Blog Archives – Page 2 of 2 – Universal Metal Products

UMP “Can-Do” That

Kristin J on February 1, 2022

UMP has a reputation. While it’s well known by our staff, customers and suppliers, it usually doesn’t show until there’s panic, emergencies, and even potential shutdowns. UMP has a can-do attitude about helping our customers get out of sticky spots. It’s where UMP really shines and quality never suffers despite the fact that there is a time crunch.

This way of doing business extends beyond the top brass and the salespeople, to engineering, tooling, the production line and the office. We never want to shut a customer down!

Five members of UMP’s field sales team share their accounts of making magic happen.

Yes, it’s Friday but…

Brian Sapp, had a request from one of his largest customers, a major appliance manufacturer: can UMP repair a tool from a different supplier? The supplier did not have the tooling resources to make the repairs. The tooling segment that was damaged had been welded several times and could not be repaired

It was Friday of Labor Day weekend. There were no schematics, the tool had to be scanned and remade. Our tool shop worked over the weekend to manufacture the new tooling parts. The customer tooling engineer was able to deliver the repaired tool back to the other supplier on Tuesday.
Normal lead time would be 2-3 weeks. UMP pulled it off in 3-1/2 days. And not only over a weekend, but a holiday weekend!

UMP’s dedication helped to prevent a potential plant shutdown of a major appliance manufacturer. Now shut downs come in all sizes, but for this customer in particular, it could cost 6 figures per hour! The supplier of record did not have the stock, so UMP not only helped their customer, but had a real impact on the supplier’s liability as well.

Another Friday, another crisis? A customer had an imminent shutdown looming due to their supplier’s lack of inventory, and damaged tooling to make more. UMP was preparing to take over the part in coming months, and actually had the stamp ready, but no production slots. We were able to break into the production schedule, run a sufficient number of parts over the weekend to prevent a shutdown, and ship parts to Alabama on Monday.

Same issue, different industry…

Daniel, Field Sales Engineer for UMP in Mexico, has an Industrial market customer with a similar story. An internal inventory error left them short on inventory, risking a potential production line interruption the following week.

Daniel got the wheels turning with UMP’s Customer Service Team who then worked with the Production Department to help reduce an 8-week manufacturing lead time down to just a few days. Parts were delivered to the customer 4 days later with time to spare and a shutdown crisis averted.

Do me a favor, hold my heat shields

Tim Kruk received a call from a potential automotive customer in need of a clip to hold their heat shields together during shipment. They had hoped for a shelf solution, but there was none and they needed these parts within 10 weeks! A supplier referred them to us, knowing UMP’s reputation for quality and customer service.

UMP jumped into action, building prototypes to support their very first 50 customer builds while the production tool was being produced. We were able to not only help, but made design changes happen as well. In the end, it’s not enough to produce the part, it has to be the right part.

One of UMP’s Engineers was on vacation, but coordinated a detour (with his family in tow) to hand deliver the parts. This was a brand new customer 2 years ago, now they are a regular customer with a number of parts in production at UMP.

Supply chain interuptions cost $$$

What to do when a supply chain is continuously interrupted, and costs are climbing sky high due to lack of material and lines stoppages? Call UMP, we will help you manage through it all!

Ebenezer Ruiz, down in our Texas facility, began with customer problem definition and made a case to take over and switch production of their component with UMP. He was able to offer a viable, cost effective solution by involving sales and engineering, meeting all the customer’s existing requirements and making the part at our facility in Cleveland! It was a
win-win for both UMP and the customer. The tool build was completed within the defined timeline and the part is ready to start mass production in the second quarter of 2021 for a 4-5 year run.

Steel market challenges during a pandemic

Today’s steel market is very challenging. Steel mills severely cut production in the spring of 2020 due to the pandemic and a drop in demand. The problem continued through the summer due to the time it takes to get mills back up and running. The problem persisted into the fall because of labor shortages.

The net result is a significant shortfall of steel supply at a time demand is increasing. This has led to price jumps and supply disruptions. UMP has been dealing with this since last December.

The automotive industry is very demanding and challenging due to their sophisticated design and manufacturing processes and procedures. Given assembly line manufacturing processes and just-in-time inventory systems, supply disruptions are catastrophic events operationally, logistically and ultimately, financially.

Currently UMP is dealing with a host of these hot spots

Damon Rodehorst tells of the most recent account, involving two 40,000lb. shipments of steel that were due to arrive in late January and later this month. This steel will produce approximately 150,000 parts. That seems like a lot of parts, but it represents only about ten weeks of demand from the customer. We were in imminent danger of shutting down a major assembly line of pick-up trucks.

