Thanks to continuous communications
we can turn around prototypes much
with their customers, Birk clients are
faster, cutting days off of the request.”
aware of the positive transformation taking place within Birk, “They know
With this new flexible prototyping system,
we are doing everything we can to
Birk is able to go after customers, who
hold or lower our prices, regardless of
before, were off limits, “We’re also looking
increases in material costs. It allows us to
at potential jobs differently now. In the
remain competitive with pricing while meeting shorter lead
Birk Manufacturing has over 20 years of experience in the design and manufacturing of Kapton® and Silicone based flexible heating elements, flexible heaters, and thermal heating systems for the medical device, semiconductor and defense industries.
times and keeping quality rates high.” Because it’s Birk Following the success of Lean initiatives throughout the facility, the company has been able to focus on a new approach for acquiring new business. With the exception of in-house stock heaters, all flexible
Carlton Birk, QA/QC Manager, holds material readily available at Birk’s newly implemented panel supermarket.
heaters designed and manufactured by Birk Manufacturing
past, we probably wouldn’t have gone
are custom, proprietary products and are
after jobs because of volumes, but now,
not resold without the consent of the
we realize that we can start right, setting
originating client.
up a cell to get it done efficiently and profitably.”
Recently, Birk’s production team was able to turn around a new prototype in
This type of efficiency tends to create
a single day, due in large part to their
customers that become repeat buyers,
newly implemented panel supermarket
“We conduct phone interviews with all of
– a stock point of inventory that supplies
our clients. It gives us valuable insight on
a downstream channel. Each of the
our processes and the effect on the final
company’s custom products requires
product. As in any relationship, personal or
a specific size and shape panel made
professional, communication is the key,”
of Kapton® or silicone rubber, “Until
he says.
recently, most of the production time was
26
advantage summer 2011
spent waiting for a panel to be produced.
Mattox and his senior management
We now have most of the panels
team pay attention to all of the feedback
complete and tagged by dimension in our
received and treat it as if it were gold,
supermarket where the team member
“Reviewing the feedback and taking
can go and grab exactly what they need.
necessary action is the key. For example,
With the most time consuming part of
we have a question regarding lead time
the production now significantly reduced,
where certain responses are flagged for