Northwest Tech News
Marten’s Manufacturing Is Looking “LEAN”
The staff and management of Garen Martens Manufacturing located in Fairview have been participating in the Lean 101 Manufacturing Seminar. The seminar was coordinated by Steve Kliewer, Director of Business and Industry Services at Northwest Technology Center and presented by Laurence Beliel and Steve Marquardt from Pioneer Technology Center in Ponca City.
The hands on simulation trained twelve Martens Manufacturing employees in the “LEAN” concepts. “This all started out with the 5S Training that we participated in several months ago,” stated Garen Martens, Owner and Operator of Marten’s Manufacturing. “We were able to get organized and place tools where they are used as opposed to spending time looking for things everyday. This training coincided with the move into our new shop, so we have used it since the beginning in that facility.”
According to Martens, “Several guys really took hold of the training and worked on the process flow within our plant. We now bring steel in the back and finished harrows go out the front. After the training, two guys came to me with some ideas on process improvement. Usually, we produce 14-16 units per month. After implementing the “LEAN” concepts, we produced 24 during the first month and we are doing it with fewer people.”
Above, Garen Martens, Lance Sessions and Chris Jackson are working to build a harrow frame. Jackson and Sessions were instrumental in implementing the LEAN Concepts in the Martens Manufacturing facility.
“Lean 101” is a simulation class which exposes participants to modules including: Value Stream Mapping, Cellular Flow Manufacturing, Total Productive Maintenance, Quick Changeover/Setup Reduction, Pull/Kanban and the visual workplace. These techniques are all a part of flow manufacturing. “I think our staff would say it was helpful,” stated Martens.
Above, Drew Hanson and Josh Motley work on a small assembly which will eventually be incorporated into a completed harrow.
Martens Manufacturing has been in business since 1989. The company is one of only two companies in the United States who build harrows. A harrow is a farm implement that plows at a shallow depth and is used in farming for wheat, rice, alfalfa, corn, soybeans and pasture land. The company has 17 employees. Martens Manufacturing was recognized as a Partner for Progress at the recent Oklahoma Association of Career and Technical Educators (OkACTE) Summer Conference held in Oklahoma City.
Northwest Technology Center developed its Business and Industry Services program to assist local business and industry owners, managers and new entrepreneurs find an affordable resource for training, marketing, increasing productivity and for developing new business strategies. Northwest Technology Center has an uncompromising commitment to provide a broad range of resources needed to promote business and industry growth.
Customized training programs are developed to address particular training needs identified jointly by the business entity and Northwest Technology Center. Specific needs are addressed through packaged or customized training programs designed to fit specified criteria unique to a particular business or industry.
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