Eliason Process Improvement Project Summer 2013

A group of students from Western Michigan University’s Integrated Supply Management program recently worked on a process improvement project with Eliason Corporation, a leading manufacturer of double action swing doors in Portage Mich.. Guided by Tim St. Onge, vice president of operations, the team was given the task of combining the company’s heavy weight door and light weight door assembly stations and making a comprehensive database of the tools and fasteners used in the assembly process.

The goal of the project was to make a more ergonomically sound assembly station design, eliminate waste and reduce bottlenecks in the assembly process wherever possible. The group, which consisted of students Chun Kit Low, Vytenis Karaitis, Sim Yee Tan and Waleed Jari, also worked with members of Western Michigan University's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences to create process improvements and ergonomics surveys which will be used throughout the company. The group found several ways to save the company money from switching suppliers to reducing fixed costs and reusing available company resources to drive down implementation costs.