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."
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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
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LANDS AFFECTED BY THIS AMENDMENT
INCLUDE ALL LANDS WITHIN
THE TOWNSHIP OF HAY
Sales Hours:
Wad., Thurs.
FrI.9.6
Sat. 2 - ?