Author: KMF Infotech

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Case Studies

Staying Competitive with Smart Manufacturing

A case study on vehicle lighting manufacturer, SoundOff Signal

 

Founded in 1992, SoundOff Signal is a manufacturer that produces specialty lighting, sirens and control systems for emergency and commercial vehicles. They are the second largest provider (domestically) in the law enforcement lighting market with a reputation for high-quality and durable products, enabled by their patented mpower® silicone lighting technology.

 

Facing Challenges

Despite strong growth and a leading market position, SoundOff Signal recognized several challenges in keeping pace with customer demand and staying competitive.

 

  • Constrained production capacity in their manual assembly lines
  • Difficulty recruiting and retaining employees for assembly work
  • Increasing complexity in manufacturing their unique lighting products

 

Introducing Smart Manufacturing Solutions to the Floor

To address these strategic challenges, SoundOff Signal invested in developing two automated production lines, replacing three previous manual assembly stations. These automated lines incorporate innovations in riveting, adhesive curing, inspection and more to improve manufacturing performance.

 

Specifically, SoundOff Signal’s new process delivers:

  • 30% faster production rates through precision automation
  • Advanced sensors and analytics to continuously improve quality
  • Ergonomic relief from repetitive manual labor
  • Flexible systems that can adapt to produce new lighting designs

 

 

 

Impact on Competitiveness and Company Culture

Early results after deploying automated lines show an uplift in SoundOff Signal’s competitiveness and company culture:

  • Production capacity increased from 60 units per hour to 100+ units
  • Employees are cross-trained and redeployed to high-value, machine-operating roles
  • Morale and engagement are high thanks to upskilling opportunities and the company’s ESOP model

 

“Employees are excited to expand the scope of their work duties and be part of the new production process,” remarked John Stelmach, manufacturing engineering manager. “When we first implemented, one employee came up to me and said ‘we’re going to produce a record number of units today!’ The shift to a new production process has been a motivator for employees.”

 

 

By strategically embracing smart technologies, SoundOff Signal unlocked the manufacturing performance and employee productivity needed to sustain strong growth and customer satisfaction for years to come.

 

The Business Solutions team at Lakeshore Advantage can help you get started, too. Reach out to Amanda Murray to get connected with the right resources for a smart investment in the future of your business.

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Announcements

Diversified Success: West Michigan’s Lakeshore Region Attracts Investments Across Multiple Industries

A strong first quarter sees 168 new jobs and more than $90 million in private investment across six industries in Ottawa and Allegan Counties

 

 

ZEELAND, Mich. – Lakeshore Advantage announces six business expansions representing six distinct industries in the first quarter of 2024. Four of the projects are local business expansions and two projects are overseas businesses establishing operations in the region. Combined, the investments will create 168 new jobs and retain 50 in Allegan and Ottawa Counties.

 

“By attracting and retaining companies across multiple sectors, we are not only strengthening our economic base but also insulating our region from potential downturns in any single industry,” said Jennifer Owens, president of Lakeshore Advantage. “The Lakeshore Advantage team is honored to step alongside our Ottawa and Allegan County businesses to help them succeed and expand in the Lakeshore region.”

 

 

Celebrating Local Business Expansions

 

Perrigo Company plc, a leading provider of Consumer Self-Care Products and over-the-counter (OTC) health and wellness solutions is expanding in the City of Holland. The company is constructing a 357,000-square-foot distribution center—Perrigo’s largest distribution operation. The expansion will generate 30 new jobs and $18.6 million in private investment.

 

Manufacturer of innovative architectural structures, Porter Corp., a Playcore Company, will invest nearly $2.3 million in its Holland Charter Township facility. The project will generate 15 new jobs and retain 50. The company plans to construct a 14,578-square-foot addition to expand its production capacity.

 

Transportation and warehousing company, Inontime, is renovating its existing 206,000-square-foot facility in Zeeland Charter Township. The renovation includes interior office rework and exterior arrival and point-of-entry improvements. The expansion will generate up to 10 new jobs and garner $1.2 million in private investment. The company has four locations—three in West Michigan and one in South Carolina.

 

Uniform Color Company, a producer and full-service provider of high-performance color and additive masterbatch for thermoplastics is expanding in the City of Holland. The company is experiencing continued growth and plans to construct a 25,000-square-foot expansion at its Holland headquarters that will allow the company to add new machinery and equipment. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $12 million and create 13 jobs.

 

Welcoming New Businesses in the Region

 

LT Precision Michigan, LLC, a subsidiary of the Korea-based LT Precision Co., LTD and supplier of battery cooling plates for EV manufacturers in the U.S., will establish its North American headquarters in Holland. The company will initiate new manufacturing operations and establish its corporate offices at the location, creating 70 jobs and investing $43.2 million.

 

Profielnorm USA, LLC, a subsidiary of Profielnorm B.V., a family-owned Dutch mezzanine flooring specialist, plans to construct its first U.S. manufacturing facility in a newly created industrial park in the City of Plainwell. The parent company first established its U.S. presence with an office in Kalamazoo in 2023. The company now plans to onshore the production of its U.S.-destined mezzanines and continue growing its U.S. and North American market share. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of up to $7.5 million and create approximately 30 jobs.

