Success Stories : Finishes Ltd


ABOUT CAMT CLIENT SERVICES UPCOMING EVENTS SUCCESS STORIES CONTACT US NEWSLETTERS	Finishes Ltd - Colorado Springs, CO Finishes Ltd, a small business in Colorado Springs, provides plating and anodizing services to machine shops along the Front Range. The business has been serving manufacturers in Colorado since 1978. The current owners, Frank and Linda Shannon, purchased the business in 1990. At that time, the business served only Colorado Springs and offered two product lines. Under the guidance of the Shannons, Finishes, Ltd. introduced four new product lines, extended service into the Denver/Boulder/Longmont markets, significantly increased revenue-- including a doubling of business for two consecutive years--, and grew its staff by 16 in six years. But trouble arrived in 2002 as the U.S. manufacturing industry declined and manufacturing was outsourced internationally. The Colorado manufacturing market suffered a 30% structural decline; 30% of Finishes Ltd. customers declared bankruptcy and the company revenues dropped 50% within a couple of months. After incurring losses for two years, the Shannons resolved to stay in business, set ambitious sales targets and significantly increased the scope and scale of its marketing efforts. They were successful in staying afloat. In late 2005, Mr. Shannon attended an event at which CAMT presented the 5S methodology. Convinced that 5S would help Finishes Ltd. improve and assisted by a state grant, Frank contracted CAMT to perform a 5S training and implementation on the shop floor with the entire staff. Frank was struck by the implementation of the training. “Our staff has never been so motivated by training as they were in 5S,” noted Frank. The implementation of 5S methodology included the rearrangement of the shop floor to facilitate smoother workflow, saving floor space, and reducing motion and time spent searching for essential information and tools. These 5S improvements were spread to all aspects of the organization and improvements are expected to continue because of the structural changes made company-wide. Managers have more time to manage now, resulting in improvement of quality and customer service. After implementing 5S, Finishes Ltd. returned to profitability for the first time in four years. Frank believes, “The survival of our company can be owed in part to the implementation of 5S.” Results: - Sales increase by 27% - Staff increase from 9 to 13 - Reduction in labor costs by 20%

Finishes Ltd - Colorado Springs, CO

Finishes Ltd, a small business in Colorado Springs, provides plating and anodizing services to machine shops along the Front Range. The business has been serving manufacturers in Colorado since 1978.

The current owners, Frank and Linda Shannon, purchased the business in 1990. At that time, the business served only Colorado Springs and offered two product lines. Under the guidance of the Shannons, Finishes, Ltd. introduced four new product lines, extended service into the Denver/Boulder/Longmont markets, significantly increased revenue-- including a doubling of business for two consecutive years--, and grew its staff by 16 in six years.

But trouble arrived in 2002 as the U.S. manufacturing industry declined and manufacturing was outsourced internationally. The Colorado manufacturing market suffered a 30% structural decline; 30% of Finishes Ltd. customers declared bankruptcy and the company revenues dropped 50% within a couple of months. After incurring losses for two years, the Shannons resolved to stay in business, set ambitious sales targets and significantly increased the scope and scale of its marketing efforts. They were successful in staying afloat.

In late 2005, Mr. Shannon attended an event at which CAMT presented the 5S methodology. Convinced that 5S would help Finishes Ltd. improve and assisted by a state grant, Frank contracted CAMT to perform a 5S training and implementation on the shop floor with the entire staff. Frank was struck by the implementation of the training. “Our staff has never been so motivated by training as they were in 5S,” noted Frank.

The implementation of 5S methodology included the rearrangement of the shop floor to facilitate smoother workflow, saving floor space, and reducing motion and time spent searching for essential information and tools. These 5S improvements were spread to all aspects of the organization and improvements are expected to continue because of the structural changes made company-wide. Managers have more time to manage now, resulting in improvement of quality and customer service. After implementing 5S, Finishes Ltd. returned to profitability for the first time in four years. Frank believes, “The survival of our company can be owed in part to the implementation of 5S.”

Results:
- Sales increase by 27%
- Staff increase from 9 to 13
- Reduction in labor costs by 20%