Symetrics receives 2010 PM100 Editor's Choice Award

Symetrics receives 2010 PM100 Editor's Choice Award

Symetrics Industries, LLC is pleased to announce it has received the prestigious Progressive Manufacturing  Editors’ Choice Award at the annual conference of the Manufacturing Leadership Summit held by Managing Automation in Palm Beach FL on May 3-5.  Companies of all sizes, with revenues under $10 million, all the way up to multi-billion dollar companies such as IBM, GM, Siemens, Dow, Cisco, and Siemens, from across the nation and beyond, submit projects that have demonstrated their success in the realm of progressive manufacturing.  One hundred submissions are selected by the judges to receive a PM-100 award.  Symetrics Industries has now won a PM-100 award in two different years (2009 and 2010), and was thereby also inducted into the PM-100 Hall of Fame.  

Of the PM-100 winners, two Manufacturers of the Year are named, one for large companies and one for small to medium companies, and two Editors’ Choice awards are given.  Symetrics was selected for the Editors’ Choice Award, which is given to a company whose project was seen by the Managing Automation editorial staff as being exceptional in its design, execution, and results.  This year’s project was named “A Truly Paperless Production Floor,” and it centered around finding ways to make digital representations of paperwork available to operators, rather than depending on hard copies.  Symetrics purchased Epicor Software Corporation’s (NASDAQ: EPIC) next-generation Epicor 9 enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and is currently using Epicor 9.04.  “Epicor allowed us to all use the same version of reality,” says Peter Volkert, Director of Operations at Symetrics.  “By putting everyone on the same page, it gave us a starting point for eliminating errors and increasing consistency.  It gave us something we could build on.” 

Symetrics turned its attention to how it communicated with the operators.  “Everything was on paper,” said Paul Markland, Director of Manufacturing.  “We provided the operator with a paper copy of the drawing, a paper copy of the detailed work instructions, paper copies of all the procedures, and a paper copy of the traveler.  We found it very difficult to ensure that all these pieces of paper were always correct.”  In an electronics manufacturing environment for Aerospace and Defense, Symetrics deals with huge Bills Of Materials and complex work instructions.  “We saw every piece of paper as a potential for error,” said Volkert.  “If the operator was using the wrong revision or an incomplete document or an improperly marked up copy, defects were likely to occur.”  Volkert and Markland decided to purchase 70 thin client terminals, install one at each operator’s station, and made it possible for the operators to access all these documents digitally from InnoCielo’s TeamWork PDM system.  Symetrics’ Information Systems department developed a SharePoint-based intranet and added that to the terminals, so operators had a way of receiving company information and updates.

During the period from October 2005 to October 2009, there was a 77% increase in revenue, a 160% increase in items produced, no increase in the number of manufacturing operators, and a 25% decrease in Configuration Management staff.  Defect rates dropped typically 70%, and in some cases, more than 90% to levels near zero.  Functional Test results and customer satisfaction improved. On Time Delivery improved 83% and now stands consistently at 100%.  Even assigning this project only 25% credit for these improvements, the payback was realized in just 43 days.  Volkert added “This entire project is just a slice out of the continuum of improvement at Symetrics.  Our dedication to improvement has no start or end.  One project morphs and merges into another project.  There is no standing still.”

About Symetrics Industries, LLC
Symetrics Industries, an AS9100 and ISO9001-2000 registered small business, specializes in electronics design, manufacture and test for Department of Defense, U.S. State Department, and major prime contractors. Symetrics continually expands its engineering capabilities by addressing customers’ needs in design and integration of products into specific airborne/ground platforms. Symetrics has three main business sectors:  electronic warfare, digital communications, and electronic manufacturing services.  Symetrics’ sister company, PhotoTelesis, specializes in imagery solutions and solid-state digital-video-recorders.  Products: AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser system; AN/ALM-295 countermeasures dispenser tester; improved data modems  (IDM-302/IDM-304/IDM-501/Mini-IDM/U-ROC); PRISM (photo reconnaissance intelligence strike module); AN/USQ-131B memory loader-verifier system, digital-video recorders, lightweight video-reconnaissance system. For more information, visit www.symetrics.com .

