At a luncheon during the WESTEC manufacturing trade show later this month, attendees will hear about the future of aerospace manufacturing in Southern California. David M. Bowman, vice president and C-17 program manager for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, is the keynote speaker at the March 28 luncheon co-sponsored by the Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley chapters of the National Tooling and Machining Association. But those attendees would probably learn just as much by visiting the shop floor of Roberts Tool Co., Inc. in Chatsworth. Parts made by Roberts end up in planes from Boeing including the C-17 Northrop Grumman and Lockheed thanks to a quicker, easier and more cost-effective process than their competitors. In fact, company President Brad Hart is more than happy to show off to anyone, including other suppliers, the “cellular manufacturing” used in the Roberts shop. Why shouldn’t he reveal how he does business, Hart said, when he is already leading them all in price, quality and lead time? If other suppliers were to adopt similar methods it would make the whole supply chain for the aerospace industry run that much smoother, Hart added. Cellular manufacturing involves using cells, or groupings of machines, all working on a single part for a single customer, be it a warhead ring for the Sidewinder missile or hydraulic and engine pumps used in aircraft.. Having that dedicated capacity on the machinery means employees don’t have to spend time hours, days, perhaps even weeks setting them up. The benefits of cellular manufacturing are reflected in Roberts’ sales figures. In 1999, the company had sales of $6 million. That amount tripled by 2006. Efficiency of the employees has also increased. In 1999 the company had $108,000 in sales per employee versus $200,000 in sales per employee in 2006. “When our employee is doing the work of two of everyone else’s that is how you stay in business,” Hart said. Roberts Tool Co. was founded in 1957 and Hart’s family purchased it in 1986. The company was in Van Nuys prior to relocating to Chatsworth. To improve efficiencies in the overall industry, Hart champions the Supplier Excellence Alliance, a joint venture of all the primes (i.e. Boeing, Lockheed, Cessna, Textron, Northrop Grumman, Pratt & Whitney, etc.) to more efficiently supply parts for military aircraft. Having the necessary parts in hand will be essential when production starts on the F-35 Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter. Prime contractor Lockheed Martin Aeronautics intends to make one plane a day on an assembly line with the fuselage built in Palmdale. “They are concerned the supply chain won’t be able to keep up,” Hart said. The main goals of the alliance are to promote lean manufacturing in the supply chain, align existing resources and eliminate duplication. WESTEC Exposition and Conference “Solid” is the theme of this year’s WESTEC Exposition and Conference taking place March 26 to 29 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Sponsored by three manufacturing organizations, the 44th annual trade show brings together 600 exhibitors, company executives and educators. In addition to the luncheon with Bowman as the speaker, the event features half-day plant tours, a “battle of technologies” pitting machines against waterjets and lasers, and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers International Awards Gala. Moorpark-based Gibbs and Associates, a maker of manufacturing software, will be among the companies representing the Valley at the show. Exhibiting at WESTEC is valuable for the company because it generates contacts with the new growth areas in local manufacturing including medical, recreation and aerospace, said President and Founder Bill Gibbs. “Gibbs goes to WESTEC each year not only looking for new business, but also as an opportunity to touch base with many of our local customers,” Gibbs said. “It’s a small enough show that we have time for everyone.” Manufacturer Moves To Pacoima Not all news relating to manufacturing in the Valley is bad. Page one of this issue has a story about how DeKing Screw Products in Chatsworth rolls with the changes in the machine screw segment by adapting new methods and investing in new equipment. Utility Refrigerator fits the same mold. The family-owned maker of refrigerators, freezers and hot-food cabinets moved in November from Chatsworth to Pacoima because it needed additional space. Its new quarters, located within an enterprise zone giving tax and fee incentives, is four times as big as the space it occupied in Chatsworth. Co-owner Michael Michrowski has made adjustments himself in how the business is run, doing what he called “insourcing” taking functions such as metal fabrication previously done by a third-party and doing it themselves. “Part of the growth strategy is to do more of those things inside here,” Michrowski said. Staff Reporter Mark Madler can be reached at (818) 316-3126 or by e-mail at [email protected] .
