Alpharetta Georgia // February 2011

“Record revenues for 2010…16% growth in annual sales over 2009” – these aren’t reports you hear from many businesses lately. Thanks to its outstanding leadership and commitment to quality and sustainable manufacturing, Gold Level Partner Metcam, Inc. is demonstrating that sustainability is good business.

A mid-sized manufacturing firm founded in 1989 in Alpharetta, Georgia, Metcam specializes in advanced metalworking technology for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) representing a wide variety of industries including telecommunications, electronics and HVAC. Metcam’s advanced metalworking capabilities include laser cutting, punching, forming, hardware insertion, welding (including robotics), powder painting, silkscreen and assembly.

Mission and Growth
In October 2010, Bruce Hagenau, President of Metcam, released the company’s New Mission Statement – Highest Quality Products, Delivered On-Time. A new logo was also revealed that emphasizes the importance of Metcam’s lean/green manufacturing program. In January 2011, Metcam announced record revenues for 2010, representing a 16% growth in annual sales over 2009. It would seem that the new mission is working!

“Diversifying our customer base has allowed Metcam to avoid many of the negative effects from the economic downturn that impacted so many manufacturing organizations,” stated Hagenau.

Metcam’s Sustainable Business Practices
Energy Conservation - Metcam’s 2010 electricity use was reduced by 15% (340,000 kWh) as a result of the replacement of over one hundred metal halide lamps with T8 fluorescent lights in 2009.

Solid Waste Reduction – The amount of solid waste Metcam sent to landfills in 2010 decreased by 19%. This reduction resulted primarily from paper and cardboard recycling, and from diverting damaged wooden pallets to a nearby wood mulcher.

Mentoring – Metcam mentors other companies through its involvement with the Green Manufacturer Network, an affiliate of its trade group, the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association (FMA). Metcam participates on the advisory council for the group and is helping to develop a webinar program for sustainability topics in 2011. Metcam was also invited to speak on the company’s experiences with sustainable manufacturing at the Department of Commerce’s “SMART” Companies Work Together event in February and at the Georgia Environmental Conference in August.

Metcam hopes Georgia companies will consider the following reasons for implementing sustainable practices:

• To help alleviate the effects of rising energy and natural resources costs
• Your customers may recognize and reward your environmental stewardship
• You can set your company apart from your competition
• Sustainability is now a globally-accepted best business practice.

Metcam believes that their sustainability program has contributed to their business success in the following ways:

• Minimized negative environmental impacts
• Conserved energy and natural resources
• Created a safer environment for our employees, community and consumers
• Reduced unnecessary expenses

Quality
For Metcam, quality goes hand in hand with sustainability. This commitment was recognized last year when they received the 2010 Tyco Fire & Safety’s Supplier Excellence Award. The company competed with thousands of other Tyco suppliers for the award, and was the only sheet metal fabricator recognized.

“Nominees for the award included suppliers who had provided excellent service, helped with cost reductions, delivered quality products and were just willing to go the extra mile,” explains Tyco's Senior Manager, Kathy Chiera.

Metcam’s total quality performance for the year shows the benefit of continuous improvement initiatives, resulting in a part rejection rate less than 4000 parts per million.

Metcam is a Charter member of the Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia, recently approved at the Gold Level of the program. For more information about Metcam, visit their website, www.metcam.com.