Symetrics: Big Business Ability...Small Business Agility

Symetrics Industries, LLC receives 2010 DRS Contract Award

Symetrics Industries, LLC receives 2010 DRS Contract Award

Symetrics Industries - As the New Year brings about awards that impact corporate bottom lines, so Symetrics is pleased to announce another contract with DRS Technologies that does just that. The latest news: Symetrics’ EMS Division has negotiated another add-on contract for 6 million dollars to kick off 2010. The contract covers IBAS circuit card assemblies Symetrics supplies for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and will additionally generate smaller orders for spare part sets throughout the year.

The recent award sustains a working relationship that is most advantageous for all involved dating back more than a decade. With such a dynamic relationship established, Symetrics hopes to continue to serve DRS’ needs for years to come. Symetrics’ slogan ‘Small Business Agility, Big Business Ability’ is truly exemplified in this ongoing relationship that couples a history of unparalleled service with a future of untapped potential.

Symetrics Industries, an AS9100 and ISO9001-2000 registered small business, specializes in electronics design, manufacture and test for the Department of Defense, U.S. State Department, and major prime contractors. Symetrics continually expands its engineering capabilities by addressing customers’ needs in design and integration of products into specific airborne/ground platforms. Symetrics has three main business sectors: electronic warfare, digital communications, and electronic manufacturing services. Symetrics’ sister company, PhotoTelesis, specializes in imagery solutions and solid-state digital-video-recorders. Products: AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser system; AN/ALM-295 countermeasures dispenser tester; improved data modems (IDM-302/IDM-304/IDM-501/Mini-IDM/U-ROC); PRISM (photo reconnaissance intelligence strike module); AN/USQ-131B memory loader-verifier system, digital-video recorders, lightweight video-reconnaissance system. For more information, visit www.symetrics.com, or send e-mail to info@symetrics.com.

Symetrics: Big Business Ability...Small Business Agility

Mitch Garner receives ZONTA M.A.T.E.S Award

Mitch Garner receives ZONTA M.A.T.E.S Award

Mitch Garner, President and CEO of Symetrics Industries was recognized with a M.A.T.E.S. (Men Acting Toward Equality of the Sexes) Award from the Zonta club of Melbourne. Representing the local Zonta club at the presentation were Doris Larson, Judy Walden-Bell and Sandy Michelson.  Mr. Garner was selected for providing a foundation of support and encouragement along with the resources necessary for women employees of Symetrics to do and be their very best every day. In addition, he participates in and supports community programs that annually recognize the accomplishments of women such as the Melbourne Regional Chamber of East Central Florida (formerly, Melbourne/Palm Bay Area Chamber of Commerce) Women of Excellence and the March of Dimes Women of Achievement awards.  He was nominated by two of Symetrics’ outstanding women leaders, Judy Moran, Business Manager and Executive Assistant and Courtney Culver, Manager of Contracts and Compliance.

Mitch’s leadership style provides positive reinforcement of the ZONTA philosophy. In managing Symetrics, he looks at ways for placing the right person in a job regardless of gender; as a result, several women hold key managerial positions within the company.  Mitch values the ideas, opinions and suggestions of all persons at Symetrics with his open door policy. He further empowers women to represent our company with participation in many organizations, community and charitable events, as well as marketing our products through tradeshows and face to face meetings with customers. 

The Zonta Club of Melbourne was chartered in 1983. The club serves the community through scholarships and service projects that serve Brevard County women; Human Trafficking Awareness, Joshua’s Closet/Job Link (provides clothes and shoes to Job Link graduates) and the Sue M. Pridmore Center for Homeless Women and Children to name a few. To learn more about our local Zonta club and their activities, visit www.zontaspacecoast.org.

Symetrics: Big Business Ability...Small Business Agility