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US Executive journal

The Magazine for Leading Industry Executives

Winter/Spring 2010

Making Parts to Empower Big Industries Mid Valley Industries LLC

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Making Parts to Empower Big Industries Produced by Chase Bertke & Written by Molly Cohen Mid Valley Industries LLC (MVI) is a custom and contract heavy metal machining and fabricating shop founded in 1996. MVI uses precision machining equipment and techniques to create small to largesized parts for mining, power gear transmissions, cranes, medical equipment, hydraulics, compressions and injection moldings, the oil and gas industry and the food and bottling industry. The company’s facility is located in Kaukauna, Wis., but its finished parts are shipped all across the United States, as well as throughout the world. MVI has 100 highly

skilled, highly valued employees. “We try to make sure each employee gets credit for their work, from top to bottom,” says Kevin Schmid, the company’s president.

As an overall guiding stratagem, MVI is committed to performing as a regional leader in the job machine shop industry, utilizing its talents and technology to deliver quality, service and value to all of its customers. To meet these goals, MVI has a year-over-

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year proven track record for high-quality service, punctual deliveries and continuing growth.

has a hand on the rope, pulling us along, and that teamwork is what makes us successful,” says Pribyl.

Team Strategy

And this team-oriented secret to success has proved useful during economic challenges, and has proved invaluable when the company needed diversification. “We’ve been able to expand beyond our normal scope of work … and as a result increased our value added services,” says Pribyl. Following an intelligent growth plan, the company has done an expansion within the industries it already serves, as well as diversified into new markets. “We have a pretty diverse industry base we serve now, and there are a lot of opportunities within those industries that we’re exploring more than ever before,” Pribyl explains. MVI has bolstered its in-house equipment and skill level to accommodate the largest machining requirements. The company believes it is one of the most well-rounded and capable shops in the upper Midwest region.

Every company has its own qualities that make it stand out from the pack. For MVI, “the biggest thing that differentiates us from other companies is our culture, mindset, determination and desire to service our customers,” says Doug Pribyl, VP of Sales. “These qualities lead to a lot of great things such as better quality, better service and response to issues that occur and a better overall business.”

These company focus points are also reflected in MVI’s employees. The company employs what it believes to be many of the most knowledgeable and talented custom and contract manufacturing personnel in the Fox Valley Area. Relying on the strength of its management team and a company-wide “can do” mentality sets it apart from competition.

Maintaining Utilities for Job Success According to Pribyl, one of MVI’s keys to success is the focus on a team environment. “We’re one group working for a common cause,” he explains. Each MVI employee has specific skills and qualities for which they are highly regarded. “The management team at the top might be the driving forces, but everybody

And MVI’s shop certainly has a wide range of abilities.

At 55,000 square feet, it is a fully air-conditioned world class facility, complete with numerous cranes, primary heavy duty machinery and small support equipment. This 24-hour, six-day-per-week working environment reduces tolerance related defects,

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machine down-time, and machinist fatigue for consistent output dayin and day-out. MVI’s QMS System is ISO 9001:2008 compliant and should be certified and registered in July 2010.

MVI has the latest technology and productivity enhancement tools available on-site In order to put this facility to best use. MVI now has numerous resources in-house, including: certified welding, thermal stress relieving, vibratory stress relieving, horizontal and vertical machining centers, large horizontal boring bars, horizontal and vertical lathes, wire EDM, assembly and CMM inspection.

However, the company occasionally outsources some tasks, including chrome and nickel plating, ceramic coating, painting, anodizing and heat treatments.

When MVI does have to outsource, it establishes partnerships with suppliers and uses the same companies repetitively. That way, MVI can rely on its outsourcing company’s skills, knowledge of MVI requirements, expectations and promptness. The company’s strategic alliances handle noncore operations, such as heattreating, painting, special coatings, plating and non-destructive testing. Typically, MVI does not have to use shipping companies, however, since it has its own fleet of flatbed trucks. “We have some alliances in place with trucking or freight suppliers who specialize in handling and transporting the fragile high-end parts and components we manufacture and ensure the products get to their final destination without issues or damage,” Pribyl shares.

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In 2008, MVI reinvested capital back into the company to improve and update its operations. “We expanded our operation, spending approximately several million on our plant and equipment,” Schmid says. “Reinvesting is very important to us, staying current with technology, with our training and capabilities; this is necessary for a thriving, growthdriven company.”

And these improvements came just in time for MVI. It was recently selected to begin refurbishing and modernizing the Dworshak Dam in Clearwater County, Idaho. As the third tallest dam in the United States, this hydroelectric dam modernization project was a challenge for the company, based on the sheer size of the components their working on. “We’re helping to refurbish some large components within the dam,” Pribyl adds.

Adding this impressive job to the company’s completed works only adds to its long list of successful accomplishments. As a company that maintains a supportive team focus, that understands controlled growth, and that knows how to carefully reinvest necessary supplies to grow its capabilities, MVI is poised to reach its intended goals.•

COMPANY AT A GLANCE Established : 1996 President : Kevin Schmid Employees : 100

www.mvii.com

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Mid Valley Industries LLC 1151 Delanglade Street Kaukauna, WI 54130 United States

www.mvii.com www.usexecutivejournal.com