(3/29/11)To maintain the high level of technical support that the Engineering Machine Shop (EMS) provides for faculty, staff, and students of engineering, a constant updating of machines, tooling and hardware must be performed.

Due to the rising costs of these items, it has become necessary to initiate some changes in our charging/invoicing policy for the services that the EMS provides.

During the Spring 2011 semester, the current charging system is still being used, but a new pilot system will also be tabulated, to understand the magnitude of the new system. This new system, to be implemented for the Fall 2011 semester, provides for charging of all work that our technicians provide. We will not, however, be charging for consultation, design assistance, or student instruction.

As a reminder of current policy, any and all materials used for any project must be either purchased from EMS inventory if available, or purchased by the user from outside vendors.

The new charging system will also include an annual minimum service charge for Engineering clubs that have a high volume usage of the EMS facilities. This decision is evidenced by our EMS log-in sheets, and observing the actual scope and size of their projects. This charge is to provide for partial reimbursement for supplies, tooling, and machine repairs, etc.

As per current policy, priority for EMS services is given to fully paid research, with all other projects done on a basis of first in, first out, and what and when it is needed.

As mentioned previously, the new policy will be implemented in the Fall 2011 semester. An updated form, “Request For Technical Staff Services” is on the machine shop website, ww.eng.buffalo.edu/machineshop/forms.