Team Completes Cross-Country Move Without Halting Production
Stucki recently moved its turbocharger business, formerly known as American Turbocharger Technologies, from Newport News, Va., to available space in the company’s bearings plant in Fremont, Neb.
“The move was made for both functional and economic reasons,” said KATE TACNER, general manager for turbochargers, bearings and springs. “Having turbocharger and bearings operations in one location, which is in close proximity to our springs plant in Chicago, enables us to offer more streamlined options and packages to our locomotive customers.” The central location offers advantages in shipping and customer service, Kate said.
The move was completed between February and April.
“Things in Nebraska were up and running in May,” said RON PORT, chief executive officer. “The entire team did an incredible amount of work in a very short time.”
The move included about 45 tractor-trailer loads from Virginia to Nebraska, said SAM MAPLES, lean implementation specialist. “We never stopped accepting customer orders during the process and were still operating equipment in Newport News right up until we had things installed and were ready to start production in Fremont,” he said. The turbocharger operation now occupies about 15,000 square feet in Fremont, compared to 30,000 feet in three buildings in Newport News. “It’s a smaller space, but we’ll gain light years in terms of efficiency and productivity,” said Sam. “In Virginia, two of the buildings were about five miles from the third, and everything is now under one roof in Nebraska.”
Personnel from several Stucki locations helped coordinate the move, including DENNIS STEWART and DEVEN HEZOUCKY from Seco Machine in Green, Ohio, and TODD JOHNSON and FRED MILLER from Sharon, Pa.
“Many long hours and weekends went into making this happen, and those four men, plus the team from Virginia, helped complete the move even faster than we anticipated,” said MIKE FAUST, operations manager for turbochargers.
Three new employees were hired in Nebraska and eight employees traveled from Newport News to help begin production at the new location.
“The Virginia team members are highly skilled at their jobs and we’ve given them the option of moving to Nebraska to continue working for us at the new location,” said Mike.