Ken Forging Inc. has remained “ramped-up” throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, JoAnn Whetsell described the manufacturers’ experience over the past three months.  

“At the onset, a slight slowing was experienced until companies could get their bearings and analyze their needs and abilities to order,” Whetsell said.  She calculated it as “less than 10% interruption on the buyers’ end, for a short time.”  

Ken Forging operates with at least half-a-year inventory for most of its products. 

“When any dip to a certain level, the steel is largely in-house, ready for the forge to run the parts,” Whetsell responded to GlobalFastenerNews.com.  “It’s all about projection, and having what the customer wants when he wants it … more like when he needs it.”

Sometimes a customer “might wait too long, and we are called upon to do ‘magic,’ but  99% of the time” customers order with sufficient time.  “We do work with the customer closely to keep his end going and his customers served.”  

Ken Forging has followed all of the Ohio Manufacturing Association guidelines, Whetsell told GlobalFastenerNews.com.  That includes distancing, masks, cleanliness guidelines and supplies. 

“Ken Forging increased our maintenance / custodial personnel for extra cleaning of all rest rooms to four times a day, beginning with the floors and everything within, including all door handles, in and out, throughout the plant and offices; every room has its own ‘cleaning / sanitizing station of products.”

Whetsell described “the biggie” in the Ken Forging process: “Every employee, all three shifts, must wear a face mask before entering the building and every employee’s temperature is immediately taken by a dedicated staff for that purpose.”

Ken Forging has 160 employees in a 400,000 sq ft plant on a 21-acre site in Jefferson, OH.  Web: KenForging.com

Ken Forging is marking its 50th anniversary this year. Ken Forging Turns 50: Inventory Key Strategy