IN ORDER TO REDUCE PER PART MACHINING COSTS AND REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN TODAYS WORLD MARKET, MANUFACTURERS MUST RETHINK THEIR APPROACH TO PART PRODUCTION. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO MAXIMIZE THE MACHINE UPTIME BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EVERY AVAILABLE MACHINING HOUR. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR WIRE EDM BECAUSE OF HIGH CAPITOL COSTS. A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO WIRE EDM TOOLING CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE SET-UP TIME AND INCREASE MACHINE PRODUCTIVITY.