Outcomes
2X on-time delivery performance, positioning the company to attract additional market share
Schafer Gear Works
Schafer Gear Works
Leading gear manufacturer optimizes international supply chain to improve on-time delivery
About Schafer Gear Works
Schafer Gear Works is a South Bend, Indiana-based manufacturer of high-precision, custom-engineered gears and machined parts intended for automotive, agricultural and construction sectors. Founded in 1934, the company takes ideas from rough concepts through precision fabrication, to assembly, to help a diverse list of industries including aerospace, industrial warehouse equipment, and transportation.
The Opportunity
On-time delivery for customers is critical for Schafer Gear’s commitment to service, and for avoiding costly production downtime. In the current environment, the company recognized that supply chain optimization could impact the accuracy of their available inventory. Schafer Gear partnered with iNDustry Labs on an iNDustry XP to establish a roadmap for the transformation of the company’s supply chain management.
iNDustry Labs Engagement
Over the course of ten weeks, the team conducted a three-phase project to unlock profit maximization opportunities through a supply chain strategy. Through a combination of interviews, diagnostic surveys, facility visits, and data analysis, as well as an assessment of the current state of delivery, a specific set of recommendations and an action plan for high-priority projects was presented. The proposed recommendations have the potential to increase on-time delivery at a reasonable cost of inventory, and suggest technology that can help mitigate supply risks. The team also offered quick-win process improvements that were implemented immediately.
Doug Fozo, Lean Coordinator and Project & Facilities Manager“The iNDustry Labs team spent many hours interviewing our team, collecting data and understanding our processes before making a great outside the box recommendation. Their ability to compile and analyze the data is amazing. Their solutions are being reviewed for implementation to make Schafer Gear a more competitive manufacturing supplier. Our team enjoyed working with iNDustry Labs and we hope to engage with them again.”