Arimon Wins Supplier Award, Credits Cell Kaizen

Arimon Technologies, Inc. recently received the Outstanding Supplier Award from a major customer for a manufacturing cell it created during a kaizen blitz event.

"We've had 100 percent on-time delivery for more than a year," says Randy Detjen, Arimon's lean manufacturing coordinator. Arimon, a wire harness manufacturer, employs about 140 and has plants in Montello and Manitowoc.

The company received the award from Scotsman Ice Systems, a global ice machine manufacturer. Arimon started on the lean journey two years ago. Quality has improved, inventory costs are down and the cell is a "selling" advantage. "We had a prospective customer come in, meet with the team leader and say, ‘these are the people I want working on my product.' " Detjen said.

Arimon credits the ideas, energy and enthusiasm of employees for the cell's success. So much so that instead of sending management to receive the award on Hilton Head Island, Arimon sent the cell's team leader and customer service rep.

"Kaizen works, and employee empowerment is the reason why," Detjen says. Employees order their own raw materials and have taken responsibility for a range of tasks once dealt with by supervisors and management.

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