Page 18 - MetalForming-Dec-2018-issue

Awards of Excellence in Metalforming
Through implementation of new data-acquisition and -reporting software, Anchor Manufacturing Group’s shop-floor dashboards, unlike in the past, reflect real-time information. As a result, employees can react to issues much more quickly, and improve conditions before they spiral out of control.
once or twice per shift. As a result, displayed information offered little value because it didn’t represent the current situation of the work center. Now, dashboards and other modules used to view workcenter information relay real- time conditions to all interested parties, allowing Anchor employees to react to issues much more quickly, and improve conditions before they spiral out of control.
In the project’s testing phase, Anchor ran the HMI offline in parallel with the standard method used by operators to record production and machine statuses. On one piece of equipment, according to the data logged by an operator, machine downtime totaled 54 min. during a shift. Ignition revealed that actual downtime totaled 94 min., a significant difference.
Implementation of Ignition has benefitted operators by providing real-time performance awareness and easier status updates. Management has benefitted through enhanced data acquisition and access to timely information. Overall, the company has gained a better understanding of current performance that allows for targeting of specific areas in need of improvement, and Anchor has the ability to expand data collection and control in the future.
The Innovation and Technology Award, sponsored by Plex Systems, Troy, MI, recognizes a metalforming company that has implemented cloud technology to drive innovation from a product or business perspective or transform business operations, or leveraged it in order to scale and grow from a size or product perspective in order to emerge as a leader in its industry.
Training and Education Award Pridgeon & Clay, Inc.
Pridgeon & Clay, Inc. also received the 2018 A.R. Hedberg Training and Education Award for its Core training program, developed in 2017 by a team of subject-matter experts, the training department and executive leadership. The group was guided by an outside consultant specializing in training specifically for automotive-stamping companies. The objec- tive of the program: Emphasize that Pridgeon & Clay is a metal-stamping company and that each person and process
These graduates of Pridgeon & Clay’s Core training program passed nine courses showcasing specific aspects and processes of the organization. Benefits obtained include individual growth and development, enhanced understanding of the business, heightened focus on quality and safety awareness, increased collaboration with different areas of the organization, positive morale, continuous improvement, and increased skills.
within the organization has an effect on output.
Core training consists of nine basic courses showcasing specific gears of the organization—Pridgeon & Clay Business Overview, Metallurgy, Energy, Presses, Dies, Welding, Quality, 5S and Lean Thinking. Courses are taught as a two-day, seminar-style training session in the company’s renovated training room. Sessions are comprised of small groups of approximately 16 attendees from different areas, departments and shifts within the organization. Each 1-hr.-long Core course includes Q&A and a short test, with the exception of the 2-hr. Core Pridgeon & Clay Business Overview course. Training ends with verbal feedback, takeaways, Q&A and a
graduation ceremony.
Core training was designed for all employees, with each
session including a mixture of individuals from all levels of the organization, and all shifts and roles. At the end of every Core session, executive leadership presents each graduate with a certificate and gift.
The training program has yielded many benefits, including employee growth and development, an enhanced under- standing of the business, a heightened focus on quality and safety awareness, increased collaboration with different areas of the organization, positive morale, continuous improvement, and a skilled workforce.
Currently, Core is offered in Pridgeon & Clay’s Grand Rapids, MI, plant, with plans to roll it out to other company sites.
The Training and Education Award is sponsored by HPL Stampings, Inc., Lake Zurich, IL, in memory of A.R. (Ray) Hedberg, a leader in employee training. As the winner of the award, Pridgeon & Clay received a $1500 cash prize, which it presented to Wyoming High School Robotics Program, Wyoming, MI. MF
You Have to Enter to Win
Want to recognize your team for hard work and success? Want peers to know that you have a leading-edge company? Then submit an entry for the PMA Awards of Excellence in Metalforming 2019. Details on the 2019 award-nomination process will be available shortly at www.pma.org/awards, or contact PMA at 216/901-8800.
16 MetalForming/December 2018
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