Treblig, Inc.
Greenville, South Carolina

THE OVERVIEW
Treblig, Inc., a Greenville-based female-owned manufacturer that provides precision machining, turning and milling services to companies like Michelin, Ross Valve Manufacturing Company and Webco, Inc., felt the time had come to become ISO 9001 compliant in order to maintain its client base, and successfully position Treblig as a tier-two precision machining, turning and milling services company for the automotive sector.  Treblig was formed in 1983 and employs 13 people.

THE CHALLENGE
Treblig was concerned that labor costs were topping 52% of production costs, compared to a national average of 32%. In order to compete with larger manufacturers, the company had to increase productivity and efficiency, while reducing labor costs, unnecessary inventory and wasted scrap materials. In addition, Treblig also wanted to expand its customer base into the automotive industry. Company management felt in order to increase system-wide productivity, quality and efficiency, while reducing costs, the company must become ISO 9001 certified. Unfortunately, Treblig had a very limited budget for achieving all ISO requirements in order to gain certification for its quality assurance program.

THE SOLUTION
Estlean Cook, president of Treblig, contacted SCMEP, who the company had been working with for the past nine years, for advice on pursuing ISO 9001 certification. Working under a federal grant, SCMEP helped Treblig secure nearly $20,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Rural Development Agency - Treblig paid only $5,000. By working with SCMEP, Treblig was able to reach it goal of ISO 9001 certification.

THE IMPACT
Since becoming ISO 9001 certified, Treblig has maintained its current business in a relatively volatile manufacturing economy, and is in a stronger position to compete with other manufacturers targeting the automotive industry. In addition to the company’s recent ISO certification, Treblig has invested $250,000 in new machines and increased standards within its production facility by investing thousands of dollars in software and educational and physical improvements in the past three years. By working with SCMEP, the company has installed DBA Manufacturing Resources Planning (MRP) software to help track job times and predict delivery, dead times, and costs for every component produced and implemented the quality-based Lean Manufacturing 5S system designed to eliminate waste, wasted space, and wasted motion.