Close to the edge Manufacturing in Action, Source : The Manufacturer US Published : 15 Mar 2002 17:46

With over 50 years of manufacturing experience, Kurt Manufacturing knows that high-quality products and loyal staff require hard work and dedication. Since its inception in 1946, the company has expanded its operation to three states and now employs over 1,000 people. Kurt's mission statement sets the high standards for the company to follow: "To perform beyond expectations so that customers are continually loyal, employees are rewarded with expanded opportunities, the corporation is strengthened by profitable growth, and the goal of leadership is achieved."
Kurt Manufacturing is a nationally recognized leader in the manufacture of close tolerance, precision-machined parts and products for a wide range of industries. The company specializes in the production of machining, gears, assembly, fabrication, die castings, turning, gaging systems, powder coat painting, industrial workholding, hydraulic components, medical, and fitness products.

The main focus of attention at Kurt is firmly on the quality of its products. Working to close tolerances is not something that all engineering firms can successfully achieve, but for those who are prepared to put in the necessary investment, the rewards can be worth the effort. This investment has to take two forms. The first is in the machinery a company buys, which it can then use to improve both quality and efficiency. The second is the people within the company, their skills and their dedication to the products. Kurt's reputation was earned because its employees care about customers, co-workers, and about the company. The employees work together toward common goals and gain satisfaction from doing so. The company offers a comprehensive training schedule to keep skills up-to-date, as well as offering an apprenticeship scheme. Not only does the business benefit from productivity and efficiency gains following apprenticeship training, but the apprentice also benefits by enhancing his/her skills, doing challenging work and providing leadership to co-workers.

The program provides two years of hands-on skill-based learning opportunities in the machining industry-all on the first shift. Apprentices experience a variety of work and different machining environments by rotating through four vertically integrated and diverse facilities. Apprentice committee members and skilled trainers work together to guide Kurt's apprentices through a quality training curriculum that couples classroom learning with hands-on experience.
Kurt keeps control over the quality of its products through vertical integration. There are undoubtedly many advantages to forming partnerships with others, including cost reduction. However, there is always the danger that the chosen partner will not come up to standard, so Kurt prefers to rely on its own skills.

W.G. Kuban, president of Kurt Manufacturing explained why vertical integration is so important. "Kurt Manufacturing Company has been a pioneer in developing and sharing with customers what I call, the power of vertical integration. It's a unifying power that keeps quality as the constant throughout Kurt's total service. Kurt's vertical integration combines engineering support, die casting, precision machining, gear manufacturing, metal finishing, and assembly into a one-stop contract service. You can team with Kurt to use one, all, or a combination of capabilities to best meet your requirements for precision parts and assemblies."

As a result of ongoing efforts to improve vertical integration, Kurt offers the experience and capabilities to control all aspects of the total transaction from quotation through delivery. This means total control of costs and quality. "Throughout the company there is a demonstrated belief in the top management policy that quality is something our customers should take for granted," commented Kuban.

As a leading producer of precision-machined, engineered parts, Kurt is organized into five main business areas. The first of these is electronics (SPC/gaging) which is concerned with SPC software, gaging electronics, and bench gages. The second area is industrial products, followed by ditto hydraulics. Fourth on the list is Theradyne healthcare products, specialists in the manufacture of durable medical and fitness equipment. The main products coming out of this division are treadmills and a series of wheelchair products. A range of equipment used for patient rehabilitation after they have suffered an injury compliments these. As adults and children have different needs in such circumstances, Theradyne manufacturers separate products for each market. Kurt's fifth division manufactures items such as kinetic trainers.

From its base in Minneapolis, MN, the Kurt name has become appreciated across North America. In many ways, this is also a result of its integrated structure. The engineers at Kurt are able to sit down with the client design team at the early stage of a product's development and work with them to get things right. The collaborative nature of the work ensures that the performance of each component is optimized, the product fulfils the customer's criteria, and costs are kept down by designing it with the manufacturing process in mind. Even the best products that designers can imagine benefit from the experienced eye of a manufacturer when it comes to producing it.
There are lessons to be learned from the way things are done at Kurt. Kurt and others like it have found that a vertical structure gives a certain impression to the potential customer. If you can get it right at home, why go anywhere else?

For more information, call 763-572-1500 or go to www.kurt.com

Email: marketing@kurt.com

Marketing Contact Information;

Paul Carlsen
Kurt Mfg
5280 Main Street NE
Minneapolis MN 55421
Off: 763-572-4429
paulc@kurt.com