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An ultrasonic parts washer fronts the 2500-sq.-ft. cleanroom of Trinity Biomedical, formed by Reich Tool in 2008. Trinity performs high-value intricate assembly primarily for medical customers.
out to run lean. We’ve been 5S since 1992 and always perform kaizen events. We try to eliminate every footstep that we can in our layout and workflow.”
Reich Tool also cross-trains employ- ees, enabling proper staffing across the various operations and business units and allowing employees in slow-down operations to work in other areas of the company. It all fits with Reich Tool’s family culture, says Fritz, noting that supervisors put on cookouts through- out the summer and employees band together to support numerous local charities.
In addition, Reich Tool supports the local high school’s robotics team and works closely with local tech schools. The company has, at any one time, seven or eight apprentices, and often they end up as full-time employees.
“Wisconsin has very strong tech schools,” says Fritz, “so we support them and we benefit by having access to potential employees with good skills.” MF
But precision work does not neces- sarily mean small work.
“Our equipment and work tables are large enough to construct die sets in a single setup,” says Brett.
Committed to Workforce
Over the past decade, the ability to build large dies acted as a hedge against overseas competition for Reich Tool, owing to the costs and logistics chal- lenges in shipping the large, heavy work across oceans.
Going big to battle overseas compe-
tition was just one way the company has sought to remain a stable employer for its workforce. In fact, employment stability was a major factor in diversifying into contract machining and assembly.
“Back when we were just building dies, we weren’t diversified enough and didn’t want to slow down and be forced to lay anyone off,” says Fritz. “We value everyone who works here, so we decid- ed that we needed a new business plan, which included this newer building and our ability to expand on this site to double our current size, and we set
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