IMC APPI Energy Procurement Partnership

IMC has endorsed APPI Energy to provide data-driven procurement solutions that reduce and manage electricity and natural gas supply costs for members on an ongoing basis.  Every day, APPI Energy identifies the wide range of energy supplier prices across the U.S. and utilizes that data to provide the lowest prices available among many vetted, competing suppliers. Their holistic energy management services include efficiency and sustainability consulting related to demand-side management and renewable energy projects.

APPI Energy now offers a full array of efficiency measures to reduce and track your consumption.  To take advantage of this benefit program, contact IMC at info@imcpa.com.

APPI Energy Solutions

APPI Energy Top Five Differentiators

APPI Energy Procurement




What’s So Cool About Manufacturing Program Featured in IndustryWeek

The What’s So Cool About Manufacturing (WSCM) program is an annual video contest to excite middle school students across Pennsylvania to explore cool manufacturing careers and product profiles of manufacturing companies.

Click here to read IndustryWeek story.

To learn more about the WSCM program in IMC’s 12-county region, contact Lauri Moon at laurim@imcpa.com or 570-329-3200×8085.




IMC Accepting Applications for Manufacturing Business Advisor

Innovative Manufacturers Center (IMC) is seeking an individual with a passion for being part of Central Pennsylvania’s manufacturing success.  To be considered, the individual must have proven success calling on manufacturing business leaders.  Candidate is able to conduct high-level interviews to determine areas where IMC can help manufacturing clients succeed in business strategy/growth, process/continuous improvement, systematic innovation and other solutions.  Candidate must be a strong closer and secure solid projects from new and existing accounts.  Be able to build awareness of IMC through networking, trade or business associations, etc.  Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Process Improvement, Manufacturing Technology and/or Innovation is a plus.

The qualified candidate will possess a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in a business or technical field.  Advanced degree in business, engineering or related field preferred.  Minimum of three years’ experience with a technology oriented non-profit or private sector manufacturing business.  If you fit these requirements, please submit resume, cover letter and letters of reference to kimv@imcpa.com or mail: HR Manager, IMC, One College Avenue – DIF 32, Williamsport, PA 17701.  Position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified. EEO




CromaFlow, Inc. Announces ISO 9001:2015 Certification with IMC Assistance

Williamsport, PA JAN. 2019—CromaFlow Inc, www.cromaflow.com a manufacturer of onsite water and wastewater treatment systems for residential and commercial appliances, announces they have been certified under ISO 9001:2015 as of December 2018. The company earned certification under ISO 9001:2015 and was audited and registered by Perry Johnson Registrars of Troy, MI.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 is the most updated standard of its kind and focuses on quality management systems and performance. It assists companies in developing a management system that aligns quality with their wider business strategy. There is a focus on risk-based thinking and accountability in all organizational processes that helps improve communications, efficiency and implementation of continuous improvement.

“We are very excited to earn certification to ISO 9001:2015 and I know that it provides additional assurance to our customers that we are focused on continuous improvement and customer satisfaction,” said CromaFlow Chief Executive Officer Henry R. Holcomb. “Our move to ISO 9001:2015 certification demonstrates our desire to always perform at the highest levels of quality and to deliver innovative, high quality water and wastewater solutions to our customers worldwide.”

For any company, the road to certification requires time and commitment. CromaFlow began their internal preparation for certification with the help of the Innovative Manufacturers’ center (IMC) in Williamsport, PA and with assistance of Core Business Solutions of Lewisburg, PA.

In October and November of 2018, Perry Johnson Registrars, Inc. performed the mandatory certification audits. They then notified CromaFlow of their achievement of the ISO 9001:2015 standard in December. The company’s corporate headquarters, design center and manufacturing facility is located in Montoursville, PA.

Press Release provided by ChromaFlow, Inc.  For information on how IMC can assist your company in ISO Certification, email info@imcpa.com.




