When deadlines tighten and markets shift, supply chain resilience becomes the new competitive advantage. But many OEMs still rely on outdated production models that leave them vulnerable to delays, bottlenecks, and capacity shortfalls.
Broxton Industries has spent over a decade investing in lights-out automation, not just to increase speed, but to reduce risk. Here’s why it’s a game-changer for OEMs across all sectors.
The Hidden Risk in Traditional Production Models Many manufacturers are still limited by daylight hours and human capacity. Even with great teams and technology, these constraints create pinch points:
- Unplanned downtime
- Capacity gaps during holidays or illness
- Manual setup errors
- Delayed starts due to shift scheduling
These inefficiencies don’t just impact delivery, they affect trust.
What Lights-Out Automation Actually Solves Lights-out CNC milling, turning, laser cutting and punching operations run overnight, unmanned. This isn’t just a productivity boost it’s a strategic lever:
- Faster turnaround: Overnight runs double daily throughput without extra shifts
- Fewer delays: Machines keep running even when the team’s offline
- Improved consistency: Running batches continuously 24/7 reduces machine variance and improves part consistency.
A medical OEM recently needed parts with a short lead time. By scheduling production overnight, we delivered in half the time without pushing staff or cutting corners.
De-Risking Through Capacity Planning We also believe that planning capacity is vital in the process.
Our team managers work with customers to:
- Reserve production needs in advance
- Align delivery targets with real-time shop-floor planning
- Offer fast-track slots for urgent orders using more overnight capacity if needed
This transparency and flexibility turns us into a buffer, not a bottleneck.
When Should You Consider Lights-Out Partners? You might not need 24/7 production every week. But here are three signs it could help:
- You need mid-volume repeat parts on time.
- You’re struggling with inconsistent quality from existing suppliers
- You want to stabilise your supply without holding excess stock
Lights-out automation is no longer future tech. It’s the new baseline for suppliers who want to deliver consistency, speed, and quality at scale. We’re constantly investing into new pieces of equipment to develop our process and capacity.
