IMC is excited to welcome Jeff Kopenitz, Lean Master, to IMC’s team. Jeff will hold the position of Director of Business Excellence. Jeff has been working with IMC for many years as a third-party consultant and has now joined the team as a staff member effective February 1st. WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Innovative Manufacturers’ Center… Read More
Two Minutes on Manufacturing Excellence – Building a Great Job Training System Step 2
In our last article, we talked about step 1 in developing an effective training system. And how critical training has become, as products become, more customized and specialized causing jobs and tasks to become more complex and to continually change. Without effective training, unwanted variation, inconsistency, errors, reduced throughputs and other wastes are inevitable. Job… Read More
Congressman Keller Tours TPS
Congressman Fred Keller toured Thermal Product Solutions‘ (TPS) New Columbia facility recently. TPS is a world leader in production of industrial ovens and test chambers. Pictured with the Congressman is TPS’ General Manager Denny Mendler, HR Director Kelli Stimely and IMC’s Director of Advanced Manufacturing, Jeff Kopenitz who was at TPS working with their Continuous… Read More
Two Minutes on Manufacturing Excellence – Building a Great Job Training System Step 1
In our previous two posts, we discussed the worldwide trend of increasing product customization and specialization and the many implications of that. One being the introduction of more variation into our work processes from up-front selling and quoting through design, purchasing, manufacturing and distribution. So how do we take advantage of the desired variation of… Read More
Two Minutes on Manufacturing Excellence – Stop the CHAOS! Improve Your Training
Stop the CHAOS! Improve Your Training The Inevitable Trend In our previous post, we talked about the worldwide trend towards more customized and specialized products and how that trend translates into significant challenges (and opportunities) for manufacturers. Let’s face it. Making more customized and specialized products (that are more complex and always changing) and doing that… Read More
Two Minutes on Manufacturing Excellence – Customized, Specialized Products
Customized, Specialized Products – Challenging? Yes. Doable? Definitely! THE OPPORTUNITY I think we all get it that the manufacturing we lost to foreign competition (China in particular) over the past couple decades was mostly commodity products that they could make much cheaper and often “good enough”. But as we’re all seeing now, the worldwide trend… Read More
PennTAP Announces Vouchers for PSU Learning Factory Projects for Fall 2020 Semester
PennTAP is currently looking for industry participants for Penn State’s College of Engineering Learning Factory program. There are a few changes for the Fall 2020 semester program due to the current pandemic environment that interested parties must be aware of: No site visits are going to be permitted at this time Students can utilize the… Read More
“What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Announces 3rd Annual Statewide Awards
On Tuesday June 9, 2020, the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” (WSCM) student video program will conclude its seventh season with the “Best of PA” Statewide Awards Event. Due to the unprecedented challenges presented by social distancing, this year’s event will stream ‘live from home’ on YouTube, and will include 22 teams competing for first,… Read More
IMC Accepting Applications for Two Positions
If interested in either of these positions, please submit your resume with cover letter to info@imcpa.com. Administrative Assistant May 2020 Manager Online Services May 2020
Why Networked Communities are the Key to Recovery
Written by Erica Mulberger, Executive Director, CPWDC As Memorial Day has come and gone with no parades, no baseball, and no large summer kick-off parties, one thing has remained constant: Central Pennsylvanians stayed committed to ensuring our friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers would come out of this pandemic just as strong as we were going… Read More
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Releases New PPP Guide
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce releases new Paycheck Protection Program Guide to Forgiveness.