There are many reasons a company would want to be ISO/TS 16949 certified. ISO is the acronym for the International Standards Organization, which is a non-governmental, independent organization. The ISO publishes standards which lets consumers know they are getting the best products, services, and systems. The ISO also facilitates international trade, with consumers in all countries understanding they will get the best in quality and efficiently produced products, all while being made within specific safety standards. ISO certification is completely voluntary but has gained widely in popularity.
To date, the ISO has published over 21,000 standards in a variety of industries: from food safety to technology to agriculture and everything in between. ISO/TS 16949 is a technical specification which was developed to help aid with quality management systems. It allows for continuing improvement, while addressing defect prevention with the reduction of waste along the automotive industry supply chain. It is based on the ISO 9001 standard, and is a valuable certification to obtain if a company is looking to work with automobile manufacturers.
ISO/TS 16949 was drafted by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) along with a technical committee made up of ISO members. This technical specification was designed to bring about regulations that are country specific when dealing with quality management systems. The ISO/TS 16949 certification is valid for three years.
As a custom manufacturer of rubber extrusions, plastic extrusions, and rubber moldings, Universal Polymer and Rubber understands the importance of being ISO/TS 16949 certified. Not only does being certified streamline the manufacturing process, but it ensures any risks or problems are addressed during the process. A benefit of this is that customers are able to have a higher rate of satisfaction by knowing they are getting a quality produced piece that was manufactured using the best methods of safety and efficiency. By using more efficient processes, which translates into a lower cost for production, which in the end saves our customer’s money. For more information on the services we can offer you contact us.
Since the recession years of the late 2000s, the manufacturing industry in the US has been working to rebound. In 2016, there are mixed signals and confusion over how the manufacturing industry is doing. Articles and reports are coming out on a regular basis, talking about how this specific market is up, while another is down and even others that are staying flat. Many of the stories seem to be written with a positive spin to show only positive numbers, looking for anyway to portray that manufacturing is as strong as it’s been in years. At Universal Polymer we work with customers in a number of markets, and have seen firsthand the differences in the health of these markets.
A recent report from the Federal Reserve said that factory production dropped 0.4 percent in August, after an increase of 0.4 percent in July. From a year ago factory output is also down 0.4 percent. This after multiple reports showing strong gains in June and July this year that seemed to signal that the manufacturing industry was beginning to turn a corner. Industrial output which includes areas like mines and utilities also dropped 0.4 percent. U.S utility output fell 1.4 percent in August after 2 consecutive months of strong gains that reflected the seasonal use of air conditioning during the hot summer weather. Mining production actually rose 1 percent, and is on a trend of increases after a long period of declines, but yet is still 9.3 percent lower than a year ago.
All of the numbers that come out in these reports seem to show that overall the industry is staying flat. Headlines saying that manufacturing output stumbled or is slumping are using the most minimal changes in output to determine that. Reporting every month does not give a truly accurate picture of the trends that are occurring in manufacturing if the difference is only 0.4 percent. In a previous blog this year we explored how auto sales have been reported to be growing at the fastest pace since 2000 this year, while production numbers have been low and manufacturers have been facing scandals. This is just another example of the mixed signals over the overall health of the auto industry, which may be considered strong or weak depending on the report you read that week.
At Universal Polymer we work with many different markets and industries and see the challenges that each is facing in today’s economy. We work with our customers to find solutions to their rubber and plastic extrusions and rubber molding needs and are the only manufacturer of the world famous Gold Line Tarp Straps. In an industry where the health and outlook seems to change every month, we are consistent in our desire to tackle new challenges and provide answers to our customer’s questions.
This year in March, Universal Polymer & Rubber attended both The Precast Show in Nashville, TN and the Mid America Truck Show in Louisville, KY. Both of these shows were great opportunities to network with potential clients and business partners, and to view the latest trends in the industry. Attendance was high for both shows with the crowd being a combination of end users and business-to-business suppliers.
