Fixture, Gauge & Workholding Management worked example

Workholding Automation Payback with automated workholding investment of 212,500 $: a worked example

Push automated workholding investment up to 212,500 $ and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. Use it when evaluating automated clamping, pallet transfer, machine tending fixtures, tombstone loading systems, or fixture sensors.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Automated workholding investment: 212,500 $ (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 85,000)
  • Annual automation savings: 42,000 $ / yr (unchanged)
  • Annual automation support cost: 9,000 $ / yr (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Net annual workholding automation payback savings = annual automation savings - annual automation support cost) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 6.44 yr for workholding automation payback payback period, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 33,000 $ / yr for net annual workholding automation payback savings.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 212,500 $ for automated workholding investment.
  • At this operating point the engine returns -47,500 $ for five-year net workholding automation payback value.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where automated workholding investment sits at 85,000 $ and the headline result is 2.58 yr, this scenario comes in 150% above the baseline at 6.44 yr.
  • It computes the payback period in years by dividing the automated workholding investment by net annual savings (annual savings minus annual support cost). The value of this scenario is the size of the gap it exposes: that gap, priced out over a year, is the budget you can justify spending to close it.

Results at a glance

  • Workholding Automation Payback payback period: 6.44 yr (headline result)
  • Net annual workholding automation payback savings: 33,000 $ / yr
  • Automated workholding investment: 212,500 $
  • Five-year net workholding automation payback value: -47,500 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Workholding Automation Payback calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.