Tool & Die Futures Initiative (TDFI)
August Meeting
(UPDATE)
Re-Shoring and Marketing a Tooling Solution
Friday, Aug. 20
1:15 - 4:30 p.m.
Elliott Hall Auditorium, Oakland University
Tooling as a solution to customer stamping and part-design/production needs will be the topic of discussion at the August meeting of the Tool & Die Futures Initiative (TDFI). The meeting, scheduled for the afternoon of Aug. 20 in the Elliott Hall Auditorium at Oakland University, will feature presentations by Harry Moser of GF AgiieCharmilles, who will address re-shoring as a key to a lean supply chain and robust manufacturing, and Daniel Kropchak of The Sales Matrix, who will address best practices in the marketing of tooling solutions.
Topic Background
Manufacturers increasingly are asked to look at their products not as ends in themselves, but a means to provide customer service throughout the product life cycle. Indeed, no product, let alone a tool/die, can be designed perfectly the first time; automotive customers seek nuances that require engineering changes to the parts and the dies used to stamp the parts.
Even after a part is produced, it may require changes or corrections to address quality concerns. Tool/die shops must be prepared to adapt to these evolving requirements quickly. If US tool/die companies are to be competitive globally, they must start providing tooling solutions from the time a part specification is being engineered and throughout the life of the part. Equally important to cost are timely responses to tool specification changes and processes for ensuring tools meet high quality standards. The goal of this session is to rethink about how to market the tooling operations as a lifetime solution provider of a tooling service on multiple dimensions such as cost, quality and timeliness.
Agenda
1:15-1:30 Introduction
1:30-2:30 Harry C. Moser-Bio
Approaches OEMs and manufacturers can use to more accurately compare local vs. offshore costs, accelerating the trend of re-shoring (bringing work back to the U.S.).
2:30-2:45 Break
2:45-4:15 Dan Kropchak-Bio
Several "best practices" in the marketing of tooling solutions that will help you separate your business from the competition. This session is designed to help you increase revenue, profits and market share.
4:15-4:30 Summary and update on lean training workshops
4:30-5:30 Focus group (optional)
Between five and 12 volunteers are needed to gather member input on designing an educational program for owners and operating managers. Volunteers for this focus group will participate in a dialogue on how best to structure this educational experience. If you are an owner or an operating manager and would like to be involved in this group, please contact Mark Sullivan at naples1953@aol.com.
Recap & Look Forward
The all-day June meeting featuring Toyota's Jeff Lucas was a resounding success. By popular demand, we hope to bring him back this fall. Meanwhile, the lending practices session originally planned for July has been rescheduled for Sept. 24.
These discussions take place each month in an effort to help improve communication among multiple stakeholders of the automotive value chain and to help tool/die and small manufacturers become better suppliers. Help shape the tool and die industry group and chart a course that will positively change the industry.
Please email or call by Aug. 14 to let me know if you can attend.
Bob Quinn
E-mail: bob@toolanddiefutures.org
586-336-1237; Cell 586-557-465 |
