ABOUT PLASTICS RESOURCES, INC.
Founded in 1984 in Logan, Utah, Plastics Resources Inc. (PRI) is a provider of manufactured solutions to companies all over the world. PRI specializes in plastic extrusion, plastic thermoforming, machine tooling and part fabrication, and can take a project from concept to final production, including post-production processes. With clients ranging from semiconductors to aerospace to landscaping, PRI’s modern production methods and dedicated team set them apart from others in the industry.
THE CHALLENGE:
PRI wanted to improve internal processes and reduce material waste in their manufacturing, especially in the plastic extrusion area of the production.
MEP CENTER’s ROLE:
The PRI leadership team, with the help of the University of Utah Manufacturing Extension Partnership (UUMEP) Center’s trusted third-party provider World Class Transformation, launched a continuous improvement program based on lean principles. The UUMEP Center’s staff engineer met twice monthly with the leadership team of PRI during the course of the project, making recommendations and reviewing the changes suggested by the third-party provider. The staff engineer also assisted in employee training of lean fundamentals.
Results:
- Reduced waste by 17% on average per order, saving $80,000 per year
- Increased productivity in one production line by 20% per day, saving $44,000 per year
- 20% more employee involvement in process improvement suggestions after training
