How one small OEM Manufacturing company has learned to survive and compete in the new “Global Economy.”

      The past decade has been difficult for small manufacturing companies that were hit hard by rising costs and the flight of many of their customers to lower cost environments. Companies such as Bazz Houston have been forced to focus their survival strategy on increased productivity, improved quality and exceptional customer service.  Only companies that provide the best value will survive in the current competitive environment. This is the story of how one such company has made the transition in the new international arena.

Education/training

      The first step in the transition was recognizing the fact that employees at all levels of the organization have a direct impact on the success of the company.  In order to become a world class manufacturer the company would have to invest in its most valuable resource, its employees.

      Training takes place both within the company and at local educational facilities.  Over the past five years Bazz Houston has completed several courses of on-site training consisting of 16 to 20-weeks of classroom and hands-on training per course.  The following courses have been successfully completed:

      •Blueprint reading and basic math.

      •Statistical process control (SPC).

      •Leadership and team building.

      •ISO internal auditing.

      •Lean manufacturing.

      •Continuous process improvement.

      Bazz Houston customers have recognized the difference in performance and, perhaps most interestingly, so have its employees.

Quality assurance

      In 1998 the Bazz Houston Company recognized the need for international recognition of its Quality Management System (QMS).  Shortly thereafter, Bazz Houston became registered to ISO 9002 and subsequently upgraded to ISO 9001:2000.  It is now targeting TS - 16949 registration in 2005.

      Bazz Houston’s customers have recognized the quality achievements and because of this, Bazz Houston now participates in several programs such as dock-to-stock and certified supplier status which can ultimately save customers a significant amount of money due to reduced/eliminated inspection costs.

      Its customers’ confidence is a direct result of Bazz Houston’s drive to consistently provide reliable products.  The primary emphasis at Bazz Houston is to ensure that solid quality systems are in place during the manufacturing process, not simply at final inspection.

      Today the Bazz Houston Company uses internal based tools such as:

      •Root Cause Analysis.

      •Failure Mode and Effective Analysis (FMEA).

      •Advanced Quality Planning (APQP).

      The Bazz Houston Company features a modern quality lab utilizing sophisticated calibration software, video Coordinate Measurement Machine (CMM) and automated spring testing equipment.

Engineering support

      Bazz Houston encourages interaction between its customers and its engineering department throughout the preliminary design process.  Knowledge of material properties and characteristics is an essential part of its business, and its engineers can assist in selecting the right material for a given application and can offer design assistance from prototype through production.  This support can ultimately save their customers both time and money.

      Bazz Houston tools are built and designed in-house using the latest software such as Solidworks and AutoCad.  Bazz-Houston’s expertise in tooling includes progressive dies, compound dies, single hit dies, fourslide tooling, and development of Inspection fixtures.  It also provides spring design support using state-of-the-art design software to produce reliable/cost effective springs. It  supports the following design formats:  DXF, DWG, IGES, STEP, and PRT, that can be downloaded/uploaded through a secure FTP site.

Marketing

      The best form of advertising is exceptional performance and word-of-mouth from buyers and engineers.  Bazz Houston is also focusing on finding new ways to reach potential customers particularly by combining the power of print and the internet.

International manufacturing:

      The latest phase of its Bazz Houston’s evolution is the expansion of its manufacturing facility into Tijuana, B.C., which should be fully operational by fall, 2004.  In an effort to remain competitive in the new global economy, a decision was made in 2002 to open the firm’s first foreign manufacturing plant in Mexico.  From this facility Bazz Houston will provide customers with springs, wire-forms and assemblies. It also expects to develop a stamping operation in 2005.

      This new facility will allow the firm to provide superior service and an immediate response to its many customers in the region, many of whom are within a two-hour drive of the new facility.

      Continuous process improvement best describes the working culture at Bazz Houston.  The primary objective is to consistently improve customer satisfaction by providing quality parts on-time at the lowest possible cost.

      The Bazz Houston Company expects that the future will continue to present many challenges. However, based on its proven track record over the past 40 years, it looks forward with optimism to the future.  Metal manufacturing world-wide is now more competitive than ever.  Only companies that can continue to adapt to the rapidly changing manufacturing environment will be able to survive.