Fortunately, we were able to find additional steel on the spot-buy market that will cover some of the gap in timing until we receive our scheduled deliveries.

Unfortunately, it will not arrive in time to cover the immediate need. This is where the UMP team got creative and stretched well beyond normal operational boundaries.

We had inventory of the same grade of steel but it was slit to wider width for a different application. In this case, because the steel we had on hand is WIDER than the steel we are lacking, it was possible to use the steel we have IF we could modify the tool to make the parts we need. We were able to do just that.

Once we make the parts we need, we must change the tool back to its original configuration to accommodate the standard material once again.

Why does this keep happening

The reality is that there is an increase in these types of requests because businesses are running so lean from a staffing standpoint, but are pedal to the metal in terms of production output. Inventories are kept at a minimum for cost cutting measures, and often it causes trouble when there are material shortages, equipment malfunctions, or other disruptors.
It is our knowledge of what it means when the customer is facing a line shutdown, that enables us to see the customer’s perspective and implement a plan that works for them.

To get this done requires the dedication of everyone in our UMP family. When we ask “who’s available to get this done?”, we see that it truly “take a village” to pull these feats off for our customers.

To us, it’s what makes us shine, and we love what we are able to do.

UMP’s 75th Anniversary: Looking Back, Moving Forward

John Levan on July 21, 2021

At the end of May, we were able to hold a 75th year anniversary lunch simultaneously at all three facility locations in Cleveland, OH, Toledo, OH and Pharr, Tx.

Past, Present and Future

Kristin J on March 16, 2021

75^th Anniversary of the
Universal Metal Products Family

In honor of UMP’s 75^th Anniversary, I had a conversation with CEO Scott Seaholm to talk about everything from the company’s humble beginnings, to a glimpse into the future of the UMP family.

Q: Tell us about UMP’s beginnings.

Universal Metal Products was founded in 1946 by Thomas Dahlstrand in an old gas station off St. Clair in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The company consisted of one office person, one machine operator and one tool & die maker. The concept of family started early, as employees Ida, Ollie and Burt Norder actually were family. Their first customer was Westinghouse Electric in Columbus. After WWII, Ohio was the hub of appliance manufacturing in the U.S., and so began the first opportunity for growth.

In 1954, UMP moved into a 12,000 square foot facility in Wickliffe, Ohio, which quickly grew to 50,000 square feet. Business expanded into the auto industry in the 60’s with a constant tension hose clamp called the UniClamp®, which was used on fuel and environmental systems in cars. It is still sold today for vehicle, appliance and industrial applications. The UniClamp’s® success was the driving force behind the 1968 decision to build a 40,000 square foot plant in nearby Willoughy, Ohio. The 60’s and 70’s also saw the addition of refrigeration within the appliances group.

Q: How did you get involved with UMP?

My entry into UMP started in 1973 when I was assigned to work with UMP as a client of Meaden & Moore CPA. I continued working with UMP and eventually became a Partner with Meaden & Moore. In 1985, Tom Dahlstrand asked me to help him create a business plan to attract potential buyers when he was ready to retire. He did not have children to bring into the business and was looking to find a buyer who would not only take UMP to the next level, but also take care of the 65 employee “family” he had built over the years. It was very personal and Tom wanted it to be the right buyer. He received several offers but turned them all down.

It took me a while, but in December 1986, I finally asked Tom if I could buy the business. CPA to Manufacturing? Why not?

Tom’s response was, “What took you so long?”

Q: What were your dreams for the company when you acquired it in 1987?

The goal was steady growth. My methodology was to keep the goals simple, clear and measurable for all employees. We set the growth for 6% per year, then to accomplish this we established Best Practices. We started with the Best Quality System in the auto industry. That eventually trickled down to our work in appliance and industrial.

From there we concentrated on developing the best business systems for the customer service management including EDI, manufacturing, and measurement of productivity for all employees.

Lastly, we made sure UMP was a great place to work! That has helped us to retain our workforce in an industry that can often be viewed as transient. Our employees become part of the UMP family, and are depended upon to help shape the future of UMP.

UMP has grown from 65 employees and $6 million in sales, to over 300 employees and $60 million in sales. Most importantly, we remain committed to our growing UMP family of employees.

Q: What are the goals today?

Now, the key is to continue to diversify the client base. For example, back in 2004, 84% of our business was with the appliance industry, 11% in automotive and 5% industrial. By 2019, those percentages shifted to 46% appliance, 35% transportation (includes trucking and automotive) and 19% industrial. We have also opened plants in Toledo (1997) and Texas (2003) to accommodate the changing diversity of our offerings both in industries served and markets, including Mexico.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges during your time with UMP?

