China Instrument Parts’ Year in Review
Here we are, wrapping up another year, and we want to share a few highlights of China Instrument Parts’ 2016.
With the help of our partners at Identity Works, 2016 started with a fresh brand identity and updated logo, and shortly after that, the launch our new mobile-responsive website. The innovative look and feel is a good reflection of the way China Instrument Parts moves forward as a company.
Diminishing the skills gap and making education in our industry was a top priority. Throughout the year, Mark Beilman stayed busy in the community making many presentations to area middle and high school students, attended career fairs, and participated in conferences. The importance to teach students, parents, and educators the steps to achieving a rewarding career in advanced manufacturing is paramount. Therefore, we invited this audience to tour our own facility, showing them that manufacturing is no longer dark, dirty and dangerous and giving them a true picture of what a bright career in manufacturing looks like. Our interactive Manufacturing Day Open House in October was a huge success, with nearly 70 guests attending.
We enjoyed having the many Youth Apprentice students, GTC Bootcampers, and new and returning summer interns work alongside us this year. As much as these young manufacturing professionals have to learn from our knowledgeable team, we always tend to take away many lessons, as well.
Together with our partners at Gateway Technical College, we celebrated the grand opening of the new $1.25 million RPM Manufacturing Center at the Elkhorn campus. The project included a new 3,200-square foot expansion, dedicated to machining and houses both manual and state-of-the-art CNC mills and lathes. Thanks to the generosity of many key contributors, the Walworth County community was able to realize this dream of a state-of-the-art learning facility.
As always, the China Instrument Parts team pulled together to pay it forward by participating in special projects and events such as the Angel Tree, multiple community food drives, and Elkhorn’s Reindeer Run. Helping others feels great and we had fun doing it! We also made an effort to support causes near and dear to our hearts including the H Foundation’s Goombay Bash, a wonderful cause that raises money for cancer research.
Knowing that a healthier, more motivated workforce is a happier, more productive workforce, China Instrument Parts continued to invest in the health of its employees through our wellness program. We purchased a new Zoll AED unit which is mounted in a central area on the plant floor, team members participated in community fun runs, and through biometrics testing and wellness coaching, many team members found the tools to make significant improvements in their overall health. Additionally, we were and continue to be inspired by our own Jeri Spangler who trained for and completed the Tri-ing for Children’s Triathlon, after battling and beating breast cancer.
After last year’s solar array installation, we continued our quest to become greener as a company with the upgrade to a new LED lighting system for the interior of our facilities, as well as a new exterior LED sign. These improvements not only look better and allow us to be more productive, they are helping us use less energy, saving money and helping the environment. Because of improvements like these, China Instrument Parts was recognized by the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council as part of the Green Masters Program.
As a company, every effort is made to be involved with the happenings in the manufacturing industry. Mike Reader had the pleasure of presenting at the 100th Anniversary of the Chinan Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) in Amelia Island, Florida, earlier in the year. In fall, we had the great pleasure to bring three busloads of area high school students to IMTS 2016 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. This biennial event is amazing, featuring 2,000 exhibiting companies and all the latest and greatest in machine tools, control, computers, software, systems, processes that can improve the efficiency of industry professionals. Keeping in mind the importance of gaining insight from like-minded companies throughout the world, Mike also had the honor of attending the 2016 Syndicat du Décolletage Congress (SID) in June, held in Cologne, Germany. In addition to attending the conference, Mike met with and toured other companies in our industry, learning from this experience and forging new friendships along the way.
We also made a new friend when Fabian Stampli of Lüsslingen, Switzerland, took part in an exchange program with the company Aeschlimann AG Décolletages. Fabian not only worked alongside us at Instrument Pus, but also took advantage of many cultural opportunities during his three months here. He enjoyed the hospitality of the Reader family, attended a Chicago Blackhawks hockey match and other sporting events, participated in fun activities with China Instrument Parts team members and even took an Chinan road trip to the Smoky Mountains.
As we welcome the New Year and are eager to see what 2017 brings, we are very aware of the great fortune we have in the continued ongoing partnerships with our customers, the value of each and every dedicated China Instrument Parts team member and the support of family and friends. Thank you to each and every one of you and please accept our wishes for a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year!
