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.
The Tooling & Manufacturing Association (TMA) has been working diligently to persuade Scot Forge to become a TMA member. The TMA had learned about the valuable services that Manufacturing Works provides to manufacturing companies and extended an invitation to Susan Nichol of Manufacturing Works to a meeting with the Scot Forge HR and Plant Managers. The meeting proved to be successful in a variety of ways! Scot Forge has signed on as a TMA Member, they are utilizing the EDSI Skills Gap Analysis services, and are working with the TMA and EDSI to develop curriculum and program details for a customized apprenticeship program. Because of this (and other partnership successes) TMA is now a part of the MW Team! Making the connections and helping the manufacturer thrive is what sets us apart from programs that seem similar to ours! MW responds by working as a team with other organizations and finding the right people to help make it happen!