The 45th annual Mid-America Trucking Show was a successful event with over 70,000 attendees and over 1,100 exhibitors. The show was competing against a major auto show occurring in Germany at the same time, and many large companies were protesting the show due to this conflict in dates. With these larger companies missing, the show was more spread out than usual with trailer spacers further apart than normal, causing more back and forth travel to be able to see everything. With a large number of truck drivers attending this show, there was also a large amount of foot traffic, which while beneficial in helping to promote to a larger amount of people, also did not lead to huge purchases and orders since truck drivers would be buying products on a smaller scale. All things considered this show was a great opportunity to see the latest innovations and the newest technology in the heavy-duty trucking industry.
The 2016 Precast Show was a great event hosted by the National Precast Concrete Association. With over 300 companies exhibiting, including Universal Polymer & Rubber, the leaders in the precast concrete industry were able to show off the latest innovations. Events included a crane operator certification update, a women in precast reception, and the Honky-Tonk Hoedown at the Wildhorse Saloon on Saturday night. Awards were also given out including the Pinnacle Award, Plant Certification Awards, Sustainability Awards and Creative Use of Precast Awards. Overall the show was a great opportunity for Universal Polymer to interact with many new potential business partners.
The next show we will be attending is WEFTEC 2016 from Sept. 24-28. For more information on the tradeshows and events we will be attending and exhibiting at next, be sure to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
The automotive industry in America is huge, with more people traveling by car than any other mode of transport. In 2016, automotive sales are growing at the fastest pace since 2000. Most companies are beating their sales expectations and automakers posted a 6.9% sales increase in February, compared with a year earlier. While these numbers are positive, they are not sharing the full story on the state of the American automotive industry.
While sales numbers are up, North American production is only up 4% on the year. Production is being supplemented by imports coming in from Europe and Japan. This hurts the idea that an increase in sales means an increase in the production of vehicles by American automotive companies. Also contributing to the high sales numbers are the large number of SUVs that are being purchased as opposed to smaller sedans. SUVs are hugely profitable for automotive companies compared to smaller sedans. Sales numbers are also up in 2016 due to lower price of gas. As gas prices keep dropping across the nation, automobiles become more affordable for the average American, but this could change if gas prices begin to rise again.
Though the numbers for automobile sales have been positive in 2016, there have also been a few news stories that have the potential to tarnish this good news. Volkswagen is still dealing with the fallout of its diesel emissions scandal, and other diesel car companies are having their emissions numbers scrutinized as well. Testing is becoming stricter as the European Commission works to make sure small diesel car models are not producing more pollution than allowed. Also, Fiat Chrysler is facing a lawsuit from auto dealerships alleging that its U.S. unit was offering money to falsify sales. These stories are contributing to the idea that those American automobile sales may not be as healthy as they look.
As a manufacturer of rubber molded parts, rubber extruded parts and plastic extruded parts, UP&R works with many different industries including the automotive industry. Take a look at our website for all our products and services.
The trucking industry is very important to the American economy as it allows for the easy transport of goods and materials over large distances. To keep these items safe from weather and other environmental hazards, many trucking companies use tarps to cover the load they are hauling in their flatbeds. A quality tarp strap is needed to keep those tarps in place, and UP&R is the place to get those straps.
The GOLDLINE ® strap from UP&R is a must have product for all road fleets. Made in the USA in our Ohio manufacturing facility, the GOLDLINE ® strap is the number one brand of tarp straps for truckers and tarp strap users. Composed of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, this strap has exceptional strength, durability and resistance to environmental factors such as UV radiation and ozone. The straps are available in sizes of 10”, 15”, 21”, 31”, and 41” and made for the transportation, recreational vehicle, and marine industries.
