Machine Builders Increase Design Possibilities; Management Contains Cost

June 23, 2008

An interview with Masanori Suzuki, President, Misumi USA

There is a new business model that will change the way, design, procurement and manufacturing protocols are set while simultaneously achieving cost and time savings, according to Masanori Suzuki, president of Misumi USA headquarters.

During a recent interview Suzki gave example of how companies are using automation to improve design processes.

"At one builder, Dial Tool of Addison, Ill., a company dedicated to the design and building of automated assembly equipment and machinery, they reported a reduction in machine section design time from 20 hours to 20 minutes, as the result of our system," explained Masanori Suzuk, president of Misumi USA.

Misumi offers over 500,000 metric and inch components for factory automation, but they are most definitely not a traditional catalog house, says their president. Rather, since most components such as shaft, bearings, linear actuators, brackets, pulleys, belts, clamps and clips are configurable, a machine builder can design with a completely new freedom of range, to suit the application at hand. Plus, even in small quantities, there is never a tooling charge and no minimum order requirement from Misumi. One configured part or a thousand different ones can be obtained in a few days and many builders are doing just that.

Masanori Suzuki, President, Misumi USASalem Design of Salem, Ohio, a producer of both custom and standard test equipment, has actually produced machines with 100% Misumi content. As owner Phil Warga notes, "We now begin the design process with the Misumi catalog."

The business model, as described by Suzuki, goes beyond the features above. No part drawings are required, as the website visitor can use the Misumi CAD Configurator to download native files into assemblies online to verify fit, form and function. Also, when required, configurable components can be fashioned, downloaded and similarly checked for suitability.

The company boasts 99.95% on-time delivery, with most products shipping in 3-6 days. Next day and even same day shipping is also available, even on some configured parts.This involves the unique manner in which online configured part numbers translate into the cutting sequences for the machine tools manufacturing the parts at one of Misumi's international business partners, who currently number over 600.

For the future, Suzuki envisions more customers starting their machine design process with the Misumi components in mind. As a direct result of designing their machines with Misumi, quantifiable cost savings up to 50% are routinely being realized by many builders, such as packaging giant MWV (formerly MeadWestvaco), where mechanical engineering chief Michael Flagg reports exactly that level of savings on the company's cost for factory automation components. Such multi-nationals can also utilize the Misumi online Web Ordering System to pool purchases, upload parts orders and reorder, since the order history is archived, so configured or any standard parts ordered can be reused for future machine builds.

Suzuki sees this scenario being repeated in every industry Misumi sells and "...it's a trend I expect will continue, as part of our exponential growth into the future with American industry."

Masanori Suzuki is the president of Misumi USA, Inc., a position he's held since early 2007. Located in Schaumburg, Ill., MISUMI USA, Inc. was established in 1988 as a subsidiary of Japan-based MISUMI Corp. The company supplies configurable and fixed components for factory automation. www.misumiusa.com

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor

Focus: Workforce, Talent

Follow Me on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Bio: Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with the publication and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics and EHS Today.

Editorial mission statement: Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I find manufacturing interesting: On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.