Consolidated Diesel is a 1.3 million square foot diesel engine manufacturing facility in Established in 1980, it is jointly owned by Cummins, Inc. and CNH (formerly J.I. Case and New Holland). The plant operates seven machining lines producing 550 engines per day, as well as various engine components.
Consolidated Diesel recently implemented a serial number tracking system which allows time-stamping and recording of the processes performed on each part the company produces. Employees need access to barcode scanners and computers at various points along the lines in order to optimize the system. Because plant environments are not ideal for computers, Consolidated decided to enclose its hardware in order to protect it.
After purchasing several units from large international suppliers, David Jacobsen, project manager and tracking system designer, needed a more customized fit for the tight places where the new workstations would be installed. He wanted to find a domestic enclosure manufacturer that could meet his specific requirements more cost-effectively. Mr. Jacobsen spoke with several vendors, but found most of them to be too expensive, unwilling to customize their standard products, or unable to provide a solution in a timely manner.
Solution:
Mr. Jacobsen first learned of CCS-Inc. and the Envirosealed brand of enclosures via the internet. With 10-15 Envirosealed enclosures currently installed and functioning at the plant, he is quite pleased with the result. “Now, the equipment our employees need is right at their fingertips.” The tracking system operates more accurately and efficiently and is more convenient for workers on the line. Consolidated Diesel plans to add 40-50 additional Envirosealed workstations soon.
ROI:The interior of Consolidated Diesel’s engine manufacturing plant is a complex arrangement of machinery and heavy-duty infrastructure. The need for smaller enclosures is a serious issue, because settling for another provider’s product with a larger footprint would mean moving pieces of the structure. This is an expensive procedure that was completely eliminated by choosing CCS for the project. Also, allowing the workstations to be positioned exactly where they are needed minimizes walking by the operators and improves line efficiency – saving time and money.
What You Want, When You Want It
When speaking about working with CCS, Mr. Jacobsen seems most impressed by the team’s versatility and accommodation. “When we outlined our special requirements, they stepped up and said, ‘We can do that.’” His search process ended with CCS not only because they could satisfy the main requirements within budget and on a reasonable timeframe, but also because of a few other differentiators.
CCS provided powder-coating in a color specified by corporate headquarters. This prevented Consolidated from contracting for this service separately. The option for a cooling system installed in the enclosures was also appealing. These details contributed to the overall value CCS delivered. “It is a very high-quality, neat, clean product,” says Mr. Jacobsen.
With the first order of Envirosealed enclosures integrated into the plant’s new system, David Jacobsen and other Consolidated employees appreciate the solution CCS was able to provide. Mr. Jacobsen is recommending the purchase of more units to complete the project and replace other existing enclosures. “If the application is right,” he says, “you need to take a look at these folks.”