Evidence needed to destroy and replace machining capability

Machining Capability in its traditional form employed several thousand skilled craftsmen called machinists in every country and was the backbone of industrial development. Development of Computer Numeric Control, CNC, has taken machining capability to new heights where the traditional machines have become comparatively very inefficient. This paper explores the question 'if a technology management decision to destroy the traditional machining capability and replace it with CNC what are the evidences that would be needed to support this drastic decision?'. Background and contemporary analysis revealed that (a) CNC is essential for a thriving manufacturing sector (b) strong traditional manufacturing capability helps to build advanced CNC capability (c) some capabilities would become obsolete during and after the migration (d) CNC provides an opportunity for traditional machinists to ascend and (d) existing knowledge-base is a key factor for deciding the steps. Based on the analysis the key evidences needed for the decision are identified as (a) types of machines in use (b) types of work handled (c) existing knowledge base (d) alternative replacements (e) maturity of the alternatives in particular the controller (f) ease of migarting out from the alternative and (f) avalability in vocational and higher education establishments.