Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-10-2025
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Center for Manufacturing Excellence
First Advisor
Eddie Carr
Second Advisor
Rick Hollander
Third Advisor
Jack McClurg
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
This thesis explores manufacturing techniques for small-scale metal fabrication, using a fire pit production as a case study to optimize efficiency, precision, and scalability. The study examines the challenges of small-scale manufacturing and analyzes alternative manufacturing techniques for cutting, joining, and surface finishing. Data was gathered through a case study involving the design and production of a fire pit. The manufacturing process included cutting, rolling, joining, and surface finishing. Alternative techniques, such as laser cutting and a paint sprayer, were compared to the methods used in the project. It was concluded that alternate methods offered improvements in efficiency, precision, and scalability compared to the original process. Business considerations were also made for the optimized process, including the cost implications and the decision between in-house production and outsourcing the laser cutting process. The research concluded that adopting improved techniques and outsourcing strategies enhances small-scale manufacturers’ efficiency, precision, and scalability, therefore increasing their competitiveness in the market.
Recommended Citation
Potter, Henry W., "Exploring Manufacturing Techniques for Small-Scale Metal Fabrication and How They can be Optimized for Efficiency, Precision, and Scalability to Produce a Fire Pit" (2025). Honors Theses. 3205.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3205
Previous Versions
Apr 23 2025 (withdrawn)
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
