Midwest Metal Products Launches the Supplier Excellence Alliance Lean Enterprise System

Midwest Metal Products begins implementation of the Supplier Excellence Alliance (SEA) Lean Enterprise System, a continuous improvement system designed by aerospace and defense prime and tier-one contractors and suppliers

Irvine, CA (PRWEB) July 20, 2007 -- Midwest Metal Products located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is launching the implementation of the Supplier Excellence Alliance (SEA) Lean Enterprise System.

The Lean Enterprise System (LES) is the continuous improvement system developed by aerospace, defense, and space suppliers, along with prime and tier-one contractors. The LES helps suppliers build new capabilities that will enable them to better support the emerging needs of their customers. The LES also helps establish a culture where lean production principles and standard work are applied throughout the organization to ensure sustained improvements in delivery and quality, while reducing lead times and cost.

Midwest Metal Products is a precision sheet metal custom fabrication company that was founded in 1964 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It occupies 85,000 square feet in a clean, modern, air conditioned, and non-smoking facility on 10 acres, with 140 employees on three shifts. Its customer base includes Rockwell Collins, GE Transportation, Hewlett-Packard and many others in the aerospace, medical and electronics industries.

Midwest Metal Products prides itself on providing exceptional customer service, outstanding quality, and on-time delivery (99% + on 1,200 lots shipped per month). High-mix and low-volume product mix provides stability and spurs constant change and innovation. Extensive use of automation and robotics, combined with a skilled, cross-trained work force that participates in a quarterly profit sharing plan creates a progressive work environment. All processes are performed "in-house", including powder coating, wet painting, screen printing and assembly. Midwest Metal Products is Mil-Spec certified and has been ISO certified since 1997.

Kevin Urban, President of Midwest Metal Products, notes, "SEA will make our company much better by accelerating and sustaining continual improvement. It will enhance and compliment the systems we already have in place. We are also convinced that the Lean Enterprise System will help improve our profits and provide a more stable future for our employees."

As a non-profit alliance of leading industry prime and tier-one contractors, and production suppliers, SEA's purpose is to accelerate supply chain performance, ensuring U. S. suppliers become more competitive, while helping the supply chain become more adaptive, agile and aligned. SEA member companies represented on its board of directors include BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman Company, United Technologies, Parker Aerospace, Rockwell Collins, Cessna Aircraft Company, Honeywell, TW Metals, Bombardier, Hitco Carbon Composites, Firth Rixson, Dresser-Rand, Roberts Tool Company, Cristek Interconnects, Photo Etch Company, Smiths Aerospace and Bodycote Thermal Processing.

SEA partners and alliances include: Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG), California Council for Excellence, U.S. Mexico Chamber of Commerce, California Employment Training Panel, California Space Authority, UAW-Labor Employment and Training Corporation, CONNSTEP, Inc., Alliance for Manufacturing & Technology (AM&T), ASG Renaissance, and Net-Inspect.

To learn more about Midwest Metal Products, visit their website at www.mwestmp.com. To learn more about SEA visit the SEA website at www.seaonline.org.

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