of communication and time management. For technical skills, HU is piloting a competency-based training program, which is a self-paced, hierarchical curriculum with assessments, labs, and mentorship for the company’s value-added processes.
The outputs of all these methods are clear in Hixson’s busi- ness results. Because we continually track everything (sales, in- ternal and external rejects, OSHA incidents, customer satisfac- tion, efficiency, delivery, throughput velocity, profitability—you name it), we can slice and dice the data to show which factors are most impact- ful to the bottom line and trouble-shoot from there. The leadership also feels we have a much more sophisticated ability to identify issues early on and solve them before they have a chance to affect customers, and then the supply chain. In fact, that confidence is supported by several industry awards throughout the past several years: the workforce has been recognized for Operational Excel- lence (2011) and Supply Chain Innova- tion (2010), the leadership team was awarded the Stephen E. Barton Leader- ship & Culture Award (2009), and a key executive earned individual accolades with the Richard Hall Award for Leader- ship Excellence (2010).
CUT THE CABLES Here's an ingenious value proposition: use the innovative i-Wave
wireless bore gage and hands-free Merlin Mobile data computer— both with Bluetooth® wireless
technology—for total portability to
take measurements when and where you need them throughout the plant, then upload the measurement data to your secure quality network.Plus you can rapidly interchange an assortment of nosepiece sizes and styles, even ones already in your plant. Eliminating cables enables your operators to work smarter and faster. That’s another reason why innovation is part of every cost-competitive gaging solution we deliver.
Given enough time, Hixson would have come up with many of the improve- ments they eventually made. But the industry is changing so rapidly there isn’t enough time to invent everything from scratch. Hixson acknowledged that SEA was integral to Hixson’s lean journey. SEA provided the A to Z roadmap, a com- mitted and supportive staff to provide guidance and direction, and a platform for Hixson to present their progress to an expanded customer base. ME
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SEA is an aerospace and defense nonprofit alliance founded in 2003 by prime and tier-one companies and led by sub-tier suppliers committed to accelerating supply chain performance. SEA provides a lean management system and a voluntary supplier certification program for enhanced visibility, performance, and collaboration. SEA is funded by supplier memberships and sponsorships.