The recession of 2008 and the Pandemic of 2020 have been two of the biggest challenges. 2008 was the one and only time we actually had to layoff employees. This is a feat that is practically unheard of in manufacturing. It was the hardest decision to make, because as I stated earlier, our employees aren’t just people we work with, they’re family. I vowed that we would never be leveraged like that again.

Last year, we avoided layoffs and kept doors open by being an “essential” business. We kept everyone working by eliminating overtime, and filling nonproduction periods with internal projects such as organizing departments, cleaning and painting the equipment. When work started to come back, we were ready to go with our full workforce intact.

Q: What changes do you see coming in the future?

There are changes in the pipeline for every department. On the floor, we see upgraded electronics, sensors and controls as well as servo motors to drive machines. The tool room will see Wire EDM (Electric Discharge Machine) for cutting die sections, computer operated milling to grind materials, and further evolution of CAD systems used to design and build dies. In engineering, we are adding solid modeling CAD systems and 3D printer technology in order to design and create prototypes in real time. Management will see changes in information systems and cloud computing.

Some of the best changes coming are in employee development and training such as Tool & Die apprenticeship training, machining skills and Maintenance Tech training. Another example of our commitment to future training and retention is our involvement with AWT (Alliance for Working Together) with Lake Erie College, Lakeland College, Auburn Career Center and Mentor High School. Watch for more information on this as it evolves.

Q: You have kept the company in the family with your daughters taking over. What do you want your legacy to be?

I would love to keep UMP in the family for generations to come because I believe it’s a great company! There are so many opportunities here beyond what people think of manufacturing including Engineering, Computing, Human Resources, Sales, Operations, Purchasing and Management. We have the resources to grow the business and my daughters, Kristin Jenkins and Kimberly Koeth are bringing fresh ideas – and a women’s perspective in a male dominated industry. I am confident their impact at the helm will take what I have built to the next level.

Q: Anyone you’d like to thank for their memorable contributions over the years?

My first response is to recognize those people in senior management, but in reality, UMP has been successful due to the collective efforts of all of its employees. I feel fortunate that I have had the opportunity to be a faithful steward of UMP and have been associated with amazing people, great supply base and most of all, our customers.

I had a list of almost one hundred names, many of which most of you may not know. For those of you currently here at UMP, you are all appreciated and I frankly don’t want to miss someone, so my heartfelt thanks go out to each and every one of you.

I personally want to express my appreciation to Thomas Dahlstrand, owner and President for 41 years (1946-1986) for having the confidence in me to guide his company these last 34 years.

75 Year and counting. I doubt I will be here to see 100 years, but I’m sure the next phase of UMP will not only be successful, but continue to protect the UMP family that has been put in my care. I have certainly been blessed

Breaking Barriers in Tool & Die

Kristin J on September 25, 2020

Danielle Cutler completes Apprenticeship and state Journeyperson Certification

“There is no reason why women cannot excel in the tool and die profession.” Kristin Jenkins, Executive VP – Director of Sales & Diversity for UMP, sees the path for women as a certainty. “Just about everything you touch – steel, plastic and glass – requires a die, which leads back to a Tool & Die Maker. Danielle is our first female to have gone through our apprenticeship program, and we hope to have others follow her lead.”

Danielle’s UMP Story

Danielle Cutler is the first woman in UMP history to complete the Tool and Die Apprenticeship and receive her state-approved Journeyperson Certification. Danielle began her career at Universal Metal Products in January of 2014 as a Punch Press Operator and was accepted into UMP’s Tool & Die Apprenticeship program in 2016.

She recalls, “In my interview the apprenticeship program was mentioned. That if I work hard and prove my worth with UMP, I could get in. I knew that’s what I wanted and where I wanted to go from that moment. I actually took a pay cut when hired, but the chance to make something of myself made me take the leap.”

The apprenticeship is a state-certified program where students have four years to develop the skills and education needed to become a Journeyperson in the tool & die trade. Apprentices log hours and take courses at a local college. Once an apprentice reaches 500 hours of in-classroom instruction and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training, the sponsor (employer) of the apprentice can file for certification from the state.

Danielle was a good candidate for the apprenticeship because she had a strong mechanical aptitude and a willingness/desire to learn.

