CMTC Helps Machine Shop Improve Operations with Lean Training

TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--California Manufacturing Technology Consulting® (CMTC) recently delivered Lean Training to RKL Technologies, Inc. (“RKL”) employees to help organize RKL’s shop floor and improve their manufacturing processes.

RKL Technologies was founded in 1983 to provide contract machine shop services to the medical device industry. The company has since expanded to serve major multinational corporations, as well as smaller local businesses, in the aerospace, medical, and general industrial sectors.

In analyzing their procedures, RKL identified a need to implement strategies to continuously increase efficiency and cost savings. Company leaders observed that production staff was spending excess time looking for tools and materials because of the organization and layout of the shop floor, and realized that improvements in workplace organization could save time and improve efficiency.

CMTC partnered with RKL Technologies from January to March 2021 to provide 32 hours of virtual training for RKL production staff and key employees. Training curriculum included: Lean Principles and Implementing Lean Tools, 5S, Overview of Six Sigma, Generating Solutions, and coaching on implementation. Following the training, RKL created a uniform table with labeling for each machine to allow staff to quickly locate tools. The training helped RKL reduce lead times and improve on-time delivery by creating a more organized shop floor, improving business and manufacturing workflows, reducing waste in the manufacturing process, and continuing to support a Lean Company culture.

As a result, RKL estimates cost savings of $100,000 over a 12-month period, enabling investments of $5,000 in new products and processes and $10,000 in plant and equipment improvements. The company also estimates making future investments of $10,000 in workforce practices and employee skills training.

RKL Technologies’ Quality Assurance Manager Torry Lamp says of the experience, “We had a great training instructor who went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed to learn about 5S. We love working with CMTC to find solutions for all sorts of problems.”

For more information about CMTC’s business services, contact Rachel Miller at [e-mail] or 310-984-0096.

About California Manufacturing Technology Consulting® (CMTC)

Established in 1992, California Manufacturing Technology Consulting® (CMTC) is a private non-profit organization that provides technical assistance, workforce development, and consulting services to small and medium-sized manufacturers throughout the state of California. CMTC operates as part of a National Network through a cooperative agreement between the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the U.S. Department of Commerce for the State of California.