SLW Automotive has a big heart! Our Culture Words were on full display recently, following the EF5 tornado that hit Moore, OK. SLW employees reached out to our neighboring residents who were severely impacted by the devastating tornado that demolished a significant portion of the Oklahoma City suburb. Thanks to the employees who generously donated towards our Tornado Relief Effort.
Between the Sallisaw plant and DDSC, $761.17 was donated, and an additional $1000.00 was donated by the company for a grand total of $1,761.17. Employees also donated requested items, which included bottled water, Gatorade, baby wipes, diapers, baby formula, hand towels, wrapped snacks, and work gloves.The donated supplies were delivered to the Moore residents who are still facing many crisis issues. SLW is proud to have joined in with many volunteers across the United States to lend a hand to those in need.
(Pictured left to right: SLW employees Jason Ackerman and Jim House)
Culture Words Impacted: Responsibility, Do it! Walk the Walk, Team-based, Partnership, Non-political, Positive
April 16th thru 18th SLW Automotive exhibited at the 2013 SAE World Congress at Detroit’s Cobo Hall.
SLW showcased new technologies that enable vehicle manufactures to improve fuel economy on future vehicle drivetrains. These new technologies include SLW’s patented 2-stage and fully variable engine oil pumps, tandem engine oil & vacuum pumps and electric oil pumps for AWD, traction control, start/stop applications & dual clutch transmissions.
Recognizing and promoting the critical need to responsibly manage our energy consumption, SLW Automotive continues to help lead this effort in NE Oklahoma. At the January Greater Muskogee Manufacturing Alliance luncheon, the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance (OMA) discussed partnership opportunities for energy reduction. Judy McCombs, Manufacturing Extension Agent, presented and recognized SLW Automotive for implementing exemplary energy reduction programs in the NE Oklahoma region. SLW has utilized both the OMA – Application Engineering Program and the Oklahoma (OSU) Industrial Assessment Center, sponsored by the US Department of Energy to identify waste reduction opportunities (electric, gas, water, waste). As a result of implementing OMA recommendations, electricity consumption has been reduced 15% at the Sallisaw, OK facility offsetting recent energy rate hikes by local utilities.
SLW Culture Words impacted: Reduce Waste, Responsibility, Walk the Walk, Pride
Judy McCombs addressing the
Greater Muskogee Manufacturing Alliance
In February, SLW Automotive hosted the inaugural Muskogee Lean Manufacturing Champions Forum at its Sallisaw, OK facility. Our guests were Muskogee’s Griffin Foods and Advantage Controls Inc., who are partnering with SLW to develop innovative lean activities and plant Kaizen continuous improvement strategies. Topics included sharing of best practices and a Q&A session highlighting success stories for all three organizations, which are all corporate members of the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance (OMA). The visit concluded with an SLW plant tour. Future activities will include site visits and collaborations with other NE Oklahoma manufacturers, highlighting the respective lean strategies.
Inaugural meeting of the Muskogee Lean Manufacturing Champions Forum held at SLW Automotive. Standing are (l-r) SLW Automotive’s (Director of Operations) Rhett Cathcart,(Director of Human Resources) Dr. Fran Johnson and (Director of Quality) Bryan Lawson.
SLW Culture Words Impacted: Learning, Reduce Waste, Professionalism, Positive, Collaborative, Openness
SLW Automotive Inc. will again be an exhibitor at the 2013 SAE World Congress (http://www.sae.org/congress/), at Detroit’s Cobo Hall, on April 16th-18th. At our booth (#509) we will have on display our most recent advancements in variable pump, vacuum pump, tandem pump and electric pump technology. Exhibiting with us will be our electronics controls partner DGE Inc. If you have any questions regarding our products, or company, please feel free to stop by our booth. We look forward to see you at the show!!
SLW patent application 12/438,797 was recently approved by the US Patent Office. Written by Matt Jannausch and Doug Hunter in 2006, this patent covers a two-stage, dual decrease, sliding control system for variable oil pump control. This type of control system has the potential to provide consistent oil pressure, over a wide range of oil viscosity . As a result, the low pressure mode can be used more often, improving overall fuel economy of engine systems. This is one of many patents held by SLW Automotive in variable oil pump systems. SLW is one of the world leaders in variable oil pump technology.