“There was nothing that was going to stop me from achieving that goal,” says Danielle. “My children, Al and Cash, and being able to provide for them was my only objective.” Her eldest son, Al, took on helping with his younger brother, cooking meals on school nights, helping with homework, getting up for school and more, all so she could work the hours needed to complete this rigorous and lengthy program. “He knew helping me would mean a better life for them and I can’t thank him enough for stepping up. No matter how tiring or frustrating this journey became, they both were always there to keep me motivated.”

UMP’s Commitment for the Future

The career path begins with the apprenticeship, however, the skills and troubleshooting are developed over the span of the career.

Gordon Daugherty, UMP President states that he is “very proud Danielle is our first home grown female tool and die maker with a long career ahead at Universal Metal Products. I am certain she will continue to be a great example and advocate for women in manufacturing.” For the next class of apprentices, Gordon hopes UMP will see more female candidates inspired by Danielle’s accomplishment.

According to the US census.gov microdata on reported Tool and Die employees, this would put Danielle and her female journeyperson counterparts in some elite company with women making up just 3.3% nationally and 2.6% regionally in Ohio of the total skilled tool and die workforce. In August, the State of Ohio reported that 10.4% of the current active apprentices are in fact women, which is an indicator that more women are jumping on the bandwagon.

UMP has partnered with local schools and vocational tech schools to provide these opportunities. “We have put the word out that we are looking for self-motivated, hard- working people to enter our tool & die apprenticeship program,” states Kristin Jenkins. “Our program is open to all that are interested, qualified and committed.”

There is a maintenance apprenticeship program UMP is just launching. UMP also has their own internal setup / operator program in both slide and punch press forming. Several women have progressed through this program over the years.

For those who enter now, the future is bright.

The need for skilled tradespeople isn’t going away, but the interest in skilled trades has diminished in the last decade. For those who do go into a skilled trades career, the opportunities for stability and advancement are there for the taking.

“I’ve known many in the trade who have moved into managerial/technical sales roles,” says Christina Balint, UMP’s Corporate HR Manager. “Others have had an entrepreneurial spirit and have established their own tool & die shops. Of course, there are those who are completely happy advancing their skills within the business who sponsored their apprenticeship.”

Paving the Way for Women

When asked what it means to be UMP’s first woman to complete the Apprenticeship and Certification, Danielle answers, “I hope that it has shown that there are women out there capable of succeeding in this field, that we can be given a chance just like the men who walk through the door. I was hired in with a chance to work my way up and prove that I can be of value to the tool room. I was not handed an opportunity, but a chance.

My experience was a lot different from the male apprentices and I hope I have paved a way that shows women are capable too.”

Danielle has a deep appreciation for the experience and the treatment she received on this journey. “I’d like to especially thank Rodney Reynolds, Russel Craig, Will Griffe, Rick Hansel, and Ilia Bridviski, along with the other tool makers, for their words of wisdom, guidance, and knowledge they passed onto me through this apprenticeship and as I continue in my career. I appreciate all of them as they treated me as a fellow co-worker and not just the ‘girl apprentice’.”

Women will be a big piece in the solution to fill the shortage of skilled tradespeople for the future, and UMP is committed to making that happen.

Women in Manufacturing: A Family Business Reimagined

Kristin J on August 26, 2020

Sisters Kristin Jenkins and Kimberly Koeth began to take over Universal Metal Products (UMP) a year and half ago as Director of Sales and Director of Administration, respectively.

“It was an exciting time,” says Kim, “because we knew how much it meant to our father.”

UMP: A Father’s Dream Realized

Their father, Scott, bought UMP in 1987. The sisters grew up watching him invest much of his time and energy in the company over the years. “We saw how much passion he had for growing the company and making sure it ran successfully,” Kim adds. “We feel very lucky to be able to learn from him and have this opportunity to be part of this company that he created.”

“He’s an amazing role model, always putting his employees and family first,” says Kristin. “Working at UMP after growing up watching my dad work so hard to create such a successful business means everything to me.” When they had the opportunity to step in and own UMP themselves, they felt both honored and excited for the challenge they were taking on.

A Family Involved

Growing up, talks of Universal and how the business is doing was part of family conversation. “We would have summer jobs in the office,” says Kim.

“Going into the office and spending time learning from my dad is time I will always cherish,” adds Kristin. “Kim and I have been involved with the company’s board meetings since 2006. I also worked in the Toledo (Pemberville) facility during college at Bowling Green. I became more involved with UMP as my kids grew older and went to school full time.”

Keeping the business in the family and not only becoming women owned, but family owned, makes all the hard work my dad and family has put into UMP so much more special. We would like to keep UMP in the family for as long as possible.”

