Despite "Near Death" Experience, JFL Keeps Focus on ISO

For five years, Sussex-based JFL Manufacturing Co. Inc. was in a major growth mode. Sales were doubling for the contract machining company, the plant expanded from 10,000 to 30,000 square feet and the number of employees grew from 20 to 60. By all accounts a successful operation.

But there was a cost to JFL's success. The company hadn't changed the way it did business to accommodate the huge growth.

It became clear to JFL president John (Chip) Losee that the company had much to gain from finding ways to work more efficiently. "We did some soul searching ...We very much wanted to get to a point where we were more organized." The company decided ISO 9001 certification offered the best avenue to accomplish that goal. In August 2000, the company retained WMEP's Michael Hablewitz to help guide them through the process. Hablewitz conducted a needs analysis and helped the company form a quality management team.

Five months later, just a few days before Christmas, the company received word that its largest customer had filed for bankruptcy. In a single day, the company lost 65 percent of its sales.

It was a severe and abrupt blow. "It was time for us to sit down and decide how to survive," Losee recalls. Despite the turmoil caused by the customer loss, JFL company management lobbied hard to complete the ISO project.

"We believed from the outset that this was the right thing to do for the company,' Losee said. "But we also realized that gaining ISO 9001 certification would be critical in helping us rebuild our business. There are many companies that will not even consider you as a supplier if you are not ISO certified."

During the tough times of early 2001, the project also gave the company some positive news to share with customers.

Today, the situation has greatly improved. The bankrupt customer was purchased by another firm and the business eventually returned. JFL achieved its ISO 9001 certification in July 2001. The company has greatly improved its ability to track costs, monitor deliveries and secure new customers.

"After the pain of last year, we're looking awful smart right now," Losee said.

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WMEP provides technical expertise and hands-on implementation assistance to small and midsize manufacturing firms on advanced manufacturing technologies and business practices includinglean manufacturing, ISO, value chain management, and strategic repositioning services for manufacturers and manufacturing facilities located in Wisconsin.