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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 14, 2004 |
For more information please contact: Jack Healy MassMEP Tel: 508-831-7020 Email: jackh@massmep.org |
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BILLERICA, MA - To compete in today's global marketplace, small and medium sized manufacturing companies have to constantly adapt the way they do business. A commitment among the 132 employees at BTU International (BTU) in Billerica to seek out and implement innovative manufacturing techniques has helped the company become the leading manufacturer of advanced thermal processing equipment for semiconductor packaging. Using techniques learned through a Collaborative Continuous Improvement training program run by the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP), BTU is making changes that have resulted in reduced processing time and increased efficiency in its manufacturing area. BTU and five other local manufacturers, each a member of the Boston Area Semiconductor Equipment Council, participated in the program, subsidized by a Massachusetts Work Force Training Fund Grant. The workshop introduced the companies to Lean Manufacturing techniques and taught them how to implement Lean in their businesses. Lean implementation involves simple but effective systems that reduce inventories, clear shop floors and streamline production processes all with a goal of decreasing costs. During on-site visits at each company, MassMEP Project Manager Greg King and his team helped participants select a specific pilot project for their facilities. BTU's project focused on their fully enclosed coil heater fabrication area. "We helped BTU identify an area to focus their project on through Value Stream Mapping, a Lean technique that looks at such things as inventory, cycle time between each manufacturing step and making the most efficient use of time," said King. "The next step was conducting a Kaizen Blitz which is a short period of time, anywhere from a couple of hours up to three days, where we identified an area to improve and then made changes. Working with BTU team members, we cleared out and opened up a significant amount of square footage in their fabrication area, which enables them to move inventory through to the customer quicker and eliminates waste." |
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