In times like this manufacturers can be tempted to make decisions that are penny wise, but pound foolish. Cutting corners on materials, tooling, programming and other parts of the process can make a tough economic time even worse.

Now is the time when you should be looking to improve your business. Consider new markets and marketing ideas. Improve processes and use the down time to test better products and approaches to your applications. Your machine dealers and suppliers are slow too, have them help with test cuts and other application testing. Conduct tests of your own now that you have time. You may find that superior materials, holders, tools and other consumables can actually lower your finished part costs.

These are trying times, but you have to find a way to get better while you try to get busier.