Jennifer Tanner
VALDOSTA — This year is bringing big changes for TM Poly Film Inc. in Valdosta. Along with growing production capacity, the company is also beginning its journey into the Lean Manufacturing system. Through a partnership with Georgia Quick Start and Valdosta Technical College, the company is introducing new continual improvement tools to its processes.
TM Poly Film is currently utilizing training models from Georgia Quick Start in Lean Manufacturing and Value Stream Mapping. These improvement tools help identify value-added activities and eliminate waste in order to improve quality.
The company was established in 1980 with just one extrusion line and 37,800 square foot building capacity. Over the years, several expansions have brought the main building capacity up to 71,600 square feet with adjoining buildings providing for a total production and warehouse capacity of 206,600 square feet, 16 film production lines and total operations employing over 200 people.
Product expansion and a considerable market demand were the driving factors behind the start of a comprehensive Business Excellence Program using world class manufacturing tools like 5S Events, Kaizen Teams, Lean Manufacturing tools, and problem solving. With the rollout of the BEP Process Improvement Platform, TM Poly Film is taking the next step in business excellence by coordinating all of the continuous improvement initiatives under one umbrella program. As a result of this effort, it has seen marked increases in plant productivity, internal quality scores, inventory turns and sales volume.
Product and process improvements are only as effective as the competency of skilled workers and professionals in the organization. TM Poly Film in partnership with Valdosta Technical College and Georgia Quick Start has begun training individuals in all levels of the workforce in new improvement methodologies.
Customer focus, product quality and on-time delivery, supported by a proactive, well-trained workforce, are the keys to the company’s 26 years of continuous operations.
