Cost for QD employees to rent an apartment in Chico, CA. $1,200/month. Please turn off your ad blocker in Quality Digest
Our landlords thank you.
Dirk Dusharme @ Quality Digest
Published: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 - 10:29
Citing excess capacity and efficiency as the key reasons, Hexagon Metrology is closing its plant in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. During the past year, the plant, which assembled Sheffield brand products, has been shifting operations to Hexagon’s new facility in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. The move was part of an overall operational consolidation effort, and to take advantage of the superior assembly capabilities of the Rhode Island facility, according to William Fetter, director of marketing and communications for Hexagon Metrology.
“Since the Rhode Island facility opened in 2006, its purpose-built design, efficient manufacturing flow, and advanced process techniques have allowed Hexagon Metrology to reduce the manufacturing time on the average machine by approximately 75 percent, and reduce energy consumption by 50 percent,” Fetter explains. “These efficiency improvements had the effect of creating greater overall capacity in the single new Rhode Island facility than the old Rhode Island factory plus Fond du Lac combined. Many of the key parts for the machines are also machined in the Rhode Island, so the reduction of shipping costs was also a benefit.”
The Fond du Lac site was also a logistics center for spare parts. That function was moved to Miamisburg, Ohio, a site that placed it closer to customers.
When the facility was purchased by Hexagon Metrology in 2004, there were 85 employees, including remotely based personnel in sales and service. According to Fetter, many of those original 85 employees continue to be employed by Hexagon Metrology in their original or different roles. “It’s always a difficult decision to close any facility, but in light of the advantages of Rhode Island, this is a decision that was coming irrespective of the economy,” says Fetter.
Quality Digest does not charge readers for its content. We believe that industry news is important for you to do your job, and Quality Digest supports businesses of all types. However, someone has to pay for this content. And that’s where advertising comes in. Most people consider ads a nuisance, but they do serve a useful function besides allowing media companies to stay afloat. They keep you aware of new products and services relevant to your industry. All ads in Quality Digest apply directly to products and services that most of our readers need. You won’t see automobile or health supplement ads. So please consider turning off your ad blocker for our site. Thanks, Dirk Dusharme is Quality Digest’s editor in chief.Hexagon Closes Fond du Lac Plant
Operations moved to newer, more efficient facility in Rhode Island.
Our PROMISE: Quality Digest only displays static ads that never overlay or cover up content. They never get in your way. They are there for you to read, or not.
Quality Digest Discuss
About The Author
Dirk Dusharme @ Quality Digest
© 2023 Quality Digest. Copyright on content held by Quality Digest or by individual authors. Contact Quality Digest for reprint information.
“Quality Digest" is a trademark owned by Quality Circle Institute, Inc.