Leaning Forward in the Pandemic

How 110 Metalworks Persevered Through COVID-19

There is no need to describe the challenges we all experienced since the pandemic began. Every company in the manufacturing supply chain was affected. Together, working with our suppliers and customers, we continue to overcome these challenges.

Gatherings with family, friends, coworkers, and business partners stopped yet are critical to our well-being as humans, and then add on the challenges and losses experienced from COVID. People could certainly have a lot on their minds other than just work.

Having a strong team culture, business practices, processes, and systems in place were critical. It is what keeps a team focused.

Caring for each other, our suppliers, and customers define our culture – and it was tested and proven.

Our daily Gemba walks are critical to our daily performance and continual improvement and proved critical to keeping the team focused during a pandemic. Likewise, keeping focused on attainable KPI goals was a priority.  We asked our team to do more than just make parts. And the team did more than just make parts.

The following are highlights of key continuous improvement achievements in 2020:
·      Kaizen project completed improving our contract review process.
·      Successfully completed internal ISO audits to the AS9100 standard in preparation for certification.
·      Expanded NIST SP 800-171 complaint cybersecurity system to meet new CMMC requirements.
·      Invested $650,000 in new machine automation.
·      Reorganized our sales team increasing cross-functional capabilities and customer focus.

·      Achieved hard savings using the Six Sigma DMAIC process.
·      Apprenticeship training continued to build talent for the future.
·      Supported critical needs in our community with The Salvation Army and Helio Health.

2021 is certainly not starting off easier with raw material sourcing challenges and demand increasing. Yet, with a team that cares about using systems and processes to continually improve – we will continue to make more than just parts.