UP&R also offers the SILVERLINE ® brand of tarp straps as an alternative product. These straps are made of natural rubber and are popular in northern areas as well as Canada, because even in frigid conditions they remain flexible. Advantages of these straps include a high initial strength and UV inhibitors, but a shorter life span than GOLDLINE ® straps. The S hooks for both brands are also manufactured in the USA, as UP&R has the single-source, in-house manufacturing capabilities that cannot be matched by any other tarp strap manufacturer.
UP&R offers additional products including rubber tie downs, plastic pipe gaskets, and cast iron coupling gaskets. Capabilities also include the manufacturing of rubber molded parts, rubber extruded parts and plastic extruded parts for the transportation and cargo control market, construction and pipe manufacturers market, and the automotive OE supply chain market. Take a look at our website for all our products and services.
Manufacturing rubber compounds is a lot like baking a cake: it all comes down to having the right recipe. And just like any good recipe comes from a good chef, a high quality rubber compound is devised by a skilled rubber chemist.
A rubber chemist’s job starts when they receive an ASTM specification from a manufacturer. That spec dictates the needs of the finished rubber compound, from required hardness, strength and elongation, to necessary ozone and temperature change resistance. From there, the rubber chemist sets about crafting a compound that meets three challenges:
Design for Application: The compound must satisfy the requirements of the ASTM spec.
Design for Manufacturability: The compound must retain its desired characteristics after being processed in the manufacturer’s facility.
Design for Market: The compound must be the lowest cost possible while still achieving 1 and 2.
Creating a compound that meets the necessary requirements on paper is different than creating one that satisfies real world conditions. Ensuring the manufacturability of a rubber compound means walking it through the manufacturing process it will undergo—be that extrusion, molding or some other process—and seeing how the compound reacts in use. A skilled rubber chemist understands compounds, chemical interactions and end use applications—in short, they understand the process of turning raw rubber into a finished part.
To begin their work, a rubber chemist will mix rubber in one or two pound batches, testing each until they hit upon a compound that satisfies all three design challenges. From there, they’ll typically move up to a full batch, then continue to scale up. As they do they’ll make sure that the proper mixing time, mixing temperature and weigh ups (the weights and percentages of each component of the rubber compound) are observed. A rubber chemist will follow their compound through the mixing process, and often through the rubber manufacturer’s own trial process as well.
Rubber chemists play an integral role in the manufacturing world. Wherever a rubber part is involved, the process of manufacturing that part began with a rubber chemist. Right now there is a shortage of skilled chemists in the rubber industry. The ones who have reached retirement age are often paid to stay longer as anxiety builds about a shortage of new chemists entering the field. As we discussed in a past blog, the task of motivating the next generation falls to all of us currently working in manufacturing. Spurring students to pursue careers in rubber chemistry will ensure that the rubber manufacturing industry stays strong for years to come.
A few weeks back we achieved TS16949 Certification from the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG). This certification is a standard recognized the world over. Here’s how AIAG defines it:
The goal of this technical specification is to develop a quality management system that provides for continual improvement, emphasizing defect prevention and reduction of variation and waste with in the supply chain.
Earning the certification meant going through a rigorous 4 day audit. If you’d walked into UP&R in the days and weeks leading up to the audit, you’d have been treated to an atmosphere akin to lawyers preparing for an important case. That preparation didn’t find us inventing new processes, but rather getting all of our notes in order. At any moment, we had to be ready for an auditor to ask us to produce our training matrix, or point to a worker and ask about their training record.
Though this is an automotive certification, the standards required benefit all of UP&R’s customers. In order to become TS19649 certified, we had to prove that we have a thorough predictive and preventative maintenance program in place in order to ensure minimal downtime. And as we mentioned, we had to provide detailed documentation of our training program. A comprehensive training program guarantees that all of our employees are working in an optimal manner.
Taken together, the TS16949 Certification is evidence of our commitment to being an efficient business, and providing the very best for our customers. We’re proud to have achieved this certification, and we’re excited to carry out the last stipulation: working towards continual improvement, so that we are always providing the best service possible.
