PM Blog

As the pride of the Badger state, Mercury Marine is locally known simply as “Merc.” The 81-year-old roots of this American icon give it a rich history, making it the pride of the community and a favorite of the boating public. Meanwhile, its success makes Merc the envy of its competitors. Mercury Marine is a world leading manufacturer of all types of marine propulsion systems—a $2.6 billion division of Brunswick Corp. that employs more than 5,200 people in multiple locations around the world.

More than 80 years of innovative boat engine development has left the Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, location an extremely well-known repository of engineering prowess and production excellence. Today’s sprawling campus alongside Interstate 41 features more than 2.5 million square feet of space that contains all manner of engineering and manufacturing disciplines along with the approximately 3,300 individuals that make it all happen.

Do you have a co-worker under the age of 40 who goes above and beyond his or her job description to improve a work environment or the precision machined parts industry at large? Do you know a colleague who is outstanding at his or her job who you think deserves recognition in the industry? If so, please nominate him or her for Production Machining’s 2020 Emerging Leader Awards.

Over the past two years, PM has had the privilege of awarding many young, talented professionals in the precision machining industry through our Emerging Leaders program. We have introduced these leaders/potential leaders to our readers in our annual Emerging Leader edition of the magazine in print and online, as well as through our weekly blog spotlights for each winner.

The coronavirus crisis has turned everyone’s world upside-down, and the precision machining industry is doing its part to right it. Healthcare is desperate for enough ventilators to serve the current and potential coronavirus patients; those life-saving ventilators have at least 35 precision machined parts in them.

The Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA) received a package of the prints for ventilator parts and reached out to its membership to gather the capabilities of its precision machining shops, asking if they have the capability, the time and the resources to produce any or all of these parts.

Geneva, Illinois’ Smith and Richardson is stepping up to increase production of six components it machines for ventilator valves. Demand for ventilators has risen dramatically given the need to treat patients that have contracted the coronavirus.

Rich Hoster, president, says prior to receiving these customer requests, the company noted the affect the virus was having on the economy and its operation. It began limiting work hours for most employees it refers to as team members to 40 hours per week amid concerns that customers would start curtailing orders. The company also started providing daily updates to all about changing conditions. Because it also has an operation in China, it had a first-hand look at this situation and, thus, had been dealing with the virus’ affect on that business as far back as late January.

I recently visited W.H. Bagshaw Co. in Nashua, New Hampshire, to help it celebrate 150 years of precision manufacturing. In addition, I presented training and facilitated some conversations- you know, to help the company with its next 150 years.

One hundred and fifty years ago it was 1870. There were no antibiotics. There were no electric lights. The best oil for indoor lighting was whale oil. Think about that for a minute. Think about what that means. Could you afford to run your shop on second and third shift using whale oil lighting?