Raving Fan: Case Corporation

	CUSTOMER STORY
	Multi-tasking: Cost Reduction Strategy at Case Corp

Ray time to put the finishing touches on each piece and load the raw material into the second Integrex in his cell.

Ray Governatori, a 28-year veteran at Case, is the Team Leader for the axle area. Each 20 minute cycle allows Ray time to put the finishing touches on each piece and load the raw material into the second Integrex in his cell.

Bill states, "the sticker shock on the Mazak Multi-tasking equipment wore off when the process improvement became clear to me. A number of machine set-ups were eliminated which reduced our costs."

Mazak's largest machine in the Midwest, the YMS H-400, sits in the Case Transmission Plant (T-Plant) in Racine, WI. Proudly posing nearby are (left to right): Ron Tomaloff, Case Sr. Mfg. Eng., Mike Fontana, MSI Sr. Sales Eng., Tom Wincek, Mazak Service Eng., Jim Krueger Mazak Installation Mgr., Richard Wrobel, MSI Account Manager, and Bill George, Case Mgr. of Mfg. Eng.

As many shops are, Case Transmission Plant (T-Plant) in Racine, WI is dedicated to a cost reduction strategy. They have used this strategy to justify the purchase of Mazak Multi-tasking machines: the Multiplex and Integrex.

One person was quickly identified by his peers as the visionary: Bill George, Case Manager of Manufacturing Engineering. With the help of Richard Wrobel and Mike Fontana (both MSI Sales Engineers), Bill was responsible for "finding" Multi-tasking equipment. He gathered quotes and time studies for both Multi-tasking and traditional (a lathe to a mill) solutions. Bill states, "the sticker shock on the Mazak Multi-tasking equipment wore off when the process improvement became clear to me. A number of machine set-ups were eliminated which reduced our costs."

Ray Governatori, 28-year veteran at Case, is the Team Leader for the axle area. About six months ago, Ray's life became a bit easier. Ray stays in one manufacturing cell equipped with two Mazak Integrex 50Ys and produces axles complete. Ray states, "The Integrex allowed us to increase the feeds and speeds and absorb the mill time. The reduction in cycle times with the Integrex generates a documented cost savings of $250,000 per year across 15 different axles." Impressive - the Case cost reduction strategy at work!

About 18 months ago the Multiplex cell was installed to run the clutch carriers for Case agricultural equipment. Ron Tomaloff, Case Sr. Manufacturing Engineer, was responsible for this installation. He shares that "this new process run on the Multiplex machines reveals a increase in productivity and, more importantly, a major cost reduction per piece part." He adds, "the installation of the 4 Mazak Multiplex machines allowed us to eliminate over 30 machine tools, including chuckers, slotting mills, lathes and drills."

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