ACME MILLS COMPANY: Preparing Workers for Future Growth with Quality Training
Instructors at The Center were very accommodating and helpful. Without the direction and assurance their training provided, it would have taken twice as long for me to understand complex quality processes and systems.
-- ALYSSA HAMMEL, Quality Specialist
Founded in 1917, Acme Mills (www.acmemills.com) is a privately-owned provider of industrial textiles and textile solutions for clients in the automotive, aviation, marine and furniture industries. Drawing from their more than 100 years of experience, they focus on supplying the correct fabric for each individual application. Acme Mills employs 90 at their two locations in Hillsdale, Mich. They are headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and have locations in Europe and Asia.
Challenge
With an upcoming audit for their quality management system approaching and a number of newly promoted supervisors in need of building their skills, Acme Mills needed extra assistance to bring their management team up to speed. To prepare for this company-wide growth and change, Acme Mills needed to update their quality management system to ISO 9001:2015 while preparing several workers for eventual managerial positions.
Solution
Acme Mills contacted the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (The Center) requesting training for their staff. To prepare Acme Mills for their upcoming audit, experts at The Center instructed employees on how to effectively transition from ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015. This Organizational Transition and Internal Auditor training prepared the Quality Director-In-Training with the tools and knowledge necessary to manage quality responsibilities in the future.
Similarly, three other workers from the plant floor attended various lean training, which focused on 5S Visual & Pull Systems, Standard Work and A3 Problem Solving, to gain skills in supervising teams. All three employees were later promoted to supervisory positions, enabling Acme Mills to add a third shift to production. As a result of The Center’s training and preparation, not only did Acme Mills grow their staff by 14 and increase efficiency, they also passed their audit with no non-conformances.
Results
- Retained Sales: $10M
- Retained Employees: 30
- New Employees: 14
- New Investment: $8,750
- Achieved ISO 9001:2015 Certification