Some Recent Activities to Promote Innovation, Growth & Profitability of Manufacturers in the Southern Tier

• Conducted the annual ISO 9001:2008 internal audit at a company in Colliersville. The QMS was deemed ISO compliant.
• Conducted a semi-annual ISO 9001:2008 Internal Audit at a company located in Elmira. There were no findings noted during the audit and a summary report was prepared and delivered to the Quality Manager. Their QMS was deemed compliant and effective.
• Completed a Value Stream Mapping (VSM) workshop at a company in Endicott and analyzed their order to shipment processes to identify best practices, non-valued added activities, gaps and deficiencies. The analysis will be used to develop lean programs in 2015.
• Conducted a tri-annual ISO 9001:2008 Internal Audit at company located in Stamford. There were no findings and three opportunities for improvement noted during the audit. A report was prepared and delivered stating that their QMS was deemed compliant and continues to be effective.
• Conducted two TWI Job Method improvement workshops at a company located in Elmira, as part of their 2013 CFA contract. A total of 16 supervisors and team leaders were trained on using a 4-Step Method for breaking down a process into its details and identifying ways to eliminate, combine, rearrange, or simplify them.
• Conducted a semi-annual ISO 9001:2008 Internal Audit at a company located in Ithaca. There were no non-conformances noted and a report was prepared that also offered three opportunities for improvement. Their QMS was deemed compliant and effective.
• Completed an ISO 9001:2008 Internal Audit at a company located in Rochester. There was one non-conformance and one opportunity for improvement. A summary report was prepared and delivered. Their QMS was deemed compliant and effective. This effort is a subcontract through High Tech Rochester.
• Conducted four-hour Lean Thinking training sessions at a company in Elmira, focused on identifying and improving production and administrative wastes. The training was attended by 10 people in each session.
• Completed multi-day 5S and Visual Workplace event at a company in Binghamton. The teams created a workplace where everything is visually clear and controlled. As a result, the workplace will produce fewer defects, less waste, fewer injuries, and fewer breakdowns. These improvements will translate into lower costs and improved quality.
• Conducted a five-day "New Product Development" value stream mapping event at a company in Elmira, with a team of ten people. It is anticipated that when implemented, the plan will result more effective product launches which will improve on-time deliveries and reduce wastes.
• Conducted a one-day 5S: Workplace Organization Training Session. Included was an overview of 5S and how to create a plan to implement 5S company-wide.
• Conducted a two-day Lean Policy Deployment session, which is a management process that aligns, both vertically and horizontally, an organization’s functions and activities with its strategic objectives. A specific plan was developed with precise goals, actions, timelines, responsibilities, and measures.
• Conducted Internal Audits and assisted in Management Reviews at companies in Horseheads, Oneonta, Hornell, Hammondsport, and Binghamton.
• Assisted two companies in developing procedures and quality manuals for AS9100 certification preparation.
• Assisted two companies in preparing for Pre-Assessment and Surveillance Audits.
• Assisted several companies across the region with applications for WDI grants for training.
• AM&T partnered with the NYS Workforce Development Institute, GST BOCES, and Chemung-Schuyler-Steuben Workforce NY to conceptualize and fund a new Hybrid Machining Pilot Project and then held a joint meeting with several manufacturers from the Chemung-Schuyler-Steuben region to confirm the needs of regional manufacturers and finalize the details of the project. Up to 10 trainees will be selected and trained in the program. All trainees will receive 500 hours of training in precision machining skills at the BOCES Bush Campus followed by on-site training at several participating manufacturers where they will rotate among these employers to learn a variety of hands-on skill sets from a mentor/leader provided by the employers. This innovative and cooperative approach is expected to produce 10 machinists that will be highly employable in the Chemung-Schuyler-Steuben region. Plans are to continuously improve upon the program to train and develop future machinists to meet the expressed needs of regional manufacturers.

See this and other newsletter articles at http://amt-mep.org/files/9614/2115/5399/2015-01.pdf

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