Ascent Manufacturing is an aerospace parts manufacturer founded in 2001 and located in Anaheim, CA. It has 17,000 square feet of facilities with CNC mills and lathes. The company focuses on continuous process improvement through tools like PFMEA and hiring experienced managers. Recent improvements include adding machines, streamlining processes, and implementing in-process inspections to reduce rework.

1. ASCENT MANUFACTURING, INC.
Est. 2001
“To provide products to our customers, internal and external, that
conform to current requirements, and to continuously improve our
processes and systems. To promote the company by reputation alone.”

2. Supplier Background
• Website: WWW.ASCENTMFG.COM
• Management:
• Frank Power – President, CEO
• David Kramer – Sales
• Brendan Power – Production Control Manager
• Colin Power – Customer Account Manager
 Jorge Juarez – Engineering Manager
 Kathy Kramer – Accounting Manager
 Barbara Gillian – Office Manager
 Keith Kramer Jr. – Quality Manager
• Founded:
 September, 2001
• Location:
 2545 W Via Palma
 Anaheim, CA 92801
• Annual Revenue / Sales:
 $4,000,000
• Headquarters:
 2545 W Via Palma
 Anaheim, CA 92801
• Operations:
 Manufacturer of machine fabricated parts and assemblies, primarily for the aerospace industry

3. Organizational Chart
President
Frank Power
VP of Sales
David
Kramer
Quality
Manager
Keith Kramer
Jr.
Purchasing
Barbara
Gillian
Vice
President/
Engineering
Manager
Jorge Juarez
Accounting
Kathy
Kramer
Executive
Assistant/HR
Maricela Power
Chief
Inspector
Tuan Nguyen
Shop is
organized by
work cell.
Lathe Dept.
Lead
Mario Ayala
Customer
Account
Manager
Colin Power
Shipping &
Receiving
Steve Ewer
Production
Control
Manager
Brendan
Power
Inspectors
Tyler Gillian
Jym
Denatale
Office
Manager
Barbara
Gillian
Office
Admin.
Lauren
Fisher

4. Facility
•Ascent Manufacturing, Inc. has recently
moved from a 5,000 sq. ft. facility in Santa
Ana, CA to a 17,000 sq. ft. facility in
Anaheim, CA
•Main reasons for this move:
-Increase safety conditions
-To create a professional looking/feeling workspace
-Boost productivity
•2 new machines added
•Better value streaming
•Proper organization

5. Process Mapping

6. Potential Failure Mode Effects Analysis (PFMEA)

7. Machining
17 CNC Vertical Mills
- 1 5th Axis mill
-4 multi-pallet Horizontal mills
4 CNC Lathes

8. Machining

9. Programming
•3 full time programmers
•Once verified, programs are
“locked down” to prevent any
modifications by unauthorized
personnel
•Model based engineering
•Software:
Mastercam X9 v15.0.3.28
CATIA V5

10. Quality
•Certified to ISO 9001:2008/AS9100: Rev. C
•Comprehensive quality manual
•Sub-tier certification review
•Corrective and preventative action reports
•Internal auditing

11. Sub-Tier Management
• To ensure sub-tier suppliers
understand the requirements,
Ascent Manufacturing, Inc. flows
down all customer quality notes on
every purchase order along with
specific detailed instructions
• To ensure best value pricing, a
minimum of 3 vendors are quoted
for every job
• To ensure consistent quality and
delivery, risk mitigating activities
are performed on all vendors from
information gathered through
required vendor surveys and on-site
audits.

12. Inspection
2 Coordinate Measurement Machines
•Mitutoyo FN1108
•Numerex 2440-18
1 Romer Absolute Arm – 6 Axis
•RA-7520-2
Software:
QC5000 V2.82
Verisurf X7
CATIA V22
Virtual DMIS V6.0

13. Inspection
•CpK Analysis
•AS9102
•Control Charts
•Ballooned drawings
•AS9102 forms
Software:
InspectionXpert OnDemand
v4.3.0.55
•Model based
inspection

14. Assembly
•Click-bond hardware installation
•Adhesive bonding of nut plates and
gaskets
•Paint fogging and touch-up
•Installation of inserts
•Dowel pin insertion
•Riveting
•Ink marking
•Bushings

15. Testing
•Ascent Manufacturing, Inc.
now does all of it’s own peel
testing in house
•Ensures quality adhesive
bonding during assemblies
with gaskets.
•Up to 110lbs. of tension or
compression
•Full certification of testing
•Software:
WinWedge v3.4.3
IMADA Force
Measurement
Model: MX2-110
Gauge: DS2-110

16. Shipping
•RFID DOD96 Capable
•Secure Packaging
•IUID labeling
•Shipping inspection
•FOD prevention plan

17. Process Improvement
•Ascent Manufacturing,
Inc. has recently hired
an experienced tool crib
manager to ensure the
proper use, repair and
organization of all tools
used to manufacture
parts.
•Improved set-up times
and cost of tooling

18. Process Improvement
Ascent Manufacturing, Inc. has recently
hired an experienced shop foreman to
manage shop floor execution.
•Production signs are now affixed to every machine so
that status of parts are clearly visible.
•Manage machine operators to ensure quality parts are
manufactured before entering inspection.
•In-process inspection sheets are now required for every
job before the parts are put on the machines.

19. Process Improvement
•In-process inspection sheets
are now required for every job
running on a machine.
•This will ensure only
compliant parts come through
QC and decrease the amount
of inspection time needed for
each job.
•Internal key characteristics
are determined by Quality