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Fully assembled and correct


Mid-Continent Engineering welcomes the most complex jobs. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA), Mid-Continent is a fully integrated manufacturer with the ability to perform as a true partner with OEM clients


Mid-Continent Engineering’s (MCE) capabilities include sheet metal, chemical conversion and painting, with precision welding of aluminium being a core competency. But their greatest strength is complex, high-level assemblies. Working with premier OEMs, they provide design, engineering and project management services as well as machining and assembly.


The Challenge: Machining and Complex Assembly of 3,150 Seating Systems Mid-Continent displayed its full range of capabilities in a recent assignment for a leading global aircraft seat manufacturer. Based on their reputation as an experienced aerospace manufacturer with strong programme management, complex-assembly and machining capabilities, they were awarded the bid to manufacture 3,150 new kinematic seating systems for a maker of high-end business and economy class passenger aircraft seating. This business class seat assembly allows passengers to lie down in a full flat position. Comprised of more than 40 precision-machined components and capable of multi-axis movement, the seat represented a great achievement in design engineering. But its complexity presented a major challenge. In addition, the OEM client maintains production facilities in Europe, Africa and the United States. That made international supply


chain management another critical requirement. MCE gladly took on these challenges and other stringent project requirements, including: • Produce an acceptable First Article on-time • Maintain an aggressive production schedule • Control cost on a new production run


The Solution: A True Partnership Tapping their Deep Capabilities


The first step was a deep dive into the project, working for three full weeks with the OEM engineers. From this process, they determined the critical steps to be taken: • Appoint an internal Project Manager • Establish an action list and daily communication with the OEM


• Execute manufacturing planning and machine programming concurrently


• Assist the OEM to improve its documentation package


• Dedicate lean cell for assembly • Negotiate long-term supplier contracts • Launch a capacity planning tool for the automated machining centres


• Create supermarkets and Kanbans for inventory with on-site supplier stocking


The Result: 99.9% Quality, 99.9% On-Time MCE took on machining, supply chain management, project management and assembly of this high-profile project – an important new


product launch for their OEM client. MCE delivered superior results, including:


• Delivered product at the customer’s target price • Achieved 99.9% on time delivery — 1 late seat out of 3,150


• Quality System described by the client as “outstanding” - achieved 99.9% quality


• Engaged in the highest level of collaboration, became a virtual extension of the client


• The client praised their results, expressing “great thanks to the MCE team for this outstanding achievement.”


About MCE


Family-owned and operated since 1949, MCE bring large company capabilities with small company attention to their clients. They have invested heavily in the latest technology and equipment, including: • FASTEMS, a Multi-Level System with pallet and material storage capacity


• 12 stand alone CNC Milling Machines i) Vertical Milling (X Axis 160”, Y Axis 36”, Z Axis 44”)


ii) Horizontal Milling (39” Cube)


• 3 flexible machining lines with 10 horizontal machining centers


• Equipment from Toyoda, LaBlond Makino, Niigata, HAAS, Monarch, Fadal, Matsuura, Komo and others


• In-house CNC Programming


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