Steelhead Technologies is excited to announce the recent coverage of Steelhead Technologies’ deployment at our partner’s plant in Clearwater Florida. The metal finishing plant saw a huge opportunity in working with Steelhead and took their processes completely digital by eliminating tedious paper processes required for NADCAP compliance and replaced with Steelhead’s integrated and robust plant operating platform.
Andrew Kossowski's vision for a complete overhaul of DHS Enterprises in Clearwater, Florida, took shape when he took charge in September 2020. The shop, which had been running manually for 27 years, lacked any means to track efficiency or quality. Kossowski's ambitious plan began with obtaining NADCAP accreditation for Anodizing and a Quality Management System, achieved by August 2022. This was coupled with a shift to a new 15,000-square-foot facility, marking the birth of Veterans Metal - a company wholly embracing digital transformation and eliminating paper trails.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony in August 2023, Veterans Metal showcased its remarkable progress towards becoming a paperless entity. Kossowski emphasized the drastic improvements, especially in accuracy and efficiency, achieved by replacing pen and paper with iPads and QR codes for part tracking.
The shift away from paper prompted Kossowski to reflect on the inefficiencies of the old system. He noted the time wasted on manual paperwork, emphasizing that eliminating these tasks allowed the team to focus more on enhancing processes and strategies. Despite challenges in finding software tailored to their specific metal finishing processes, a chance encounter with Steelhead at a manufacturing expo proved to be fortuitous. The alignment of goals between Veterans Metal and Steelhead laid the groundwork for their partnership.
The implementation of the new digital ecosystem was no small feat, requiring patience, testing, and persistence. But the payoff was evident; the shop experienced heightened efficiency on the floor, generating more reliable data crucial for their aerospace and defense clientele. Kossowski's approach differed from merely replicating old systems in new software. He aimed to leverage technology's capabilities without molding it to fit outdated methods. As a result, the team willingly became beta testers for Steelhead, contributing to software customization.
Starting the rollout in January 2023, even before the new shop was ready, demonstrated the commitment of Veterans Metal and Steelhead to this digital transformation. Regular meetings ensured a collaborative effort, bridging the gap between software developers and shop floor experts. In a span of about 10 months, the journey from manual operations to a cutting-edge, paperless system exemplified Kossowski's belief in dreaming big and embracing change for the betterment of the business.
The success story of Veterans Metal stands as a testament to the transformative power of digital integration, where innovation, adaptability, and persistence pave the way for industry evolution.
About Products Finishing Magazine
Products Finishing Magazine is the media brand devoted to all things finishing related. Electroplaters, anodizers, liquid and powder coaters have all come to rely on Products Finishing magazine as their resource for surface finishing news and technology for more than 85 years.
Gardner Business Media (GBM) is a leading publisher of trade publications and websites in the gardening, landscaping, and outdoor living industries. GBM's magazines are known for their high-quality content, expert advice, and comprehensive coverage of the latest trends and products in the industry. As GBM is a business media company, its products are typically directed towards professionals and industry insiders, rather than the general public.
About Steelhead Technologies
Steelhead Technologies designed a cutting-edge Manufacturing ERP for manufacturing job shops. The revolutionary software empowers general managers, owners, and operators to maximize efficiency and profitability, meticulously designed to manage the parts-in, parts-out process from quoting to invoicing in one plant operating platform. Partners of Steelhead will gain comprehensive operational visibility in as little as two weeks to streamline workflows and optimize systems. Operators love the modern UI and learn the software in as little as 10 minutes. Manufacturers are embracing the power of digitization, automation, and optimization to transform operations into a lean, highly efficient force and saying goodbye to paper travelers and spreadsheets for good.
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