Success Stories : Reata Engineering & Machine


ABOUT CAMT CLIENT SERVICES UPCOMING EVENTS SUCCESS STORIES CONTACT US NEWSLETTERS	Reata Engineering & Machine - Englewood, CO Reata Engineering is a contract manufacturer specializing in precision machining and assembly to a variety of industries including the medical device, aerospace and technology industries. Founded in 1993 by Grady Cope with $6000 on a credit card to purchase a used manual lathe and mill, Reata Engineering has steadily grown to employ 33 employees filling a 25,000 square foot facility. Continued success led to the acquisition of a local bearing heater manufacturing company in 2001 and expansion to the larger facility in 2004. With growth came operational strains, and Reata found itself with a loss of $250,000 at the end of 2004. Grady realized that it was time to call in help to educate the workforce in best practices and streamlined processes. Through the help of Pueblo and Arapahoe Community Colleges, Reata Engineering was awarded a Colorado state grant and was referred to Sumer Sorensen-Bain, CAMT Account Manager. The entire staff took part in the six-month training focusing on Lean Manufacturing methodologies 5S Workplace Organization and Set-up Reductions. The 5S philosophy focuses on simplifying the work environment, reducing waste, and improving quality and safety through implementing five steps: sorting, shining, setting in order, standardizing and sharing information, and sustaining improvements. Set-up reduction is a valuable technique aimed to decrease overall costs and lead-times. Set-up or “change-over” is defined as the time required from the unloading or completion of the last good product until the production of the first good part of the next run. The focus is on reducing the non-value added activities in the process. After this work is done, standard procedures can be determined, documented, and used shift-to-shift. The staff implemented their new knowledge and techniques to enable improved work flow, reduction in set-up times, improved staff communication and a decrease in lead time by hours. Additionally, in the spirit of 5S, Reata adopted a new tool and tooling management system that eliminated information and communication deficits that caused a slow down in production. These improvements have led to a 50% increase in sales revenue for Reata Engineering. “CAMT helps prove American manufacturing is thriving despite what you may have heard.” -Grady Cope, President, Reata Engineering Results: - Sales increase of $400,000 - Retained Sales of $200,000 - Savings of $85,000

Reata Engineering & Machine - Englewood, CO

Reata Engineering is a contract manufacturer specializing in precision machining and assembly to a variety of industries including the medical device, aerospace and technology industries. Founded in 1993 by Grady Cope with $6000 on a credit card to purchase a used manual lathe and mill, Reata Engineering has steadily grown to employ 33 employees filling a 25,000 square foot facility.

Continued success led to the acquisition of a local bearing heater manufacturing company in 2001 and expansion to the larger facility in 2004. With growth came operational strains, and Reata found itself with a loss of $250,000 at the end of 2004. Grady realized that it was time to call in help to educate the workforce in best practices and streamlined processes. Through the help of Pueblo and Arapahoe Community Colleges, Reata Engineering was awarded a Colorado state grant and was referred to Sumer Sorensen-Bain, CAMT Account Manager.

The entire staff took part in the six-month training focusing on Lean Manufacturing methodologies 5S Workplace Organization and Set-up Reductions. The 5S philosophy focuses on simplifying the work environment, reducing waste, and improving quality and safety through implementing five steps: sorting, shining, setting in order, standardizing and sharing information, and sustaining improvements.

Set-up reduction is a valuable technique aimed to decrease overall costs and lead-times. Set-up or “change-over” is defined as the time required from the unloading or completion of the last good product until the production of the first good part of the next run. The focus is on reducing the non-value added activities in the process. After this work is done, standard procedures can be determined, documented, and used shift-to-shift.

The staff implemented their new knowledge and techniques to enable improved work flow, reduction in set-up times, improved staff communication and a decrease in lead time by hours. Additionally, in the spirit of 5S, Reata adopted a new tool and tooling management system that eliminated information and communication deficits that caused a slow down in production. These improvements have led to a 50% increase in sales revenue for Reata Engineering. “CAMT helps prove American manufacturing is thriving despite what you may have heard.” -Grady Cope, President, Reata Engineering

Results:
- Sales increase of $400,000
- Retained Sales of $200,000
- Savings of $85,000