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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-12-18, Page 5Huron Park plant receives certificatlon from Caterpillar By Ray Lewis , EXETER - The proven worth of Exeter Machine Products, Huron Park's major employer over the last three years, has resulted in a major boost to the company's future. Formed in 1988 as a sister com- pany to Kendan Manufacturing in Winricnr the nnrxatinn manufac- tures diesel engine components supplying customers such as Cater- pillar and Cummings. Last week, A Caterpillar 3500 series engine, shown above, was placed on display Wednesday at the Huron Park plant and is typical of the engine Exeter Machine Products manufactures parts for. This display is only one third of the entire engine. Exeter Machine Products became a certified supplier to Caterpillar, re- sulting in a $7 million contract over the next year. "It's really a major achievement by everyone here," said plant man- ager David Wanless. "They've all made it happen and it's a part of them which helped to achieve this feat in such a short length of time." What makes this accomplishment even more encouraging is the fact that Caterpillar is actually decreas- ing their supply base. Certification is only awarded af- ter the supplier has proven itself by obtaining high quality, on time de- livery, and having prescribed pro- cesses and procedures in place and adhered to. It usually takes at least six years of regular visits, audits and documentation from customers before certification is granted, but Exeter successfully completed the task in less than four. "You're rated on every aspect of the business and under constant scrutiny," said Wanless. "They want to make sure you're adhering to the policies you say you've got." Exeter Machine Products came out with a rating of almost 80, which not only earned them certifi- cation from Caterpillar, but placed them among its top five suppliers. In 1979 Kendan Manufacturing became the first certified supplier of Caterpillar. By 1988 the owners of Kendan were looking to form a company to take the overflow from their already successful plant in Windsor. They chose Huron Park for its low manufacturing cost base as well as the facilities which were already there. Exeter Machine Products in Huron Park has been registered as a certified supplier of quality material valve train compononents for Caterpillar. Shown at a special awards ceremony held Wednesday to mark the event are Caterpillar representative David Pinaire (left), Exeter Ma- chine Products plant manager David Wanless and lead man Johnathon Romanoff. dJIDASHWDDD WINDOW AND DOOR CENTRE Sales -Service -Installation Announcement Dave Miller of D & D Glass is pleased to announce the purchase of the Dashwood Window and Door Centre in Exeter. We can now offer you, our customer, Dash- wood Windows and Doors from both locations. We do all types of glass work. We also carry a full line of Esclad Vinyl Siding DASHWOOD WINDOW AND DOOR CENTRE 137 Thames Rd. E. (Hwy. 83) Exeter 235-0390 D&D GLASS AND MIRROR First Avenue, Vanastra 482-7869 Dave Miller DASHWOOD WINDOW AND DOOR CENTRE Stratford 273-5757 But remarkably, Exeter then be- came strong enough to stand on its own, something no one had expect- ed "What has happened over the last two years has really surprised eve- ryone," agreed Wanless. "As a company we have far exceeded our primary goals to the point where we are now a major supplier." The Huron Park operation began in a 20,000 sq. foot building with a meagre crew of six. After quickly outgrowing the facility, the compa- ny shifted to their present building of 55,000 sq. feet and are now sup- ported by 53 employees and 15 of- fice staff, while sales have tripled. At one time they employed as many as 98, but have since trimmed their workforce while in- creasing both quality and produc- tivity. "Rather than just pushing work out the door, we have become very efficient," said Wanless. They are now an attraction to large companies like Caterpillar be- cause of this high efficiency. In- stead of being a subsidiary, they have become a competitor of any- one who supplies these engine components. While a poor economy has been disastrous for many, the Huron Park plant is the exception to the rule. Since opening, the facility has maintained a continual growth pat- tern. The slumping economy hasn't damaged Exeter Machine Products, and instead has allowed them to level off and fine tune before reach- ing towards the next plateau. By no means has the company peaked out yet. "We believe we are here for a long time," assured Wanless. "And this new contract could result in ex- pansion." ODC in Huron Park has already info -med Wanless that they can ac- commodate an addition, which has Exeter Machine Products leaning towards a bright future. Eventual- ly, they hope to bring other compa- nies on board as customers, and they now appear' 'More attractive since. Landing the Caterpillar con' tract. But the battle does not end there. With companies such as Caterpil- lar, the plant must be certified each year. The next goal is to become certi- fied by Cummings and they are well on their way, hoping for that event to take place early in the first quarter of next year. To be certi- fied in such a short time by two of the major diesel engine builders, would truly be an amazing feat in the industry. Wanless, who once worked for Rolls Royce in England, attributes the company's success to it's team concept, believing no individual could have carried the company to the height it now experiences. The plant manager feels Exeter Ma- chine Products houses a lot of ener- gy, and so long as it can be har- nessed and pointed in the right direction, rapid gains are inevitable. "If you shake up a can of coke and poke five holes in it, you'll get five small streams," philosophizes Wanless. "But shake it up and punch just one hole in it and it will shoot fifty feet." Alert the media... Call the Times Advocate with your news item 24 hours a day (answering machine outside business hours) 235-1331 Township of Hay PUBLIC MEETING CONCERNING A PROPOSED ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENT TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Hay will hold a public meeting on Monday, January 20th, 1992 at 8:00. p.m. at the Hay Township Office in Zurich to consider a proposed zoning By -Law under Section 34 of the Planning Act, 1983. ANY PERSON may attend the Public Meeting and/or make writ- ten or verbal representation either in support of or in opposition to the proposed zoning By Law. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION relating to the proposed zoning By -Law, and a copy of the completed by-law, is available for inspection between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM at the Municipal Office. DATED AT THE TOWNSHIP OF HAY THIS 18th DAY OF DECEMBER 1991. Ms. Janlsse Zimmerman Clerk TOWNSHIP OF HAY Box 250, Zurich Ont. NOM 2T0 (519) 236-4351 Purpose and Effect: By-law - 1992 has the following purpose and effect: By-law - 1992 changes a number of items generally relating to the natural environment zoning of the Township of Hay Zoning By-law (By-law 10-1987). These include: 1. The definition of watercourse is amended to clearly include Lake Huron as a recognized watercourse. 2. The definition of Recreation, Passive is amended by specifical- ly listing those uses and structures permitted for passive recre- ation. 3. The permitted uses section, for lands zoned Natural Environment (NE1), is amended by deleting reference to a pri- vate park. 4. A definition of stairs and landing is added to the comprehen- sive zoning by-law. 5. Finally, ,gp4ciat provisions for the Natural Environment Zone are -attended 10 state that areas below top -of -bank of a natural watercourse regulated by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority or below the top -of -bank of the Lake Huron shoreline, may not be allowed to have structures which are not designed to stabilize the bank and/or protect the natural environment area. For this purpose, such structures as boat houses and decks accessory to a recreational use will not be permitted. TOWNSHIP OF NAY AK( "LIMON IOCAT,O„ rue 1••iAv -,992 TOWNSHIP Of HAI ,,...... mil W NM • • ro . • I • • , ., . •• s IN • • • I I N. ; ar+ 1 •V-7 � _air 1, 10 1. 1 S 9 S 2 1 t 1 1 1 4441141110 17 1,• t irL• • rt .. It, ,. ,,.,. 1 1,.....Z. . . , 4•4 . • ... LANDS AFFECTED BY THIS AMENDMENT INCLUDE ALL LANDS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP OF HAY Sales Hours: Wad., Thurs. FrI.9.6 Sat. 2 - ?