The Western Arkansas Human Resources Association (WAHRA) is the local chapter of the national Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), promoting excellence in the HR career field. WAHRA also offers opportunities for professional networking, business communications, education & development, and continuous support of HR excellence within the members’ respective organizations. WAHRA installed the 2013 Board of Directors at its December 2012 meeting.
SLW’s Director of Human Resources, Dr. Fran Johnson, SPHR was appointed as the Chair of the Certification Committee. She stated, “I am honored to represent SLW Automotive in this capacity, and appreciate my colleagues’ support in this endeavor.” Based on eligibility standards, Dr. Johnson will target and drive efforts to enhance professional development in the HR career field, and encourage more chapter members to earn the professional certification credentials during 2013: Professional (PHR), Sr. Professional (SPHR), or Global Professional (GPHR).
SLW Culture Words impacted: Do it! Responsibility, Learning, Responsibility, Excellence
Starting the “New Year” on a high note, SLW Automotive Engineering and Human Resources leaders collaborated in a joint meeting with officials from the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith’s (UAFS) Department of Engineering and Office of Development. The meeting’s purpose was to discuss additional partnering opportunities to shape course offerings that enhance employment opportunities for students and new graduates. Due to the strong focus on math, science, and technology, a strong correlation exists between UAFS’ curriculum and SLW’s product lines. Therefore, a natural partnership has developed over a number of years.
During the visit, a complete engineering tour was provided to showcase various projects, labs, and facilities which help develop individual and team-based skills. Special tour emphasis was given to the electric vehicle technology projects. UAFS offers Bachelor of Science degrees in both Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, and SLW employs several UAFS graduates and co-op students. The undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineeringprovides a comprehensive engineering education with a focus on the design of electrical, electronic and computer systems; while the degree in Mechanical Engineeringprovides a comprehensive engineering education with a focus on the design of mechanical and thermal systems.
SLW Culture Words impacted: Learning, Collaborative, Entrepreneurial, Professionalism, Team-based, Partnership
As an annual sponsor of the Frontier Trails B.E.S.T. Robotics competition, SLW Automotive believes in supporting emerging engineering talent. The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith (UAFS) and the City of Fort Smith hosted the annual event that allowed the young scholars to demonstrate their growing expertise and innovation skills. The 2nd place “SLW Automotive Most Elegant Robot Award” was earned by Metro Homeschool from Independence, MO. Bryan Lawson, Director of Quality and Fran Johnson, Director of Human Resources presented the award to the team, along with UAFS Chancellor Paul Beran.
B.E.S.T. is the acronym for “Boosting Engineering in Science & Technology.” The educational program allows students to design and build working robots for the popular competition, understand the practical use of math concepts and applied physics, solve real-world science and engineering problems, receive training that is transferable to all academic disciplines and career pursuits, and gain an increased interest in engineering, math, and science. During the December 2012 Regional Robotics competition, the final robotics teams from five states (Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma) competed for top honors and bragging rights.
SLW Culture Words: Responsibility, Walk the Walk, Partnership, Innovative, Learning, Pride, Camaraderie and Fun
SLW Quality Engineer James “Woody” Woodall recently completed his “Lean Six Sigma Certification” at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, earning his “Green Belt.” The curriculum required the assessment and development of the resolution of an authentic problem within the workplace. In his project, Woodall conducted a statistical analysis of long-term and short-term production data and a sampling of production rejects, to assess and re-evaluate the quality of selected pumps. The specifications were assessed to measure quality standards and value.
According to Woodall, “The goal of my Green Belt project was to determine whether or not I could recommend changes to the “High-Speed Flow” parameter on air tests; and if so, to what value should it be safely modified. The overall point of doing so is to increase first-time-throughput of a high volume department in order to enhance efficiencies.
SLW Culture Words impacted: Learning, Innovative, Excellence, and Pride
