MW Success Stories

Ms. Margaret Gatz of Fuel Systems contacted ManufacturingWorks to inquire about the services that MW provides. Fuel Systems welds the fuel tanks for General Motors cars, and this past year received news that they will now be doing the same business with the Ford Motor Company. Fuel Systems need was for 30 new MIG welders. Ms. Gatz has built a solid relationship with the Business and Industry Services Division of Truman College (B&I) who referred her to MW. The B&I is supplying the training and MW is screening for MIG welders. Account Executives from MW met with Ms. Gatz and informed her of the details and mission of the center. We left Fuel Systems with Ms. Gatz full trust and confidence in our strategy and plan of attack -- truly becoming an extension of Fuel Systems Human Resource Department.

To date MW has referred 40-45 candidates for interviews. Over 30 people have been hired in welding, machine operation and other manufacturing positions. In fact, MW partner Jane Addams Resource Center (JARC) referred an outstanding graduate from their training program, who was also hired.  MW recruitment is ongoing and sets up interview/testing sessions on a systematic basis.  Fuel Systems has established a high level of confidence and trust in MW account executives.  Ms. Margaret Gatz has been very pleased with prescreening and recruitment of candidates.  She relies upon ManufacturingWorks for the final approval of all direct hire employees.

MidWest Folding Products (MFP) sent its executive team to the Lean 101. The experience reinvigorated MFP's stalled lean journey. MFP re-committed to lean, conducted gathering and data analysis exercises followed by rapid improvement events in pursuit of offering its customers the shortest lead times in the industry, and reducing inventory levels that had historically been accumulated. Removal of bottlenecks is crucial to meeting on-time shipments at reduced inventory levels.

The original lean journey, prior to undertaking the Lean 101 ate WTI, had been perceived as 'training' rather than as a dramatic business improvement initiative. The experiential nature of the WTI event stimulated a senior executive sponsorship of MFP's Lean journey. Current activities are focused on bottleneck elimination in both the woodshop and metal fabrication production areas. Early indications are that 2007's peak demand of late summer will be satisfied at industry-leading on-time delivery levels.