Management and Technical
Consultants to the Wood & Forest Products Industry
Last updated on
July 10, 2009
The Wexford Collection
RELOCATION & EXPANSION OF A CASEGOODS PLANT
Background: J&M Designs Ltd. started The Wexford Collection in 1986 as a “cottage industry” producing pine colonial casegoods in Los Angeles. The original operation employed 25 people. By 1993 sales exceeded production capability at the original multi-level facility. Management realized that increasing sales required a larger facility with more production capacity.
Situation:
The Wexford staff identified several vacant buildings in Los Angeles. A. G. Raymond & Company was engaged to (i) assist in securing the best new site, (ii) provide layouts and strategies for a five-fold production increase, and (iii) schedule and manage the relocation/expansion. No loss in production was permitted during the relocation and expansion.On-site
inspections of prospective properties were made to evaluate building
size/condition, available utilities, and the usefulness of existing equipment.
A site, previously used for furniture production, was acquired.
This plant contained a palletized finishing line and partial dust
collection system.
Data
on all existing equipment was recorded, and accurate drawings of the new
building were produced.
A projection of machine loading at the target production volumes
identified new equipment requirements.
The design/engineering
phase resulted in detailed layouts that provided maximum production efficiency
and incorporated the necessary utilities/building infrastructure.
Coordination with all local authorities for permits and inspections was
completed. A
master budget was developed from the layout and other information.
The
complete relocation was accomplished over a ten-day period.
The critical path events included disconnecting and loading machines at
the old plant, relocating work-in-process and raw materials, and moving all
other equipment.
At the new facility site preparation, machinery setting, mechanical
connections, and orientating transferred/new employees at start-up was
accomplished. New
and used machinery was investigated, selected, and installed to provide
increased production targets.
The
complete project was accomplished on time
and on budget without production loss
or interruption of shipments.
Wexford is experiencing increased output and efficiency as a result of
this relocation.
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A. G. Raymond & Company
Inc. 1033 Wade Ave. Suite 102 Raleigh, NC 27605
Phone: (919) 831-0070 Fax: (919) 831-0072
Email: info@raymondnet.com