more workpieces to be processed in the same amount of time. The team later implemented additional optimizations, such as adding shock-absorbing sleeves to hammers, installing casters on material carts, and adding layered storage to toolboxes. These practical, user-centric improvements effectively solved real-world operational challenges, while also boosting employee satisfaction and engagement.