News & Insights
Lessons from the shop floor — machining, quality, workforce and leadership, written by the ZYCI team.
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27 articles
CNC Machining Capacity vs. Demand in the United States - 2025
CNC Capacity vs. Demand in the US for ITAR Registered & AS9100 Certified Private Businesses - Including NIST 800-171 and CMMC Considerations
Is it a Skills Gap or a Will Gap?
We all say there is a skill shortage in manufacturing, but is the root cause that people are not motivated to work and learn hard things?
Finding My Tribe: How it Changed My Life
The life-changing power of a tribe
Why Optimism is an Important Trait for Managers
The Role of a Manager: Optimism in the Face of Adversity
China’s Declining Population is a Major Problem for the World
The Declining Population of China: Implications for Global Supply Chains and Consumer Prices
What is Meant by the “Digital Thread” in Manufacturing?
What is the digital thread in manufacturing?
Understanding the Grades and Tempers of Aluminum
Choose the correct grade and temper of aluminum for your application
Will Artificial Intelligence Benefit the Manufacturing Industry?
AI stands to have a major impact on manufacturing quality and efficiency
Profile of Our Ideal Customer
What are the attributes of our ideal customer?
Customize What Your Customers See, Standardize What They Don’t See
Finding the right balance between standardization and customization
Understanding the Classes of Threads
There are 3 main classes of screw threads
ZYCI Awarded Advanced Weapons Procurement Acquisition Contract
ZYCI Clinches Prestigious Department of Defense IDIQ Contract for Advanced Weapons Procurement Acquisition
Which Anodize Process is Right for Your Parts?
Choose the right type of anodizing for your application
We Are Expanding Our Capacity
Expanding to meet our customers’ needs
Why is Everything Out of Stock Or Have a Very Long Lead-time?
What happened? Why is it so hard to get raw materials and component parts?
ZYCI Culture Does Not Reward Shots on Goal
No matter how hard we tried, if we didn’t score the goal, we lost
Yes, There is a Shortage of Skilled Machinists
Skilled machinists are in high demand
Why We Ask Our Customers to Provide 3D CAD Models with RFQs
Providing 3D CAD models with RFQs removes ambiguity and results in more competitive pricing
The Value Of Doing Business With An AS9100 Certified Supplier
Doing Business With An AS9100 / ISO9001 Certified Supplier Gives You Peace Of Mind
Why We Ask About Your Quality Documentation Requirements
Understanding Quality Documentation Requirements Up Front Is Key To A Successful Project
An Exciting Disruption — Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence will cause an uncomfortable disruption - But it is really just history repeating itself
Why We Ask If a Project is ITAR or EAR Controlled
Why We Ask if a Project is ITAR or EAR Controlled
Will Metal 3D Printing Make CNC Machining Obsolete?
Will Metal 3D Printing Make CNC Machining Obsolete?
Have We Led Our Children Astray By Pushing Them To Go to College?
Not everyone needs to go to college
My First Boss Told Me I Had Owner Mentality
My first boss told me I had owner mentality.
Price vs Value
What may seem like the best price, may not be the best value.
Designing for Machining
Design for machining is a crucial aspect of engineering and manufacturing processes. It is the process of designing products with consideration of the manufacturing processes that…
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