Korden Achieves ACE Qualifying

The Korden manufacturing business, which designs, sells and manufactures physical security products, achieved the level of ACE Qualifying on September 17, 2008. The Qualifying level of certification is measured in terms of initial business base lining, understanding customer values and satisfaction, understanding value streams and key processes, and launching initial ACE tool sets.

Under Gary Goodwin’s guidance, the Korden team has done a great job of launching the ACE Operating System in a very short period of time.

"Bringing ACE into our daily lives was not an easy task. It took a lot of initial effort to create a baseline/foundation to start from,” explained Goodwin, the Operations and ACE Manager for Korden. He went on to explain that ACE is now used everyday in some aspect or another. “From QCPC and tracking turn backs, to managing our control panel to see where our progress is heading, ACE has become a way of life for not only me but our pilots as well.”

While implementing this first stage of Qualifying, Korden executed lean manufacturing initiatives which achieved significant improvements in setup reduction, re-capturing of floor space, reduction in material/operator travel distances, and improvements in areas such as the paint and assembly lines. The business also realized great success by implementing a successful 5S and TPM program resulting in improvements all employees can be very proud of. As a manufacturing facility, Korden is subject to an extended set of ACE tools tailored to that type of business.

The team has now set its goals on the Bronze level of certification before year-end. Fortunately, Korden has already implemented a number of processes at the Bronze level. The Bronze journey realizes full implementation of all ACE Business Operating System tools for at least one chosen key process from the value stream.

Paul Retzbach, Vice President of Operations, remarked “This is a fantastic example of the team pulling together to understand their business and identifying opportunities. I look forward to ongoing success as Korden continues its journey of performance excellence!”