mikesiino.com

Tag: iPolymer

  • Where to Start?

    —

    by

    Mike
    in

    It all starts with Business Development. You’ve had a great idea. You’ve created an excellent Business Plan. With some effort, you’ve captured solid business financing. Now roll this video forward, imagine you have product in hand, how do you develop your customer base? While this varies from market to market, some universal fundamental steps do…

  • Testing and Qualification Protocols

    —

    by

    Mike
    in

    iPolymer, ENIDINE, CCI, and Enertech all had a corporate policy to aggressively performance test their products. Well-structured Qualification Protocols and Production Test Procedures can save companies and their customers tremendous downstream headaches and stress. The time to find problems related to components, designs, material selections, and assembly methodologies is early in the product life cycle.…

  • Leverage Products into Solutions

    —

    by

    Mike
    in

    Here is where Agile Job Shops and Entrepreneurial businesses shine: their nimble structure allows them to enhance their business topline by extrapolating their own product offering into system solutions for their clients. While developing our iPolymer business strategy, we elected to enhance the system and fabricated solution portion of our business. For example, if, as…

  • Supply Chain & Material Handling

    —

    by

    Mike
    in

    Supply Chain Development and Management are always challenges at smaller manufacturing companies. Frequently we are working with departments of one, two, or three individuals. Both while at iPolymer and ENIDINE, I found myself deeply involved in Supply Chain Development. The best approach is to create a Cross-Functional Team that brings to the table procurement, production,…

  • Product Marketing – 101 Basics

    —

    by

    Mike
    in

    While growing iPolymer, we expanded our product overing fourfold. We combined BECO Manufacturing and TEQCOM Industries, two smaller players in the market space, combining their product lines, and drove an across-the-board upgrade/update redesign process. We then expanded our newly formed iPolymer High Purity Fluid Handling product line with key manifold products desired by the semiconductor…

  • Lean Cellular Assembly Process

    —

    by

    Mike
    in

    iPolymer and ENIDINE both heavily emphasized Lean Cellular Assembly in their manufacturing businesses. With low volume and high product variation, our Assembly Cells were configured for one to six employees. Each Assembly Cell was equipped with a full complement of assembly tooling, fixtures, and free-issued consumable goods. Frequently, Operational Management must be supported and inspired…

  • Acquisition Successes

    —

    by

    Mike
    in

    May 2022: White Knight, a wholly owned subsidiary of GRACO Corporation, acquired iPolymer.  iPolymer was created from the merger of BECO Manufacturing and TEQCOM Industries. Lee Capital Acquisition LLC acquired BECO in 2010 and TEQCOM in 2011. My merged team of managers helped relocate BECO and TEQCOM to our Irvine, California facility. We named the…

  • Product Development with Voice of the Customer

    —

    by

    Mike
    in

    Successful companies know how to develop technology and, with it, growth through profitable product families. With an eye toward Voice of the Customer, Technology Development must always consider the market’s wants and needs.  As an Engineer myself, I recognize the value of pure and creative design efforts.  The purest form of innovation has brought us…

  • Agile Job Shop – Trick to Low Volume / High Variation Manufacturing

    —

    by

    Mike
    in

    For many manufacturers, challenges arise when setting up production flow for low volume / high variation product lines.  Agile Job Shops are those that can accommodate 2000 product variations with production volumes typically below 100 pieces. Usually, these facilities develop to excel as an Agile Job Shop or they struggle and fail.  Fail: with part…