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OPTIMAX NEWSLETTER Q2 2009 |
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Optimax has planned updates and enhancements for the web site this year. For the latest on Optimax, please visit the Optimax Web Site regularly. Cheers,
An
innovative manufacturer of precision optics. |
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| Optimax’
involvement with FAME (the Finger Lakes Advanced
Manufacturer’s Enterprise), has helped it to act as a beam of light in
these dark economic times. Optimax has actively recruited students from
high schools and training schools in order to enlist their highly
valued technical skills. Now that the strong economic winds have
turned, the focus has been shifted from hiring and training to
intensive training. In the summer of 2008, the Optimax workforce underwent an Ownership Thinking training directed by Brad Hams. The purpose of this training was both tactical and strategic in nature. Providing the employees with business sense and lingo to understand that every role within the company impacts the bottom line was a focal point of the training. Being committed to efficiency in spending and operating costs was just the beginning. This is why FAME is advocating all companies to evaluate their businesses and refocus inside, to provide the training necessary for the workforce to hit the ground running when the economy turns. | |
| FAME reaches out to local manufacturers to create awareness of grants and funding available for training. Optimax has taken advantage of these offers by actively pursuing grants. So far this year, Optimax has been awarded $16,000 through the Rochester Works (WIRED) grants and the RRPC (Rochester Regional PhotonicsCluster) grants managed by MCC (Monroe |  |
| Community College). This money has been used to train a total of 43 employees in directly applicable courses; such as, Optical Measurement, Scratch/Dig, Master Cam, Solid Works, and ISO 10110. Most recently, Optimax provided 8 employees with supervisor training through grant sponsorship. | |
Internally, Optimax continues to provide comprehensive training for all employees. In the first quarter of 2009, 14 training sessions were held. Accumulatively, this amounted to 249 people being trained. Included in these trainings have been two Optichats – half hour educational sessions focusing on important practices and principles related to Optimax with a short quiz at session completion, LEAN training, and Radius Tolerance Interpretation training. This is meant to teach new skills and sharpen existing skills. In the spirit of internal excellence, Optimax has hired a Continuous Improvement Engineer to focus on enhancing strategies within the company. This has helped Optimax improve processes and procedures to eliminate waste accumulated from every step of manufacturing, from scrapped materials to inefficient use of time, from the manufacturing floor to the offices. To kick this off, a company-wide “5S-Day” was held in the beginning of the year to increase efficiency across all departments. Many members of FAME are taking initiative to incorporate LEAN practices in manufacturing and the offices. As the efforts to control expenses continue, employees are being properly trained in the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in their role. Opportunity continues to be created and innovative ideas continue to be awarded. Optimax is and will aggressively continue in its efforts to challenge the process via Plan Do Check and Adjust (PDCA) to ensure our customers, in-house and out-of-house, receive nothing more than beaming customer service. This approach will ensure continued prosperity is maintained in an ever changing business environment. | |
An
innovative manufacturer of precision optics.
Optimax: An ITAR Facility Going ISO
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It is an
exciting thing to be able to work with and support customers from
diverse markets. Every market segment is unique and Optimax’ ability to
meet their expectations not only depends on our manufacturing
capabilities but also on the processes that support those capabilities.
It is with our customers in mind that Optimax follows the restrictions
of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and is
currently in the process of achieving our ISO Certification. |
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| The benefit of the controlled environment is that it allows our defense customers to have confidence in the fact that their projects are properly handled, as well as the benefit to every employee in knowing the proper protocol to follow. When |  |
| everyone follows the same procedure
there is less room for error. This is why it is so exciting for Optimax
to be working toward ISO certification: to make our first-rate quality
system even better. | |
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The quality management practices of ISO 9001 will help to create a
systematic approach to managing and controlling all the processes
within Optimax. As part of the certification processes, Optimax will be
audited by an independent source, an unbiased third party. In
preparation, every department will have improved work instructions and
procedures. Training will be provided to instruct each employee on how
to work within ISO standards. The transition from our current quality management system, MIL-I-45208A, to ISO 9001 is expected to be smooth. Our current quality management system is compliant to ISO 90001 and our quality standards already abide by these superior expectations. Still, the more general, positive quality manual that Optimax will adhere to under the ISO standards will provide benefit to many of our customers. With this process in place, it will be easier to repeatedly ship parts with the same high quality. As we move forward with this endeavor, we happily anticipate being able to better support our customers and meet their needs. Being ITAR compliant and ISO certified will allow us to uphold our customers on every level for any project. Our facility is going to properly protect and handle information to ensure that processes are followed and quality remains uncompromised. | |
An
innovative manufacturer of precision optics.
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Optimax Participating on the OEOSC |
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| As a testament to our mission to provide fast, reliable delivery of precision optics with superior quality and service, enabling customer success, Optimax has recently joined the Optics and Electro-Optics Standards Council (OEOSC). The OEOSC consists of a group of U.S. optical experts that act as the administrator of the ANSI/OEOSC Technical Advisory Group to the Organization for International Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee (TC) 172 – Optics and Photonics. The goal of the OEOSC is to establish effective industry-based standards and support structure within the United States. |
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“In
1994 the Secretary of the Armed Services
issued a directive stating that in the future all military procurement
contracts should refer to national and international commercial
standards rather than military specifications. To date more
than 7,000 military specifications have been canceled. Of the
55 military specifications that relate to optical products, half have
been canceled and one-quarter are declared inactive. Inactive
specifications can be used for existing procurement contracts, but not
for new ones. The optical manufacturing community in the
United States must become involved in the development of new voluntary
commercial optical standards to fill the void left by the absence of
the military specifications.
To
facilitate the development of optical
standards, a consortium made up of seven professional societies, trade
associations and companies sponsored the incorporation of the Optics
and Electro-Optics Standards Council (OEOSC) that will act as the
administrator of national optical standards for the USA.
OEOSC has received accreditation from ANSI for the committee ASC OP
"Optics and Electro-Optical Instruments." ASC OP is now
authorized to develop these national standards. OEOSC is also
responsible for the U.S. Technical Advisory Group to ISO Technical
Committee number 172 "Optics and optical instruments." This
group negotiates the wording of ISO optical standards with
representatives from other countries.”
–
OEOSC, ASC OP website
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| Currently
Rick Plympton participates in both the OEOSC and ASC OP
board meetings
that are held bi-annually in conjunction with the major optics and
photonics conference meetings. Their primary focus is to vote
on approval of proposed American National Standards and maintain the
standards developed by the committee so that the standards are kept
current and relevant. In addition, Jessica DeGroote Nelson participates on technical task force sub-committees (TF1 – TF5) of the ASC OP. Current topics include the adoption of ISO 10110 as an American National Standard and the drafting and eventual incorporation of an American wavefront standard. The wavefront standard will address subjects such as slope and power spectral density. |
An
innovative manufacturer of precision optics.
Employee Profile: Rick Plympton
| Rick Plympton – CEO | ||
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Rick enjoys adventurous travels, especially in Central America. Whether it’s running, tennis, rock climbing or foozball, he is competitive, but his ultimate goal is to have fun! Congratulations are also sent out to Rick and his wife Lisa, who are proud parents of two beautiful girls – Cece and Lily. Rick's focus is to provide the leadership and vision to position Optimax as America’s largest prototype optics manufacturer. |
An
innovative manufacturer of precision optics.