Reed Manufacturing Company Inc., based in Erie, PA, has been a trusted name in pipe tools and vises since 1896. As a family-owned business with 85 employees and serving professional trades, REED is known for its commitment to quality, innovation, and customer service.
Reed Manufacturing’s recent growth revealed inefficiencies in front-office operations, which relied on paper-based processes and manual data entry. Leadership determined that simply hiring more staff would not solve the underlying issues. Instead, they sought to streamline workflows and improve digital integration to enhance responsiveness, scalability, and internal problem-solving capacity.
REED partnered with NWIRC to implement a Lean Office Training project led by Operational Excellence Specialist, Shane Cantrell. The initiative included Lean training for 30 employees across two groups, followed by targeted Mini-Kaizen events to apply Lean tools in real-time. Participants learned to identify and eliminate non-value-added activities, conduct 5S audits, and map value streams. The training emphasized practical application, empowering staff to digitize workflows, reduce paper handling, and improve cross-functional communication.
The Lean Office initiative delivered immediate, measurable results, saving nearly $60K by reducing printing, paper handling, and manual processing with existing staff. The project also improved workflow efficiency, boosted employee satisfaction, and fostered a culture of continuous improvement. REED plans to continue working with the Operational Excellence Specialist to expand Lean practices to the shop floor. “LEAN training helped our team rethink how we work—not just what we do, but how we do it. As our Kaizen events progressed, we saw rapid improvements in efficiency and morale, and expect ongoing cost avoidance,” said Gary Clark, CEO.
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Cost Savings
Background: American Turned Products, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, is a third-generation, family-owned precision machining company established in 1984. …
