Franklin Bronze Precision Components LLC, Franklin, Pa., announced promotions and implementation of a significant number of continuous improvement suggestions, all geared toward improving production processes, product flow and quality, ultimately resulting in reduced time to market.
Dave Greene, Operations Manager, focuses on managing scheduling and real-time operations while facilitating the optimization of resources to achieve customer satisfaction and productivity. Paul Polesnak, Quality Assurance Manager, manages the ISO 9001 Quality system as well as develops, oversees and implements process control and plant continuous improvement activities and directs all auditing functions. Vasko Popovski, Sales Manager, is responsible for maintaining and developing sales in investment castings, focusing on industrial markets and new applications.
Promotion from within is preferred as FBPC’s greatest strength is its employees. Regardless of tenure, employees are knowledgeable, dedicated and have a very admirable work ethic. Training and development of employees continues to be one of the top priorities for employee growth.
Rick Wolbert, Machine Shop / Tool Room Supervisor, assumed responsibility of the Franklin Bronze Tool Room in addition to his Machine Shop supervisory duties. Wolbert brings a broad range of leadership to this newly combined group, having attained 5 years of experience with FBPC products and processes. Mark Johnson, Cleaning / Grinding Supervisor, was promoted from cutoff saw operator and brings 9 years of Franklin Bronze product and process knowledge. Chris Barber, Wax Room Supervisor, transitioned from cleaning/grinding room supervisor and additionally spent many years as part of the Franklin Bronze foundry team, bringing 20 years of extensive product and process knowledge.
A structured Continuous Improvement (CI) program was implemented within the organization over the last few years, encouraging employee engagement. Examples of changes as a result of CI include energy usage reduction, tooling innovation and improved process layout. Employees have embraced the CI concept and proved that the best ideas come from those doing the job.
Future growth is projected in the industrial market at a rapid pace over the next several years and Franklin Bronze Precision Components is looking forward to its future. FBPC’s Vision and Mission include:
Expansion of their team through continual employee training and development
Further refinement of processes including increased employee engagement in the CI program
Implementation of new technology
Expansion of facility
Related Glossary Terms
- cutoff
cutoff
Step that prepares a slug, blank or other workpiece for machining or other processing by separating it from the original stock. Performed on lathes, chucking machines, automatic screw machines and other turning machines. Also performed on milling machines, machining centers with slitting saws and sawing machines with cold (circular) saws, hacksaws, bandsaws or abrasive cutoff saws. See saw, sawing machine; turning.
- grinding
grinding
Machining operation in which material is removed from the workpiece by a powered abrasive wheel, stone, belt, paste, sheet, compound, slurry, etc. Takes various forms: surface grinding (creates flat and/or squared surfaces); cylindrical grinding (for external cylindrical and tapered shapes, fillets, undercuts, etc.); centerless grinding; chamfering; thread and form grinding; tool and cutter grinding; offhand grinding; lapping and polishing (grinding with extremely fine grits to create ultrasmooth surfaces); honing; and disc grinding.
- process control
process control
Method of monitoring a process. Relates to electronic hardware and instrumentation used in automated process control. See in-process gaging, inspection; SPC, statistical process control.
- quality assurance ( quality control)
quality assurance ( quality control)
Terms denoting a formal program for monitoring product quality. The denotations are the same, but QC typically connotes a more traditional postmachining inspection system, while QA implies a more comprehensive approach, with emphasis on “total quality,” broad quality principles, statistical process control and other statistical methods.
- sawing machine ( saw)
sawing machine ( saw)
Machine designed to use a serrated-tooth blade to cut metal or other material. Comes in a wide variety of styles but takes one of four basic forms: hacksaw (a simple, rugged machine that uses a reciprocating motion to part metal or other material); cold or circular saw (powers a circular blade that cuts structural materials); bandsaw (runs an endless band; the two basic types are cutoff and contour band machines, which cut intricate contours and shapes); and abrasive cutoff saw (similar in appearance to the cold saw, but uses an abrasive disc that rotates at high speeds rather than a blade with serrated teeth).
