The document discusses how Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense tackled a 'black hole' bottleneck issue by implementing traction software with some customization, specifically through the creation of custom input forms and a small database. This solution has made the process more observable, allowing for better data collection and prioritization of requests, ultimately aiding in reducing inefficiencies. The implementation has shown early positive results, with simplified input processes and improved visibility into workloads.

1. Traction Software + a small bit of customization = Observable Processes Kevin Duprey Manager, Design and Analysis Engineering TUG Presentation 10/13/2010

2. Disclaimer The opinions, comments, viewpoints, and all information presented are those of Kevin Duprey and not those of Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company

3. Agenda Overview of EBA&D Problem Statement – The “Black Hole” Bottleneck Problem Solution with Traction Custom Form Inputs Small Custom Database Traction Section Tables Results – It’s still Early, but… Process is now observable Data collection aiding in identifying means of fixing the bottleneck

4. Ensign-Bickford Industries Established in 1836 Privately Held Entrepreneurial corporate culture Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense 500 Employees EBA&D Core Values Safety Quality On-time Delivery Responsiveness ISO 9001:2000 & AS9100 Certified Source for safe, highly reliable, innovative products Annual double digit growth Simsbury, CT Phoenix, AZ Moorpark, CA Sterling, CT Graham, KY Albuquerque, NM Ensign Bickford Realty Corp . Avon, CT DanChem Danville, VA Applied Food Biotechnology, Inc St. Charles, MO Ensign-Bickford Renewable Energies, Inc Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company EBA&D Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc. Caleb E. White President & CEO Manufacturing Engineering Manufacturing Engineering Engineering Manufacturing Program Management Manufacturing HEADQUARTERS Engineering Manufacturing Program management Contract s Finance, HR, IT, SH&E

5. Industrial Systems Oil & Gas Well Completion Explosive Depth Hardening Specialty Energetics Aerospace Systems Launch Vehicles, Satellites, Aircraft Vehicle Protection Reactive Armor Systems Tactical Systems Missiles, Rockets, UAV’s Soldier Systems Breaching, Demolition & EOD Systems Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company Markets We Serve Providing System Solutions in Critical Markets…

6. The “Black Hole” Bottleneck About 5 years ago EBA&D implemented a COTS ERP system to manage our business. Like any complex system, the value of the output is directly proportional to the quality of the input (or inversely: garbage in = garbage out) In order for customer order lines to drive demand for components to be ordered and systems to be manufactured, the configuration data needs to be input correctly – Enter the configuration management group.

7. The Problem (cont’) For the last three years 2 people have been primarily responsible for making sure the data is clean, correcting where it’s not, and generally ensuring the system works as expected. The process for accomplishing this, however was a complete “Black Hole” Requests for data input or correction came from multiple sources; e-mail, phone calls and even “drive-by shootings”. No visibility into the queue, and priorities were established by who screamed the loudest. Prior attempts to better understand the process involved using the group’s already scarce time to manually record information about workload

8. The Solution Custom Input Forms General Info Section Tables to sort it all

9. Custom Forms

10. Resulting Traction Article

11. Benefits of the Database - Reports

12. Results Most users have responded well to the new process Input has been simplified for most requests The process in now visible – everyone knows what’s in the queue Data collection enabling changes to fix the bottleneck Low cost to implement (good ROI) Summer intern did most of the form creation