 

Lakeshore Advantage assisted all six companies in navigating their growth plans and providing state and local resources to support their expansion projects.

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Founder Stories

Cue Your Life

CUE is more than just athletic apparel, it’s apparel with a purpose!

 

Website: cueyourlife.com

 

 

The Story 

As a physical therapist, volleyball coach and mom I am frequently educating my patients, student athletes and kids on the importance of core strength and stable posture. I often find that we will engage our core when we are mindful about it, but with life’s busy tasks, we forget about that core engagement, quickly slipping back into our flexed, forward posture. The benefits of core strength is key for proper alignment, movement, athletic performance and pain control. Hence, CUE Apparel was created to provide core awareness reminders, designed with innovative CueLines in a comfortable compression tank top.

 

About the Product

CUE Apparel is a core awareness training tool in a tank top. It is designed with comfortable compression and internal CueLines strategically placed to enhance the wearers understanding of core engagement. As you wear the shirt, the CueLines automatically evoke a core engagement reminder for improved strength, posture and control.

 

 

Milestone 

Newly designed and recently launched CUE Apparel: Apparel with a Purpose and Fashion with a Function

 

How SURGE Helped Us

Through SURGE I have been introduced to some other innovative and creative entrepreneurs in Boost Camp.

 

I have enjoyed the Lunch and Learn sessions designed to inspire, guide and enhance a newly founded company. These sessions are helpful in forming a strong network of entrepreneurs.

 

I have recently met with SURGE Business Coach, Brooke DeBoer, for a personalized, one-on-one, small business coaching. Through my work with her, we are working to form specific timelines and achieve newly formed business goals to enhance CUE Apparel.

 

 

Why SURGE Matters 

As I am new to the start-up world, it can feel a bit lonely if the business is small and still in its infancy. Having the opportunity to network with others who have been in the same situation is invaluable as a new business owner with a new concept to launch. I would encourage other founders to join SURGE for help, guidance or just to take time to make their new business a priority.

 

What’s Next 

Continued promotion of the product leads to enhancing other individuals lives through wearing CUE Apparel. For instance, a collegiate basketball player and lacrosse player are utilizing the core training tool to enhance their personal performance and work outs.

 

Another goal in the next few months is to present at 5×5 night.

 

How to Help

It is important to educate people on the benefits of core strength and improved posture. As our lives are so heavily reliant on technology, it is easy to fall into a habit where we are not using our core postural muscles. Social media engagement can help promote the product and reach a larger audience to teach the benefits that a strong core provides.

 

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Founder Stories

Salted Perfection LLC

 

We craft exceptional culinary salts, seasoning blends, and grilling rubs.

Website: www.saltedperfection.com

 

The Story 

Salted Perfection was born out of a passion for flavorful and creative cooking. Terri Wolters had always loved experimenting in the kitchen, blending herbs and spices to create unique seasoning blends. After making custom spice mixes as gifts for friends and family for years, in 2021, Terri’s husband David convinced her to turn her hobby into a business.

 

About the Product

To help you transform ordinary meals into extraordinary culinary delights with our gourmet seasonings. Simple, easy, and unexpectedly delicious. We help you Make Every Dish Memorable®

 

Milestone 

We launched Select Blends, a line of grilling rubs in June. Two of them won Grand Champion awards at grilling cookoffs in Kansas and Iowa. A new flavor Select Blend (Northport) is being used in the World Steak Cookoff competition in Fort Worth, Texas next month and David is attending that as the team we sponsor competes.

 

We also recently became listed on Specialty Food Partners website so our products are available nationwide for grocers to order wholesale.

 

We recently had three registered trademarks awarded by the USPTO.

 

 

 

How SURGE Helped Us

SURGE helped a ton in the very early stages with mentorship and inspiring Terri to move forward with the idea and start selling at the Farmer’s Market. This includes attending SURGE Boostcamp, monthly Founder Roundtables, workshops, AI talks, Happy Hours and Startup Showcases. The SURGE community is amazing and supportive. The group feedback has helped me make difficult decisions like paring back on other ventures, etc.

 

Why SURGE Matters 

I’ve encouraged some budding entrepreneurs to join SURGE. It’s an awesome, supportive community of like-minded people that will get founders started on the right path. Founders have a habit of having an idea, making it, then trying to sell it. SURGE can protect us from ourselves and get us to have an idea, sell the idea to customers and demonstrate the need, then figure out how to make it. We love everyone we’ve met through SURGE and the support and brain trust is simply amazing.

 

What’s Next

We need to figure the next step out. We need to increase sales and increase production, but we need the sales to justify the investment that increasing production would require due to minimum orders, etc. And then there’s warehousing. We can’t store 4000 jars of spices in our garage, the chipmunks would have a field day. We are at a challenging point where we have plenty of traction but don’t have the resources to scale.

 

Advice to Others

Sponsoring competitors exposes our products to potential customers and provides social proof that our stuff is kick-ass. Hopefully they go to their favorite retailer and request them to stock our products and the retailer can order it on SFP.

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