IMC Bids Farewell to Outgoing Board Members

At its annual meeting in December, IMC bid farewell to three board members.

Pictured l-r: Dan Manetta, IMC Executive Director/CEO; Terri Fry; Vince Matteo; Keith Atherholt, IMC Board Chairman & President, Lewis Lumber Products, Inc.

  • Terri Fry
  • Dr. Vince Matteo, Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce
  • Dr. Jeremy Frank, KCF Technologies, Inc.

Thank you for your dedicated service to IMC and the manufacturers of Central PA.




Governor Wolf Affirms Commitment to Pennsylvania’s Tech Sector, Approves Funding for 255 Technology Businesses and Entrepreneurs

Governor Tom Wolf announced the approval of Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) tax credits for 255 early-stage technology companies to encourage entrepreneurship in and around Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities.

“Every day, Pennsylvania’s tech sector is growing stronger,” Governor Wolf said. “Our role at the state level is to help foster that growth. By supporting our tech entrepreneurs, we’re creating jobs, enabling business growth, and making Pennsylvania a national and global leader in innovation.”

The KIZ program provides young Pennsylvania companies with vital working capital to meet critical needs, including covering capital expenditures, workforce expansion, operational expenses, and making companies more attractive to venture investment.

The program provides tax credits for companies that have been in operation for less than eight years, whose gross revenues have increased over the previous year, are located in a Keystone Innovation Zone, and are operating within a targeted industry sector such as information technology or advanced manufacturing/diversified materials. When combined with other tools for entrepreneurs like Governor Wolf’s PA Business One-Stop Shop and the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, KIZs are one component of a broad spectrum of resources available for small and emerging technology companies.

An example of a company that has benefitted from the KIZ program is Soltech Solutions, a producer of the world’s first LED grow light made for interior design. The KIZ program enabled the founders of the company to purchase crucial equipment, speed up their operations, and form strong partnerships with local colleges and universities.

A full list of approved Keystone Innovation Zone companies totaling just under $15 million in tax credits, as well as more information about the Keystone Innovation Zone Program, a map of the zones, and highlights of past awardees’ success stories, can be found on the DCED website.

MEDIA CONTACT: J.J. Abbott, Governor’s Office, 717.783.1116
Michael Gerber, DCED, 717.214.5325 or mgerber@pa.gov




“The True Origin of Value Creation”

This is a good, short article ultimately about sales and marketing.  Easily transferrable in terms of segmenting customers and identifying the kinds of touches that drive interactions and opportunities.

The True Origin of Value Creation

by Dan Blacharski




IMC and Congressman Marino Visit Videon Central, Inc.

Thanks to Rob Bargo and Videon Central for hosting IMC and Congressman Tom Marino for Manufacturing Day 2018. Videon, located in State College, PA, develops software and designs hardware for AV products worldwide. Through relationships with companies like Intel, Sony, Samsung and Lufthansa Technik, Videon works with a broad range of industries, from aviation and broadcast to sports and consumer electronics. MFGDay18




Curry Rail Services Completes IMC’s ISO 9001:2015 Internal Auditor Training

Curry Rail Services has been in operation for eight decades with three generations of owners, with the company evolving into a multi-company operation.  Their state-of-the-art coating and paint facility opened in September 2015.  Located in the heart of Central PA in a community with roots dug deep into the railroad industry, CRS and their 75 employees respect and take pride in supplying products and services to the railroad industry every day.

With a multi-company operation, CRS identified the need to have employees trained to the ISO 9001:2015 Standard, which requires companies to conduct internal audits of their management system.  IMC contracted The Bonney Ziegler Group to provide Internal Auditor Training, which is designed to train personnel to become qualified and confident to conduct internal audits in a positive, constructive approach consistent with the objectives of a companies’ management system.  The company received two days of teaching in the fundamentals of the audit process, which included a number of case studies to facilitate the learning process.

