Support from RIMES Yields Increased Profits and Jobs for Local Manufacturers
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October 29, 2008 | Print this page | Share This | Email this page
The Rhode Island Manufacturing Extension Services (RIMES), a non-profit organization providing complete manufacturing solutions to Rhode Island's small and medium-sized manufacturers, announced that it has yielded a positive return of a $450,256 investment by the National Institute of Standards and Technology of 42 to 1 for the Rhode Island economy.
In order to obtain the return on investment, RIMES provides continuous improvement solutions for small and medium-sized manufacturers, working with an average of 60 companies per year. RIMES’ clients have access to services in lean manufacturing, ISO, quality, plant layout and design, cultural improvement, training and on-site facilitation, implementation technical assistance and more. RIMES currently has a rating of 4.5 out of five for customer satisfaction.
“RIMES is unlike other continuous improvement consulting firms,” says Leslie Taito, CEO of RIMES. “We have skin in the game. We must provide a qualitative and quantitative return on investment for our client’s dollar. The client's ROI is the way we maintain our federal funding. We are measured by our client’s positive performance."
The Manufacturing Extension Partnership surveys RIMES’ clients through a third party survey house, one year upon completion of their project with RIMES in order to measure the impact of RIMES’ programs. The survey house asks the manufacturer specific questions regarding the experience with RIMES. The results are tabulated and provided back to RIMES in aggregate metrics on a quarterly basis. In the final report, Rhode Island small and mid-sized manufacturers that RIMES worked with:
- Increased sales by $2,497,439, retained sales of $5,392,439 and achieved a cost savings of $4,427,375.
- Created 25 jobs and retained 137 jobs.
- Invested $2,730,750 in plant or equipments, $154,000 in information systems, $669,131 in workforce development and $141,000 in other areas.
- Avoided $391,750 in unnecessary investments and saved a total of $2,706,705 on investments.
“The (RIMES assisted) lean training and implementation program has allowed for a fundamental change in the way we approach problem solving,” says Kurt Hague, vice president of corporate development for ChemArt. “Decisions are now based upon teamwork, gaining consensus and buy-in from the managers and employees. As a result, the company is more flexible and adaptable. The lean initiative has allowed non-management employees to develop and utilize problem solving and management skills that they would not have been called upon to use. It has inspired our employees to push themselves out of their comfort zone and to take leadership roles within our company.”
A recent partnership formed with the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation has allowed RIMES to increase their outreach to the manufacturing community. The two organizations are currently working together to assist four Rhode Island manufacturers with their expansion plans. The two are also working to form comprehensive assistance programs for local manufacturers.
"With expert instruction from the folks at RIMES and our focus centered on our mission and values, Neocorp has begun its continuous improvement journey,” says Chet Sutphen, president of Neocorp. “The Neocorp team has already seen benefits to our bottom line and our workforce. The highest costs associated with lean are only those of egos and old habits."
About RIMES
RIMES is a non-profit organization which provides complete manufacturing solutions to Rhode Island's small and medium-size manufacturers. RIMES' services help solve business problems and raise the level of competitiveness and profitability. Since 1996, RIMES has worked side by side with more than 600 Rhode Island manufacturers.
