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Client
Profile:
ACCELERATED
PLASTICS INCORPORATED (API)
API is a custom plastic injection-molding company located in Jackson,
Mississippi. In November 2003, the former owner, Mr. Darrell Hart
repurchased the company. Currently, it employs 15 people. Although
the main focus of production is plastics parts and components for
the automotive industry, API has a wide variety of experience and
success in many other plastics molding areas. Some of them include
producing parts for home and garden appliances and tools, and major
components for health care appliances.
Situation:
In April 2004, the owner and the key managers at API decided to
explore ways to expand their customer base, increase their product
offerings and increase the company profitability. Because of the
expanding need for additional suppliers for the rapidly growing
automotive industry in Mississippi, they decided that one of the
API initiatives must be directed at receiving ISO certification.
Solution:
In April 2004, API contacted Mr. Tony Jeff, the Executive Director
of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) in Mississippi,
and requested assistance in finding a reputable agency to train
API employees in ISO Certification Standards. Because API resides
in the Hinds Community College (HCC) District, Mr. Jeff then contacted
the MEP representative at HCC, and asked him to contact API. In-depth
discussions between the API management team, the HCC MEP representative,
and a Plexus Certified Trainer, Mr. Mark Williams of Ridgeland,
Mississippi, resulted in a detailed and comprehensive training plan,
customized to help meet API meet their goal of achieving ISO certification
by late 2004. The training was completed within a month. In a post-training
survey conducted by the HCC MEP representative, the training was
judged by the participants to be “Of great value in our efforts
to meet our goals toward certification.”
Results:
API is presently developing the documentation, measuring their levels
of accomplishment against the ISO standards, and further educating
their production staff. It appears that API may exceed their original
goals of becoming ISO certified by “late 2004”, and
instead will request their initial audit for July 2004.
“We are more than pleased with the ISO Standards training
offered through the partnership of Hinds Community College, the
Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the Plexus Trainer, Mr.
Mark Williams. It will aid us greatly in increasing our customer
base. Ultimately though, the real benefits derived by Accelerated
Plastics Inc., are those of discovering ways to continuously improve
our products by better understanding our processes, and by further
improving the many skills of our valued employees. Our goals include
achievement of ISO certification in the very near future.”
Mr. Darrell Hart
Owner-President
Accelerated Plastics Inc.
126B West Mays Street
Jackson, MS. 39213
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