Profit Finders and AkzoNobel Help US Manufacturers Defeat the Recession

US industry is struggling through the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930's. Manufacturers are urgently looking for help to reduce costs. AkzoNobel, the world's largest manufacturer of powder coatings, and Profit Finders, a continuous improvement consulting organization, have partnered to bring powerful technology in a creative "free look" program to help US industry weather the economic storm.

Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) May 17, 2009 -- As the world's largest manufacturer of powder coatings, AkzoNobel is already working with many of the world's largest manufacturers. These customers are asking AkzoNobel for help in reducing costs and AkzoNobel is introducing Profit Finders technology as a creative solution.

"After discussions with AkzoNobel's Powder Coating Division we have formalized our relationship in a signed agreement. The agreement provides AkzoNobel's customers to a 'preferred client' status with Profit Finders. It calls for Profit Finders to establish a continuous improvement program at an AkzoNobel facility. The agreement also outlines joint promotion efforts," explained Joe McHenry, Vice President of Business Development for Profit Finders.

Profit Finders has developed a unique Internet-based technology rooted in the concepts of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement. The technology is designed to capture and analyze detailed cost and process data. Costs can be in any area with natural gas, electricity, water, chemicals, metalworking fluids, and waste treatment often being targets for reduction.

"W. Edwards Deming once said, 'In God we trust. All others must bring data.' The Profit Finders program is 100% aligned with this philosophy. Profit Finders is all about capturing and analyzing the valuable data that is required to drive a professional continuous improvement effort," said Tom Fabek General Manager of Profit Finders.

In addition to powerful technology, Profit Finders has a team of experts in a number of factory processes. The team helps clients analyze and interpret data. "Many of our clients have downsized and they don't have process engineers who can spend hours interpreting raw data. Reports generated by our system are reviewed by a Profit Finders engineer and comments are added before the reports are issued to clients," noted Tom Troxil, Director of Technology for Profit Finders.

"When we outline an initial project with an AkzoNobel customer, we work to define a no cost, no obligation process audit to give the customer a 'free look'. In a typical process audit we gather baseline data for 60 days. Always our objective is that the client gets our technology for free in that delivered cost savings more than offset the program cost," commented Tom Fabek.

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