Machine tool and manufacturing system builders have been producing increasingly intelligent equipment for more than 50 years, and today’s computer numeric controlled (CNC) machines and systems are marvels of technology. However, they still need intensive human supervision and maintenance to operate at peak efficiency. Indeed, the more capable manufacturing equipment and systems are, the more skilled their human operators must become. Where will skilled operators come from?
Finding the answers to this question presents manufacturing management with a significant and largely unexpected challenge. One solution is to substantially enhance the productivity of each operator with a set of "virtual senses" based on modern gaging and signal processing technologies to expand the range of human capabilities. Such a sensory support system will improve present productivity and capture vital knowledge to be passed on to the next generation of system operators.

Where did all the operators go?

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