Lean Manufacturing Training help Hydra Pro Improve Their Bottom Line

Company Profile

In December, 2017 MacGregor, part of Cargotec, signed an agreement to acquire Rapp Marine Group (RMG) in order to strengthen its offering for the fishery and research vessel segment.

Hydra Pro was purchaed and operating under the name RAPP-Hydra Pro.

Our engagment was with Hyda Pro. Hydra Pro manufactured AP12C monogrammed marine and offshore cranes for the oil and gas industry, ship cranes, hose handling cranes, subsea cranes, and dock cranes. At the time, the company employed 30 people at its facility in Seattle, Washington.

Situation

Hydra Pro had problems with late deliveries and low margins. Company president Ed Ramberg had read about Toyota Production methods and saw them as a way forward. Ramberg contacted Impact Washington, a NIST MEP affiliate, for assistance.

Solution

Impact Washington regional Account Executive working with South Seattle Community College, to craft a JSP funding package that would allow Hydra Pro to receive Lean Training and use those methods to improve.

Impact Washington brought in process improvement specialists to train company employees and lead the Rapid Improvement Workshops (Kaizen events). Several Hydra Pro employees were trained to spot and eliminate waste in their processes and increase the amount of value-added time to every operation. As a result of Impact Washington’s assistance, the company reduced inventory by 67% and changed purchasing practices. Now, they only purchase what they need for specific projects. Margins have also improved, along with on-time deliveries.

Results

• Reduced inventory from $1.2M to $400,000
• Reduced on-time delivery time from 101 days to 38 days