Why did thirty-five manufacturing and distribution folks travel to a cow pasture in Abbeville? It may sound like a lead-in to a “Dad” joke, but this happened at the OpExChange plant visit to Stoll Industries last week. Although this site is not ideally located for a factory…
Lifetime Carbon Neutral A company’s carbon “footprint” is the impression that it leaves behind – the legacy of its impact on the environment. Achieving carbon neutrality is an active goal for most manufacturers. Corporate leadership realizes that it is not only the right thing to do for…
Twenty-Two years without a lost-time accident. Six-and-a-half million safe hours worked. These are some of the accolades for the AFL Accessories plant in Duncan, South Carolina. What makes this particularly impressive is the nature of work performed at this facility. Eric Borowicz, general manager of the 150K…
Most manufacturing companies care about their employees. Their leadership realize that an engaged workforce is fundamental to achieving their objectives whether those goals are operational, technical, financial, or societal. This essential engagement has been particularly evident during the recent workforce crisis. Manufacturers with an engaged workforce have…
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is progressing rapidly. Manufacturing companies are incorporating new technologies involving robotics, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality, just to name a few. There is a heightened sense of urgency for companies to get on board or be left behind. Most South Carolina manufacturers already…
Labor Shortage – What do we do? The current workforce labor shortage is pervasive. From recruitment to retention, from basic skills training to leadership development, workforce development has never been more challenging. Potential candidates “ghost” scheduled interviews and new hires do not show up after a lunch…
The final OpExChange plant visit for 2021 took place at Sulzer Pumps in Easley, SC. Sulzer shared their recently implemented digital platform for work instructions along with an in-depth tour of their factory. Thomas Holcombe is their Managing Director and hosted the event. Value Stream Manger, Robert…
Savannah River Remediation (SRR), located in Aiken, SC provided a report-out to the OpExChange on November 2, 2021. The magnitude of the service they provide is worthy of high recognition. Their purpose is to manage and eliminate “the most significant environmental hazard in the state of South…
AMBAC International achieved a huge turn-around at their Elgin, South Carolina plant. This 100 year-old, employee-owned facility already had great talent but they were struggling financially. In 2018, their CEO, Robert Isherwood, implemented a new management operating system which not only engaged the workforce but also unified…
The OpExChange closed out Q3 of 2021 with a visit to Stanley Black & Decker’s (SB&D) state-of-the-art facility in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Several peer OpExChange members traveled from across the Carolinas to participate. In addition to sharing their Industry 4.0 progress they also provided guidance to…