Southern Machine and Fabrication Company provides complete engineering services to support SMF's manufacturing operations and local industry. The engineering group has engineers with extensive experience in industry. In cooperation with quality control, SMF engineers “reverse engineer” parts to produce drawings and specifications so existing parts can be properly reproduced. SMF's engineers are capable of providing design and drafting services to turn a customer's ideas into drawings and specifications that can be used to produce the final product in our shops.In addition to machining and fabrication, the SMF engineering group visits customer's facilities and assist with problems affecting day-to-day operations as well as plant expansions and modifications. We provide technical expertise to remove production bottlenecks, increase efficiencies and production rates, update obsolete and under performing processes and install new production lines. These plant support services include engineering, design, cost estimating for budgeting and project costs, procurement and expediting, and project management. SMF has expertise regarding the full breadth of mechanical and electrical applications including processing equipment, fluid transfer, conveying systems, bulk storage and distribution systems, etc.

SMF employs a full time quality control technician to insure compliance with drawings and specifications for all parts made by the machine shop and fabrication facility. The technician uses a variety of precision measuring gauges, optical comparator and other instruments to ensure dimensional accuracy. Micrometers capable of measuring as large as 30" are available. A coordinate measuring machine (CMM) is used to measure arcs and other non-linear shapes to insure their accuracy. When required, the quality control group obtains mill test reports for raw materials, and can test some physical properties of materials such as hardness. Other testing requirements such as tensile testing to verify yield strength, finish verification, and plating thickness are available form closely allied specialty testing laboratories in the area. The quality control group works closely with the engineering group to “reverse engineer” parts so that accurate duplicates can be made without an existing drawing or specification.