Product:
1. Core Competency: Manufacturer
2. Products Produced at this Location: Industrial shock absorbers & velocity controllers
3. Annual Number of Products Produced: 600,000 +
4. Type of Manufacturing performed: Assembly

Facilities Area (in sq. ft.):
1. Manufacturing: 32,950 sq. ft.
2. R & D: 1,650 sq. ft.
3. Total: 34,600 sq. ft.

Personnel:
1. Number of Employees (worldwide): 224 7. Shifts: 2
2. Administration Sales/Purc.: 45 8. Hours per Shift: 8
3. Engineering: 10 9. Days per week: 5
4. Manufacturing Hourly: 80 10. Union: No
5. Manufacturing Salaried: 9
6. Quality: 6

Data Processing Information:
1. Computer System: Windows 2000
2. MRP System: MFG/PRO by QAD

Inventory Control:
1. FIFO: X
2. LIFO: N/A
3. Random: X
4. Kanban: X

Lead Time: Min. Max.
1. Quotation: 1 day 5 days
2. Production Order: Varies

Person Responsible For:
1. Quote Processing: Customer Service Manager Phone: (800) 521-3320
x-635 E-mail: ddale@acecontrols.com
2. Order Follow Up: Customer Service Manager Phone: x-635 - E-mail: ddale@acecontrols.com
3. Problem Resolution: Customer Service Manager Phone: x-635 - E-mail: ddale@acecontrols.com
4. Quality Manager: Phone: x-181 E-mail: dcarlson@acecontrols.com

Ownership:
Public

Quality System Certification:
ISO 9001:2000

Supporting new projects and co-design:
New product development is priority one on a daily basis. Product planning team meets monthly to discuss new product development. ACE welcomes design and product ideas from outside the company.

CAD and/or computer simulation software:
Systems include: Auto CAD (legacy drawings), solid edge (current designs), ADINA multi-physics analysis software. Stations: 7 Auto CAD, 10 Solid Edge, 1 ADINA.

Internal procedures and documents control:
Internal procedures and work instructions are created, maintained and controlled electronically. These Quality System documents are made available through the company’s Intranet. Computer stations are located throughout the facility to allow access to these documents.

Typical prototyping, sampling, and timing:
A majority of ACE’s business is catalog sales of standard product. Customer specials, (modification to existing products), are quoted, designed, manufactured, assembled and then performance tested by the customer. Sampling and timing is negotiated.

Manufacturing processes:
Assembly, machining plate, heat treat and grind

Corrective Action Methods and Continuous Improvement Activities:
Quality system corrective action process assigns complaint to a multifunctional Product Group team who investigates, initiates corrective action and follows up on actions taken. Continuous improvement activities are reviewed, initiated and assigned during quality system Management Review meetings.

Implementation of total cost improvements and sharing them with customers:
ACE continually strives to improve design, manufacturing, and production costs. Newer, more efficient designs translate to lower costs for ACE customers.

Problem Solving Tools:
Product planning team meets monthly, Six Sigma implemented and Pareto chart documentation.

Employee Training:
Continuous ongoing company and corporate training. ACE financially assists and encourages employees to improve their professional skills through college and university training. All employees are provided with job-related training consistent with ISO work instructions. Employees also receive Kaydon Corporation’s “Corporate Integrity Program” training.