Ashland Operations

Other steps taken to enhance manufacturing range from incorporation of Material Requirements Planning (MRP) to improve response to customers' fast-changing inventory requirements, to Master Production Scheduling (MPS) to maximize resource capacity, to the implementation of on-line scheduling to speed up production planning.

Also taking hold at Ashland is the concept of Lean thinking, a strategy introduced by Toyota in the 1950's. The Lean approach combines a broad scope of innovative ideas and techniques, such as:

• Finding and eliminating wasted effort.
• Implementing proofing methodologies to prevent defects.
• Maximizing product flow.
• Reinforcing the concept of continuous improvement.
• Arranging operations for maximum efficiency.
• Measuring every aspect of operations to gauge performance.
• Incorporating production flow strategies.
• Mobilizing resources through training to promote optimum flexibility.
• Producing to the customer's most precise cost parameters.

Keeping Pace with Customers' Needs
Ashland has long understood the value of investing time, money and resources in order to maintain responsiveness to customers' hardware requirements both today and tomorrow. This investment in manufacturing capabilities continues to demonstrate impressive results, highlighted by significant gain in press productivity and total plant capacity.

These results take on even greater meaning when you consider that AHS is a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week operation. It should come as no surprise that Ashland is still viewed as the most dependable supplier in the business.

Reducing Costs Without Sacrificing Quality
Cost control remains a primary objective of AHS. In the years ahead, this will encompass even more aggressive efforts in the area of continuous improvement at every organizational level. At Ashland, continuous improvement is more than an on-going process...it's a substantial obligation to each and every customer.

Tooling Done Right... the First Time
Developing production and prototype tooling is now a highly mechanized and complex process. From prototype, to interim, to progressive dies, AHS relies on state-of-the-art diagnostics equipment and software to perfect this process, and avoid costly tooling revisions.

To illustrate, computer-based Mold Flow analysis software creates the tool's operational environment, allowing engineers to arrive at an optimum design via scientific rather than anecdotal observation.

For reduced tooling lead times and improved development efficiencies, sophisticated milling machinery and wire/ram EDM are incorporated, including the utilization of standardized mold bases and dies.

A fully equipped tooling department regularly inspects tooling in order to protect the customer's investment-and before product quality is affected. That explains why Ashland's inventory includes tooling that still performs "up-to-spec" 20 years after it was originally built.

Product Finishes for Every Market Demand
Hardware finishes have become more important than ever. Driven by current market trends, AHS responds with new finishes to enhance both look and performance. From solid brass and stainless steel, to clear powder coatings that reduce corrosion and increase surface protection, Ashland continues to emphasize finish quality.