We are a fairly new cabinet shop. We have 2 CNCs cutting parts. I have 4 guys currently in the shop. My question is what is the most efficient way to build? My current process is this (i know it isn't the best).

1. Cut Parts on cnc
2. Edge band parts needed
3. Everything goes to build tables where they separate parts into each cabinet, pocket hole sides to connect ff then build.

Should we be organizing parts as soon as they are cut, also when should we take the time to edge band and pocket hole sides?

I would endeavor to pocket hole your case parts on the CNC. Even if it is a flip op, you'll save time on that over doing the manual operation.Otherwise it sounds very similar to the way our production shop does it. Some folks dope out the parts to each cabinet at the edgebander, but we don't have a labeler, so that is done at the bench where we keep white papers and shops for assembly clarification.

Thank you for response. In wasn't aware a cnc would pocket hole but defiantly going to check into it. Thank you

Cutting pockets on the router is a much faster way to go about it.

I organize parts as they come off the cnc. It's much easier in my opinion to sort them that way, versus having a pile of parts and trying to put them in order then.

I clump everything together for an individual cabinet together vertically on a cart minus stretchers, nailers, toe kicks, and adjustable shelves. I rarely cut backs on the cnc. Stretchers and nailers are clumped together, in order. Shelves have further machining after the cnc, and nosing that needs to be applied.

I'd like to hear more about how you're operating two routers.

I love how folks who have a CNC forget how to work wood(or plywood). In what world is it faster to cut a pocket hole on the CNC as apposed to a castle or foreman? I guess you would have to actually pay someone a good wage to know that?

So adding a handling step is faster?

And the operation takes about the same amount of time. Downside to doing it on the router is no pilot hole and some materials that is necessary.

Nice strawman on the wage thing. lol
Next time lead with racist.

We hand label and sort parts as they come off of the cnc. We also band and pocket hole (we have the bander and pocket hole machine right by the cnc) as the next sheet is being machined on the cnc. I don't understand how cutting pocket holes on the cnc could be faster but we have not tried it. I like to have the pilot holes in the pocket holes but again have never tried it. It also depends on the equipment you have and where it is located. We bought another pocket hole machine to have by the cnc to be more efficient. When we get an auto unload cnc I assume processes will change.

Thanks for the responses. So you are cutting parts, either have the pocket holes already routed or pull parts straight to pocket hole machine or edge bander and then sort to be built? We have considered that but i have a few questions for you.

1. Is one man operating cnc and pocket holes then sorting? If so, how well can he stay caught up and keep the cnc consistently moving?

Constantly moving is tough.
Really you need auto load, and auto unload to make that happen.
I don't have that, so we have the parts carts as close as reasonable to the router so the distance is as short as possible when racking them.
Average cycle time for us is about 12 minutes. That's from hitting go button, to hitting go button.
So start, machine, unload, load, hit start. I'd wager 5-6 minutes of that is labeling with a sharpie and unloading, blowing off the table, and pulling the next sheet on. That can vary wildly, we have a tiny 4 drill, drill block so if there's a ton of shelf pin holes, it adds a bunch of time.

Time spent while the program is running is usually getting the next file queued up, dealing with the waste/drops from the previous program, and studying the parts listed on the current program's nest to facilitate faster labeling.

I don't run enough sheets a week to justify the cost of the floor space for auto unload. It'd be nice, but I just don't have a need.

How many sheets a day are you running through two cnc's? What's your average sheet time? I ask because if you're doing 80+ sheets a day, that'd 3 people in a hurry I feel.

As far as pocket holes being faster, it's not. It does save handling, and less potential for them being forgotten. Plus you can put them in places you can't reach with a Caste Machine. It does work well. The pilot holes can be an issue in MDF I've found. It'll split the material. Plywood doesn't seem to be an issue though. I don't do much particle board, so I can't say how it works there.
It's kinda like boring holes for hinges. The boring machine is faster because you're punching 3 holes at once, but the cnc doesn't make mistakes (The moron in the office maybe....), and you don't have to touch them another time.

Karl,

So at the moment we we normally just cut parts for 1 set at a time, and of course cut them enough time ahead our guys building are not waiting. Having said that, with 4 guys after parts are cut by the time we pocket hole, edge band, sort parts then build we don't have to run the cncs daily to keep enough parts cut. That's one reason i feel like there is room for improvement in our process.

As Far as The 2 cncs, we split the job into 2 nest and send half to one half to the other. Ideally while one is cutting the other one you are labeling and pulling parts then vice versa. That keeps 1 man pretty much busy. This is where Im wandering should we have a second guy edge banding and pocket holes then sorting as the other is pulling the parts off the routers? Or the way we currently do is pull all the parts then go edge, pocket hole and sort...?

Basically just looking to be more efficient, and keep everyone busy without overloading them. I'm sure you understand not wanting to make changes to the current process unless your fairly certain there's a big enough benefit.

For sure. We all want to weed out waste. So don't think I'm picking on anything

Sounds like you are doing face frame with plywood interiors. So what is your box construction? Dados with castle screw frames on?