What We Can Learn from Mag Lite

A recent article on company behind the popular Maglite flashlight, Mag Instruments, and it’s founder outlined some of the challenges companies face when trying to be competitive (read the article, here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38025260/ns/business-us_business/) The story is a classic “pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps” tale of American entrepreneurship. And while it is a warm tale, it also highlights the challenges of being in manufacturing when it seems everything can be made cheaper and faster in China.

However, as designers and manufacturers of custom machinery both large and small, we enjoyed reading about owner Anthony Maglica’s approach to business. The article states,

“Maglica is obsessed with upgrading automation and fine tuning work flow in the plant to wring out speed and efficiency — the only way, he says, that he can compete with imports from China where labor is so much cheaper. The company has invested tens of millions in automation against pressures to go overseas — a strategy that has worked remarkably well…”

We love that. Here’s a quote from Maglica, “You have to invent it, design it, and prove it works, and then you have to automate it,” he says. And then, “there are glitches to work out.”

That makes us smile, because it’s exactly what we do, and it’s nice to see the same sentiment in a company that has been so successful over the years. We take great pride in helping companies automate their manufacturing, assembly or quality assurance testing processes. Whether it’s to save money, increase speed and efficiency, or just stay competitive with a changing world market, we see first-hand the results of well-planned and designed automation.

We take our responsibilities seriously, just like Maglica, and consider ourselves to be integral parts of our customers’ success. We know businesses turn to us to make things better and come up with a new, custom solution. We strive to exceed expectations in every case and our work speaks for itself.

If you haven’t read the article on Mag Industries, we encourage you to do so (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38025260/ns/business-us_business/) and perhaps consider how automation could improve your business. Of course we’re happy to provide our expertise and guidance – you don’t have to do it alone.