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AIM Industries, a metal stamping company, has been in business for over 40 years. Jeanne Duthler had 10 employees when she bought the plant in 1984. Now there are 37, and last year’s sales were $5 million. "We are doing the same numbers dollar wise as we did last year, but showing more profit as a result of lean manufacturing, Duthler says.
Lean practices at AIM include:
- Consolidating production steps
- Having raw materials set up at hand to save time and increase productivity
- Moving presses to make production flow smoother
- Finishing a product in one space rather than walking to another room for finishing
After buying a building and property next door In 2004, the company now has 17 acres. “We nearly doubled our size, and by becoming more lean we now have the excess capacity we want to fill,” Duthler says. She adds that the company is in the process of landing some large contracts.
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