Success Stories

MEP Member

Utah Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Story Title

AES Systems Achieves AS9100 Certification

Client Profile

AES Systems, located in Ogden, Utah specializes in high quality precision machining, forming, painting, coating, and heat treating services. The company was founded in 1985 and currently employs 68 people.

Situation

As AES expanded, quality demands from their customers also increased. Higher expectations of precision and quality required that the company advance their quality systems in order to accommodate the demands. In response, AES committed to obtaining several quality certifications including AS9100, NADCAP, and TS16949. AES already had a quality system in place, but it was found to be outdated and administratively cumbersome. AES partnered with the Utah Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP Utah), a NIST MEP network affiliate, to meet the requirements of the standards and obtain certification.

Solution

MEP Utah guided AES in overhauling their quality system using Lean concepts in order to drive down administration, thus making it a more simplistic process and easier to sustain. One of the outputs of the process of implementing AS9100 was a culture that more readily accepted empowerment as well as ownership. “The MEP didn’t just help us implement AS9100. They helped us change the culture so that everyone feels a sense of ownership in their processes and the improvement of the company,” stated Dan Florence, AES President. AES passed their AS9100 certification audit, and MEP Utah is providing guidance with NADCAP and TS16949 certifications. MEP Utah also assisted AES in procuring equipment that allowed the company to expand operations into specialized stamping.

Results

• Achieved AS9100 certification.
• Retained sales of $240,000.
• Realized $53,000 in cost savings.
• Created 2 jobs.
• Improved employee morale.

Testimonial

“While others may be waiting for the economic up-turn to improve, we’re investing in improving our business now. Ultimately, that’s how we insure customer satisfaction. We’re glad the MEP is here to guide us in this journey.”
Dan Florence, President