Career Pivot into Manufacturing

Prior to UMP, Kristin was a teacher with a Master’s in School Counseling from John Carroll, and Kimberly a pediatric congenital cardiac nurse for 10 years. Both took time off to raise their families, and when the time came to re-enter the workforce they began looking at the family business opportunity before them, and how their skills might translate to this male-dominated industry.

“The shift in careers for me came down to perfect timing. My kids were off to school when this great opportunity was presented to Kim and I,” said Kristin. Moving from the education field to business was definitely a change, but being involved with UMP for such a long time made the full transition “smoother than we anticipated.”

Kimberly adds, “Nursing taught me how to work well with people and how to remain calm in stressful situations. I think women are great for manufacturing. They have great organizational skills and an ability to see the big picture in a different way.”

Women Owned, WBENC Certified

The sisters are both proud of UMP’s certification as a Women Owned Business through the WBENC. “I am so proud that UMP is a women-owned business, not only for the fact that it shows we are diverse, but for the fact that it empowers women and proves that women are welcome in any type of business, including manufacturing! I am proud to be a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry.”

When asked what advice they have for women looking to pivot into manufacturing, it becomes clear that immersing yourself in your career choices is paramount to making a difference, both in your chosen industry and personally. Their advice for women who are thinking about changing careers is to do what you are passionate about or interested in trying. “Set aside the gender biases and be passionate and confident about your career choice.”

It doesn’t hurt to follow your dreams either, even when they lead to your own backyard.

Universal Metal Products is a certified WBENC Women Owned Business specializing in taking your metal stamping requirement from concept, to design, tooling and production. universalmetalproducts.com

Room for Growth: Women Finding Their Niche in Manufacturing

Kristin J on July 17, 2020

It is the very evolution of manufacturing, and other traditionally male-dominated industries, that make these industries target rich for women who are considering their next career move. According to a report by census.gov, women make up nearly half of the working population (47.5%), yet they remain underrepresented in the manufacturing industry (29%). Let’s explore why this landscape is poised to change.

The Real Draw

Manufacturing today is increasingly high-tech. Creativity, thinking outside the box and problem-solving are skills much needed in this industry. A woman’s innate ability to simply think differently will bring new ideas to the table, and those ideas will be noticed.

Areas where women can make their mark exist at all levels within an organization.

· Trailblazer? Now is the time to take what you know and pivot into an industry where your leadership has direct impact. You will also help continue changing the landscape through mentoring other women in manufacturing.

· STEM student? Include Manufacturing before you graduate to widen your career options.

· Vocational Training? Proper training yields real careers with real earning and growth potential.

Ownership, Management, Engineers, R&D, Marketing, Sales, Technician, Machinist, Quality Assurance, Production – just a few of the opportunities awaiting a new perspective.

Diversity Fosters Innovation

As a certified women-owned business, Universal Metal Products embraces diversity and inclusivity as a valued part of our culture. We believe it is crucial to fostering innovation in the workplace. Making the case for women in manufacturing brings this idea into focus as new products and fresh solutions are sought after for our clients.

Studies have shown that organizations with larger percentages of women in leadership positions outperform their competition (WiM).

“When there are more women in manufacturing companies and taking on leadership roles, we will see manufacturing companies grow and our industry as a whole thrive. Research tells us that when companies are more diverse, and when there are more women at the leadership table, those companies are more profitable.”

-Allison Grealis, President, Women in Manufacturing (WiM)

Women-owned = Support

Universal Metal Products (UMP) is always busy dreaming up a better way – with our products, our processes, and our partnerships. We call what we do “solutions engineering.” Our certification with the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) will help our quest for innovation and assist in creating partnerships that support diversity in our industry.

In the 2017 State of Women Owned Business Report, it was found that the employment growth rate over the past 20 years was stronger for women-owned businesses than for all businesses: 27% vs. 13%. This translates well to the manufacturing industry where technology is paving new career paths, and UMP is ready to make it happen with a diverse workforce at the helm.

The biggest support piece, however, is coming from the top-down. It’s going to be in the way we structure the business; in the way we listen; and in the way treat our employees – ALL our employees. And that will translate to better products and service for our customers.

“A balanced world is a better world. How can you help forge a more gender-balanced world? Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.”

-International Women’s Day 2019 campaign theme

Universal Metal Products is a WBENC certified woman owned and operated business and pleased to have served our customers worldwide since our inception in 1946.

Diving Into The Advancements Of Women In Leadership Positions

Kristin J on June 10, 2020

Taking a look at the overall benefits and advancements that have occurred with women in management positions in male-dominated industries.