With competition in the global marketplace as tough as it is, companies need to look for any competitive advantage they can find. That’s why Kato Spring of California decided to become one of the first companies in the world to complete the new TS 16949 certification.

      TS 16949 is a new quality standard adopted by automakers globally to replace the QS:9000 standard set by major U.S. automakers.

      “It’s a great system because it’s based on studying your processes and not your paperwork,” says company President Jim Grueser of TS 16949. “We’ve seen a reduction in waste of 20 percent since we went to it.”

      Kato Spring of California is one of the largest manufacturers of precision springs and wire forms. Opened in 1970, its performance, craftsmanship, reliability and service are second to none. As part of the Advanex Group, it has access to 11 manufacturing facilities in seven countries: Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, China and the United States.

      Kato Spring of California serves the automotive, commercial precision and consumer products markets, a strategy Grueser says is intended to keep the company diverse and immune to slumps in any one industry.

      “We decided three years ago to pursue TS 16949 certification and to diversify our business mix,” he says. “Competition in North America is tough, but we’re staying competitive.”

      Kato Spring of California has a 50,000 square foot facility that features a climate controlled production floor, allowing the company to satisfy global quality requirements by maintaining critical part tolerances. The plant is ISO 9000: 2000 certified.

      Kato Spring of California also offers raw material certifications, statistical process controls charting, and Just-In-Time Vendor Managed Inventories and consignment programs. More than 180 state of the art machines enable it to produce precision torsion springs, wire forms, extension springs, straight pins, multi slide products and compression springs, including ground end compression springs. Its CNC spring making and computer controlled forming machines can produce complex parts while still adhering to critical tolerances required by customers.

      With a wide range of wire diameters, materials and specifications, its wire forming capabilities are virtually unlimited. Kato Spring implements innovative digital imaging on its spring making machines. By using digital technology, it can achieve 100 percent sorting on the machine, which ensures zero part defects.

      For non-contact measuring, Kato Spring of California uses Smart Scope, which interfaces a video camera with a computer to create a three dimensional image to measure parts. This non-contact measuring device is the most accurate method of measuring parts. Because of its speed, the company is able to measure more parts with increased efficiency.

      Many customers utilize Kato Spring of California’s real time statistical process control capabilities. By using that inspection data, they can reduce or eliminate a redundant or time consuming receiving inspection.

      Kato Spring of California’s global presence makes the highest quality raw materials available to it at the lowest prices.

      Kato Spring of California, Inc. is equipped with:

      •50,000 square foot manufacturing facility, with climate controlled production floor to maintain critical tolerances.

      •ISO 9000/TS 16949 approved manufacturing facility with the latest in testing equipment.

      •C.E.R.T.S., S.P.C., VMI, and J.I.T. programs for its customers.

      •Personal service by its own professional sales staff.

      Kato Spring of California is also looking at opening a new plant in Mexico. Grueser declined to say where, but guaranteed the company would be in Mexico by the end of 2005. He also said the existing plant in California would remain in operation.

      “We’ve been in California for 20 plus years,” he said. “Unlike a lot of companies, we own this facility. We’re homeowners. We’re not going anywhere.”

      That said, the company recognizes it needs to be in Mexico as well.

      “I see a great revival of business in Mexico,” he said. “9-11 hurt manufacturing as a whole. And then a lot of companies took everything they had to China. But I think we’ve weathered that challenge.”

      Grueser said the cities of Ciudad Juárez, Nogales and Tijuana in particular appear to be bouncing back strong.