Nutrionics
| COMPANY/LOCATION: |
Nutrionics, Parsons, Tennessee |
| PRODUCT: |
Custom stainless steel kitchen equipment for the restaurant and fast
food industry |
| YEARS IN BUSINESS: |
10 |
EMPLOYEES:
ANNUAL SALES: |
20
$1.2 million |
| SITUATION: |
Nutrionics makes stainless steel kitchen equipment for the restaurant
and fast food industry. Typical items include sinks, dish tables, serving
counters, hoods, and tables. In most of the items the seams must be welded
and a radius ground into the weld to prevent buildup of grease and bacteria.
Because the products are custom designed and made, they must be both aesthetically
pleasing and structurally sound. The company contacted the Oak Ridge Centers
for Manufacturing Technology for suggestions on how their manufacturing
processes could be improved for cost-effectiveness after a consultation
with the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services. |
| PROJECT: |
As a small business in an increasingly competitive market, Nutrionics
is constantly on the lookout for improvements. An ORCMT welding engineer
traveled to the plant, reviewed the company's procedures and offered a
suggestion on how to improve the process and reduce costs.
|
| RESULTS: |
Nutrionics adopted the suggestion to reduce the amount of argon
gas used in welding the stainless steel, which resulted in an immediate
20 percent savings in gas consumption. The company also made some changes
in its welding techniques that may mean additional savings or product improvement.
Tom Norris, Nutrionics owner, said that the company was looking for
product improvement and materials cost savings and realized both because
of working with ORCMT. "It saved us money, and anytime you save money
it can lead to additional jobs. It was excellent service. The personnel
were highly knowledgeable," Norris said. |
Technical assistances provided to the private sector by the Oak Ridge
Centers for Manufacturing Technology (ORCMT) and its manufacturing extension
partners throughout the United States.
|
