Success Stories are short stories about successful projects with clients, interesting activities sponsored and supported by each center and an overview of center client impacts. Various stories will be featured on a rotating basis.
This is what manufacturers are saying about MEP:
Scott Brice
Safety Director
Amfuel
Magnolia, Arkansas
""Thanks to the efforts of SEA and Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions we were able to achieve a strengthened safety program. The assistance of the TTAG grant helped us maintain our competitive edge in the marketplace. I would recommend your services to anyone in need of environmental, hygiene and safety solutions.""
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John Mahoney
Owner
Mahoney Environmental Services
Rockdale, Illinois
""Walt O'Dowd, Chicago Manufacturing Center's advisor, learns your business and moves up through it so he builds connections with the hands-on people. He's different from most consultants. He really connects at all levels. He's open and shares techniques.""
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Mike Hill
Co-owner
Curb Appeal
Johnsburg, Illinois
""Our sales will triple this year, thanks to the Waste to Profit Network. Without the network we would be nowhere near where we are today. We won a contract with the U. S. Army based on the work we are doing with the City of Chicago. We are figuring out how to be competitive in the world of government contracts." "
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Ron Gross
VP of Engineering and Quality Assurance
Summit Corp Of America
Thomaston, Connecticut
""We truly got everything we needed because of a simple phone call from CONNSTEP. Prior to that phone call, Summit's management staff was unaware of the depth of CONNSTEP's service offerings; now that we are aware of the range of offerings, we are planning future engagements with CONNSTEP to continuously improve our company.""
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Bruce Wheeler
Vice President of Operations
Metal Finishing Technologies Inc.
Forestville, Connecticut
""Our experience working with CONNSTEP and the Green Suppliers Network has brought us benefits we never expected. It's a great team to work with!""
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Luis Garcia
Plant Superintendent
Great American Appetizers
Nampa, Idaho
""Lean training provided by Idaho TechHelp drew widespread support from employees and did not lead to job losses. Productivity is up, waste is down and the overall picture is a lot of improvement and more communication.""
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Caleb Chung
Co-Founder
ugobe
Eagle, Idaho
""It has been great working with a TechHelp team that is so responsive, professional, easy to work with and affordable. I believe the I in Idaho stands for innovation. For some reason, Idaho attracts great minds, great talents and great people, including the folks at TechHelp.""
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Jerry L Hastings
President & General Manager
Potato Products of Idaho
Rigby, Idaho
""As a producer in rural Idaho, we were thrilled to be able to draw upon the knowledge and expertise of Jeff Kronenberg, from TechHelp and the University of Idaho, to help us with our food safety, HACCP and quality programs.""
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Susan Squires
Manager of Logistics and Purchasing
Afton Chemical Corporation
Sauget, Illinois
""We were extremely pleased with the training and implementation support from the Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center. Their team helped us achieve our goals of introducing process improvements and increasing drum output quickly and easily.""
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Larry Roy
Executive Vice President & CFO
Kentucky Manufacturing Company
Louisville, Kentucky
""Working with the Kentucky Manufacturing Assistance Center and using Lean techniques has enabled Kentucky Manufacturing to fill orders in less time and really utilize the skills and talents of our employees. The time we spent on Value Stream Mapping and Kaizen improvement events has really paid off. Our people spend less time searching for parts and are able to communicate better with one another. KMAC has played a pivotal role in increasing the efficiency of our production process.""
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Jerry Baker
President
Christian Plastics, Inc.
Houma, Louisiana
""Thanks to MEPOL's services and their third party's assistance, we were able to save thousands of dollars in expenses at a time when we needed it most.""
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Chuck Kingsland
Vice President
Bestwork Industries for the Blind INC
Runnemede, New Jersey
""Due to the productivity improvements, overall morale was greatly improved. The New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program solved problems that were causing stress throughout the organization. Other talented, skilled and dedicated people could not solve these problems, but NJMEP did!""
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Fred Renteria
VP of Operations
Sun Country Industries/Sun Country de Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
""In the past, we would produce 300 units over a three-month period. Last month we received an urgent call from one of our customers wanting to add an additional 350 units to the monthly order. We were able to deliver all 650 units in 20 days. Before working with New Mexico MEP, that order would have taken us six months. We were also able to reduce our inventory by 45 percent." "
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Alvin Elbert
President
A.R.E. Manufacturing
Newberg, Oregon
""When the decision was made to transition to a Lean Enterprise, the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership was chosen because they clearly offered a service superior to their competitors. Before using OMEP's services, we were aware that change was necessary, but never found the time to start the process. OMEP, with their very knowledgeable staff, has been a great catalyst to get the process moving and to keep it moving forward. OMEP's consultants have been a pleasure to work with and have shown a genuine interest in the success of the project. As can be seen by the "quantifiable gains" listed above, in just a short period of time the results have been excellent. We're excited about the start of our Lean journey and have learned that it is a continuously changing process. OMEP's continued involvement is vital to our success and the development of manufacturing practices necessary to compete in the global economy. I believe that OMEP's program is critical to the success of manufacturing in the State of Oregon. Domestic manufacturers provide living wage jobs and organizations such as OMEP are essential in keeping manufacturing alive and well in the United States.""
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Mychael Mai
Owner and President
Shin Shin Foods, Inc.
Portland, Oregon
""The Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership has helped us grow our company and add jobs by coaching us to think Lean, improve and leverage our process and food safety program for new business, reduce inventory levels, and connect us with other food processors in the area that have ongoing Lean implementations. Our OMEP consultant, Bill Paugh, has an extensive food industry background and knowledge, which coupled with Lean, is a powerful combination for our company." "
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Kurt Hague
VP of Corporate Development.
Chemart Company
Lincoln, Rhode Island
"The RIMES-assisted Lean training and implementation has allowed for a fundamental change in the way we approach problem solving. Decisions are now based upon teamwork, gaining consensus and buy-in from the managers and employees. As a result, the company is more flexible and adaptable. The Lean initiative has allowed non-management employees to develop and utilize problem solving and management skills that they would not have been call upon to use before. It has inspired our employees to push themselves out of their comfort zone and to take leadership roles within our company.""
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Charlotte Jennelle
Manager, Human Resource and Administration
Otics USA, Inc.
Morristown, Tennessee
""The Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership has been assisting our operation since we broke ground in Morristown. Early on they were available to be certain that we were permitted correctly for all Tennessee environmental regulations. This assistance was important to our corporate culture and philosophy.""
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Gary Marmer
Vice President Marketing
Questech Corporation
Rutland, Vermont
""Eureka! Winning Ways gave us a clear path of what to expect from our testing. This process gives a disciplined, empirical approach to idea generation. We've now learned how to create practical ideas that have great potential for exponential growth and to put resources toward them to turn them into reality. Not only could this triple the size of our business but it will fundamentally change our industry."
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Kenny Mebane
Vice President
Steel America
Norfolk, Virginia
""With VATPDC's assistance through Virginia's Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Steel America has been able to successfully address expansion issues as our business continues to grow. Utilizing Mike Cory's expertise to optimize our fabrication and machine shops was well worth the time and capital investment. The return on such an investment continues to exceed our expectations. Our plans are to continue to utilize the services of VATPDC's assistance as a service delivery partner of VPMEP.""
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