Metals Manufacturing and R&D
Would a Tier 1 Japanese auto manufacturer have considered Rockford’s Reliable Machine for a multi-million dollar order had Reliable not participated in the RAEDC’s Continuous Improvement educational program?
“No,” said Steve Yagle, President of Reliable. “Our customer visited our plant and saw first hand that we have in place several key attributes they look for in suppliers: quick-die change, cell manufacturing, managed inventories, process flow and a 5S Workplace Organization Program. Simply put, there is no way we would have been considered for this order had we not studied and implemented Continuous Improvement.”
Continuous Improvement gives its adopters the competitive edge they need to compete in today’s global marketplace. Typically, this edge has both short and long term benefits:
“Beyond the order itself - and we expect to receive more - there are other positive outcomes of our adoption of Continuous Improvement. We’ve increased productivity by more than 25%, reduced inventory by 40%, cut scrap and re-work by 75% and reduced shifts,” Yagle explained. “Those benefits will be affecting our bottom line for years to come. I would absolutely recommend this class for every small business. You may know the continuous improvement techniques, but going to these classes sparks initiative and helps you get to your goal.”
Reliable supplies the automotive, appliance, compressor and retail industries with metal stampings that are about one pound or less. They hope to add ten employees in 2005.
RAEDC’s five partners in providing this unique, affordable program for manufacturing companies are: Abilities Center, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center (IMEC), Northern Illinois University and Rock Valley College.
Other Rockford area companies who have enrolled include: Bear Linear Inc., Delta Power Company, J.L. Clark, A CLARCOR Company, General Mills, MTE Hydraulics, Tote Cart Company, Trotter Machine Inc. and Wahl Clipper Corporation.
If you would like your Rockford area company to benefit from Continuous Improvement techniques, please contact Mark Podemski at 815.987.8118 or email him at mpodemski@rockfordil.com. He will be happy to help you enroll.