Inforum 'Innovation Award' Underlines AddisonMckee's Commitment to Benefits of Lean Manufacturing
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Las Vegas (Inforum) - October 14, 2008: World-leading tube bending and end-forming technology specialist, AddisonMckee, has received an 'Excellence in Action' award in recognition of its outstanding business performance from Infor, one of the largest business software companies in the world.
Inforum 2008 is the largest annual gathering of Infor customers, partners and experts who want to connect, learn and maximize the value of their Infor solutions. In total, nine winners were selected from more than 60 nominations, with the awards being presented in five categories.
Winning the 'Innovation Award' category, alongside Neonlite Electrical & Lighting (HK) Ltd. and Rodgers Instruments LLC (Oregon), AddisonMckee was recognized largely for the use of Infor's SyteLine ERP software as part of its lean manufacturing roll-out, and for its planned deployment of Infor's MyDay software, to supplement existing white boards and metric reporting structure.
To improve communications and cross-functional interaction, AddisonMckee began recording measurements and scores by individual areas. Daily status reports were introduced, along with performance reviews and associated logs.
Through Infor MyDay, an innovative means will be established to enable the company to deliver greater visibility into this data and share it with users in a more personalized way.
Identification of processes delivering greatest efficiencies
As a result of this greater visibility and detailed analysis, AddisonMckee can identify exactly which processes have delivered the greatest efficiencies, where further improvements can be made, and which processes have reached maximum optimization. As a result, the business has achieved new levels of focus, responsiveness and cost awareness.
Underpins focus on lean operations
Comments AddisonMckee Vice President of Global Marketing, Christian Rogiers, "It is a tremendous honor to be recognized for a 2008 Infor award, especially as this particular achievement underpins the considerable focus we are currently placing on the development of lean manufacturing initiatives.
"In 2007," he continued, "AddisonMckee invested $250,000 in a lean manufacturing program to improve performance, enhance manufacturing efficiency, and reduce lead times by 50%. In just 6 months, the business was transformed from a classic 'push' manufacturing company with shelves filled with WIP, to a lean organization, with 'pull' manufacturing processes and minimal WIP. The lean program quickly brought the manufacturing lead-time of several processes down to 54% of 2006 baseline data, including: 100% increase in saw operations, 111% increase in bend tool throughput, 71% increase in segmented tooling throughput and 51% reduction in lead time."
Further challenging targets
Having recently embarked upon the second phase of its lean manufacturing program, AddisonMckee has introduced further challenging targets. These include: reducing end-former lead time by 50%; standardizing the product line and processes; synchronizing the assembly process with receipt of manufacturers and vendor-supplied parts, and reducing average end-former assembly time.
About AddisonMckee
Globally renowned for the design, manufacture and supply of some of the world's finest tube bending and end forming technologies - for increasingly complex automotive, aviation, truck and shipbuilding requirements - AddisonMckee also offers highly innovative tube measuring solutions, tube perforation, piercing and louvring technologies, hydraulic press machinery, muffler assembly solutions, plant automation and complete workcell integration.
In addition to these capabilities, a whole range of tooling and accessory options are also provided, as are comprehensive maintenance and service contracts, training and education programs and financial services. Where applicable, AddisonMckee is also able to offer customers the opportunity of machine rebuilds, refurbishment, upgrades and trade-ins.
From its state-of-the-art manufacturing centers in the USA, United Kingdom, Canada and China, AddisonMckee is committed to providing rapid solutions to market and also regularly assists clients in product prototyping, parts development, small production runs and pre-production sample development.
AddisonMckee is principally owned by WHI Capital Partners (WHICP), a Chicago-based private equity group that invests in middle market, industry-leading companies with solid financial fundamentals and proven management teams. WHICP is an affiliate of William Harris Investors, Inc., a family-based asset management firm founded by Irving B. Harris in 1987.
For further information please contact:
Rachel Thomas - BHL Marketing
E-mail: Rachel@bhlmarketing.com E-mail:
Tel: +44 (0) 1244 851850
Fax: +44 (0) 1244 851888
Christian Rogiers - AddisonMckee
crogiers@addisonmckee.com
Tel: +1 513 228 7076
Fax: +1 513 228 7226
