Midwest Metal Products Launches the
Supplier Excellence Alliance Lean Enterprise System
Irvine, California – July 18, 2007 – Midwest Metal Products located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is launching
the implementation of the Supplier Excellence Alliance (SEA) Lean Enterprise System.*
The Lean Enterprise System (LES) is the continuous improvement system developed by aerospace,
defense, and space suppliers, along with prime and tier-one contractors. The LES helps suppliers build
new capabilities that will enable them to better support the emerging needs of their customers. The LES
also helps establish a culture where lean production principles and standard work are applied throughout
the organization to ensure sustained improvements in delivery and quality, while reducing lead times and
cost.
Midwest Metal Products is a precision sheet metal custom fabrication company that was founded in 1964
in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It occupies 85,000 square feet in a clean, modern, air conditioned, and nonsmoking
facility on 10 acres, with 140 employees on three shifts. Its customer base includes Rockwell
Collins, GE Transportation, Hewlett-Packard and many others in the aerospace, medical and electronics
industries.
Midwest Metal Products prides itself on providing exceptional customer service, outstanding quality, and
on-time delivery (99% + on 1,200 lots shipped per month). High-mix and low-volume product mix
provides stability and spurs constant change and innovation. Extensive use of automation and robotics,
combined with a skilled, cross-trained work force that participates in a quarterly profit sharing plan creates
a progressive work environment. All processes are performed “in-house”, including powder coating, wet
painting, screen printing and assembly. Midwest Metal Products is Mil-Spec certified and has been ISO
certified since 1997.
Kevin Urban, President of Midwest Metal Products, notes, “SEA will make our company much better by
accelerating and sustaining continual improvement. It will enhance and compliment the systems we
already have in place. We are also convinced that the Lean Enterprise System will help improve our
profits and provide a more stable future for our employees.”
As a non-profit alliance of leading industry prime and tier-one contractors, and production suppliers,
SEA’s purpose is to accelerate supply chain performance, ensuring U. S. suppliers become more
competitive, while helping the supply chain become more adaptive, agile and aligned. SEA member
companies represented on its board of directors include BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Lockheed
Martin, Northrop Grumman Company, United Technologies, Parker Aerospace, Rockwell Collins, Cessna
Aircraft Company, Honeywell, TW Metals, Bombardier, Hitco Carbon Composites, Firth Rixson, Dresser-
Rand, Roberts Tool Company, Cristek Interconnects, Photo Etch Company, Smiths Aerospace and
Bodycote Thermal Processing.
SEA partners and alliances include: Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), International Aerospace
Quality Group (IAQG), California Council for Excellence, U.S. Mexico Chamber of Commerce, California
Employment Training Panel, California Space Authority, UAW-Labor Employment and Training
Corporation, CONNSTEP, Inc., Alliance for Manufacturing & Technology (AM&T), ASG Renaissance, and
Net-Inspect.
Visit Midwest Metal Products online to learn more. |
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