MEDIA SPOTLIGHT: “Since their inception in 1959, Level 1 Fasteners, Inc. has continued to produce the highest quality fasteners for the U.S. Navy and its subcontractors,” the West Virginia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WVMEP) reports.

Level 1 Fasteners, Inc. began in the aerospace community in Southern California. After moving to Huntington, WV, in 1993, Level 1 Fasteners continues to provide products and services for industrial fasteners and related products.

Level 1 had received lean training several years earlier and had successfully implemented some of the lean concepts. But after moving to a larger facility and wanting to add additional customers, Level 1 decided to revisit lean.

“Assistance began with a process assessment to identify areas of need and opportunities for improvement,” according to WVMEP.

As a result of this assessment, the center proposed several steps.

First was a series of Lean 101: An Introduction to Lean Manufacturing classes. 

Once the classes were finished, the next step was process mapping. The mapping activity was used as a tool to discuss communication, identify areas where waste could be eliminated, and processes could be revised or developed to eliminate non-value adding time. 

“The mapping activity culminated with a list of 32 tasks over 4 categories that would help to improve internal processes at Level 1 Fasteners, Inc.”

After completing the work, Level achieved:

  • Late order reduction of 80%
  • Increase monthly sales by $200,000
  • Lead time reduction from 26 weeks to 2 weeks or less

Editor’s Note: Articles in Media Spotlight are excerpts from publications or broadcasts that show the industry what the public is reading or hearing about fasteners and fastener companies.