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S&W Manufacturing: A Post 9/11 Global Competitor |
 Pictured (left to right): Chris Obrochta, Programming Engineer and Jim Langeloh, General Manager Pictured below: Leveling products  |
by Randy
Harland - MSI Sr. VP, Schaumburg, IL S&W Manufacturing (Bensenville, IL) is a full-line manufacturer of leveling products, vibration control mounts, tooling components, and knobs for various industries throughout the world. S&W also has the ability to handle a broader process of bringing virtually any metal / plastic product to market: from design to worldwide sourcing to worldwide manufacturing. Accordingly, S&W has expertise to take complete responsibility for product lines beyond those they manufacturer on a regular basis. A prevailing philosophy at S&W is: "What do you need? We’ll get it done." Bill Burr took over the company three years ago. Bill considers himself "still very blue collar." Without question, Bill and S&W are opportunistic: They see the opportunity and move. Bill is not a huge risk-taker but if there’s an opportunity to satisfy the customer and make money, S&W will move without hesitation. Some of S&W’s competitors are much larger companies that can’t turn on a dime. S&W prefers to concentrate on just getting the job done in a timely manner. There are no handbooks or company policies at S&W. Everyone just pitches in. S&W’s competitors love to boast about ‘made in America’, yet they have little in-house manufacturing ability. Then they quote long lead times that the customer can’t accept. Bill Burr asks, "What good is ‘made in America’ if the customer can’t get an acceptable delivery?" |
Bill states that 9/11 was a wake-up call for U.S. manufacturers. Productivity per person is critical at S&W, like every other serious manufacturer. Prior to 9/11 there were few questions about what people did. Now the questions are:
Prior to 9/11, S&W was afraid to lose certain "irreplaceable" people. But having made some tough decisions, it’s interesting that the replacements seem to be working out even better than their predecessors did!
Inventory levels have become much more relevant to S&W, as well as every virtually every other company, in the Post-9/11 era. Cash flow is too precious to be tied up in slow-moving inventory. The trick is to manufacture as close to market demand as possible, and still deliver product within the customer’s expectations. That eliminates inventory, and frees up cash to help run the business on a day-to-day basis. S&W’s recently purchased Mazaks have helped them make smaller quantities more efficiently.
S&W added two Mazak Multi-tasking Super Quick Turns and one Mazak Quick Turn within the past year, allowing them to reallocate five (5) people. S&W has become more productive as a result. The goal is to automate all S&W equipment, with each machine in the shop capable of turning the first side and second side of a workpiece, as well as any secondary milling — on an unattended basis!
These Mazak turning centers allow S&W to handle custom orders very efficiently. If flats or broaches or secondary holes are needed, it’s very simple to set the machines up to handle the request. Whereas stock catalog items ship within 5 working days, any prototype or customized standard part can ship within 7-10 business days.
S&W is in control of the manufacturing process, and can bring just about anything to market. With newfound efficiencies and new ways of looking at the people assets of their company, S&W is a Post-9/11 Global Competitor.
To learn more about S&W, reference www.swmanufacturing.com.
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