Manufacturers have a lot to do these days. Many have entered new markets as tried-and-true industries have slowed down. Many more are involved in instituting lean manufacturing principles to keep prices competitive while still making a profit. All of this requires skilled personnel, and one of the challenges facing manufacturers across all industries is the shortage of new, skilled workers. That adds another item to the to-do list: getting the next generation interested in pursuing a career in manufacturing.
Part of this effort involves dispelling old notions that the factory is grimy, mindless work. As manufacturing plants have evolved over the past twenty years, machines have gotten more high-tech, and workers more multifaceted. Multitasking has become the norm and as everyone wears more and more hats, there’s a constant element of learning and challenge to every job in the plant.
That challenge is something that many middle school and high school students don’t realize is there. We have to communicate that manufacturing provides a stable, lucrative career with lots of growth potential—but we have to go beyond that message. After all, think back to your own high school days and how much those words—“stability,” “growth potential”—meant to you. We need to speak to students on their level, keeping in mind their priorities and interests. And they love a challenge, they love to compete. From video games, to sports, to working hard to make honor roll every semester, students are constantly working to be better than they were the day before and to reach new heights. If they feel that manufacturing is a dead end job, no wonder they aren’t pursuing it as a career path.
But today manufacturing workers are more like industrial athletes than cogs in an assembly line. Every day they use their brains and their bodies to find better ways of doing things. They work to limit defects and produce more. There’s a sense of learning and refining every single day. And that extends to management roles as well. How many projects did you quote last week? How many were successful? What was the total dollar amount? How can we do better this week? You set up a plan, benchmark it against expected results and take corrective action. No matter what your position in the manufacturing plant, every day is like a game.
And for the first time, everyone is truly playing on the same team. The suggestion boxes of yesterday have been replaced by the group meetings of today. When manufacturers institute lean principles they turn to their workers to figure out the best ways to improve. Today, everyone in the plant has a voice, a voice that’s heard and respected.
We need to let students know that the behaviors and attitudes that have already taken them so far will bring them continued fulfillment and success in the world of manufacturing. They’ll quickly discover the more “practical” benefits of manufacturing for themselves. For now, we simply have to get them on our team.
In February we attended the National Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers Show for the first time, and we’re glad we did. There was a tremendous amount of energy at the show, due in part to the rebounding economy, and in part to the fact that the show is held every other year. Sometimes, yearly shows can become almost a chore. But when a show is held every other year, excitement builds, and the entire affair is infused with that much more vibrancy.
Beyond the excitement, the show was filled with opportunity. Have you ever heard of a combi oven? It’s short for combination oven, and it’s an incredibly popular technology in Europe. A combi oven uses a combination of convection, thermo and steam to cook. These ovens are extremely high tech devices. You can program a recipe and let the oven do the rest, from preheating through cooling down when the food is done. We even saw a model with a barcode reader that allowed you to simply put your food in and scan a ready-made recipe.
Like Ohio is to rubber, so are Italy and Germany to combi ovens. That’s where the knowledge base and the foundation of the technology are located. But it was clear at the NAFEM Show that these companies are looking to introduce the technology to the North American market. And much like what happened with the auto industry, the time is fast approaching when manufacturers will bring their expertise across the sea and begin manufacturing the ovens here in order to save on freight. Don’t be surprised if this becomes an important part of the food equipment manufacturing industry in the next five to ten years.
Combi ovens weren’t the only things that caught our eye at the NAFEM show. We also took note of the magnetic inserted rubber gaskets utilized in both ovens and refrigerators. With a magnet inside the gasket that seals to the frame of the oven or fridge, the seal created is that much stronger. While not a new invention, it was new to us. And with a magnet supplier and manufacturing process of our own, we’re now hard at work on our first magnet inserted gasket RFQs.
If there was one thing that was clear at the NAFEM Show, it’s that there are good times ahead for food equipment manufacturers. And as for our final verdict on the show? Well, we can guarantee you that if you’re there in 2015, you’ll see UP&R.
UP&R also offers the