business backgrounder | employment & workplace
operational excellence award
ozone international, llc, bainbridge island
Ozone International makes ozone generation systems for more than 500
global customers in the food and beverage industry. Founded in 2003, Ozone
has reshaped its production methods over the past two years by customizing
lean techniques to meet their needs. They improved efficiency by 25 percent
and capacity by 80 percent through collecting, understanding and then
standardizing worker knowledge and workplace design. This cut production
for each unit from 27 days down to nine. The company also cut overtime
costs by spreading out work from their busiest seasons to slower times at the
beginning and end of the year. Their 5S Lean process not only reduced down
time and cut costs, but also improved safety. Their governing philosophy:
“Make it easier to do things right than to do things wrong, and people will
do it right.”
innovation award
tigerstop llc, vancouver
TigerStop was born in a garage 20 years ago when founder Spencer Dick
became frustrated with the inherent inefficiencies of the machine operators
at his cabinet business. So he invented a way to automate the cutting process.
TigerStop has sold 30,000 units on six continents, with a new distribution
center in the Netherlands and a unit in use in the White House. Its lineal
cutting machinery and stop/gauge pusher systems help increase its customers’
productivity, ensuring that every cut, whether on wood, metal or plastic,
will be the same each time in manufacturing and construction projects.
TigerStop’s patented technology can cut waste 30 percent, and saves the time
of recalibrating machines for each length of cut. The company is committed to
using Washington sourcing and talent in their production, with scholarships
and educational reimbursement programs to help encourage lifelong learning.
Active in many charity service projects, TigerStop is building both innovative
products and better communities.
TigerStop LLC received AWB’s Innovation Award at the 2014 Manufacturing Summit.
46 association of washington business