The U.S. administration under President Donald Trump might have reason to believe it could lessen international competition for American manufacturers by using a whole arsenal of import tariffs.
However, the success of the 76-year-old Jergens Inc., a machining manufacturer in Cleveland, Ohio, tells a different story.
It is the product and service innovation, workforce development and pursuit of new market that have helped the fourth generation family business stay "alive and well" in a highly competitive global market, said Jack Schron Jr., president and CEO of Jergens Inc., in a recent interview with Xinhua.
REINVENTING FOR FUTURE
Built on a 47-acre (about 190,000 square meters) site, Jergens Inc. opened its doors in 1942. Now it is one of the world's largest manufacturers of standard tooling components, vises and other workholding equipment.
Though it remains a traditional manufacturer in many ways, the company which owns about 400 employees and three divisions has been leveraging changing technologies to solidify its competitive advantage.
Jergens started using a digital information back in the early eighties and put all its products onto an electronic Computer Aided Design (CAD) database, initially stored in big reels of tape, then to small micro-based desktop.
Since last September, it has put more than 6,500 workholding products on MachiningCloud, a product data provider for cutting tools, Computer Numerical Control machines and workholding.
With the convenience of cloud-based technology, Jergens' customers can get instant access to 3D CAD models for the company's line of workholding products without having to search through catalogs.
To stay ahead of the competition, manufacturers need to be flexible, think creatively, embrace changing technologies and reinvent itself for the future, Schron noted.
For about 30 years, Jergens has bought and resold computerized electronic screwdrivers made in Japan. The high-tech device makes sure the right pressure is applied in assembling items.
"About seven or eight years ago, we started to manufacture our own precision electronic screwdrivers, that would be the next generation beyond the Japanese products that we're bringing here," Schron said, adding Jergens-made screwdrivers are sold worldwide at prices that range from 7,000 to 25,000 U.S. dollars.
The company also reinvented its ways to sell the products.
"We provide vending machines for our individual customers. In the vending machines will be the drill, the safety gloves, safety glasses, things of that nature that are routinely consumed in the manufacturing process," Schron said.
With the Internet controlled machines, Jergens knows when to send out a truck to stock supplies.
REBRANDING MODERN-DAY MANUFACTURING
An attorney by profession, Schron has been involved in Jergens' manufacturing operations since 1978. He believes it is important to introduce the next generation to manufacturing, a major sector of Ohio's and national economy.
