Lexington, Kentucky-based Audio Authority got its start in the mid 1970s as a manufacturer of switching systems for audio, video and car stereo components. Over the years, the company worked to stay ahead of the industry, diversifying early-on into areas like commercial distribution systems for high-definition TV.
If you went to a showroom and saw the same picture on 100 different flat screen TVs when the technology first hit stores, for example, chances are the signals were going out across Audio Authority equipment, says President Bob Sollee.
Now Sollee plans to revolutionize the drive-up pharmacy intercom business.
For years his operation has been making two-way intercoms, mainly for the banking industry. But all along the company – as well as competitors - have jury rigged those products for pharmacy clients.
In the last six months, Audio Authority and a pneumatic tube system supplier have teamed up to develop a system specifically for drive-up pharmacies. The result: a high-tech gizmo implanted in the tube and landing pad that gives the pharmacist better control of audio and visual devices. Sollee expects the new product to be in high demand since federal law requires face-to-face communications when dispensing medicines.
A little help goes a long way
To bring the new product to market quickly, Sollee went looking for assistance from the University of Kentucky Center for Manufacturing. The center, with its rapid prototyping machine, created a mold and plastic part the company will use to house a special circuit board they've designed. The plastic part is allowing Sollee's engineers to finish tuning the prototype in the field and quickly get to the hard-tooling stage.
Finding a resource that could do the job quickly and at a reasonable cost accelerated Audio Authority's product development process. “I'm not sure we could have done it without the center,” said Sollee, who hopes to release the new product publicly in May.
Organizations that strive to bolster the industry – such as the University of Kentucky Center for Manufacturing – can provide a wealth of resources but often get overlooked by too many companies.
UK's operation, for example, provides things such as process improvement services, engineering, prototyping and product development services which companies might need, but not have the capabilities in-house. The center also provides access to faculty experts. Although there is some added emphasis on helping businesses within the state, the center serves a global clientele. Lean manufacturing certification courses and the leadership institute are among the most popular educational offerings.
Filling in the gaps
When it comes to services, such as rapid prototyping, center officials stress they aren't competing against private sector companies. “We're trying to fill in those gaps where you have a small or medium sized company that needs a service that maybe is available in the private sector, but they couldn't really attract attention with one or two little jobs,” says Kim Sayre, engineering services manager at the center.
The center has grant money available to help fund services for manufacturers in Kentucky, most of which are eligible. They also work with companies to help them find other funding sources to pay for the center's services.
In Dayton, Ohio, Sinclair Community College has run the AIM Center – which stands for Advanced Integrated Manufacturing - about 20 years.
As part of its mission, the center provides technical support to manufacturing companies including process development, consulting services, help with prototyping and access to technologies they don't have or need for a short-term arrangement.
Mike Freed, project manager in the workforce development and corporate services division at Sinclair, says he's recently noticed more startup companies coming to AIM. The possible reason: entrepreneurs see an opportunity to fill gaps not being pursued by other companies, especially in emerging fields such as composite materials and advanced energy.
“A lot of those people we are seeing are people who are working in some of these forward technologies that you hear about,” Freed said.
Accelerators provide other services
Ft. Thomas, Kentucky-based Global Shelter Systems is trying to make a name for itself in the $2 billion a year force protection barriers industry. So when the product development company went looking for a manufacturing partner, they turned to the University of Kentucky Center for Manufacturing.
Burke Herron, chief development officer and one of the founders of the company, said the center identified those with the correct machinery and process required to build Global Shelter's product.
“We had limited manufacturing experience in the area and we wanted to keep everything within the state,” Herron said. “So they basically sent out engineering diplomats to help find us a partner.”
The result was Global Shelter found Henderson, Kentucky-based Vincent Industrial Plastics, which now builds its products. Herron's company also used the UK center to build prototypes.
“It really freed us up,” he said. “We were able to capitalize on our talents and communicate with UK and they did all the specialized work where we didn't have the capability. We've done so much with them, they've been an integral part of our business since we started.”
A good time to turn to manufacturing accelerators
Now might be a good time to look to centers such as the ones at UK and Sinclair. The slow economy means those with fewer deadlines have more time to improve efficiency and work on product differentiation - enhancing products to extend their life cycle or working on new products – all of which could lead to better profits in the recovery.
“This is a perfect opportunity who those who have been too swamped.” said UK's Sayre.
Sinclair's Freed says overall demand for the AIM Center's services has been down, an indication some may be thinking only about the present. He's hoping to get the message out that even in tough times like these, manufacturers still need to think about the future.
“The companies that are going to be successful are the ones that continue to work on improving processes and getting the skilled workforce that they need.”
Sources for this article include:
• The University of Kentucky Center for Manufacturing http://www.mfg.uky.edu/
• Audio Authority http://www.audioauthority.com/
• The AIM Center at Sinclair Community College http://www.aimcenter.org/
• Global Shelter Systems http://www.globalsheltersystems.com/
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