Smith Foundry Company works In early 2011, Smith Foundry was Because of its work with Enterprise experiencing a rapid increase in Minnesota, Smith Foundry realized with Enterprise Minnesota on business volume and they decided to reduced labor, material, inventory, GreenLean Principles scale up operations and grow its and energy costs. And they lowered Neil Ahlstrom, Smith Foundry Co. workforce. This influx of new greenhouse gas emissions and employees, as well as the promotion decreased environmental impact Since 1923, has been producing gray of new supervisors, presented Smith from runoff. Safety improved due to and ductile iron castings for the with a unique opportunity to begin reduced forklift traffic and improved agricultural, power generation, to build a culture based around lean flow of product through the heating and air conditioning, water manufacturing methodologies and plant. Smith yielded an annual cost related, and general industrial environmentally-friendly practices. savings of $257,000, invested application industries. Smith $154,000 in plant and equipment, specializes in low and medium Enterprise Minnesota lean and talent and retained over $3.7 million in volume production run castings development experts and presented sales revenue. ranging from several ounces up to Smith with a two-part solution to 250 lbs., as well as casting address the company’s need for With all legal challenges conversions, rapid prototyping, and employee development and lean engineering design assistance for its defeated, silica rule to take methods implementation. They customers. The company’s customer effect next month deployed Enterprise Minnesota’s ® base ranges from Fortune 500 Principles to help Smith implement companies to small machine shops, By Paul Serafini, Sotera Consulting, LLC lean methods and reduce many of which have been loyal environmental wastes, and they also customers of Smith for over 30 On December 22, 2017, the U.S. helped the company implement Job years. Smith employs 65 people at Court of Appeals for the District of Instruction, a component, to help its plant located just south of Columbia announced that they had the new employees and supervisors downtown Minneapolis. rejected all remaining challenges to grow in their new roles. OSHA’s controversial Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) regulation
Smith Foundry Company works with Enterprise Minnesota on GreenLean Principles Neil Ahlstrom, Smith Foundry Co. Since 1923, has been producing gray and ductile iron castings for the agricultural, power generation, heating and air conditioning, water related, and general industrial application industries. Smith specializes in low and medium volume production run castings ranging from several ounces up to 250 lbs., as well as casting conversions, rapid prototyping, and engineering design assistance for its customers. The company’s customer base ranges from Fortune 500 companies to small machine shops, many of which have been loyal customers of Smith for over 30 years. Smith employs 65 people at its plant located just south of downtown Minneapolis. In early 2011, Smith Foundry was experiencing a rapid increase in business volume and they decided to scale up operations and grow its workforce. This influx of new employees, as well as the promotion of new supervisors, presented Smith with a unique opportunity to begin to build a culture based around lean manufacturing methodologies and environmentally-friendly practices. Enterprise Minnesota lean and talent development experts and presented Smith with a two-part solution to address the company’s need for employee development and lean methods implementation. They deployed Enterprise Minnesota’s ® Principles to help Smith implement lean methods and reduce environmental wastes, and they also helped the company implement Job Instruction, a component, to help the new employees and supervisors grow in their new roles. Because of its work with Enterprise Minnesota, Smith Foundry realized reduced labor, material, inventory, and energy costs. And they lowered greenhouse gas emissions and decreased environmental impact from runoff. Safety improved due to reduced forklift traffic and improved flow of product through the plant. Smith yielded an annual cost savings of $257,000, invested $154,000 in plant and equipment, and retained over $3.7 million in sales revenue. With all legal challenges defeated, silica rule to take effect next month By Paul Serafini, Sotera Consulting, LLC On December 22, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia announced that they had rejected all remaining challenges to OSHA’s controversial Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) regulation