At the conclusion of the training, the company participants received a certification of ISO 9001:2015 Internal Auditor Training completion.  This is a requirement for a success external audit.  The client also received follow-up services to create a plan of action for certification.

Testimonial:

“As we continue to grow our businesses we battle how to properly train our managers for the challenges ahead.  As with allot of companies, we struggle to get our managers to see the forest and not just the trees.  IMC was willing to listen to our needs and then tailor the training to what was really needed.  Everyone expressed their gratitude towards IMC and walked away with an understanding of what it takes to be a a better manager.  We look forward to working with IMC in the future on other areas of training necessary to continue our path of success.”

Mark Ritchey, President, Curry Rail Services




Overhead Door Completes IMC Lean Manufacturing Certification

Overhead Door Corporation in Williamsport, PA is a manufacturer of metal garage doors employing approximately 150 individuals.

Overhead Door wanted to have an employee trained on Lean Level One and Continuous Improvement concepts.  This individual participated in a 64 hours of Lean Manufacturing training where he learned Lean tools and concepts as follows:

A3 Thinking and Value Stream Mapping – Learned and applied A3 Tools and Thinking along with the Edwards Deming Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) approach using a problem identified at Overhead Door. Learned the fundamental tool of Value Steam Mapping and built a VSM from customer order to shipping.

Effective Communication – Learned about social styles within the framework of working Lean/CI with teams of people from different functions and levels of the organization.

Root Cause Analysis & Standard Work – Learned problem solving tools, methods and Standard Work including tools for identifying root causes (SIPOC, 5 Why, Fishbone) and for taking corrective and preventative actions (Benefit-Effort Matrix, Design of Experiment, Poka-Yoke,). Standard Work was presented as the foundation of CI and key to all other improvement activities.

Change Management & Visual Workplace – This section of the training provided an understanding of change, how people view and respond to change and how to better facilitate change in an organization. It also introduced the visual plant. Ideas and examples included a detailed review of the 5S Workplace Organization System (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain).

Total Predictive Maintenance (TPM) – TPM methods and examples for reducing downtime were presented and discussed.

Teams & Single Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED) – This session was an exercise on Team Building that provided answers to the challenges of developing teams for successful problem solving and continuous improvement activities. It utilized a NASCAR changeover simulation and teaching of SMED principles for achieving significant reductions in changeover times.

Principles of Kata – This session focused on applying what the participant learned from the previous sessions to reinforce learning. Included a team-based production simulation reinforcing a number of key ways reduction and productivity increasing tools and methods, such as inventory reduction, error-proofing, continuous flow, Kanban, etc.

At the end of the training, the participant showed that they did a “waste” walk within Overhead Door and exhibited their learning by presenting a Process Map and improvements that have been made within their organization using the problem identified at the beginning of the training.

As a result of this training, the participant is equipped with the tools to continuously improve their organization such as being able to:

·         Reduce waste (excess inventories, errors and rework, inefficient processes)

·         Maximize productivity (quick changeovers, single piece flow, reduced variation)

·         Increase responsiveness to ever-increasing marketplace changes

·         Engage your employees in Continuous Improvement of your business

Then EQUIP YOUR PEOPLE WITH THE TOOLS TO CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE with the Lean Manufacturing Level One Certification Program.

Impact Reported by Company:

·         Retained Sales – $1,00,000

·         Employee Creation/Retained – 20

·         Cost Savings – $100,000

·         Company Investments – $2,500,000

Testimonial:

“IMC Lean Certification has been an excellent development tool for our up and coming Leaders.  It gives them the knowledge and practical experience to improve our process.”

Eric Vitunac, Plant Manager, Overhead Door Corporation

“Employees with specific and limited job scopes can easily come to see that they are just a cog in the wheel whose work may not be that important.  The Lean Training Certification program at IMC allows both the organization and individual employee to develop and accelerate their net worth to an organization.”

Stephen Smink, Materials Manager, Overhead Door Corporation.