Problem
- A rail car manufacturer had a serious supply disruption from an existing stainless steel supplier that was threatening a plant shutdown and unacceptable delay in a critical delivery of rail cars to one of their top customers.
Solution
- This was the only remaining North American rail car manufacturer to which the Company had not supplied the majority of stainless steel plate. New Castle Plate had supplied other manufacturers with plates since 1998. New Castle Plate recognized this opportunity to demonstrate the Company's extraordinary ability to respond to an immediate customer need for tailor-made plates.
- New Castle Plate's Supply Chain and Operations team worked quickly and decisively to select full-size slabs in inventory, cut, roll them at two different facilities, and fast track shipments to New Castle for finishing.
- Delivery of a significant amount of plate ensuring the continued production of rail cars began within TWO weeks of being presented with this challenge and tremendous opportunity.
Importance
- New Castle Plate's lean manufacturing philosophy and commitment to keeping full-size slabs to provide virtually any dimension in a particular grade allowed New Castle Plate to secure an important customer and build a bridge to future business.
- The close collaboration New Castle Plate has established with all three Arcelor Mittal facilities allowed the Company to immediately identify the required rolling capacity as well as fast track the material through their facilities.
- Once the material arrived in New Castle, the mill was able to shear, anneal, pickle, inspect, and test plates in less than two days.
- With a 'can do' attitude and close collaboration with key suppliers, the New Castle Plate team can deliver on even the most challenging or seemingly impossible customer request.