Tour
Ace Metal Crafts - FULL
Tour Code: ThT-04
Day and Time: Bus leaves 8:30 AM, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012
Length Including Travel Time: 5 hours
A Culture to Lean on
Successful lean implementation
ACE Metal Crafts is a custom job shop specializing in stainless steel fabrication. One year ago, the company relocated to a facility more than twice its original size in order to support an average 30% sales growth over the previous two years. ACE Metal Crafts now has three unique value streams and has successfully integrated lean principles into its culture of empowerment, where employees make the difference. On this tour you will see 1) a creative, dynamic, visual workplace and scheduling system, 2) flow kanbans managed by self-directed work cells and 3) a lean culture anchored in and sustained by a vision of nurturing the value in others.Ace Metal Crafts - FULL
ACE Metal Crafts is located in Bensenville, Illinois, and is a custom job shop specializing in stainless steel fabrication. It runs two shifts and currently employs over 100 workers. For over 50 years, ACE has served the food processing and packaging, pharmaceutical and water treatment OEM markets.
Keith Stout
Keith Stout has been with ACE Metal Crafts for over 20 years and is presently its vice president of operations. He has a degree in mechanical engineering and has been involved in every aspect of company operations, from sales and engineering to production management.
Safety glasses must be worn
Leather-like closed toe shoes must be worn
Hearing protection must be worn


Captain Mark Kelly
Mike Abrashoff
Jason Jennings
Doctor Patricia A. Gabow
Daniel T. Ariens
Once again, the Idea Exchange Café will be open for the interactive sharing of best practices among all participants. There will be six facilitated sessions on a variety of relevant topics taking place over two days. Come for the coffee - stay for the ideas! (read more...)
