BRIGHTON NC: Sustaining Continuous Improvement With Transformational Mentoring
We’ve enjoyed working with and have trusted The Center for years with our company’s continuous improvement needs. Our training has been effective, done well and has had a positive impact on our new employees and our business.
-- Kevin Alder, CEO
Established in 1965, Brighton NC Machine Corporation (www.brightonnc.com) provides complete material management, machining, grinding, assembly, warehousing and distribution services. Based in Brighton, Mich., their services begin at the procurement of castings, forgings and other raw materials. They also design and build all of their machining and assembly fixtures in-house. This family-owned business, with a staff of 135, offers material sourcing and machining services both domestically and off-shore, allowing customers around the world to utilize their quality products.
Challenge
Brighton NC has worked with the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (The Center) in the past to successfully create and maintain a culture of continuous improvement within their company. For more than three years, The Center has supplied Brighton NC with the training and mentoring necessary to sustain this culture and help their company improve. In 2016, Brighton NC developed a strategy for increasing sales over a two-year period. For assistance with this plan, they came to The Center.
Solution
Over the course of 2016 and 2017, Brighton NC engaged in a variety of transformational training focused on Lean principles, quality improvements and retaining customers, while attracting new ones. This diverse list of training brought many positive changes to Brighton NC’s employees and practices.
• In 2016, Brighton NC engaged in Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) mentoring. Through this process, employees identified ways to eliminate waste. The team implemented preventative maintenance techniques, and learned how to keep their machines in good shape through daily assessments.
• Several employees attended a Six Sigma Green Belt course to strengthen the team’s DMAIC problem-solving skills.
During the past year, Brighton NC has continued their transformation with more mentoring from The Center.
• Brighton NC came to The Center for assistance with becoming compliant with the looming NIST cybersecurity standards in order to retain their government contracts. This compliance helped save an estimated 15% of their business.
• An IATF Gap Analysis was performed by The Center, preparing Brighton NC for their upcoming transition to IATF 16949.
• The Center provided new employees at Brighton NC with a variety of training in Lean principles to bring them up to speed on their continuous improvement culture. Participants came out of the courses with improved risk-based thinking and many poka-yokes for their equipment to reduce quality defects. Tightening, lubricating and cleaning standards also were developed and implemented through autonomous maintenance, along with newly-instituted preventative maintenance practices which helped them increase capacity in their organization.
Brighton NC is not yet finished with their transformation, as they have further mentoring planned with The Center to monitor their practices as a part of their two-year strategy and beyond.
Results
- Retained Sales: $2,000,000
- Cost Savings: $1,500,000
- Jobs Retained: 24
- New Jobs: 12