Guys, With India and China growing their industrial bases very quickly they are gobbling up a lot of the world's resources, from construction supplies (concrete, lumber, etc) to EDM wire. Because of the higher demand for copper (have you watched copper prices over the last few years?) there is a shorter supply globally of the main ingredient in EDM wire. Since there is a huge amount more manufacturing going on in these newly industrialized countries, there is also a higher demand for EDM wire, not just the copper itself. The increased demand coupled with a shorter supply of raw material causes the wire to be less accessible and more costly. This means you end up paying more and don't always get your full order. I am with an EDM tool builder and know several EDM supplies providers around the country. They all tel me the same thing - thay have trouble getting THEIR complete supply of ordered wire on time from the manufacturers. This is simply a case of supply and demand economics. Some shops in China order upwards of 75 EDM machines at a time, and one company in China in particular has full factory buildings with up to 1000 machines on the floor. This same company hires about 750 new employees EACH WEEK. Their total head count is in excess of 300,000 employees, all at one location. This company "city" has a population about the size of Pittsburgh. Lean also has something to do with it, but the global economy, like it or not, has a far greater impact on this than does lean.
